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The Bradenton, Florida, Police Department is saying goodbye to its last classic police cruiser — a 2010 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor.
The department, located south of Tampa, announced its plan to auction off the last Crown Vic in its fleet, as it has decided to use mostly SUVs for patrol duties for their extra storage capacity for gear and passenger space.
“It’s the end of an era in BPD history! Our last Crown Vic Police Interceptor is heading to auction. If you’ve got a hankering for restoring this 2010 gem to her original beauty, or making a low-budget cop show, she’ll be available for bidding in the near future,” the department tweeted on August 29.
The Crown Vic has been one of the most popular vehicles used by police departments for the past 30 years, appearing in over 4,877 movies and TV shows, according to the Internet Movie Car Database.
The car, called the “best muscle automobile that ever wore a uniform” by a New York Times writer in 2013, is nearly synonymous with the word “police car” and is known for its iconic grille.
However, since Ford ended production of the famous car in 2011, departments have been forced to shift to other vehicles.
The Bradenton P.D.’s current fleet includes Ford Explorers, Chevrolet Tahoes, Dodge Chargers, Ford Tauruses and Chevrolet Caprices.
The department’s Crown Vic will be auctioned off at a future Tampa Machinery Auction, according to Meredith Frameli, the department’s public information officer.
Before being sold, the car will likely have its Bradenton P.D. symbols and light bar stripped.
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