Those Lincoln commercials that pointed out the very worst aspects of GM’s badge-engineering days were brilliant. Unless you were a total GM loyalist or an extreme Ford hater, the ads really gave you something to think about if you were in the market for a new car. Thanks, Adam. 👍👍👍
@@rogersmith7396 Lol… I owned a 2nd hand ‘84 Chevy Suburban with that diesel. I bought it to pull a small RV. It was such a dog that kicking it to downshift on the highway would absolutely do nothing. I was better off NOT downshifting and hoping a half-throttle would create enough torque to accelerate. And if you opened the hood, you’d get overwhelmed with the smell of unburned diesel fuel.
@@Primus54 I liked my 6.2 diesel, by the TH700R4 behind it was a hopeless, no-shifting mess of a transmission. It's only saving grace was great hiway mileage (without towing). These were not super-powered diesels like today, which is why the gas 454 was the top towing engine for GM back in those days.
The ‘81-‘89 was such a classy looking car. In late 1988 a relative of mine bought a a loaded ‘89 Cartier, gray with the gray leather and the embroidered Cartier insignias on the seats. Arguably the most comfortable car I have ever driven in.
One of the nicest riding cars ever built. From a long-time Cadillac owner, that's saying a lot. Both Henry Martyn Leland and William Crapo Durant, are 6th cousins of mine.
Dad came back from the USMC,and bought my mother a new 76 Mark 4 Emilio Puccini,Burgundy& Burgundy interior, super plush /Silver Half top,Moon roof!!ofc the showroom floor,I was 10, .Holiday Lincoln FT Worth TX,great trips to Corpus to see grandparents
I bought an ‘89 Town Car last year - one of 3,,813 built with a Bright Currant Red Valino Coach Vinyl Roof - on white with the turbine wheel covers and a matching Currant red interior similar to Tony’s. Have to say aside from the fancy names on the exterior features, these cars are growing in popularity and are beloved by their owners for their classiness. You just don’t see colors on cars like this anymore and the ride, buttery-smooth 5.0 and reliability are outstanding.
I worked for the Lincoln Mercury Division of Ford when we ran that commercial. We sold a LOT of Lincolns from that advertisement. The Town Car was our biggest seller, but when given a choice of company cars, I always selected a Mark VII LSC. The Mercedes 500SEC was the target vehicle for the LSC, and it had a combination of luxury and performance unmatched by anything made by GM. You should give an LSC a try, Adam. Love your channel!
My '86 Cartier was one of the best cars I have ever owned. Even though it was full-sized it was very nimble to handle. It went well over 300K and was always in the road. It was bullet-proof. Other than regular maintenance it only ever needed a water pump. One of the highlights of the entry system was that even if the locks froze you could still un-lock the car! I would love to have another one of these.
These models began in 1980 - had a two door Town Coupe in red with a landau white vinyl top and red leather interior. Stunning vehicle! The "keyless entry" started in 1980 also. Also had a 1980 Thunderbird Town Landau in medium metallic brown with medium "chamois" vinyl landau roof and matching cloth interior. That was the first year for the digital dash too.
Started drivin Lincoln's & Mercs in 89 after years of driving Cads & Buicks. Still drive em today. GM doesn' t build as good as car as Ford does period
These were the best riding cars, and some of the subtle styling updates towards the end of this generation, like the body colored bumper wraparounds on the front, the amber parking lights versus the earlier clear ones, and the upgraded tail lamps (more rounded and less boxy) really made these great looking cars. That commercial was really spot on - even though the Town Car was riding on the same basic platform as the Crown Vic and Grand Marquis (two very good cars in their own right), you would never mistake a Town Car for anything else. The model in arctic white in the video looks so nice - I'm guessing that today, you'd get plenty of looks in that car.
The 89 TC was elegantly classy. The 1990 didn't do it for me. It took many years to appreciate the bubble TCs. Now I appreciate those more. The end of the line in 2011 was a sad day in the auto world. The 1989 looks old timey, in a good way. (we had two 89 TC Limos for our wedding in 1990, one silver and one white.)
It’s a good Saturday morning when I wake up to another excellent video. I often rented these Town Cars in the 80’s during my trips to New York and even had one for prom. 😂. I loved the buttery smooth engine and the power vent window (which moved fast!) was the cherry on top. As you mentioned, the ride was fantastic and the handling wasn’t bad. Thanks again for the great video!
Great video. I know this is an 89, but iirc 1988 was Lincoln's best year ever, so these days when this 89 was new was such a great time for Lincoln/Mercury. The Town Car was light years ahead of the Fleetwood Brougham with advancements in fuel injection, fit and finish, crash test scores, quality, and durability. The Keypad entry system was so neat back in the 80's and felt "space-age" with the digital dash and the trip computer. This was the days when Lincolns were seen as near the top of the top. These were very expensive cars back in the day and the new Town Car customer wasn't just anyone, as they were typically very successful business owners and wise investors. Town Car people usually dressed very conservatively with dark colors, while the Cadillac customers were often very much "more loud" and flamboyant. Town Car people were typically first generational wealth, that made it from nothing, and Cadillac customers were usually from "old money" and didn't mind showing off their money. Such an amazing video and such a neat time for the USA back then... Lincoln was market competitive back then and very desirable. Great job Adam and Tony!!!!
Yes, Ford's downsizing in the early 80's resulted in much better driving cars. One thing I recall that impressed me about full-sized Fords of this vintage was the driver's door armrest. It was wide and place well, at least for my size and shape. It was a small thing, but I don't recall any other car getting so right.
Amazing how some years and the wheels and paint combos look so much better. One thing i love about Ford full size vehicles is the keyless entry keypad. Had them on my LSC, Explorer, Grand Marquis, Crown Vic, Sable, etc. Knowing you will never get locked out is a nice feeling and unlike my old 98 f150 with no keypad that frequently locks itself when you close the door, i can leave the car running and get out for a sec and lock it if needed. Now i carry a spare key for the truck in the fuel door... It's too bad Ford didn't make the heater core accessible on those 4.6's however, what a pain in the rear.
My mom bought a new 1973 Lincoln Town car. A magnificent automobile. As a 16 year old at the time I'll never forget the ride and drive! Those vent windows had an attachment glued to the vent glass itself. Car wasn't more than two months old before those pulled away from the glass on more than one occasion. They eventually figured out how to bond it and they never failed again through end of life of the automobile. This 89s design was much improved with the stationary frame just not as appealing as the original.
I always liked those town cars. Yeah, a little boxy, but the total look was relatively clean and crisp. These cars really did most everything well, and had good reliability.
I really liked this era of Town Car. I just never understood Ford’s operators ergonomics and what they were going for. That’s one thing GM got spot on with the Saginaw steering columns and smart stick turn signal stalks. Chrysler even adapted their version of them for tilt/cruise/wiper/turn signal. But Ford always had that separate stalk way in back for wipers and that annoying lever on the right to adjust the wheel alone. Totally agree with Adam on that. Also, for a while Ford also had the horn where you would push the turn signal stalk in. That was like, some kind of French or Russian engineering idea lol….. thankfully that only lasted a year or two.
My mother had a 94 Town Car after her 83 Colony Park. I've been looking for another Town Car like that for a while just for road trips from Phoenix to Denver. The pre-98 redesign is the best to me. 96-97 being the best years.
My grandfather owned an '87 Grand Marquis that was an amazingly smooth cruiser. Finding a survivor from that era of the Panthers is definitely on my automotive bucket list.
I'm 22 I have a light blue 1988 Lincoln Town Car base model with 94k on it now paint is faded to a nice patina car runs absolutely great I love every minute with it has yet to let me down
@yurimodin7333 Yes, the Mark shared that platform, but the Mark VI was on the Panther platform in the early 80's where it shared the body with Town Car. It returned to share the Thunderbird platform, which were Fox bodies at the time, with the Mark VII. I meant I didn't know the Town Car had a 2 door option that early in the 80's. Btw, I also have a '75 Continental Town Coupe. Good car... hard to find parts for.
One of my neighbors back in the eighties had two successive ones of these, and he and his wife loved them . Their next one was the restyled rounder body and I agreed with him, it wasn't as comfortable and the ride wasn't as smooth. But this did look really outdated by the time it was replaced. This is a really beautiful color. I subscribe to nearly 100 channels on YT but when I see a new video here, it trumps the news channels!
My grandparents had an ‘89 Town Car and I remember it well. I always rode in the center front seat with them when it was just the 3 of us. I remember that floaty ride on country roads, it could get quite nautical but I loved it! My other grandparents had an ‘84 Firebird and then a ‘91 and I liked the Town Car much more.
@@TheMrjetdoc35 My grandparents are thankfully still here. My grandpa will be 85 in May and he’s still a very good driver. Believe it or not they drive a Honda CRV now, just shows how automotive tastes and trends have changed (not so much for the good). I sometimes joke with him that the cheap tinny sound the doors make, the noisy tires, and not so soft ride are a far cry from their old Lincolns. He likes the Honda though and always praises it’s fuel economy and says you have to be a little more budget conscious on a fixed income. I for one would not drive a CRV or any Japanese or Korean car though.
My in-laws owned the Cartier trimmed version. It was a lovely highway cruiser that served us and the second owners very well. The only problem was the trim on the padded glove compartment curling, and a crack in the arm rest. It replaced an 1982 Cadillac Brougham d' Elegance that was also reliable. The fit and finish on both cars was exceptional.
I got my DL in '86: Dad had an '82 TC & a '77 Coupe Deville w/the 425/4bbl at the time. I recall the TC could bury the needle quicker, but when the Caddy kicked down & the 4 barrel opened up, man that felt way better. 👍👍
My now-deceased aunt bought a brand new Signature Series in 1987. Seeing I was born in 1982, I have very fond memories of riding in it as she and her oldest sister would take my younger brother and me out on the weekends to diners and arcades. The car rode very smoothly and was quiet. I can still remember the transmission being a bit clunky as it jumped between gears and wouldn't change gears quickly. The only other con is the exterior styling. I've never been too fond of the exterior styling of those Town Cars vs the RWD Devilles and Fleetwoods of the same era. I was very impressed with the completely redesigned Town Car in 1990, as it was more stylish, modern, and contemporary vs the 1981-89.
It's hard to argue with the panther platform cars. I think this gen Town Car is the most attractive, but they all ride nicely and are very comfortable. I also have big respect for Lincoln's advertising during this era to take such a direct shot at GM styling like that. Not they didn't mention the Fleetwood/Brougham, which I think was a more attractive car than the Lincoln... But the cad retained either the 4.1 or a carbed 307, so it'd be hard for me to argue that the Lincoln didn't have thesuperior power plant. Even when the Brougham got the fi Chevy 5.0 and 350, Lincoln had moved onto the next generation with a much more modern look, and the also excellent 4.6. Ford really knew what they were doing with Lincoln during this era. The bustle back continental and Mark VII are some of my favorite 80s cars, along with this handsome first gen Town Car (and of course the hidden headlight Mark VI).
I respect all the Panthers but I have to give top grades to the Colony Parks and Country Squires that represent the last generation of full-size, body on frame FoMoCo wagons.
I was a Chauffeur 1989-1991, and the company I drove for had 5 of these body styles. The 1986 and 1987, were especially nice cars. Obviously, they were stretched versions. The owner also rented an 88 model Town car on one occasion. And I got to drive it back to the rental company. I can attest that these Lincoln’s were very nice driving cars. Thanks for this particular segment on your channel.
Complete agree. We owned a 1988 TC and it was a great driving and smooth riding car. The main problem was they are majorly rust prone and the interior door panels just didn’t hold up. We now drive a 97 TC. Very nice car, but it feels much less luxurious. However, zero rust issues and the interior really holds up.
I was given a 1985 Town Car that my brother-in-law had purchased - it was not much to look at but was a gem with the powertrain. Us two backyard mechanics completely replaced the interior of that Lincoln from a white leather interior that had dry rotted after sitting near the beach. We found a junked similar age Lincoln in a junk yard that had front end damage but the interior was water tight and amazing in condition. We replaced the seats, door panels, all plastic trim, and headliner and the car was a dark blue with a nice dark blue crushed velour interior. None of the power windows would roll down and the moon roof would not work either. Each door took vacuuming to remove sand and a can for each door of WD40 but the windows finally rolled down and we did a similar cleaning job on the moon roof to get it to work. The following Christmas I was given that car and it was a wonderful vehicle. It was like driving your living room. So quiet and so roomy. I ended up having to part with it after not having room to store it. I wish I still had it. It had the digital dash which had a panel that didn't work but a trip to a wrecking yard and we pulled the entire cluster out for $25 and replaced the one panel and it worked! I was getting 30 mpgs on the highway with mine and consistently 20 mpgs per tank while driving that in mixed driving. I need to buy another one once I finish the car payment on the car I own.
Thank you for sharing this video and sharing your friend Tony and his Town Car. I enjoyed hearing about the Town Car and its history. I rode in one of these years ago. I really enjoyed the experience. I liked what you shared about that GM commercial from the era. That really got GM big time. The look a like styling and downsizing did not help at all. Lincoln cashed in on that for many years of success. These were reliable and kept up technically as well. Buick Riviera had the keyless entry system when they downsized it in 1986. The feature disappeared by the time they upsized the Riviera for 1989.
Both the Town Car and the Brougham are both amazingly beautiful automobiles. I think the Lincoln had the edge in smoothness due to the fact that they had the more updated Fuel Injection engine versus the carb version on the Cadillac. I also think the Lincoln was more modern looking versus the older dated Cadillac design. I do love how this car was ordered though. The credit option for the wire wheel covers is priceless!
I actually found the Brougham of the era more modern looking as it was a bit sleeker and the Lincolns, until 1990, had a more stodgy look, like an old European luxury car. There is a bit of awkwardness to its style and proportions, like the lower-side trim oddly ends before the before the bumpers, and the stubbier tail, but longer front overhang, doesn’t flow with motion as well as the longer tail and less-obvious front overhang on the Brougham. I think the 1990 Town Car redesign was a big improvement, though unfortunately that design wasn’t quite as imposing as this, having been rounded a bit in a transition to the “aero” look of the 90s.
I own the fully loaded 1988 Lincoln Town Car Cartier w/ full leather interior, rear auto leveling air ride, i still drive the Car almost everyday, and honestly for it's size and Ride, i can't think of a better car, they even get what i consider good fuel mileage, considering how big the car is, and they are easy and cheap to repair in most cases. Long live these Town cars!!
My father's boss had a 1987 Lincoln Town Car and I was obsessed with that car as a kid. I think the 80's Town Car is the best looking luxury car of all time.
I know it's a typo, but the Town Car was in production for so long I almost feel like it's not totally improbable that someone has one dating to 21 years after the Norman conquest of England. :)
I was a Budget car rental mechanic in the mid/late1980s. Our fleet was filled with Town Cars and Caddys. The Lincoln was such an amazingly reliable car. Caddys were relatively problematic and squeaky. Caddy ride was quieter and less floaty than the Lincolns. The only common issue Lincons had were ignition modules dying and sometimes a fuel pump. Caddys still had carburetors which worked very well. If you get a chance, find a Lincoln LSC of the era. Those are incredible cars, (except the diesel models).
The Signature Series had the best seats out of all the Town Rods. My only gripe with those cars was that chinsy, steering column they had. You got the same thing if you bought a Ford Fairmont. I'm glad you touched on the tilt situation. I totally agree with you.
Have had 78 , 83, and 2007 GRAND MARQUIS, 78 TOWN Coupe, 89 Signature, and 89 Crown VictoriaLX, several 80S Fifth Avenues, and 89 and 93 RWD FLEETWOODS. 89 FLEETWOODS and the Fifths with plush velvet interiors were favorite interiors. Personally prefer squared off FORMAL look. Love the commercial shown! Hated 🤮 downsized GMs. Currently have beautiful low mileage Lincoln Town Car Signature Limited and will never let it go! Best of current Luxury vehicles! Who wants a glorified truck? NOT me! Over all 89 TOWN CAR Signature and 89 Crown Vic LS were my favorites! 🏆. Great post. 👍
I’ve owned three Lincolns now. My 1988 Town Car was by far my favorite in terms of style and comfort. Unfortunately it was rife with issues like a slipping power window motor, sticking A/C compressor clutch, sagging glove box padding, cracking driver door upholstery, and starter problems (mostly from the inside fender mount solenoid). I drive a 2016 MKC now which rides surprisingly well, but this takes me back to that ‘88 Town Car. I love your channel. Thanks for posting.
I learned to drive on my mom’s new 1985 Cartier TC, it was like piloting a yacht on the twisty two lanes around our house. She actually liked it way more than the ‘86 560SL my dad got for her, so after getting my license she gave me the 2-seater for my car. However, much as I loved that SL and my dad’s SEL, I always took the TC on weekends for cruises with buddies… 6-7 of us fit! An incredible machine, the peaked hood + Lincoln star were special.
I was a Cadillac Man for many years until Cadillac introduced the ht4100. They destroyed them at that point. I traded the Fleetwood Brougham d'Elegance I had for a jaguar. After that I swapped out to Lincoln Town Car and had several of them over the years. Including a presidential series as well as an informal limousine which was a rare car. To this day I have a Lincoln Navigator that is absolutely immaculate and very dependable. The navigate is a 2008 and only has $97,000 Mi on it we don't drive it a lot. But it is an absolute stunning example of a Lincoln Navigator
I miss my 88 town car. It was my second car given to me by my aunt after I had my 85 crown Vic both on the same platform. Nothing ride's like a Lincoln. I think Cadillac Fleetwood drive nice also but more floaty & seem to lean more while making turns & applying the brakes they seem to dip forward to much & at acceleration at green lights the front end seems to pitch up higher. My opinion I guess but I stand by my Lincoln's
A wonderful car -- I'm glad you featured it! I have a lot of experience with two Mark VIs Signature Series sedans, which were each wonderful cars in their own way. The Keyless Entry System was first offered for the 1980 model year on the Lincoln Continental, Mark VI, Thunderbird, and Cougar.
Adam, Let's all join you in welcoming Tony back to the channel especially because Tony and I share the same driving philosophy. This Town Car is one notch up from my old '91 Grand Marquis. In a side note to valet parking staff or those aspiring to a rewarding career in valet parking, bringing the guest the wrong car may severely imperil your tip earnings. 🤨
I have two. An 87 Sail America and an 89 Cartier. In the day, you were someone if you pulled up in a Lincoln Town Car. My favorite vintage. Great video
I have a 2016 Ford F-150 and the keypad still works the exact same way. Except the 5/6 button lowers the tailgate. Great feature and I’m glad Ford kept it all these years later.
Hi Adam, As the owner of three Panther platform vehicles I can honestly say that your conclusions of your test drive in the 1989 Lincoln Town Car were spot on in my opinion. I have a 1987 Crown Victoria wagon, a 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis LS 50th Anniversary Edition sedan and a 1991 Crown Victoria LX wagon and I can say that as well as the Fords ride the Mercury's ride is even softer. Perhaps the springs are softer on the Mercury or the crush velour seats are softer or both. Please advise if you or Tony have any info in that regard. Thanks for the video!
The Lincoln Town Car was one of greatest automobiles ever produced! My mother owned many Lincolns. I was dropped off at college freshman year in a white 1989 Lincoln Town Car with burgundy interior like the one shown , only it had the turbine wheels in lieu of the wire wheels. I have my mother’s last Lincoln Town Car, a cashmere 2005 Signature Limited now. All the bells and whistles including a moonroof. I enjoy driving it some days more than my 2021 BMW 7Series! The ride, the quality of the leather, the trunk space, and reliability are unmatched!
I loved this review, Adam! As I have noted in your other big '70's Ford and Mercury Videos, I grew up with '69-78 full-size Fords and Mercury's. My folks bought a 1979 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham in "Cedar Firemist"; it was the final year of the 425 Cadillac V8. I loved that car, too. But one day while I was in college in the mid-eighties, my folks came to visit and showed up in a 1985 Lincoln Town Car Signature Series. It was a blue metallic with blue velour interior (and with the mini vent widows, too). Apparently, the Cadillac had a sudden mechanical issue and our local Ford dealer (and a friend of the family) suggested my folks take this Lincoln (a very low mileage Ford Motor Company executive car) for their several hour drive to visit me. Although the new '86's were just out, with multiport fuel injection (the '85 had throttle body injection), I really liked their "test driver" example, secretly hoping they would buy it. I'm sure our dealer friend hoped they would, too. But, that didn't happen, as our first Lincoln would be an '89 Lincoln Continental Signature Series -- the front drive version. Another story, but also a good one.
Bought a 1980 used, two tone black and light bronze, loved it. Bought a new 1984, blue with plush blue cloth interior and real Lincoln wire wheels with Uniroyal royal seal tires, loved that too. Bought 1999 new too. All great cars, shame can't buy a sedan anymore.
Ah, yes, the original version of the Lincoln Town Car. I used to have a Crown Victoria of the same year, 1989, but this is more luxurious. It was even a Presidential Car once for the first Bush.
I've owned several Lincolns, and I've owned one Cadillac and driven dozens. This particular Lincoln, especially after 1985, rode way better than any Cadillac I've ever been in. This is my favorite, and I'm looking to buy another one next year.
@@eth39232 If you check the 1980 sales brochure in the specifications pages you will see the description of “Lincoln Continental Town Car and Town Coupe”.
@@markbehr88 But the Town Car and Town Coupe were the premium versions of the Continental. There was a base Continental (non-Town) sedan and coupe also.
@@eth39232 sure, but the point being they were available on what is the same car from 1980 not 1981. And the reference to Town Car goes way back before the 58-60 model Lincolns. I have some K series Lincoln brochures from the 1930’s and they reference Town Car too - so the term was used for many years.
I had a 1980 CONTINENTAL Town Car. The difference was in the treatment of the rear of the car. It had every option except for the moonroof. I had to replace the DS window lift motor which entailed cutting into some metal in the door interior frame. Other than that it was trouble free. Mine had one of the 351s. Probably the best car I will ever own
Bought a 1988 base Town Car from the estate of a retired USAF officer with only 6300 miles on it in 2004. It needed 8K invested into it to get it right for the road because it sat in a garage. Kept it for 7 years and drove it all over the western USA, a great road car. Could've used a 351 V8 for abit more power, the worst brakes in any car I've owned due to its heft. Once you figured out that secret locking button setup in the drivers door, it was easy to use.
I had a 1999 town car. there is nothing like it. work the air ride and road hugging weight give it suck a great ride. then on top of all of that they are reliable. when I was a kid my friends dad had the Lincoln mark v. it was red with I think was good rims. I thought that car was from the future. with the digital dash. that was untill my family got a 1989 Oldsmobile toronado trofeo with the VIC center. blew my mind.
I worked at a Lincoln dealership in high school and had great experiences with the ‘80 and ‘81 Lincoln models before going off to college. The movie August - Osage County features one very similar to the one featured in your video complete with an interior shot of the driver’s window being opened with the sequence of the vent window and then larger window along with numerous other interior and exterior shots.
It was these cars when I was a kid that got me hooked on full sized Fords, Lincolns, and Mercurys. Makes me wish Ford and Lincoln would bring back these style cars
I would go as far to say Lincoln really took a step back in the styling exterior wise with this generation of Town Car. Still I really do appreciate these comfortable body on frame classics.
My father drove me and my three siblings on the grand road trip of my youth in a 1981 Town Car. From Idaho to Tijuana and back. Still remember how comfortable the car was, even though it was 10 years old.
I once owned an '89 Town Car Signature that I used as a Sedan Limo Service, it was dark burgundy with a matching interior, and I put over 300,000 miles on it without a days of trouble with it, The best car I ever owned and traded it on a 1995 Town Car.
Every now and then I see a Towne Coupe, or even a plain 2dr sedan from the early years of this platform and I still think they look good. Didn't sell many though, much rarer than a Mark VI / the era of the huge coupe had passed. While I recognize the vast drivetrain improvements that came along as the years prorgessed, I still like the square rigged styling of the original version more than the tailift refresh. Loved the keypad - meant I didn't have to carry my keys with me, when I didn't want to fool with them, standing around a bar - just tossed them in the trunk. (Your power window guy drives 9 hours to see you? Damn!)
That's what I thought, too. The drive. Eighteen hours of driving is friendship, I don't care if it's in the back seat, with a driver. It's the miles on the car for content that I'm conflicted about. I guess the market value is too low to worry about it. I traded for a lot of these in 1996, when I started selling Buicks. They looked dated. It was easy to sell against with a Buick Park Avenue. We now have a 2017 Continental Reserve....and I sell Chevys, even the electric ones. Still cars, still fun.
You can’t beat the ride of these cars, I’m sorry. I’ve owned 4 Town Cars and they were my most favorite cars I’ve ever owned. My last TC was an 88 Cartier Series, two tone briar brown and champagne with Dove grey leather interior, moonroof and turbine wheels. Absolutely stunning car. People used to pull up next to me and gawk because of the fine shape she was in. I kept her washed and waxed always. God I miss that car. 😥😥
I loved the early-mid 80's town cars. My brother-n-law owned a 1981 and he, my sister, and my 2 nephews used to drive from Detroit to Memphis to visit my mom. When we would visit them in Detroit, my bro-n-law and sis would take us all over the city.
These cars were excellent. they rode great and drove great. My friend's parents had a limo company. Every car they got 600000 miles out of the original engine. The only weak spot in my opinion was the AOD transmission.
The Lincoln’s may have appeared to be dated back in the late 1980’s, but over the long term, their styling has proven to be pretty much timeless. It’s a design language that comes right back after it goes away. That’s because, in truth, it’s far more elegant and classy than the proverbial jelly bean styling that so many other cars are stuck with. Between the Cadillac and the Lincoln’s, the Lincoln’s have proven themselves to be much better built than anything coming from General Motors. I just purchased a 1978 Lincoln Continental Mark V because of its fantastic looks, more powerful engine, and very high quality that’s simply not available in any Cadillac, especially from that time period.
I had a 1986 Town Car Cartier with those same wheels, the fake convertible top and digital dash. The 302 finally blew a head gasket at 386,775 miles. I miss that car!
I have a 1997 Lincoln Town car I’ve had it about a year about 90,000 miles on it absolutely love the car if it’s not the best car I’ve ever owned it’s close! I got north of 22 miles per gallon going 78 miles an hour when I drove to my sister‘s wedding last month! These cars are definitely a modern classic!
The 80"s Lincolns are some of my favorites. I think Lincoln made a few mistakes along the way such as, relocating the horn from the steering wheel to the turn signal stalk and experimenting with eggcrate grill pattern. I think the 1988 and 1989 models were improved to perfection and help Lincoln end the decade model run with a bang.
I owned an '81 and a '92. By far the '81 was a superior automobile. I wish I still had the '81. Such a classic car and ride and handling were tops. It was white with landau padded top and red velvet interior. I grieve for trading it in. Thanks for the vidoe.
Two weeks ago I drove a 2007 Lincoln 70 inch limousine (parlor car) 2000 miles in 3 days to deliver it and visit with the friend that purchased it. I had admired Panther platforms as nice cars but 600+ miles for 3 days will either make it or break it for a vehicle. The front suspension and brake upgrade done in 2003 (correct me if wrong) gave a lot better steering and stability. between Texas and Oregon there were lots of challenging roads and crosswinds and the whole drive was very comfortable and enjoyable. I drove above posted limit, including some stretches of 80 mph posted, and trip average was 22.1 with the added weight of the limo conversion.
I was a mechanic for a Limo Co in NYC during this time. (Early 80s) We had all stretches, Cadillacs and Lincoln's. I once flew down to Arkansas to see the stretching process. Truly remarkable, cut a brand new car in half and rebuild. But in my opinion, the Cadillacs of that era were much better built.
I was fortunate to drive one of these for a few weeks and compared to the ‘85 Eldorado I owned the TownCar was Much better handling, and so Quiet and the Ride no comparison. It’s a Pleasure to drive.
I worked at a mercury Lincoln dealership in the mid 80's and thought these Lincolns were very nice cars. They were very reliable and handled well for a luxury car. They turned very short, making them easy to park in a shopping center lot.
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Those Lincoln commercials that pointed out the very worst aspects of GM’s badge-engineering days were brilliant. Unless you were a total GM loyalist or an extreme Ford hater, the ads really gave you something to think about if you were in the market for a new car. Thanks, Adam. 👍👍👍
By 1980 my dad gave up on GM with the diesel Eldorado and went to MB 190.
@@rogersmith7396 Lol… I owned a 2nd hand ‘84 Chevy Suburban with that diesel. I bought it to pull a small RV. It was such a dog that kicking it to downshift on the highway would absolutely do nothing. I was better off NOT downshifting and hoping a half-throttle would create enough torque to accelerate. And if you opened the hood, you’d get overwhelmed with the smell of unburned diesel fuel.
Diesel fuel pumps and injectors have to be calibrated. Black smoke and low power indicates too rich and out of tune.
@@Primus54 I liked my 6.2 diesel, by the TH700R4 behind it was a hopeless, no-shifting mess of a transmission. It's only saving grace was great hiway mileage (without towing). These were not super-powered diesels like today, which is why the gas 454 was the top towing engine for GM back in those days.
Yes , those commercials were very funny .
The ‘81-‘89 was such a classy looking car. In late 1988 a relative of mine bought a a loaded ‘89 Cartier, gray with the gray leather and the embroidered Cartier insignias on the seats. Arguably the most comfortable car I have ever driven in.
If it was 88 then howd they get an 89?
@@Jimmy-xx2co 89 models were launched in september of 88, same as every year of car since at least the 60s (hence 64.5 mustang)
One of the nicest riding cars ever built. From a long-time Cadillac owner, that's saying a lot. Both Henry Martyn Leland and William Crapo Durant, are 6th cousins of mine.
Drove GM for YEARS... Bought a new TC on 89,been drivin' L-M ever since. They're better cars PERIOD
Oh, how I remember that Lincoln TV commercial. It was so hilarious!
Dad came back from the USMC,and bought my mother a new 76 Mark 4 Emilio Puccini,Burgundy& Burgundy interior, super plush /Silver Half top,Moon roof!!ofc the showroom floor,I was 10, .Holiday Lincoln FT Worth TX,great trips to Corpus to see grandparents
I bought an ‘89 Town Car last year - one of 3,,813 built with a Bright Currant Red Valino Coach Vinyl Roof - on white with the turbine wheel covers and a matching Currant red interior similar to Tony’s. Have to say aside from the fancy names on the exterior features, these cars are growing in popularity and are beloved by their owners for their classiness. You just don’t see colors on cars like this anymore and the ride, buttery-smooth 5.0 and reliability are outstanding.
I just bought an 86 and I love it!
I worked for the Lincoln Mercury Division of Ford when we ran that commercial. We sold a LOT of Lincolns from that advertisement. The Town Car was our biggest seller, but when given a choice of company cars, I always selected a Mark VII LSC. The Mercedes 500SEC was the target vehicle for the LSC, and it had a combination of luxury and performance unmatched by anything made by GM. You should give an LSC a try, Adam. Love your channel!
I'm going to buy one of those too. I had a '95 LSC last year, but I want an '89 to play with. Perfect fox chassis with irs and rear discs.
The air ride was exceptional on the LSC. And surprise, surprise. It got great fuel mileage on the highway.
@@nomebear Ford had that AOD dialed in with the torque converter, outstanding highway cruising from that platform.
My '86 Cartier was one of the best cars I have ever owned. Even though it was full-sized it was very nimble to handle. It went well over 300K and was always in the road. It was bullet-proof. Other than regular maintenance it only ever needed a water pump. One of the highlights of the entry system was that even if the locks froze you could still un-lock the car! I would love to have another one of these.
My favorite Lincoln styling ❤️ was this body platform
Love these cars, but they look even better in 2 door form as well as the Mark VI.
Thank you once again, Adam....that was another great trip visiting you.
These models began in 1980 - had a two door Town Coupe in red with a landau white vinyl top and red leather interior. Stunning vehicle! The "keyless entry" started in 1980 also. Also had a 1980 Thunderbird Town Landau in medium metallic brown with medium "chamois" vinyl landau roof and matching cloth interior. That was the first year for the digital dash too.
Correct
Started drivin Lincoln's & Mercs in 89 after years of driving Cads & Buicks. Still drive em today. GM doesn' t build as good as car as Ford does period
Exactly. This platform was introduced as the Continental Town Car for 1980, then renamed simply Town Car in 1981.
Yes 1980. He should know that.
That Lincoln Commercial was great, I remember it from seeing it on TV. Very nice car. You two make a good team.....
That's a beautiful 1st generation panther, I'm still driven my 3rd generation Towncar!! Thanks for the video on the Panther!!!
Panthers Rule!!
Nice
These were the best riding cars, and some of the subtle styling updates towards the end of this generation, like the body colored bumper wraparounds on the front, the amber parking lights versus the earlier clear ones, and the upgraded tail lamps (more rounded and less boxy) really made these great looking cars. That commercial was really spot on - even though the Town Car was riding on the same basic platform as the Crown Vic and Grand Marquis (two very good cars in their own right), you would never mistake a Town Car for anything else.
The model in arctic white in the video looks so nice - I'm guessing that today, you'd get plenty of looks in that car.
The 89 TC was elegantly classy. The 1990 didn't do it for me. It took many years to appreciate the bubble TCs. Now I appreciate those more. The end of the line in 2011 was a sad day in the auto world. The 1989 looks old timey, in a good way. (we had two 89 TC Limos for our wedding in 1990, one silver and one white.)
It’s a good Saturday morning when I wake up to another excellent video. I often rented these Town Cars in the 80’s during my trips to New York and even had one for prom. 😂. I loved the buttery smooth engine and the power vent window (which moved fast!) was the cherry on top. As you mentioned, the ride was fantastic and the handling wasn’t bad. Thanks again for the great video!
Great video. I know this is an 89, but iirc 1988 was Lincoln's best year ever, so these days when this 89 was new was such a great time for Lincoln/Mercury.
The Town Car was light years ahead of the Fleetwood Brougham with advancements in fuel injection, fit and finish, crash test scores, quality, and durability.
The Keypad entry system was so neat back in the 80's and felt "space-age" with the digital dash and the trip computer. This was the days when Lincolns were seen as near the top of the top.
These were very expensive cars back in the day and the new Town Car customer wasn't just anyone, as they were typically very successful business owners and wise investors. Town Car people usually dressed very conservatively with dark colors, while the Cadillac customers were often very much "more loud" and flamboyant. Town Car people were typically first generational wealth, that made it from nothing, and Cadillac customers were usually from "old money" and didn't mind showing off their money.
Such an amazing video and such a neat time for the USA back then... Lincoln was market competitive back then and very desirable.
Great job Adam and Tony!!!!
Yes, Ford's downsizing in the early 80's resulted in much better driving cars. One thing I recall that impressed me about full-sized Fords of this vintage was the driver's door armrest. It was wide and place well, at least for my size and shape. It was a small thing, but I don't recall any other car getting so right.
Actually, not at all a small thing!
Amazing how some years and the wheels and paint combos look so much better. One thing i love about Ford full size vehicles is the keyless entry keypad. Had them on my LSC, Explorer, Grand Marquis, Crown Vic, Sable, etc. Knowing you will never get locked out is a nice feeling and unlike my old 98 f150 with no keypad that frequently locks itself when you close the door, i can leave the car running and get out for a sec and lock it if needed. Now i carry a spare key for the truck in the fuel door... It's too bad Ford didn't make the heater core accessible on those 4.6's however, what a pain in the rear.
Yes. The keyless entry is one of the best features of Fords.
Gad, that ad must have ticked off GMs Letter Car Era bosses. 🥝✔️
GM did it to themselves, along with their crappy quality fit/finish.
My mom bought a new 1973 Lincoln Town car. A magnificent automobile. As a 16 year old at the time I'll never forget the ride and drive! Those vent windows had an attachment glued to the vent glass itself. Car wasn't more than two months old before those pulled away from the glass on more than one occasion. They eventually figured out how to bond it and they never failed again through end of life of the automobile. This 89s design was much improved with the stationary frame just not as appealing as the original.
I always liked those town cars. Yeah, a little boxy, but the total look was relatively clean and crisp. These cars really did most everything well, and had good reliability.
Those Panther platform cars are bullet proof. Many are still in police service today
Do you live in 1986?
I really liked this era of Town Car. I just never understood Ford’s operators ergonomics and what they were going for. That’s one thing GM got spot on with the Saginaw steering columns and smart stick turn signal stalks. Chrysler even adapted their version of them for tilt/cruise/wiper/turn signal. But Ford always had that separate stalk way in back for wipers and that annoying lever on the right to adjust the wheel alone. Totally agree with Adam on that.
Also, for a while Ford also had the horn where you would push the turn signal stalk in. That was like, some kind of French or Russian engineering idea lol….. thankfully that only lasted a year or two.
My mother had a 94 Town Car after her 83 Colony Park. I've been looking for another Town Car like that for a while just for road trips from Phoenix to Denver. The pre-98 redesign is the best to me. 96-97 being the best years.
My grandfather owned an '87 Grand Marquis that was an amazingly smooth cruiser. Finding a survivor from that era of the Panthers is definitely on my automotive bucket list.
Currently saving for one 😎
I'm 22 I have a light blue 1988 Lincoln Town Car base model with 94k on it now paint is faded to a nice patina car runs absolutely great I love every minute with it has yet to let me down
Probably my favorite generation of Town Cars. Never know you could get the model in a 2 door, but makes sense with the Mark VI.
The Mark series was on the Cougar Thunderbird platform and the Town Coupe was just a 2Dr Town car (I have a 75 TC)
@yurimodin7333 Yes, the Mark shared that platform, but the Mark VI was on the Panther platform in the early 80's where it shared the body with Town Car. It returned to share the Thunderbird platform, which were Fox bodies at the time, with the Mark VII. I meant I didn't know the Town Car had a 2 door option that early in the 80's. Btw, I also have a '75 Continental Town Coupe. Good car... hard to find parts for.
I’ve got an 89 almost identical to the white one. It’s my second and I absolutely love it. Great video
We had an '84 growing up. I know every contour of the body as we washed it every Saturday morning with my dad all through high school.
One of my neighbors back in the eighties had two successive ones of these, and he and his wife loved them . Their next one was the restyled rounder body and I agreed with him, it wasn't as comfortable and the ride wasn't as smooth. But this did look really outdated by the time it was replaced. This is a really beautiful color. I subscribe to nearly 100 channels on YT but when I see a new video here, it trumps the news channels!
My grandparents had an ‘89 Town Car and I remember it well. I always rode in the center front seat with them when it was just the 3 of us. I remember that floaty ride on country roads, it could get quite nautical but I loved it! My other grandparents had an ‘84 Firebird and then a ‘91 and I liked the Town Car much more.
Same memory with my grandparents..that's what brought me here.👍🏼
@@TheMrjetdoc35 My grandparents are thankfully still here. My grandpa will be 85 in May and he’s still a very good driver. Believe it or not they drive a Honda CRV now, just shows how automotive tastes and trends have changed (not so much for the good). I sometimes joke with him that the cheap tinny sound the doors make, the noisy tires, and not so soft ride are a far cry from their old Lincolns. He likes the Honda though and always praises it’s fuel economy and says you have to be a little more budget conscious on a fixed income. I for one would not drive a CRV or any Japanese or Korean car though.
My in-laws owned the Cartier trimmed version. It was a lovely highway cruiser that served us and the second owners very well. The only problem was the trim on the padded glove compartment curling, and a crack in the arm rest. It replaced an 1982 Cadillac Brougham d' Elegance that was also reliable. The fit and finish on both cars was exceptional.
I got my DL in '86: Dad had an '82 TC & a '77 Coupe Deville w/the 425/4bbl at the time. I recall the TC could bury the needle quicker, but when the Caddy kicked down & the 4 barrel opened up, man that felt way better. 👍👍
My now-deceased aunt bought a brand new Signature Series in 1987. Seeing I was born in 1982, I have very fond memories of riding in it as she and her oldest sister would take my younger brother and me out on the weekends to diners and arcades. The car rode very smoothly and was quiet. I can still remember the transmission being a bit clunky as it jumped between gears and wouldn't change gears quickly. The only other con is the exterior styling. I've never been too fond of the exterior styling of those Town Cars vs the RWD Devilles and Fleetwoods of the same era. I was very impressed with the completely redesigned Town Car in 1990, as it was more stylish, modern, and contemporary vs the 1981-89.
They sure did sell a ton of these. One used to see them everywhere.
It's hard to argue with the panther platform cars. I think this gen Town Car is the most attractive, but they all ride nicely and are very comfortable. I also have big respect for Lincoln's advertising during this era to take such a direct shot at GM styling like that. Not they didn't mention the Fleetwood/Brougham, which I think was a more attractive car than the Lincoln... But the cad retained either the 4.1 or a carbed 307, so it'd be hard for me to argue that the Lincoln didn't have thesuperior power plant. Even when the Brougham got the fi Chevy 5.0 and 350, Lincoln had moved onto the next generation with a much more modern look, and the also excellent 4.6. Ford really knew what they were doing with Lincoln during this era. The bustle back continental and Mark VII are some of my favorite 80s cars, along with this handsome first gen Town Car (and of course the hidden headlight Mark VI).
I respect all the Panthers but I have to give top grades to the Colony Parks and Country Squires that represent the last generation of full-size, body on frame FoMoCo wagons.
The Fleetwood/Brougham was a better looking car but the Towncar had a better motor & build quality.
I was a Chauffeur 1989-1991, and the company I drove for had 5 of these body styles. The 1986 and 1987, were especially nice cars. Obviously, they were stretched versions. The owner also rented an 88 model Town car on one occasion. And I got to drive it back to the rental company. I can attest that these Lincoln’s were very nice driving cars. Thanks for this particular segment on your channel.
Complete agree. We owned a 1988 TC and it was a great driving and smooth riding car. The main problem was they are majorly rust prone and the interior door panels just didn’t hold up.
We now drive a 97 TC. Very nice car, but it feels much less luxurious. However, zero rust issues and the interior really holds up.
I was given a 1985 Town Car that my brother-in-law had purchased - it was not much to look at but was a gem with the powertrain. Us two backyard mechanics completely replaced the interior of that Lincoln from a white leather interior that had dry rotted after sitting near the beach. We found a junked similar age Lincoln in a junk yard that had front end damage but the interior was water tight and amazing in condition. We replaced the seats, door panels, all plastic trim, and headliner and the car was a dark blue with a nice dark blue crushed velour interior. None of the power windows would roll down and the moon roof would not work either. Each door took vacuuming to remove sand and a can for each door of WD40 but the windows finally rolled down and we did a similar cleaning job on the moon roof to get it to work. The following Christmas I was given that car and it was a wonderful vehicle. It was like driving your living room. So quiet and so roomy. I ended up having to part with it after not having room to store it. I wish I still had it. It had the digital dash which had a panel that didn't work but a trip to a wrecking yard and we pulled the entire cluster out for $25 and replaced the one panel and it worked! I was getting 30 mpgs on the highway with mine and consistently 20 mpgs per tank while driving that in mixed driving. I need to buy another one once I finish the car payment on the car I own.
I got a chance to drive a 1988 Town Car. It was a really cool experience.
Thank you for sharing this video and sharing your friend Tony and his Town Car. I enjoyed hearing about the Town Car and its history. I rode in one of these years ago. I really enjoyed the experience. I liked what you shared about that GM commercial from the era. That really got GM big time. The look a like styling and downsizing did not help at all. Lincoln cashed in on that for many years of success. These were reliable and kept up technically as well. Buick Riviera had the keyless entry system when they downsized it in 1986. The feature disappeared by the time they upsized the Riviera for 1989.
Both the Town Car and the Brougham are both amazingly beautiful automobiles. I think the Lincoln had the edge in smoothness due to the fact that they had the more updated Fuel Injection engine versus the carb version on the Cadillac. I also think the Lincoln was more modern looking versus the older dated Cadillac design. I do love how this car was ordered though. The credit option for the wire wheel covers is priceless!
Thank you, Kenneth!
I actually found the Brougham of the era more modern looking as it was a bit sleeker and the Lincolns, until 1990, had a more stodgy look, like an old European luxury car. There is a bit of awkwardness to its style and proportions, like the lower-side trim oddly ends before the before the bumpers, and the stubbier tail, but longer front overhang, doesn’t flow with motion as well as the longer tail and less-obvious front overhang on the Brougham. I think the 1990 Town Car redesign was a big improvement, though unfortunately that design wasn’t quite as imposing as this, having been rounded a bit in a transition to the “aero” look of the 90s.
I own the fully loaded 1988 Lincoln Town Car Cartier w/ full leather interior, rear auto leveling air ride, i still drive the Car almost everyday, and honestly for it's size and Ride, i can't think of a better car, they even get what i consider good fuel mileage, considering how big the car is, and they are easy and cheap to repair in most cases. Long live these Town cars!!
My father's boss had a 1987 Lincoln Town Car and I was obsessed with that car as a kid. I think the 80's Town Car is the best looking luxury car of all time.
I know it's a typo, but the Town Car was in production for so long I almost feel like it's not totally improbable that someone has one dating to 21 years after the Norman conquest of England. :)
@@ZGryphon 😂😂😂
@@ZGryphon Ha. Sorry about that.
I was a Budget car rental mechanic in the mid/late1980s. Our fleet was filled with Town Cars and Caddys. The Lincoln was such an amazingly reliable car. Caddys were relatively problematic and squeaky. Caddy ride was quieter and less floaty than the Lincolns. The only common issue Lincons had were ignition modules dying and sometimes a fuel pump. Caddys still had carburetors which worked very well. If you get a chance, find a Lincoln LSC of the era. Those are incredible cars, (except the diesel models).
Love your euphemism for the way those 70s full size Fords handled... in a nautical manner. A Very tactful allusion to the boats that they were.
The Signature Series had the best seats out of all the Town Rods. My only gripe with those cars was that chinsy, steering column they had. You got the same thing if you bought a Ford Fairmont. I'm glad you touched on the tilt situation. I totally agree with you.
This design was released in 1980, not 1981.
Absolutely loved my 1989 Town car. Best ride super reliable
I had a 1989 signature series with moonroof Digital dash White blue canvas roof white leather. What a gem sorry I don't have it now
Thanks Adam! I love your channel, and as a Panther car owner, I'm thrilled to see you talking about one. Cheers!
Have had 78 , 83, and 2007 GRAND MARQUIS, 78 TOWN Coupe, 89 Signature, and 89 Crown VictoriaLX, several 80S Fifth Avenues, and 89 and 93 RWD FLEETWOODS. 89 FLEETWOODS and the Fifths with plush velvet interiors were favorite interiors. Personally prefer squared off FORMAL look. Love the commercial shown! Hated 🤮 downsized GMs. Currently have beautiful low mileage Lincoln Town Car Signature Limited and will never let it go! Best of current Luxury vehicles! Who wants a glorified truck? NOT me! Over all 89 TOWN CAR Signature and 89 Crown Vic LS were my favorites! 🏆. Great post. 👍
I’ve owned three Lincolns now. My 1988 Town Car was by far my favorite in terms of style and comfort. Unfortunately it was rife with issues like a slipping power window motor, sticking A/C compressor clutch, sagging glove box padding, cracking driver door upholstery, and starter problems (mostly from the inside fender mount solenoid). I drive a 2016 MKC now which rides surprisingly well, but this takes me back to that ‘88 Town Car. I love your channel. Thanks for posting.
Great review.... I have driven 100's of these Town Cars. Once they became fuel injected they were GREAT cars.
I learned to drive on my mom’s new 1985 Cartier TC, it was like piloting a yacht on the twisty two lanes around our house. She actually liked it way more than the ‘86 560SL my dad got for her, so after getting my license she gave me the 2-seater for my car. However, much as I loved that SL and my dad’s SEL, I always took the TC on weekends for cruises with buddies… 6-7 of us fit! An incredible machine, the peaked hood + Lincoln star were special.
I was a Cadillac Man for many years until Cadillac introduced the ht4100. They destroyed them at that point. I traded the Fleetwood Brougham d'Elegance I had for a jaguar. After that I swapped out to Lincoln Town Car and had several of them over the years. Including a presidential series as well as an informal limousine which was a rare car. To this day I have a Lincoln Navigator that is absolutely immaculate and very dependable. The navigate is a 2008 and only has $97,000 Mi on it we don't drive it a lot. But it is an absolute stunning example of a Lincoln Navigator
I miss my 88 town car. It was my second car given to me by my aunt after I had my 85 crown Vic both on the same platform. Nothing ride's like a Lincoln. I think Cadillac Fleetwood drive nice also but more floaty & seem to lean more while making turns & applying the brakes they seem to dip forward to much & at acceleration at green lights the front end seems to pitch up higher. My opinion I guess but I stand by my Lincoln's
A wonderful car -- I'm glad you featured it! I have a lot of experience with two Mark VIs Signature Series sedans, which were each wonderful cars in their own way. The Keyless Entry System was first offered for the 1980 model year on the Lincoln Continental, Mark VI, Thunderbird, and Cougar.
Adam, Let's all join you in welcoming Tony back to the channel especially because Tony and I share the same driving philosophy. This Town Car is one notch up from my old '91 Grand Marquis. In a side note to valet parking staff or those aspiring to a rewarding career in valet parking, bringing the guest the wrong car may severely imperil your tip earnings. 🤨
Thank you very much!
I have two. An 87 Sail America and an 89 Cartier. In the day, you were someone if you pulled up in a Lincoln Town Car. My favorite vintage. Great video
I have a 2016 Ford F-150 and the keypad still works the exact same way. Except the 5/6 button lowers the tailgate. Great feature and I’m glad Ford kept it all these years later.
Great print article on 80 through 84 Lincoln Town Cars and their development in August 22 COLLECTIBLE AUTOMOBILE.
Hi Adam, As the owner of three Panther platform vehicles I can honestly say that your conclusions of your test drive in the 1989 Lincoln Town Car were spot on in my opinion. I have a 1987 Crown Victoria wagon, a 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis LS 50th Anniversary Edition sedan and a 1991 Crown Victoria LX wagon and I can say that as well as the Fords ride the Mercury's ride is even softer. Perhaps the springs are softer on the Mercury or the crush velour seats are softer or both. Please advise if you or Tony have any info in that regard. Thanks for the video!
The Lincoln Town Car was one of greatest automobiles ever produced! My mother owned many Lincolns. I was dropped off at college freshman year in a white 1989 Lincoln Town Car with burgundy interior like the one shown , only it had the turbine wheels in lieu of the wire wheels. I have my mother’s last Lincoln Town Car, a cashmere 2005 Signature Limited now. All the bells and whistles including a moonroof. I enjoy driving it some days more than my 2021 BMW 7Series! The ride, the quality of the leather, the trunk space, and reliability are unmatched!
So cute. It's like a mini me version of my 79
I loved this review, Adam! As I have noted in your other big '70's Ford and Mercury Videos, I grew up with '69-78 full-size Fords and Mercury's. My folks bought a 1979 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham in "Cedar Firemist"; it was the final year of the 425 Cadillac V8. I loved that car, too. But one day while I was in college in the mid-eighties, my folks came to visit and showed up in a 1985 Lincoln Town Car Signature Series. It was a blue metallic with blue velour interior (and with the mini vent widows, too). Apparently, the Cadillac had a sudden mechanical issue and our local Ford dealer (and a friend of the family) suggested my folks take this Lincoln (a very low mileage Ford Motor Company executive car) for their several hour drive to visit me. Although the new '86's were just out, with multiport fuel injection (the '85 had throttle body injection), I really liked their "test driver" example, secretly hoping they would buy it. I'm sure our dealer friend hoped they would, too. But, that didn't happen, as our first Lincoln would be an '89 Lincoln Continental Signature Series -- the front drive version. Another story, but also a good one.
Bought a 1980 used, two tone black and light bronze, loved it. Bought a new 1984, blue with plush blue cloth interior and real Lincoln wire wheels with Uniroyal royal seal tires, loved that too. Bought 1999 new too. All great cars, shame can't buy a sedan anymore.
Ah, yes, the original version of the Lincoln Town Car. I used to have a Crown Victoria of the same year, 1989, but this is more luxurious. It was even a Presidential Car once for the first Bush.
I had an '89 Crown Vic for a while too. Great car, until the frame rusted out.
I've owned several Lincolns, and I've owned one Cadillac and driven dozens. This particular Lincoln, especially after 1985, rode way better than any Cadillac I've ever been in.
This is my favorite, and I'm looking to buy another one next year.
They were actually produced from the 1980 model year.
Adam might argue that the car was called Continental for 1980. Continental name dropped for 1981, then reappeared in 1982 on Fox platform car.
@@eth39232 If you check the 1980 sales brochure in the specifications pages you will see the description of “Lincoln Continental Town Car and Town Coupe”.
@@markbehr88 But the Town Car and Town Coupe were the premium versions of the Continental. There was a base Continental (non-Town) sedan and coupe also.
@@eth39232 sure, but the point being they were available on what is the same car from 1980 not 1981. And the reference to Town Car goes way back before the 58-60 model Lincolns. I have some K series Lincoln brochures from the 1930’s and they reference Town Car too - so the term was used for many years.
I had a 1980 CONTINENTAL Town Car. The difference was in the treatment of the rear of the car. It had every option except for the moonroof. I had to replace the DS window lift motor which entailed cutting into some metal in the door interior frame. Other than that it was trouble free. Mine had one of the 351s. Probably the best car I will ever own
While I'm not in love with its looks, I can't deny that this Lincoln is a well made and extraordinarily comfortable car.
Bought a 1988 base Town Car from the estate of a retired USAF officer with only 6300 miles on it in 2004. It needed 8K invested into it to get it right for the road because it sat in a garage. Kept it for 7 years and drove it all over the western USA, a great road car. Could've used a 351 V8 for abit more power, the worst brakes in any car I've owned due to its heft. Once you figured out that secret locking button setup in the drivers door, it was easy to use.
I had a 1999 town car. there is nothing like it. work the air ride and road hugging weight give it suck a great ride. then on top of all of that they are reliable. when I was a kid my friends dad had the Lincoln mark v. it was red with I think was good rims. I thought that car was from the future. with the digital dash. that was untill my family got a 1989 Oldsmobile toronado trofeo with the VIC center. blew my mind.
I worked at a Lincoln dealership in high school and had great experiences with the ‘80 and ‘81 Lincoln models before going off to college. The movie August - Osage County features one very similar to the one featured in your video complete with an interior shot of the driver’s window being opened with the sequence of the vent window and then larger window along with numerous other interior and exterior shots.
I want an '85-'89 Town Car.
I think ANY Town Car in good shape would be awesome.
@@WhittyPics Even a 1990-1997 one. (Though 1980-1989, or even 1974-1979, would be just as good or better.)
It was these cars when I was a kid that got me hooked on full sized Fords, Lincolns, and Mercurys. Makes me wish Ford and Lincoln would bring back these style cars
Nice car, I used to see so many of these around here in the Northeast. Currently own an 89 Grand Marquis and it is a total pleasure to drive as well.
I would go as far to say Lincoln really took a step back in the styling exterior wise with this generation of Town Car. Still I really do appreciate these comfortable body on frame classics.
A magnificent step back!
I had a 1986 town Car. Loved it. The 302 I"ve had in a Mustang, a Grenada, a Country Squire wagon and the Town Car. It's a great motor
My father drove me and my three siblings on the grand road trip of my youth in a 1981 Town Car. From Idaho to Tijuana and back. Still remember how comfortable the car was, even though it was 10 years old.
I once owned an '89 Town Car Signature that I used as a Sedan Limo Service, it was dark burgundy with a matching interior, and I put over 300,000 miles on it without a days of trouble with it, The best car I ever owned and traded it on a 1995 Town Car.
I rode in one of these that was still being used as a livery cab in the mid-2000s. It rattled over bumps and the ride felt very floaty.
Every now and then I see a Towne Coupe, or even a plain 2dr sedan from the early years of this platform and I still think they look good. Didn't sell many though, much rarer than a Mark VI / the era of the huge coupe had passed. While I recognize the vast drivetrain improvements that came along as the years prorgessed, I still like the square rigged styling of the original version more than the tailift refresh. Loved the keypad - meant I didn't have to carry my keys with me, when I didn't want to fool with them, standing around a bar - just tossed them in the trunk. (Your power window guy drives 9 hours to see you? Damn!)
That's what I thought, too. The drive. Eighteen hours of driving is friendship, I don't care if it's in the back seat, with a driver. It's the miles on the car for content that I'm conflicted about. I guess the market value is too low to worry about it. I traded for a lot of these in 1996, when I started selling Buicks. They looked dated. It was easy to sell against with a Buick Park Avenue. We now have a 2017 Continental Reserve....and I sell Chevys, even the electric ones. Still cars, still fun.
You can’t beat the ride of these cars, I’m sorry. I’ve owned 4 Town Cars and they were my most favorite cars I’ve ever owned. My last TC was an 88 Cartier Series, two tone briar brown and champagne with Dove grey leather interior, moonroof and turbine wheels. Absolutely stunning car. People used to pull up next to me and gawk because of the fine shape she was in. I kept her washed and waxed always. God I miss that car. 😥😥
I loved the early-mid 80's town cars. My brother-n-law owned a 1981 and he, my sister, and my 2 nephews used to drive from Detroit to Memphis to visit my mom. When we would visit them in Detroit, my bro-n-law and sis would take us all over the city.
These cars were excellent. they rode great and drove great. My friend's parents had a limo company. Every car they got 600000 miles out of the original engine. The only weak spot in my opinion was the AOD transmission.
The Lincoln’s may have appeared to be dated back in the late 1980’s, but over the long term, their styling has proven to be pretty much timeless. It’s a design language that comes right back after it goes away. That’s because, in truth, it’s far more elegant and classy than the proverbial jelly bean styling that so many other cars are stuck with. Between the Cadillac and the Lincoln’s, the Lincoln’s have proven themselves to be much better built than anything coming from General Motors.
I just purchased a 1978 Lincoln Continental Mark V because of its fantastic looks, more powerful engine, and very high quality that’s simply not available in any Cadillac, especially from that time period.
I had a 1986 Town Car Cartier with those same wheels, the fake convertible top and digital dash. The 302 finally blew a head gasket at 386,775 miles. I miss that car!
I prefer seeing the vehicle and hearing the voice. Seeing the person is like cult of personality rather than cult of car.
I have a 1997 Lincoln Town car I’ve had it about a year about 90,000 miles on it absolutely love the car if it’s not the best car I’ve ever owned it’s close! I got north of 22 miles per gallon going 78 miles an hour when I drove to my sister‘s wedding last month! These cars are definitely a modern classic!
Love these cars. My dad’s best friend had one as a company car back in ‘85. I spend a lot of time riding in the plush velour back seat.
The 80"s Lincolns are some of my favorites. I think Lincoln made a few mistakes along the way such as, relocating the horn from the steering wheel to the turn signal stalk and experimenting with eggcrate grill pattern. I think the 1988 and 1989 models were improved to perfection and help Lincoln end the decade model run with a bang.
Always hated the signal stalk horn and eggcrate grill--passionately!
Cool video. The keypad entry feature brings back memories of my 1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, 1994 Ford Taurus SHO, and 1997 Lincoln Mark VIII.
I owned an '81 and a '92. By far the '81 was a superior automobile. I wish I still had the '81. Such a classic car and ride and handling were tops. It was white with landau padded top and red velvet interior. I grieve for trading it in. Thanks for the vidoe.
Two weeks ago I drove a 2007 Lincoln 70 inch limousine (parlor car) 2000 miles in 3 days to deliver it and visit with the friend that purchased it. I had admired Panther platforms as nice cars but 600+ miles for 3 days will either make it or break it for a vehicle. The front suspension and brake upgrade done in 2003 (correct me if wrong) gave a lot better steering and stability. between Texas and Oregon there were lots of challenging roads and crosswinds and the whole drive was very comfortable and enjoyable. I drove above posted limit, including some stretches of 80 mph posted, and trip average was 22.1 with the added weight of the limo conversion.
I was a mechanic for a Limo Co in NYC during this time. (Early 80s) We had all stretches, Cadillacs and Lincoln's. I once flew down to Arkansas to see the stretching process. Truly remarkable, cut a brand new car in half and rebuild. But in my opinion, the Cadillacs of that era were much better built.
My best bud's mom had an 86 I believe. Loved those plush seats. My father always dreamed of owning one but sadly that never came to pass.
I was fortunate to drive one of these for a few weeks and compared to the ‘85 Eldorado I owned the TownCar was Much better handling, and so Quiet and the Ride no comparison. It’s a Pleasure to drive.
I worked at a mercury Lincoln dealership in the mid 80's and thought these Lincolns were very nice cars. They were very reliable and handled well for a luxury car. They turned very short, making them easy to park in a shopping center lot.