Final Ford Crown Victoria rolls off line in St. Thomas
By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos
In the typical 'Band-Aid' debate - what's less painful: fast and surprising, or slow and long? - I generally prefer the former. Sure the ultimate level of pain might be higher, but it's finished much, much quicker. No time here to get psyched out or drawn-out for what feels like forever.
It's the same thing on a much more personal scale when talking factory closings, although in this case it's about thousands of workers and their families trying to figure out what they're going to do with the rest of their lives. Ford's assembly plant in St. Thomas, Ontario built its last car today - a white 2011 Ford Crown Victoria, apparently bound for a buyer in the Middle East.
The Crown Victoria, along with its sister the Mercury Grand Marquis and cousin Lincoln Town Car, were the last V8-powered body-on-frame cars built in North America, and nearly every police, taxi and livery fleet will have to seriously adapt to front-wheel-drive and unitary platforms that aren't as robust.
Ford chose the slow and drawn-out approach to St. Thomas - way back in 2009, the company announced it would cease production of the cars, and quashing any ideas of re-tooling for another model by saying the costs would be too great.
So our hats are off to the 1,200 workers who were sent home yesterday after spending two years with a corporate noose around their necks. They deserve all the help they can get.
Posted at 05:00 AM in Autos, Industry, Make: Ford | Permalink
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