One of the great mysteries of the site is ID'ing Crown Victorias. I tried to compile information on yearly changes for the 1998-2011 models. There is one website which does a good job.

http://www.pontiacperformance.net/TechArticles/CV_Year-to-Year_Changes.html

I've tried to compile the visual changes to help, but hope that add information that is missing. I skipped the 1992-97 models since they are easier to tell apart.

Body Codes:

P70 – LWB Sedan (2002+)
P71 – Police Interceptor
P72 – S/Commercial/Fleet/Taxi Sedan
P73 – Base Crown Victoria
P74 – Crown Victoria LX/LX Sport
P75 – Crown Victoria Toruing (1992 only)

Changes by year:

1998: Exterior features – Chrome slotted grille
- Chrome bumper strips
- Chrome door handles
- Body-colored mirrors
- Black B-pillar
- Chrome trunk trim
- red/amber taillights
- Chrome taillight trim
- body-colored back panel
- “Crown Victoria” badge on left rear panel
- 16” concave steel wheels with round holes
- single exhaust (High performance package adds dual)
Interior features – flat rounded headrests (since 1995)
- half-moon steering wheel, round side top, flat bottom

P71 differences – Body-colored B-pillars
- Black mirrors
- Black back panel
- dual exhaust

P72 differences – Body-colored B-pillars
- Black mirrors
- Black back panel



1999: P71 changes – black, glossy, slotted grille
- black bumper strips
- black door handles
- body-colored B-pillar
-“Police Interceptor” badges on left rear panel
- retains chrome trunk and taillight trim
- Street appearance package offered (adds chrome slotted grille and trunk trim, body-colored back panel)

P72 – black, glossy, slotted grille
- black bumper strips
- black door handles
- retains chrome trunk and taillight trim

P73/P74 – no changes?




2000: P71 changes – black, flat, slotted grille
- all-red taillights
- black trunk trim
- black taillight trim
P72 – black, flat, slotted grille
- retains chrome trunk and taillight trim
P73/P74 – no changes?



2001: P71 changes – black, honeycomb grille
- no bumper trim
P72 – black, honeycomb grille
- no bumper trim
P73/P74 – Sports Appearance Package added ( body-colored slotted grille and body trim, dual exhaust)




2002: P71 changes – ?
P70 – New LWB model added based on P72 – Added 6” to wheelbase for extra rear seat room, has longer doors
P72 - ?
P73/P74 – LX Sport replaces Sports Appearance Package

2003: - New body frame, suspension and braking system require wheels to be spread out, so all models get new wheels that are pushed out from frame and appear flatter.
- New wheel covers needed to fit new style wheels.
- New interior door panels also added
- New high headrests
- New wiper arms
- 3-point seatbelts added for middle rear seat

P71 changes – 17” wheels
P70/72 - ?
P73/74 – ?




2004: Half-year change – Revised steel wheels with larger rectangular slots
P71 changes –
P70/72 - ?
P73 – No bumper strips
P73/P74 – Black mirrors
- Body-colored B-pillars (mid-2003 change)
- All red taillights
- Sunroof available

2005: - New steering wheel; square top, round bottom
- whip antenna added to right rear fender (only year to have this feature)

P71 – ?
P70/P72 – Black taillight and trunk trim
P73/P74 – ?

2006: - Back to no external antenna
- New steel wheels with round holes on flatter wheel
- new wheel covers
- New instrument panel

P71 –
P70/72 –
P73/P74 –

2007: P74 – no chrome bumper strips

2008: - Fleet sales only
- LX Sport model discontinued

2009: - New body side moldings
- Flex-Fuel badge

2010: Base Crown Vic P73 discontinued
- New body codes P70 = P7A
P71 = P7B
P72 = P7C
P74 = P7E

2011: New bulkier headrests

Wheel designs:

1998-2002:


2003-early 2004:


Late 2004-2005:


2006+:


Steering wheels:

1998-2004:


2005+:



Rear Child Seat Anchors:




If you see anything that can be added, please comment.