--- title: "NYC’s Last Two Crown Vic Taxi Cabs Are Living on Borrowed Time" description: "There are only two Ford Crown Victoria taxi cabs left in New York City, and their time is coming to an end due to regulations." date: "2023-11-29" modified: "2023-11-29" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/nycs-last-two-crown-vic-taxi-cabs-are-living-on-borrowed-time" categories: - "Ford News" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "Ford" - "sedan" --- # NYC’s Last Two Crown Vic Taxi Cabs Are Living on Borrowed Time ![A New York City taxi passes through]() *\Getty Images\* Outside of the [London Black Cab](), there may not be a more famous taxi cab than the yellow NYC Ford Crown Victoria. The yellow Crown Vic has been featured in countless movies, music videos, and various other artworks throughout its time in service that it's probably the car you think of first when you think of a taxi cab. However, there are only two Crown Vics left in New York City, according to the *[New York Times]()*, and their time for this world is short. Ravinder Sharma and Haroon Abdullah are the owners of NYC's last two Panther-chassis Crown Vics, both of which combine for more than one million miles. However, both Sharma's and Abdullah's cars are on borrowed time, and will soon be forcibly put out to pasture. In 2012, the Crown Vic was taken off the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission's (TLC)[ approved vehicle list](), which prevented new Crown Vics from getting taxi medallions. Existing cabs have a regulatory shelf life of seven years with the TLC, which meant Sharma's and Abdullah's cabs were originally supposed to be decommissioned several years ago, but an extension was given due to COVID. Those extensions are now over, and the last two cabs have officially overstayed their regulatory welcome. ![]() *Getty Images* Sharma turns 65 in a few months and is going to ask the TLC to extend his Crown Vic's until then. “I’m thinking if they allow me to drive, I drive,” said Sharma, per *NYT*. “If they don’t, I take my Social Security and retire.” Abdullah is unfortunately in a trickier situation, as he's in a tough financial spot and needs his Crown Vic to earn his living, as he can't afford a newer cab. “I’m behind on my bills. If they don’t allow me to drive this car, I won’t make the income I need to buy a new car.” Knowing that the final two Crown Vics will be decommissioned from NYC taxi cab-duty is sad, as it very much feels like the end of an era. The Crown Vic has been in taxi cab service for my entire adult life, so much so that any other sort of cab feels foreign to me. It also has tough financial implications for its final two owners, adding a real, human element to its demise. I wonder what the next affordable, iconic cab will be? Whatever it is, it has big shoes to fill. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()