Ford Offers First Ever Police Vehicle Prep Package

    DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 5 Ford Motor Company , the
leader in providing ground breaking and technologically advanced vehicles to
law enforcement agencies in North America, has introduced the first ever
police vehicle prep package designed to prepare vehicles for law enforcement
use.
    Ford selected Crown North America, a division of Leggett and Platt Inc.,
and a leading supplier of automotive conversion services and
telecommunications enclosures, to build an exclusive, innovative and factory-
approved conversion package for Ford's Crown Victoria Police Interceptor.
    "The pre-packaged interceptor greatly reduces the normal up-fitting time
and costs for converting these vehicles, and saves on the unnecessary repairs
resulting from the improper installation of equipment," said Ron Anderson,
Ford's government marketing brand manager for the North American fleet, lease
and re-marketing operations.
    The package includes the auxiliary items that are most often requested to
fully equip Ford's police interceptor for law enforcement use and is available
to Ford dealers throughout North America.  The interceptor is covered by
Ford's new vehicle warranty, three year/36,000 miles.  The option can be
ordered as an individual factory option and includes:

    *  Strobe Bulbs -- These are installed in the front parking lenses and
rear taillight lenses.
    *  Six (6) Shielded Coaxial Strobe Conductor Cables -- Pre-run to front
parking lenses, taillights and rear deck.
    *  Three (3) Waterproof Isolator Maxi Fuses
    *  Three (3) Power and Three (3) Ground Wires -- Consisting of six (6) #8
gauge wires.  Pre-run to front and rear Power Control Centers and coiled at
the base of the B pillar for light bar installations.
    *  Wiring harnesses -- GXL automotive-grade wiring that is protected by
convolute and provides power for accessories where the siren warning is pre-
run.
    *  Two Power Control Centers -- This includes one in the glove box and one
in the trunk, each of which houses 6 fuses, battery and accessory power.
    *  Console Mounting Platform -- This is secured and uses existing mounting
points.  The power-coated aluminum mounting plate is pre-drilled for
additional equipment.
    *  Large Arm Rest -- This is mounted on the console, has rugged
construction for long-term durability, and the armrest is removable.
    *  Conduit -- 2" x 4" opening.  For ease of installation, the conduit will
house and protect any additional wire run from the console to the trunk.
    *  Remote Door-Lock Adapter -- A hidden manual override of door locks for
rear doors.
    *  Trunk Air Circulation Fan -- This pulls air from passenger air and
exhausts through the trunk, stabilizing climate for equipment.
    *  Permanent "Y" Secure Strap -- Used for securing the trunk when carrying
large items like a bicycle.
    *  Dual Storage Boxes -- Helps maximize trunk space and proved equipment
mounts.  Clear view covers for quick reference.
    *  Rear Communications Service Tray -- Glides on heavy-duty tracks and is
shipped with a secured spare tire.

    Before the design and development of this innovative package, multiple
outside suppliers would install specific pieces of equipment to these law
enforcement cars.  "An interceptor equipped with the prep package comes off
the Ford assembly line and is shipped to Crown's St. Thomas plant, in Ontario,
Canada, for a 48-hour turn-around where the proper modifications are made
before being shipped back to Ford," said Maynard Lyman, Crown's marketing
manager.  "With the prep package, Ford's Crown Victoria Police Interceptor is
the closest thing law enforcement agencies could purchase to a completely
marked police vehicle."
    Ford expects to build between 10,000 and 12,000 of these pre-packaged cars
in the 2001 model year.  The package went into production in early November
and was announced to the law enforcement community on October 2, 2000.  Since
1995, Ford has held approximately 80 to 85 percent of the North American
market for law enforcement vehicle sales with the Crown Victoria Police
Interceptor leading the pack.
    Crown North America is a NYSE Fortune 500 company with manufacturing
facilities located throughout the world.
    Visit http://www.fleet.ford.com or call 800-34-fleet for more information about
the Ford Police Interceptor.