While this may look like “just another old Lincoln”, this one-family-owned, 44,000 original miles, driver 1989 Lincoln Town Car is unique among its peers, in that it has been kept and cared for over the years when many of the rest of them have been melted down to make kitchen appliances or fenders for economy cars. It’s available here on craigslist in Ephrata, Pennsylvania.
This car is on its second posting now. In the earlier (now-deleted listing) the seller stated that they had lost their indoor storage for this Signature edition, which is a shame because this one looks so well-kept, and 1989 was the last year for the first generation of the full-size Panther-platform bearing the Lincoln Town Car marque.
The 5-Liter Windsor engine, mated to a Ford AOD transmission, was the only available powertrain. In a time of American excess, it only managed 150 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque while trying to move 4,000 pounds of downsized luxury machine. While far from the fastest, they were comfortable cars that did what buyers needed them to transport people in relative comfort and old-fashioned styling.
All that said, there is a following for these cars. Some people absolutely adore them, while some can’t stand them. Jeremy Clarkson drove one back in the BBC days and was not impressed. We can’t say we blame him, but we can appreciate the LTC’s significance in the time when most others were going front-wheel drive. Lincoln remained “…what a luxury car should be…” as long as they could. This low-mile example could make a really fun cruiser for someone, especially if they have a family in tow. Would YOU consider one of these to be your driveable classic?
Nice Lincoln. Iconic design. Seems like the Mercury was a better buy when new. Same motor, could be ordered with almost the same plushness also. The Lincoln premium was for the name and exterior styling IMO. This one is a looker though.
My family had one of these, a visually-similar 1986 model that my stepfather purchased from a drinking buddy (“it was too good a deal to pass up!”) because my mom needed something new to drive after her 280ZX gave up the ghost. Yes, this was the kind of car decision that needed alcohol to make sense.
She hated it, and I personally have nothing but bad memories of it. Slow and flabby, and the “luxury” was more about pillowy softness than actual good materials, design, or engineering. I remember a family trip on the Long Island Expressway—which in those days was just an endless stretch of potholes and bumps—where the so-called luxurious ride just made me carsick. It was like trying to travel on a wheezy waterbed.
My stepfather, at the time, drove a Saab 900 Turbo…now THAT’S a car I can feel nostalgic for.
My pappy said son, you’re gonna drive me to drinkin’….
If you don’t stop drivin’ that hot rod Lincoln.
(Although wouldn’t consider this one a hot rod.)
Nice old school fat cat car… made somewhat famous in the movie ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’.. I have an ’85… very much enjoy that car. Always winter stored, original paint and body.. though some TLC is due.. my father bought it at an estate sale in ’95, he had it until 2004 when he sold the farm, it went into storage until 2012, when it was lost due to a mismanaged estate… I was offered the chance to get it back in 2015 and jumped on it.. the vinyl roof needs a redo, and the interior headliner needs one as well, as a result of bad storage for a time that it wasn’t in our care.
As I say when I take it to the occasional cruise night, ‘it’s so nice, I bought it twice’
I will pass it along to my son… some legacy from his grandfather :)
1989 LAST YEAR FOR A FULL FRAME UNDER THE CAR. i HAD ONE AND DROVE IT TILL IT COULDN’T DRIVE ANYMORE! i WISH i’D KEPT THE PRONT POWER SEATS, VERY COMFOTABLE!
This that man by the dumpster jacking off? Looks as he is. What the hell does that got to with this ad in BarnFinds? But it’s a very nice Lincoln love to own it but my garage is just a 6 car garage. And it full now
Had a 89 in red. Worst MPG car I ever had. The 302 was vastly underpowered for that car. A larger engine would have done wonders for it. I have a 98 Mark VIII LSC now and it is THE LAST 2 DOOR HOT ROD LINCOLN ever made.
I had a ’97 LSC, I loved it but there was always something wrong with it, leaked water on the passenger floor, neon taillight went out, HID low beam headlights made out of unobtainum and were very expensive, but it was fast, handled well and had a beautiful interior. I had it in easy access once, closed the door but the wheel wouldn’t reset. I smacked the wheel with my fist and the wheel came down and I never used the feature again.
Had an ’84 and still miss it. We could stuff the back with our three kids and road trip all over the country, which we did. It had a 5 body trunk so we never had to leave anything a home. Still the most comfortable car we ever owned. It was a great road car and handled much better that some people claim. Power windows were a problem at the end but that was it.
My Dad bought one of the last Signature Series Town Cars, black on black. Most of these cars were used as airport limousines in the Toronto area. I used to tease him and ask if anyone ever tried to sit in his car and ask for a ride to the airport when he was stopped for a red light. He traded it back to the dealership were he bought it for the owners supercharged Jaguar coupe.
I bought a dark blue over blue carriage top with the velour pillowtop interior. As a rookie real estate agent I took a flyer buying it on the premise that the appearance of success would prime the pump of success…Bingo! Sellers loved having me roll up to their property with this grand land yacht and buyers loved being chauffeured around and seen in it.
My father in law, from his father (grandpa) had one. Pretty car but NOTHING BUT electrical problems. Maybe his was one either built on a Monday or a Friday….I am surprised to hear others did not have electrical issues.
I daily drive one. 1989 Town Car Signature in black. 75k miles.
I like this series of Town Car. I owned an 81 TC in the 90s. Excellent ride. But, what is up with the Needs a new thermostat. In the listing? Why and Why wouldn’t you just have one installed. Very simple, right up front, on the engine.
Also, All options work with the exception of the rear windows from lack of use, and stereo works sporadically (both common issues).
Not going to pay $6,000 for a car with an intermittent radio issue. I could live with the rear window issue. The window motors are a pain to change out and the only time I use the power windows is when I am going thru a drive thru, the rest of the time the heat or A/C are on.
If it was a little closer to Montana I would go take a look. Only 250 miles from my son’s home, but he is not into Lincolns.
All options work…. Except the windows….. the stereo…. and the water pump…