- Seller: Albert D
- Location: Streator, Illinois
- Mileage: 128,582 Shown
- Chassis #: 1LNBM81F7KY616101
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 302 V8
- Transmission: 4-Speed Automatic
Lincoln used the Town Car name for a long time, first as a trim level and then as a dedicated model. When it became its own model in 1981, it proved to be one of Lincoln’s best sellers, and the model stayed around until 2011. This example is one of the last of the first official generation Town Cars and has been parked in the seller’s barn for a few years. It’s covered in dust and will need to be revived, but it could prove to be a fun project! If you’d love to rescue this barn find, you can bid on it below. It’s located in Streator, Illinois.
The Town Car’s top selling point was its size. Other luxury brands were in the process of downsizing and moving to front-wheel drive due to fuel prices, but Lincoln decided to keep the Town Car big, comfortable, and rear-wheel drive. The Town Car was your best option for anyone wanting a traditional American luxury car. This one’s interior looks dusty but in decent overall condition. The car is equipped with A/C, Cruise Control, AM/FM Cassette Radio, and power everything.
Under the massive hood, you’ll find Ford’s 5.0-liter V8 with 150 horsepower. It isn’t the most potent version of the 5.0, but with 270-foot pounds of torque on tap, it’s plenty to get all 5,475 pounds of luxury up to speed. The engine is paired with Ford’s AOD 4-speed automatic. If you decide you need more grunt, there are lots of bolt-on upgrades to give it more power, or you could swap in a higher performance crate engine.
This might not be the most exciting Barn Find ever, but these are great cars and this one should be fun to clean up and get going again. So, if you’d love to rescue it from this barn and make it your Land Yacht, be sure to cast your high bid below. And leave any questions you have for the seller in the comment section below.
Bid On This Auction
Anders bid $200.00 2025-02-25 14:22:44
dust mites?
Of all the Town Cars, this generation would be the one to have. Look at that brick-like styling! That canvas mock-top! Get rid of the bug shield in front and power wash it and you’re good to go.
Love it. Even better doesn’t have the digital dashboard. Need’s one hell of a cleaning job. Is that mold on the steering or discoloration
It does make one wonder what it would look like cleaned up… maybe not bad.
As a point of trivia, the original selling dealer is still in business. And perhaps, from the look of the facility, in the same building as 1989.
In the north east these aren’t really known for their resistance to rust. Could you post pictures of the underside, door bottom edges, trunk floor, and front quarters bottom?
These things were so heavy, maybe some rust would do them good-lighten them up a little. I’ve seen a couple others that were left to sit, and they actually settled into the ground.
Among my numerous upscale vehicles, my 89 Town Car Signature Series was near the top. This one looks like it took a Dusty Road and has been in The BARN too long. Although a second car is improbable for me, I might just go across the street to Streater . After all, it’s LINCOLN, what a Luxury CAR should be and ONCE was! Exceeded only by the first generation of Town Cars. Still Thinkin Lincoln after all These years. My current low mileage 2007 Signature Limited is the last gasp of traditional American Luxury sedans. 👌
Among my numerous upscale vehicles, my 89 Town Car Signature Series was near the top. This one looks like it took a Dusty Road and has been in The BARN too long. Although a second car is improbable for me, I might just go across the street to Streater . After all, it’s LINCOLN, what a Luxury CAR should be and ONCE was! Exceeded only by the first generation of Town Cars. Still Thinkin Lincoln after all These years. My current low mileage 2007 Signature Limited is the last gasp of traditional American Luxury sedans. 👌
Does it run? And what is the actual color? White? Gold or beige is a guess. It is the best year to own- I’ve had 4 of these. Every one had the padded glove box covering pulling back, just like this one!
Looks like substantial rust between the back of the rear wheel well and the side marker. Could be a sign of what the rest of the undercarriage looks like.
Still, might be taking a chance on this one.
the color is “Desert Mold”
It was running when it was parked in the garage in 2012. It has not been started since 2012.
I had an 86 and an 87 Town car about 15-20 years ago. They really didn’t get bad highway milage with the AOD transmission and 5-liter (302) engine. I also had an 85 Mercury Grand Marquis earlier with the same frame and engine. I changed water pumps on each, not expensive but no fun with all that needed removing or placed aside. I think that was the only repair needed. Good cars.
My 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis, with 389,000 miles, is getting tired, and I need a other one. The question is, what would it take to get this one roadworthy again, how many years has it been sitting, and what caused it to become “retired” in the first place?
Harrison, looking at this again, I see at least a small issue with the vinyl top and green mold on the badges, white mold on the window control, so may have sat for some time. See if you can find one in good shape for under $10,000 that has not sat. This one is a gamble. Rubber needs replacing likely and a lot depends on if oil changes for engine and transmission occurred regularly. Even if so, sitting is not good for seals, etc.
Harrison, there are quite a few Mercury Grand Marquis listed on Craigslist within a few hundred miles of you. I know that is the “rust belt”, but a good one may be had with inspection.
Thank you for the caution, Dave in PA! I am “old”, and I don’t know how to shop on Craig’s List. My present Mercury came from an estate sale with 29,000+ miles, and had not been driven in several years. It had layers of dust on the outside and all four tyres were very low on air without being totally flat, but the inside was clean. And it had lived it’s entire life within about a radius of 25 miles from Albany, New York. It turned-over and started-up with what proved to be its very old original Motocraft battery, and I put air in its tyres, then I took it through the car wash. And then I drove it another short distance to my mechanic, who went all through it and changed all the fluids and checked everything out. The original Michelin tyres seemed barely worn, but they were dry-rotted, so I had to get new ones. And since then I have put 350,000 additional miles on the car, over numerous years. Had I been able to pick, I would have preferred the LS to the GS, and the analogue clock. The radio is okay, but not great for long distance, and the sound is… “adequate”. I don’t know how many of its 150 horses it still has — but it’s tired and can’t get out of its own way going uphill. It doesn’t seem to use oil, however, but it has other issues. It’s just rather worn-out. I often have to climb in from the passenger’s side, because the driver’s side door-handle no longer reliably dis-engages the latch. Its get up and go has done got up and went. But in all that time, it has not once broken down on the road. I did, eventually, have to replace that 1988 Motocraft battery, and the one in it now is about eleven or twelve years old. It, too, is getting tired. But it still started the car on a 27° below zero morning (if a bit sluggishly). I’d love to find a low mileage and rust-free 1986 Grand Marquis LS with the fancy red-centre hubcaps, top-level trim, and all the “toys”, but the analogue clock — and velour seats, not leather! It would be essentially what I have now, only dressier. I’d probably have to go to Florida to get it: California is too far. Wish I could afford the station wagon — but those are too collectable now. Again, thanks for warning me about this Lincoln. Oh — and one more necessary item: the car must never have been smoked-in or had mice! What I want, if it can be had, is a “cream-puff” survivor. GOOD LUCK; right?
Harrison, Craigslist has a couple of Grand Marquis, one in Hudson NY with only 35,000 reportedly, 2006 with the 4.6 engine. Traded in by “elderly gentleman”. Dealer wants about $11,000: Action Auto, phone 518-940-4188. It is a GS. There is a LS very close to me in Philadelphia with about 112,000 miles, reportedly well serviced, for $4,300. It is red metallic color. The car in Hudson is medium blue. They have a black one with about 64,000 miles as well. The dealer said he could meet you at a place near you with the car. If you like, I can check the one near me.
Thank you, Dave in PA! I am looking for 1986 and newer, to get fuel injection, but 1989 and older to avoid air-bags. But these two that you found gave me an idea of the “landscape”, at least. THANK YOU!. I recently missed-out on a 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis LS, with 119,000 original documented miles, no rust, and an elderly one owner Florida car, for $4,000.00. I also would go with a 1986-1989 Lincoln Town Car. 1990 brought air-bags and more digital gauges. If I were to find a 1985 or earlier one, I wonder if I could take the fuel injection from the one I now have?
Harrison, now I know your parameters year wise. I did have my wife’s aunt’s 85 Grand Marquis back in the 90’s, and it did have fuel injection 5-liter engine, but it was a “throttle body” version that appeared much like a carburetor. Good cars of the ones you seek are getting harder to locate. Like you say, southern states may be your best bet, or ones that were relocated from there. About 15 years ago I traded an 87 Town Car (with velour seats too) for my present 2005 Ford Freestyle, predecessor to the Edge. I will keep looking for you.
To Dave in PA: Thank you so very much!!! A Lincoln Town Car would work, too — and they might have got fuel injection before Mercury did (maybe not — I don’t know).
Harrison, there appears to be a very nice 1989 Town Car for sale on Craigslist in Schenectady, light blue metalic but with darker blue leather seats. It supposedly has 60,000+ miles, is in shop now to have a new fuel pump. Price is $7,000. How serious are you about wanting velour? Supposedly rot free. I have been texting with the owner; told him I would contact you here to see if you are interested. It runs well with A/C upgrade he says.
Not really comparable I know but in summer 2023 my wife bought a 2010 MKZ with 41,000 miles for $9,000. Last summer we drove it Michigan to Oregon and return with absolutely no problems. My first experience with Lincolns – and now I have an eye out for a late 80s TC. Maybe 90s. These things pop up when you’re least looking for them. So just relax and wait.
To Dave in PA: I THANK YOU!!! I keep getting cut-off whilst texting, by multiple persistent ads that block my screen and will not allow me to post! When I finally get rid of them, my post vanishes, too! I became a member here to STOP this from happening — and for about a week, it did stop — but now it is worse than EVER!!! I have been working on this post already for more than three hours of being knocked off the site and having to start all over. I am using the only access I have, an Android ‘phone (I have no computer, neither do I have any idea on how to use one). I would much prefer velour seats; however, when hunting for a particular type of vehicle, one can wax only just so “particular”. I would like to see this car — I am about an hour from Schenectady. 60,000+ miles is “young” for one of these. And the Town Car, while similar to my Mercury, makes for a nice up-grade in “creature comforts” and more opulent faux-wood trim (perhaps a better radio, too??). I hate to “look a gift horse in the mouth” — but does this car have any “defects” I need to know about? — or, would it be a “turnkey” proposition? And, how do I contact its owner? (I have no idea on how to log onto Craig’s List). Thank you so very much, Dave in PA! What can I do for you??
Harrison, I will try to contact the man today. I am in Byberry meetinghouse this morning in NE Philadelphia for business first, then worship after. Like I said, it is in the shop for fuel pump, but supposedly runs well otherwise, but it needs personal look see. I do not even know his name or number yet, but he does have my number and email incase my texting abilities fail. Photos are very impressive. I will tell him you would like to see the car.
“it’s plenty to get all 5,475 pounds of luxury up to speed.” –
These don’t weigh anywhere near that…a little over 4,000 maybe.
To Dave in PA: THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!
Harrison, he did tell me this morning that the Lincoln has just under 70,000 miles and has not turned over on odometer. Is there a way that you can provide me with your phone and/or email address without it being here for all to see? Go thru Barn Finds team? Then I provide it to the seller on Craigslist, or vice versa he could provide his info to you privately. I do not have his info yet, though I just asked this morning. It does not appear to be a scam, though it is always suggested that meetings to view anything be done in a public place, even at a police station lot.
Harrison, it might be easier for someone near you to help you (maybe at a library?) get on the Craigslist site, either Glens Falls or Albany under the NY state list. Then click “cars and trucks” and type in 1989 Lincoln Town Car. There is a new “chat” capability that I just tried. Use your first name so he knows you are the same person I have chatted with him concerning the car. Once he responds you might provide your phone and/or email for him to contact you to arrange a meeting. Doing this thru Barn Finds may be more complicated, but also an option.
To Dave, people like you are a reminder that there are still some who care and try to help others. Just wanted you to know I appreciate how you’re trying to help Harrison. He’s a good man. Those of us of a certain age group have difficulty navigating technology. May Our Lord richly bless you and your family. And Harrison, I hope you’re successful in finding that car! Best to you too!
Here is the craigslist link:
https://albany.craigslist.org/cto/d/schenectady-1989-lincoln-town-car/7824433498.html
Nice looking Lincoln, good luck!
Thank you, Dave in PA! I Will see if someone here can get me onto Craig’s List, then pursue it from there. THANKS AGAIN!
Hello, Dave in PA! I FOUND it!! But I was unable to uncover the CONTACT information. NICE CAR!!! There is a map showing the area of Schenectady adjacent to Niskayuna and the Mohawk River. That is a good area and I know it well, having lived there, on the Niskayuna side 63 years ago. I will have to have someone with a computer follow-up on this one with me, I think… THANKS AGAIN!
Thank you, RICK W!
Harrison, I have the info you need but I can only give you his name as Gabe. He replied by “chat” to me on Craigslist. I thanked him and gave him a glowing review of you! I told him I will give you his phone number and email address if Barn Finds can enable you to reach me privately. Alternatively, you may contact him with some assistance maybe to give him your contact info by clicking on “reply” in top left corner on Craigslist. It looks like you are reaching the point where this might work. Barn Finds has my email address, not sure if they asked for a phone number when registering some time ago. I registered as Dave but recently added “in PA” due to many Dave’s and variations.
What’s with the sticker that says it was modified by Automobile Specialty Company? A bit of a web search says that they were a company that made convertible conversions. This isn’t a convertible, obviously, so what did they do to the car? just put some fabric over the roof for that faux convertible top? and why would that warrant a modification sticker that says the car still meets FMVSS requirements? It’s not like they made a stretch limo out of it or up-armored it for executive protection or anything. Scratching my head at that one, and wondering about what the modifications were that warranted the sticker.
Judging by the looks of this car, it has been sitting a long long time. Did someone forget about it after it suffered a serious mechanical breakdown? I think if someone had a nice one of these, they could buy this one for parts. I think it would take lots of work just to get this one roadworthy, and then you’d have to do something about the rust, typical of Lincolns in the Land Of Lincoln.