Better late than never, but I’m finally coming around to appreciating these 80’s-era Lincoln Town Cars. Being more of a styling enthusiast, I looked at these boxy luxury sedans forty years ago and remembered the groundbreaking sleek styling of the 1961 Lincolns. Had their styling really evolved (or devolved) into this? But the world had changed drastically since President Kennedy’s New Frontier and the Town Car represented the last days of the rear-wheel drive, V8-powered, super posh – and whisper quiet – four-door luxury sedan. And based on their ads and sales literature, Lincoln didn’t hide the fact that they were targeting the older, wealthier, Country Club crowd. That’s why many low mileage, one-family owned Town Cars in like-new condition can still be found today. And here’s a great example of one.
Lincoln started the Designer Series back in the 70’s offering Bill Blass, Cartier, Givenchy, and Pucci special-edition option packages. Only the Cartier Series was offered on the Lincoln Town Car from 1982 to 2003, and this 1988 model is a great example of what one would’ve looked like on the showroom floor. Lincoln’s uppity 1988 sales brochure describes the Cartier Designer Series as having “an elegant new Dual-Shade paint treatment – Silver Frost over a smoky gray tone called Dark Titanium topped with a fashionable Silver Frost vinyl coach roof with distinctive wrapover molding. And just so no one mistakes who designed your Town Car, the Cartier script appears in gold in the rear quarter opera windows.” As the seller states, this Town Car is in “SUPER CONDITION” and its exterior shows it. I’m not spotting any issues with this time capsule. The seller is skimpy with details and states that it is wearing new tires on those classy turbine-spoke aluminum wheels.
The inside of this Town Car time capsule is just as impressive as its outside. What a tasteful, inviting interior with seats of “rich Titanium cloth with leather trim, plus a steering wheel wrapped in Titanium leather.” I’m not spotting wear on the comfy-looking front or back seats and overall it looks like it’s been driven 57 miles, not 57,900. As the flagship model, the Town Car came loaded with a long, long list of standard driver and passenger comforts including just about power everything. The seller says the A/C works and blows out cold air and I’m assuming all the lights and gauges and power equipment are in good working order.
Under that Silver Frost hood rests the Town Car’s electronic fuel injected 5.0-liter V8 engine what generates 150 horsepower at 3200 rpm. It’s only showing 57,900 on the odometer and the seller claims that the Lincoln “RUNS AND DRIVES AS NEW.” This peach of a Town Car calls the Peach State home, Monroe, Georgia to be exact, and is for sale here on craigslist for $22,000. Thirty-six years ago, the Lincoln Town Car promised “Undiminished size. Uncompromised luxury, room, and comfort. And an exceptionally quiet, smooth, substantial ride.” Lincoln kept that promise, and the next lucky owner (only the second owner of this fine luxury vehicle) should be able to experience it for many years to come.
Beautiful Lincoln man, but I wouldn’t pay more than half what this guy’s asking. Not that it isn’t worth it, I’m just cheap. I remember driving one of these as a rental from Cleveland to Columbus and back. Like sitting in my living room. Hell it was more comfortable than my couch.
I think it was Clarkson who said something like- They looked at the steering wheel and asked, why can’t this be square as well?
Lots of squares, but these are nice and comfortable cars. I recall them being tough old beaters 20 years ago and fairly simple to fix.
Too much, maybe 10k at the most.
When my 89 Town Car Signature Limited (purchased in 93 ) hit the highway at 70 mph, the electronic dash indicated 24 mpg. More later on these glorious LAND YACHTS!
Had an 89 also 302 with the 3.55 rear with tow package. Road like a dream. Got good mileage, and scooted just fine.
Miss it today. 😊
Always pays to get the Tow pkg Har. 👏
After a long day, driving my 2007 Town Car Signature Limited, I’m back to add more. First, my 89 Town Car was a Signature Series, not Signature Limited. This Cartier is definitely (as once noted) LINCOLN, what a Luxury CAR should be. The price is less than half of what Lincolns Glorified trucks now cost, making this LAND YACHT a true Bon Marche. The last thing I need is a second car, but if I were in the market, it would now be SOLD. Yes, I’m thinkin Lincoln. My Town Car is the last gasp of traditional American Luxury sedans. Just turned 75,000 miles and will easily go 300,000. Longer than I will ever need it! Other GALYS, where are you?
This is everything my 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis wanted to be! My reliable old Merc. has 383,000 miles, SO far, and its air-conditioning still blows ice-cold, too. And it’s clean velour seats are wonderfully cloud-like comfortable. If I had the money, I would BUY this car! — same colour as my Mercury. But, in a way, after having been so reliably served by my present car, I’d feel like a “traitor”, in a way. I know that’s silly — a car is an inanimate object, a piece of machinery with no feelings — and yet, as much “personality” as my long-time ride has, sometimes I’m tempted to respond to it as a living thing. Wish I had the wherewithal to own this Lincoln! These cars ride beautifully and run for but EVER!
Harrison…You are right about bonding with a car. Every time I trade cars, I wonder where it’s going and feel like I’m abandoning a family member. On two occasions I watched cars that I had loved but no longer were viable for me to maintain towed away with regret. Your Mercury bears testimony to the long life, comfort and reliability of these vehicles. If you haven’t already seen my posts, check them. Great minds DO drive Great automobiles! 👍
To Barn Finds … FYI, yesterday I was able to successfully use the thumbs up feature. Today, it’s not working .
It’s interesting that they won’t address this issue. I’ve mentioned it numerous times.
I owned a ’66, ’67, ’69, and the last was a ’88. Also worked at a FLM dealer so could drive the Continental FWD for my demo. Fell in love w/Lincoln’s with the ’66 w/suicide doors, ’67 was ok as a 2door, but my true love was the last year of the classic 4 door. Turquois w/turquois leather, and the monster 460 ci engine. Got a lot of looks as not many 27 y.o drove Lincoln’s. Transferred back to Germany, and was afraid of parts issues so traded for a Chevy Chevelle. BIG mistake. Several year later in ’90 picked up the ’88 TC. Great ride, good looks, but way under powered. The ’69 could smoke the big 995-15’s all day, the 88, well lets just say didn’t use the cruise going up hills. Electronic injection was junk. Ran into a guy with one like this Cartier but had tossed the injection for a mild cam and 4bbl holley. Gave me a ride, and it was what the Lincoln needed. Been looking for one every since. This one nice, but too far to ship and too muck $$.
These are awesome cars, and this is a beautiful example. My Dad drove Cadillacs, beginning with a ‘53 Sedan deville. Ended with an ‘80 Eldorado with the infamous 5.7 diesel. In his words, it “cured him of Cadillacs”. Second Lincoln was an ‘88 Town Car. White over grey leather. 25mpg in town- believe it or don’t.
My friend drove Lincoln limos in that era. I won’t tell you the mileage they got on the Interstate going over a mountain pass because you wouldn’t believe it. The Ford 5.0/AOD was a great combo. Not a tire burner, but adequate power, excellent economy, amazing durability- and just about as dependable as gravity. GLWTS
Lots of comments about those who owned a Lincoln similar to this. Me too, a 1987 that looked almost identical, color too, about 15 years ago. They do get much better milage at highway cruise speed than with stop and go, due to the AOD I think. Also, the heavy car wants to remain in motion, law of physics, I think. My wife didn’t like the large size in city parking. I did simple maintenance like oil changes, but I had two of these that required the tedious water pump replacement. A lot sits atop the pump. These should be available for less cost, I think, though this one is nice, and money could be saved with antique insurance.
I had an ’89 TC, and it was everything the posters have mentioned. The common problem, and it looks like this one also, was that the driver’s side door arm rest would crack open. It’s one piece with the door card, and can’t be replaced. I contacted Lincoln Land at the time, and they had a few that they could dye to match. I passed. That was years ago, so hopefully there are better repair options now. These are magnificent automobiles and I miss mine.
$22 Large? Wow. Another car you could’ve collected from every used car dealer for a couple grand, pre-Cash for Clunkers.
Back again! Today I found a 2009 Signature Limited parked next to my 2007. Talking with the owner, he told me he’s had 10 Town Cars. And replying to another comment, I had 89 RWD FLEETWOOD Brougham deElegance👍 👌. Then a 93 Brougham which was plagued with problems! That found me thinking Cadillac had become CADILLACKING. Then I discovered Town Cars 😃 😊 and never looked back. Unfortunately now even LINCOLN has turned to glorified trucks masquerading as Luxury vehicles! 🤮
Was Lincoln still doing the clever “vent window goes down first” trick with these models? I always thought that was very classy and unexpected. Since it has six buttons on the driver’s door, I wondered about that, since the trick operated with just one button back in the 70s.
In my ’88 Grand Marquis, I have had no trouble with electronic ignition and fuel injection — it has 383,000 miles. I have the same 5.0: decent gas mileage for any full-sized rear-wheel-drive V-8 — but can’t get out of its own way when climbing a long hill. That’s one thing the big block fans will miss — these cars are a tad under-powered. But, since I drove a 1946 Ford flathead V-8 for decades, I am used to (let’s say) a car that takes its time with acceleration. You’ll never “burn rubber” with this Lincoln; that said, finding a place to park it can get dicey.