Last week I wrote a post on a 1954 Lincoln Cosmopolitan and noted that it looked more like a refined Mercury than it did a Lincoln – it just wasn’t the visual I get when I hear the name “Lincoln” bandied about. Well, today’s find courtesy of Mitchell G., a 2005 Lincoln Town Car “Signature”, embodies the very existential characteristics that make a Lincoln, a Lincoln. And, this exceptionally clean example, hailing from Etna, New Hampshire has only experienced 29K miles of use. Interested buyers can find this stately ride here on craigslist where it’s available for $16,995.
OK, so this Town Car isn’t an iconic sixties vintage Continental, but it’s still a very fitting representative of Lincoln’s reputation. And when you consider all of the changes that occurred from the mid-sixties to 2005, i.e., regulations regarding safety, emission control, fuel mileage, etc., it’s amazing that Ford’s top division was able to continue in the fashion they did. This generation of the Town Car was still outsized with an overall length of 221.4″, riding on a 123.7″ wheelbase and tipping the scales at 4,517 lbs. The listing tells us that this Lincoln was with its original owner until 2024. Gently used, it looks like new though there is mention of minor damage to the right rear that occurred two years ago (not evident in the included images – likely repaired) and some typical bumper cover scratches (park by ear?). Anyway, the Silver Birch Metallic finish is in excellent condition and perfect for such a dignified automobile.
The interior is about what you would expect. It’s finished in Dove Gray leather and is spic and span. The two different hues of gray employed lighten up the vibe but still present a refined, all-business luxury environment. Even the light gray carpet, always a bear to keep clean, is like new.
Behind the recognizable Lincoln grille is a 239 net HP, 4.6 liter single overhead cam V8 engine married to a four-speed automatic transmission. The lone powerplant image is blurry (sorry!) and nothing is said regarding this Lincoln’s running and driving attributes. Regardless, there’s no reason to suspect an issue considering its limited use over the last twenty years. The seller adds, “These cars are extremely reliable; I’ve seen them with 400k+ miles on them driven by chauffeured drivers of limousine companies and are always in demand.”
So, what’s not to like? It’s a safe bet this Town Car requires nothing but a new owner. If you’re a fan of full-size domestic luxury sedans, here’s your car. These just aren’t being produced any longer unless you go the uber-expensive Mercedes or BMW route – even Cadillac has cut things off with the mid-sized CT5. As for the price, current market-wise, it seems a bit high for a car that retailed for $42K twenty years ago. Then again, would you ever be able to find another, in this condition with such minimal mileage?
Thanks Jim. History is already being kind to these Town Cars, as perhaps the peak of “full size rear wheel drive American cars,” a segment which ran for decades but is now gone. Want an effortless, comfortable, quiet, capable, not-expensive cruiser which you will be able to use for… decades? Here you go.
Mileage: Several times I rode to the airport in a Town Car (this would have been at least a decade ago). I made it a point to ask the driver about the car and its mileage. I distinctly remember one being 354k and another 383k. The drivers commented they were pleased with their durability, comfort, convenience, and dependability.
Bob did you happen to ever ride in the longer “L” model. Backseat was very roomy, and had all the creature comfort appointments.
Maybe once, but I don’t remember for sure.
Spent hours in well worn “L” models as did everybody else in the outer boroughs of NYC. Warm car service car on cold day was great.
An uncle of mine had a 2001 Cartier L, black with a light gray interior. I rode in the back, and drove it once. Very nice car. He leased it, and turned it in with 21k miles on it. I’m sure a livery service grabbed it quickly.
Ooof…. Same year as mine with about 150k miles less. I would love to swap with this one – given the reliability of these things, it might last longer than do.
The price seems right in the zone for a near-mint low mileage Townie.
Good luck with the sale, I’d love to have it.
When Lincoln first came out with this generation, I remember the first one I saw close up in person. It was at a welding supply company I was delivering Oxegen cylinders to in Manhatten. It was the owners, deep red, beautiful interior, I instantly liked it then, and still do now. This would absolutely be garage kept if it was mine, and only taken out and enjoyed only in good weather with no salt on the ground. You’ll get decades of reliable service from this powertrain too, like Bob said above, these Lincolns have been known to be pushing 400K miles. Thats, reliability.
Some of those truck drivers could spin an O2 cylinder along, one in each hand Bob.
Thats what I did Stan. You kick 2 cylinders at a time balancing them. Its been a while, but I’m sure I could still do it. ( just a little slower)
This is one of the cars that I certainly would choose over a “modern” vehicle for the last 10 years. There are other examples but for just good smooth transportation, it is hard to beat. I have a 99 Jag XJ8 with 80K and my grandkids rode in and drove for a week. My grandaughter told me the ride was so much better than the current “automobiles”.
I bought one of these things for my wife at the time because she was a terrible driver and these were very highly rated for safety — She wouldn’t drive a Suburban and I worried about the safety of my three little kids with her driving.
I think this sector was cannibalised by the big SUV’s and the S Class. Maybe now that we are imposing sanctions on Europe these will be revived.
Great cars. I had a ’03, but 190,000 trouble free miles on it. Was still getting 25 mpg out of it on highway trips. Comfortable and you didn’t feel beat up when you got where you were going. The rear air suspension was nice for when the back seat was full of people. I wish they still made them. Tried to get the last year of ’10 but just couldn’t get one.
I had a 04 & it kept blowing the last two plugs of the heads on the passenager side. Friend of mine who worked at a Ford Dealership said it was a common issue. They’d put Red lock tight on the plug or bore out the plug hole but a core in it with red lock tight & it took care of problem. Loved the car just hateded the engine
I just bought my third TC two weeks ago. I also have a ’03 and had a ’06 until I hit a deer with it last year. With 225,000 miles on the odometer, the insurance company still paid me $5500 and I sold it for $300 to a guy who is putting it in a demo derby this summer. The ’03 was local and had only 50,000 miles. I paid $2,000 for it four years ago. But new tires and some other items put the total cost at about $8,000. It had been stored for the previous 5 years as the owners had died. The 5 years before that, it gained a total of 1,000 miles as the owners were driven around on Sundays as they were both in a nursing home. I paid $12,000 for the ’09 two weeks ago. Had been a Florida car but found it semi-locally. I look every day to see what’s available so I feel I have a good read on pricing. During Covid the prices rose dramatically. $17,000 may have been an average price then, but now $10-12,000 is the most I would pay for a Town Car, even with ultra low miles. You have to look but real deals are out there!
Headline to be seen soon on BF:
SOLD TO RICK W! Lol!
I didn’t know these cars were so durable, but then again, I see lots of these floating around the Twin Cities with the license plates all starting with LM as in limousine.
Not a Ford guy but this one’s a beauty.
Jon! You know me too well! LOL. I am fortunate to have a low mileage (just turned 75,000) 2007 Signature Limited. While not the OTT over chromed LAND YACHT, I’ve owned, This is the best in virtually every way. Fully loaded including rear seat heat and A-C vents. It’s a stand out in CASHMERE ceramic coating. As noted in other comments, these will easily go over 300,000 with routine maintenance. Interesting how the drivers seat has ripples similar to mine. A magazine once referred to these last generation Town Cars as the American ROLLS-ROYCE. I won’t deny it. Truly the last gasp of traditional American Luxury sedans. IF I were in the market for a second car, this would be SOLD. Buy it and Start Thinkin Lincoln! 👍
Having a 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis with 390,000+ miles, I can attest to the longevity of these beasts. But the whole deeply-padded leather and contoured plastic ambiance is NOT for me — and I want ANALOGUE guages and no air-bags!! I’ll stick with the 1979-1989 generation — new enough to run on modern unleaded fuel — looks like a CAR inside, not a cockpit — and just has the sort of “feel” that I like. If it were not for that whole unleaded problem, I’d look for something like a 1953 Mercury Monterey — more my style!
Go with the Crown Victoria. No digital gauges, it’s about as basic of a modern car as you can get (hell my ’05 still had a factory tape deck in it until last year when it finally stopped working and I swapped it out for a modern unit).
We rented one like this (same year?),& drove it from
Chattanooga to Jacksonville,& I wasn’t impressed with it.We
rented a Grand Marquis a few years later,& was impressed
with how well it drove.
As they were probably built on the same platform,I have
no idea why they were so different from each other.
Grand Marquis and Town Cars were built on the same platform. Having owned both, the main differences were Lincolns were longer (giving more interior room),more standard equipment, and more luxurious styling and interiors. Maybe the Town Car had been rented more with some significant abuse 🤔. Unfortunately neither has survived the onslaught of glorified trucks masquerading as Luxury vehicles. The final Town Cars were built in Canada. If proposed Tarrifs prevail, the price we would be astronomical. Making This a Bon Marche!