Fuel tank safety?

[ezratty]

Recently with the death of a NYC cabbie due to fire from a ruptured fuel tank, the discussion of the safety of the Panther platform has gone back into the spotlight.

I have read information both from FoMOCo showing the severity and infrequent occurances of the crashes that resulted in fire/death/severe burns as well as the opposing view point from Law enforcement that the Panther platform is seriously flawed and dangerous.

Since this is a car that I regularly drive my two young children in I wanted to ask members for their thoughts on this topic as well as ask if anyone has installed the tank shield kit that Ford as made availble for Police Interceptors and I believe Town Car Livery vehicles.

Any comments/Thoughts would be appreciated.

[TripleTransAm]

Tick tick tick tick tick....

[cruzer]

Since '91, I have put over 400,000 miles on Panther platforms--I have been involved in two severe impact accidets with NO injuries and easily repairable damage. My wife has been with me for 90 % of this driving. There is no way I will give up the safety and comfort of my marauder. There have been millions of rear- end collisions on panthers with less than 20 fatalities from resulting fire--I don't believe there is any American made modern automobile that can equal this record. Every organization that does high speed collision research has given the panther a clean bill of health. I don't believe Ford has lost a rear-end fire case yet. This is my personal opinion--please disagree---It all boils down to how much confidence you have in your equipment.
(let's keep this discussion apolitical and civil)

[MM2004]

Since '91, I have put over 400,000 miles on Panther platforms--I have been involved in two severe impact accidets with NO injuries and easily repairable damage. My wife has been with me for 90 % of this driving. There is no way I will give up the safety and comfort of my marauder. There have been millions of rear- end collisions on panthers with less than 20 fatalities from resulting fire--I don't believe there is any American made modern automobile that can equal this record. Every organization that does high speed collision research has given the panther a clean bill of health. I don't believe Ford has lost a rear-end fire case yet. This is my personal opinion--please disagree---It all boils down to how much confidence you have in your equipment.
(let's keep this discussion apolitical and civil)

Well said cruzer,..

I will stay with the Panther platform as well. ;)

Owning several of them, although not being in a severe accident, have seen many examples of accidents and no serious injury. The 2 LEO's that live across the way from me agree that the Panther platform kicks a$$! :up:

They love the cars, especially the MM as they have driven mine,...HARD! :D

Let's face it,....

Any automobile that takes a boo-foo at high speed, while at a stand still, may not fair well, but I much rather be in a Panther than a Pinto.

Mike.

[SergntMac]

IMHO, safest car on the blacktop.

[RoyLPita]

If you want cheap insurance, get the kit that protects the gas tank from being punctured by the rear end. It is standard equipment on the CVPI from parts of 2003 and on. The part # is 3W7Z-9B007-AA.

I have a kit available for the 1998-2002 Panther platform is anyone is interested.

[paul hersom]

The kit referenced sounds good - must have been developed due to the pub-
licity 0f the pol. Vics -- I think that prob was raised as an issue more because
of the exposure time they have as being the primary pol. veh. --anyway due
partly to the awareness of the prob. I installed a Hvy. Duty Frame Hitch and
of course that lets me do some trlr. towing at times.

[merc6]

If somene rearends you at 90, a fire is the last thing on my mind. I remember seeing the one Cleve PD car where the trunk was actualy in the backseat!

[hitchhiker]

If you want cheap insurance, get the kit that protects the gas tank from being punctured by the rear end. It is standard equipment on the CVPI from parts of 2003 and on. The part # is 3W7Z-9B007-AA.

I have a kit available for the 1998-2002 Panther platform is anyone is interested.

Perhaps Ray (The Dealer) can buzz in with a price for this kit...?

How about it Ray?

Best Regards,

David

[O's Fan Rich]

Heck, I drove a Pinto for years. Not to mention early Mustangs.
I feel much, much , much safer in my MM. Much!~

[RCSignals]

As before, the problem is in the circumstances, not the Panther.

I've been down to the State yards and looked at Police cars that have had rear accidents that pushed the rear bumper practically up to the rear window, and guess what? No fire.
I believe you'll find this is more common the outcome, but it isn't as newsworthy.

Believe it or not, other makes of vehicles catch fire after accidents......Hondas, Toyotas etc. too. Often at much lower speeds than the Panther incidents have been.

Your Marauder is perfectly safe. The Model A (1928-1931) Ford has a gas tank located right in front of the driver, it forms the top of the cowl and the dashboard. It even has a fuel valve in the passenger compartment. There are still many of those on the road living happy lives.

[SergntMac]

The Kevlar fuel tank blanket kit was not designed to protect the tank from the rear end housing. It was designed to protect the fuel tank from punctures by police equipment carried in the trunk of a police cruiser.

If it makes you feel better, it's prolly worth the money. Blankies do that.

[BillyGman]

I've been down to the State yards and looked at Police cars that have had rear accidents that pushed the rear bumper practically up to the rear window, and guess what? No fire.
I believe you'll find this is more common the outcome, but it isn't as newsworthy.A very good point^...RC hit the nail on the head here. That's all this whole issue boils down to. When a police cruiser gets hit real hard from behind, and practically the whole back of the car is wiped out w/out it exploding nor catching fire, tell me what newspaper or news reporter is going to comment on that part of the story? ANSWER: nobody is. That isn't "newsworthy" in their eyes.

But let just one of those cars catch fire or explode during a collision, and numerous newspapers/news reporters will be all over that "story" like white on rice. After all, it's "newsworthy" in their eyes. I call that unbalanced as well as irresponsible journalism, and unfortunately, that's American press for ya. But you have to keep that in mind when you're making assessments and drawing conclusions for yourself about these cars.

[Fastronald]

In my opinion the Panther Chassis remains the safest on the road!

[TripleTransAm]

Interesting side note: this particular crash that occurred on Dec 26th in New York City didn't involve a rear end impact. From the details, it appeared to be a side impact on the driver's side of the vehicle followed by a side impact on the passenger's side... the ensuing fire appears to have originated in the engine compartment on the front passenger's side (where all our wiring is).

Further snooping around uncovers more underhood-related fires in the panthers, none of them involving impacts.

[merc6]

When stopping on hiway is extremely needed, I try and find the Speed Limit signs so people assume it's a speed trap and slow down for me ;)

[MENINBLK]

Recently with the death of a NYC cabbie due to fire from a ruptured fuel tank, the discussion of the safety of the Panther platform has gone back into the spotlight.

I have read information both from FoMOCo showing the severity and infrequent occurances of the crashes that resulted in fire/death/severe burns as well as the opposing view point from Law enforcement that the Panther platform is seriously flawed and dangerous.

Since this is a car that I regularly drive my two young children in I wanted to ask members for their thoughts on this topic as well as ask if anyone has installed the tank shield kit that Ford as made availble for Police Interceptors and I believe Town Car Livery vehicles.

Any comments/Thoughts would be appreciated.

I have yet to hear about this story.

A few years ago, about 1/2 mile from me, a State Trooper was rear-ended by a drunk driver,
driving a Jeep Chrokee at a speed in excess of 80MPH, on the NYS Thruway.
The driver of the Jeep and the State Tropper died in the accident.
The State Trooper was in his patrol car (CV) writing an accident report, as he was parked
on the side of the thruway, behind the vehicles involved in the accident.
The force of the Jeep pushed the patrolman's car into the parked vehicles and crushed it
pinning the state trooper into the vehicle and rupturing the fuel tank.

This is an ISOLATED INCIDENT and in no way shows that the panther platform, is flawed.
ANY VEHICLE in this situation would have done the same thing.

The press had a field day on this and it led to the installation of the kits
to prevent the fuel tanks from rupturing on impact.

IMO, a kit would not have saved anyone in this instance.

Your Marauder is Body-On-Frame construction.
It is the STRONGEST and OLDEST technology for manufacturing vehicles.
If you doubt its integrity, then maybe you should be driving a Volvo.

[magindat]

Most of the incidents I have read boil down to equipment and items stowed in the trunk. I remember one in particular where a crowbar was stowed longitudinally and went thru the tank AND back seat. I believe in the platform and pay attention to what and how I stow in the trunk.

I have been in a 65MPH+ collision to the front end. The airbags went. My wife was in the passenger seat, 12yr old daughter in the back. 3 of 4 bags blew. I bent a full-size chevy Silverado in half. The MM was repaired by insurance and is now straighter than stock (thanks to a great shop). The parts were available (recycled/new/transplanted) and plenty of info was available about the platform and from this site and others. No one was even scratched. Big, thick padded seats + 4 bags + frame + REAL thick body metal + fleet experience + weight + etc. = safe car.

The moral, this is the most survivable and fixable CAR platform on the planet. BAR NONE.

This is not just my 2 cents but a real, true, scary story I (and the car) survived. Try THAT in a Civic!!!!

[Big House]

Consistant 5 Star crash test ratings from the government's tests. Nuff said.

[ezratty]

I appreciate everyones feedback. The Media can do a good job of putting ideas in your head, and with two kids (2 1/2, and 1) I find myself becoming much more cautious.

I love my Marauder and wanted the best of both worlds Safe Roomy Family car & Tire smoking, ass kicking, muscle car. The Marauder is it.

Thanks again to all who responded and as for the guy who suggested I drive a volvo for safety - I would rather walk....

[vegasmarauder]

I posted a reply in a similar forum, I hope this link works.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=24335&page=4

It's a personal choice.....

[SergntMac]

Well then, happy motoring to you all...

[AzMarauder]

I am not an alarmist....

However, I can get the protection kit from my dealership for about $50.
Considering that I've spent that much on floor mats for my car I don't think it is money badly spent. So I will be buying and installing the kit.

[gdmjoe]

Et al ... If you decide to install the kit, consider the fact that these pieces will be great collectors of sand, salt (if you live in the Northern climes and drive during the other summer season), and other road debris. Consider also that all of this promote corrosion and rusting.

If you're fastidious and routinely (say) detail (or at least clean really well) the undercarriage around the shields then you probably have nothing to worry about.

Does show outweigh safety - No.

Just something to think about if you're considering installing the kit just because you can.

[grampaws]

Well if i where that worried about the salt, it would be
parked all winter --Oh! right it is!!