This 1997 Lincoln Town Car is a year or two newer than our usual 25-year rule here at Barn Finds, not that we have a hard and fast rule about that. Sometimes, a reader sends in a tip and it just catches our eye, is in great condition, and has a good price ($6,750). This Town Car can be found here on craigslist in the Dublin / Pleasanton / Livermore, California area. Thanks to Pat L. for sending this one in!
It’s hard to argue with a Lincoln Town Car of any era, they were made for three decades through three generations from 1981 until 2011. We’ve seen quite a few of the first and second-generation Town Cars and most of us remember the Lincoln Continental Town Car of the mid to late-70s. I still want one of those with the little oval window on the c-pillar such as this 1977 model that we saw here on Barn Finds way back in 2016. Wow, that was a long time ago. 1997 was the last year of the second-generation Town Cars and they were reportedly the last rear-wheel-drive luxury car made in America at that time.
Lincoln also offered a Continental Town Car in 1959 and 1960 and they were beautiful cars, but when I think of a Town Car I think of the golden age of the 1920s and 1930s and the Town Car body style. We’ve all seen them, that’s where the driver usually sat on a leather seat with no roof or a removable top and they drove fabulously wealthy people around in the luxurious and weathertight passenger compartment. The Peterson Museum in Los Angeles featured Town Cars a few years ago and I took too many photos as usual – here’s one. Those Town Cars.
You’ve probably all skipped ahead by now and just clicked on the craigslist link and have been looking at the photos. You can see that this car is basically like new and 47,000 miles is barely broken in for this car or its cousins, the Mercury Grand Marquis and Ford Crown Victoria. We all know how tough the Crown Vic is but when I’m riding in the back seat I don’t want a cage in front of me. I’ll take a Town Car instead.
Speaking of the back seat, here it is. It’s as nice as the rest of this car is as is the trunk, although I would somehow have expected more posh materials. The seller didn’t include an engine photo but it should be a 4.6L V8 with 210 horsepower. They say that it runs perfectly, is in mint condition inside and out, and even has new tires. Have any of you owned a similar Lincoln Town Car?
Looking for a long-distance cruiser? Or even a comfortable ride for your daily commute? Don’t care whether your car handles the twisties? Prefer clean, undramatic, old-school American styling? Want a car with a bulletproof drivetrain which will serve you for decades? And don’t have a ton of money to spend? Here you go.
You’ll bwe surprised what a set of police car swaybars and decent shocks will do for the handling of these.
Owned three, loved them all, high mileage though
And she’s gone. No surprise.
I had a nearly identical 96 town car in white with grey interior. Smooth and quiet and even fuel economy was t bad. I really wish they still made luxury cars like this. Effortlessly cruises down the superslab.
I did oil changes and other maintenance jobs for a Lincoln/Merc dealer my senior year of tech School 97/98 when these were new. One of my jobs was new car inspections complete with pre stock test drive. These and the Mark VIII were an awesome ride (of course they were to a high school kid). I’m instantly transported back in time to those sunroof open test drives whenever I see one of these.
Barn finds, why not? I really like the variety of vehicles featured here whether in a barn, out of the barn, or far from a barn. For those that can’t appreciate variety and uniqueness just dont click on the feature title. Simple as that!
Good ol’ Stinkin’ Lincoln.