Explorer

Make
Ford
Segment
SUV

Although production ended almost a decade ago, the Ford Crown Victoria lives on in infamy as perhaps the ultimate American police car. Known specifically as the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, just the sight of the full-size body-on-frame sedan was enough to make drivers unconsciously tighten their grip on the steering wheel. Law enforcement officials have since turned to SUVs such as the Ford Explorer to carry out their duties.

Now, a Swede by the name of Daniel Werner has found a new use for the large sedan that sounds so extreme, it could be termed unlawful. As a fan of the gas-guzzling, powerful V8 cars that aren't particularly popular in his country, Werner decided that the big Ford was the perfect recipient for a 27-liter Meteor engine previously used in a World War II tank. Yes, you read that correctly: a twenty-seven-liter engine.

It's the mother of all engine swaps, and Werner's initial plans were even crazier because he first contemplated using a 37-liter Rolls-Royce Griffin engine. Using two massive turbochargers, he aims to squeeze 2,500-horsepower out of the monster engine. And why the Ford? Well, it's cheap and the body-on-frame construction will better suit Werner's plans. That's when he stumbled upon a 2006 Ford Police Interceptor and imported it from California.

Named The Meteor Interceptor - and with its own Instagram page - Werner regularly shares updates from his ambitious project. He told Road & Track that he "wanted to do this out of pure passion," admitting that its not the wisest engine choice for racing. Currently, the Ford is being fitted with a Chevy C10 truck front end to help it manage the engine's weight. In his latest update, he had mounted the dry sump oil tank in the trunk which partially helps balance the overall weight.

What is Werner's ultimate goal with The Meteor Interceptor? Well, definitely not to take on the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat on the drag strip anytime soon. He is more interested in ending up with a final product that can surpass a top speed of 200 mph. He has also maintained a sense of humor about the ridiculousness of the project. "It will not be an ideal car in any way. But for me, it's ideal. Just 1,647 cubic inches is cool enough."

As strange as it may be, this is one project that should be fascinating to watch. A legendary police car with a gigantic motor that could see it eclipse 200 mph would be an ironic twist for a vehicle that is more associated with helping officers maintain law and order.