My Panther acquisition has put me in a Town Car state of mind as of late. Why in the world was the TC dropped, after so many decades of production? Why did Ford add such an historic nameplate to a liveried-up MKT? And where in the world is Carmen Sandiego? Oh wait, forget that last bit…
As I was saying, a bigger Lincoln with more classic proportions would sit above the MKS in the lineup. Yes, the Panther’s time had come and gone, but why no new model, Ford? Casey at the artandcolourcars blog thought just that when creating this proposal. I like it very much, with more than a hint of 1956-57 Continental Mark II and shades of past Town Cars. So how about it FoMoCo? Let’s get this in the metal, toute de suite!
Casey’s take on the new TC (and lots of other intriguing What Ifs) can be read in its entirety at artandcolourcars.blogspot.com.
And since we’re talking would-be Town Cars, here’s my alternate proposal for the 2000 Town Car: The Continental Town Car Cartier Designer Edition. A special up-level version of the standard TC, the CTCCDE features center-hinged doors, whitewalls, full Cartier trim and the 5.4L Modular engine, in lieu of the 4.6. No options are available, as everything–EVERYTHING!–is standard.
What if and Why The Hell Not?!
That thing is amazing looking. If Ford built that I have no doubt it would greatly raise Lincoln’s profile, appeal, and sales.
Raising Lincoln’s profile, appeal, and sales wouldn’t take much, starting as low as they are.
Like the proposal for the new one, stretch an MKS in wheelbase and that would be a good start.
The biggest thing that would have given Ford greater success with the Panther’s after the gas crisis were over would have been Crown Vic on the 114 in wheelbase (as happened in real life), Grand Marquis on the 117 Town Car wheelbase (to give it more of a reason to exist), and Lincoln Town Car on the 122 in wheelbase of the “L” models as standard.
That render says Lincoln 300 C to me…
That’s what I thought as well. Needs more “Lincoln”, like a more upright C pillar.
I did always wonder what kept the 5.4 from being used. I know the 5.4 with the quad cams may have been too tall (I’m not sure how much I believe that but I’m unfamiliar with the details of the engine), but I doubt the 4.6 would have been.
In my limited experience, the 4.6L-2v is a decent engine. It’s the exhaust, gearing, and differential that is the big letdown.
After 2004, offering the 300hp version of the 4.6L might have helped though.
The main reason that a 5.4 wasn’t offered at least on Civilian Panthers is CAFE. The 4v 4.6. of course fits but CAFE still applies and is why the Marauders actually got saddled with a worse effective gear ratio than some HPP cars.
I like. In fact, I like this proposal better than I like the looks of any Lincoln after the 79 models. Lincoln is being silly trying to reach back to the 1940s for design inspiration. Lincoln has gold in the vaults with the 1961-67 years and should do something with those styling themes.
cjiguy thinks it looks like a Lincoln 300C, but this would not be a bad thing. The 300C certainly revitalized the Chrysler brand, and its general shape is modern yet classic.
It needs less 300 C and a lot more Ghost.
The TC was the affordable Rolls. Screw Chryslers.
See?
Rolls!
The back end of the MKZ looks more Dodge Dart than the back end of the Dodge Dart, and one of there three letter cars has the front end that reminds me of a 75 Ventura. These are the only things I can say about a pretty boring looking group of cars. I did like the Town Car, I wouldn’t own it but I thought it looked great.
A REAL Lincoln with a REAL name…
bring it on!
Update the 2002 Continental concept car and build it on a stretched ’15 Mustang chassis… NOW!
It would be better on a stetched Falcon floorpan but of course that’s been cancelled
But all the tooling should still be available to them. The last Fairlane was in 2007, so the LWB tooling will have been gathering dust since them. Who knows, maybe Ford Australia could supply floorpans and suspension component sets to Ford US?
The Fairlane wasn’t long enough to be a “Big” Lincoln, there were plans to extended it even more to be the Panther replacement but that was axed when Ford was busy fighting to keep out of bankruptcy.
We used to do a 121″ wheelbase LTD off an earlier version of that floorpan. That should do it. Ah well. If only the economy hadn’t tanked.
I thought the same thing (Aussie Falcon) . . . .
My thoughts exactly. I even talked to a Lincoln representative a couple of times once at the 2009 Phoenix car show and last year at the 2013 Honolulu Car Show. Biggest Lincoln passenger car is that turd of a turd the MKS (how do you make a Taurus with barn like proportions look even more zaftig? Make it an MKS!).
Roger’s right . . . . use key styling concepts of the ’02 Continental Concept car which I saw in the flesh in Detroit back in ’02 on a stretch of the ’15 Mustang chassis – an Ecoboost V-6 and a 5.0 V-8 and you’ve got a real competitive car for a change!
Of if only . . . . .
I’ve been a fan of Casey’s work at the artandcolour blog since the days of the Auto Week Combustion Chamber. He has a particular affinity for Lincoln and has produced many chops, any of which would serve Lincoln better than what they are doing now. This Town Car featured here is one of the best and would be a huge step forward for Lincoln.
Wow Lincoln should build this……which means they won’t. Instead we’ll get another tarted up front wheel drive based Ford and all of the Lincoln talking heads–sorry that should be Lincoln Motor Company talking heads–will tell us about how it is just the car that will appeal to the Lexus and Mercedes buyers and put Lincoln back on top. Yeah right.
Comments about the render appearance are good, but my “inner marketer” is screaming. To whom would Ford/Lincoln market this rear drive vehicle? The traditional Lincoln buyer who would be interested in such a car, was born in the 1930’s and isn’t walking showrooms anymore. That leaves the commercial livery business, which while certainly substantial, is unlikely to generate enough sales to justify all the new development/tooling for another rear-drive platform. Ford took a good solid look at the business, and made its wise decision. Rear-drive is dead unless the commitment is made to face BMW/Merc/Audi/Lexus head on. Cadillac is trying, with mixed results–after billions spent. Lincoln has opted out, and is trying to drift toward some sort of “techy” strategy. So……Ford’s only option for the livery biz is an existing front drive platform. since GM and Chrysler are opting out of that biz, It will all work out fine for Lincoln.
You hit the nail on the head, though…if Lincoln REALLY wants to compete with the imports that stole its thunder, or the international market, or, frankly, the Chrysler 300, which has a bunch of cachet, they need a RWD flagship with an independent rear suspension. And what did Ford just introduce? The idea of building a new TC from the new ‘Stang platform doesn’t seem so far off…now if they’d just get rid of that stupid baleen front clip… I hope Casey’s rendition has that glorious grille from the pre-baleen-era MKAviator whateverthehellyoucallthatSUVCUVthing…
Lincoln and Cadillac both should have found a way to keep their big rear-drive sedans as limited production, high-end cars. And they should find a way to bring them back, now, forget the shoulda woulda coulda.
The Escalade and “Town Car” SUV may well be the modern-day equivalent of bread and butter Broughams and Town Cars but there needs to be a new “Fleetwood 75” level car in both models. I don’t mean an actual limousine (although I do think they should be able to produce a factory one and it is embarrassing that they can’t any longer, at least at Cadillac–Lincolns were always custom jobs I think). I just mean a formal, flagship sedan. And some 2-seater trying to be a half-assed Ferrari is not going to cut it.
It would sell in limited numbers to certain markets, if we’re going to talk global marketing. If you wanted to expand a little you could allow for car service fleet sales but then I think the quality would be compromised. Which would be my concern. This would have to be a really NICE car. In other words, the cheap black pleather ‘everyday NYC car service’ interior would not–COULD NOT–be an option.
It could be done. Should be done for the sake of the brand. As far as I’m concerned if the top U.S. brands can’t even make ONE American sedan, one car that says “this is the best AMERICAN car available” then neither Lincoln or Cadillac has any reason for continued existence and there should just be upscale Fords and “General Motors” cars sold. You can try to compete in the luxury market on the bread-and-butter level but there has to be something different at the very top to make it all worth it. Otherwise, BMW makes a better BMW than Cadillac or Lincoln does.
Disclaimer: Not saying the whole line should be “re-Americanized” or “re-Broughamized”. It doesn’t sell; that time is past. But there should be something to make a Cadillac a Cadillac and a Lincoln a Lincoln even if only a few people want or can afford it. Otherwise, you’re selling nostalgia and cheaper knockoffs of other companies’ wares. In the latter case especially you might as well just get rid of the brand distinctions as they become meaningless when your competitors don’t have them.
I think there should be a new take on the Fleetwood and Towncar from Cadillac and Lincoln. Let the imports be imports, trying to be them will always fail. Can’t get more Kraut than the Krauts.
Reliable engine with power. No overengineered BS that blows head gaskets leaks oil all over the place before 100K. V6 or V8, whatever. Just something that has enough balls to make that landyacht haul when called upon.
“Real” luxury. Certainly some sort of maple or walnut decorative wood could be reasonable aquired. Partner up with a furniture making factory or something. I wouldn’t think that trim pieces would require that much material. Steering wheel, dash trim, door trim. Real wood. Any chrome pieces should be metal. If you’ve ever seen a car with plastic pieces in which the “chrome” started to peel off, you know how sad that looks. Real metal, real wood. Fewer real materials is better than more tarted up crap.
Less doo dads. I really wish all the big screens and other garbage would go by the wayside. I know people these days are enamored by tech, but someone good with these things can wire any old econobox with all the latest gizmos. In other words, anyone can have a system wherein the “car” answers your phone and pipes it through the speakers, same with your Ipod or similiar things. Big freakin deal. Practical, unobtrusive gizmos (like the backup camera screen in the rear view mirror and sensors) good, all the extra crap is a just reincarnation for today of the what could be called the worst of Broughamism.
Give me back a decent bench. The bucket cockpit stuff is getting old and I don’t think all the little trays and other crap in the middle is worth one less place for a person should I need to excercise that option. Unless its a going for that big car with a real luxury aire (ala Fleetwood Talisman) and not more space for doo-dads, give me more passenger space.
Hood ornament-how I lust after thee…
+1
There seem to be some breadcrumbs hinting at a proper Lincoln flagship under development in Dearborn. Ford neither confirms nor denies that the Mustang platform can be repurposed to build a Lincoln coupe or sedan. Ford says they’ll apply what they’ve learned from the aluminum-bodied F-150 to other models. If the next step is an aluminum unibody, a high-margin luxury car seems a logical pilot project. Ford also says there are other engines coming.
Stretched (and widened?) Mustang platform + lightweight aluminum body + Lincoln-exclusive engine = Neo-Continental?
The biggest argument against this: As long as Mulally is running the company, a loss-leader for Lincoln is a non-starter. Every vehicle has to turn a profit, and if this is a North America-only vehicle, that would be tough to pull off. Maybe China sales are the secret to making this work financially. One can hope, anyway.
The problem with Lincoln is that it no longer offers the Market a realistic illusion that differs from its competition. It isn’t about demographics regarding when a Lincoln owner was birthed. It is about the demographics that says that you buy a Lincoln when you want to exude masculine glamour. Ford figured out just how that was defined with buyers born between 1900 and 1945, but when the Boomers changed the definition of what is glamorous and what is masculine, Lincoln fell out of favor.
So screw the Boomers. Let them drive their Japanese appliances. Stop chasing their gray ponytails and refocus on young men – the new buyers.
I want to want a LINCOLN. A LINCOLN has a heritage. It has a damn name. It is a CONTINENTAL. It is a TOWN CAR. LINCOLNS have names.
A Lincoln should be big. It should look powerful. It should look like it belongs in your life when you have accomplished something big and important.
It should look like it belongs to a man. A Lincoln should be big enough inside and out for four football players to feel like kids in a minivan. It should have leather, wood and chrome inside. It should make a non-owner to wonder if they could handle something that big to drive.
A LINCOLN should look like a man cave. The man cave for a millionaire. A LINCOLN should make onlookers think about their family patriarch and remember when they didn’t have to worry about finding enough money to pay their bills. A LINCOLN should look like a place to escape for safety.
A LINCOLN should be silent and fast. It should make you feel like the first time you got a shot of single malt whiskey and discovered you liked it. A LINCOLN should make you remember finding Dad’s porn magazine stash. A LINCOLN should be a car you can’t wait to show off to your drinking buddies.
A LINCOLN celebrates masculinity while not insulting femininity.
There is a growing market for this car because it is getting harder and harder for men to find their own space. There are too many people at Ford that forgot how to stand and pee. Eventually with all the male bashing fashionable in today’s world, there should be a backlash. Sure, we got trucks – and thank god for that. But when we have to put on clean underwear, shave off our stubble, trim our nose and ears, and put on some Old Spice – we will need a car to shuttle our ladies. And LINCOLN should be that car!
HEAR ME DEARBORN?
The next time you guys have a product meeting hold that meeting at a boxing gym, then box each other for the right to call the shots on the next model of Lincoln.
Wow!
I think I need a Jack Daniels Manhattan now.
Oh, and Jeeves… order me up one of those new Lincoln Signature Series cars I’ve heard tell of. You can make some room in the east wing garage, next to the Mark LSC.
One of Fords problems with Lincoln is everything must suit their world market and Lincoln is a US only car it has no export potential and as Ford has found if Americans wont buy their offering convincing others they want it is nearly impossible
This Lincoln is a stunner. I think it would sell around the world. It’s bold, tasteful and American.
In Rome this fall I saw a couple of black Lancia Themas, which are badge-engineered Chrysler 300s, lined up with E-class Mercedes in a group of chauffeur-driven executive cars. The Chryslers fit right in.
Lancia (speaking of history and heritage) gets the axe. No more Lancias outside Italy in a few years.
Sure, Chryslers are called Lancias in Italy. My point is the very American Chrysler 300 looked right lined up with other European executive cars. This Lincoln could look more than right, it could find itself parked up front at the top restaurants and hotels in Europe and East Asia.
I’m afraid it won’t happen Mike. Wrong badge, and in this specific class it’s all brand-fetishism, snobbism, or whatever you want to call it. The Germans (and that includes Rolls Royce and Bentley) dictate the market, on a global scale I mean. And Maserati is climbing the ladder.
Where do you think all those lengtened V12 ĂĽbersedans and coupes go to ? And matt-black V12 Brabus ? Just a few of them stay in southern Germany, most of them go to countries where the money is right now. I believe they call ‘m BRIC-countries.
Chrysler 300 is itself an earlier Mercedes reskinned and with smaller brakes
Indeed, I’d forgotten about that. Don’t you think this Lincoln looks at least as good in that context?
That’s exactly what I was thinking when I wrote that the 300 has “cachet”. Ford have got to be looking at this brand success and trying to do something about it…I hope. I still don’t understand why they killed an amortized, up-to-date platform (right as the 300 was redesigned and arguably a hit for Mopar) and axed a whole plant dedicated to it, instead of updating the architecture slightly and maybe re-engineering for IRS. Certainly could have been done.
rebadging Chryslers as Lancias has been one of the dumbest moves i can recall in recent car history…Chrysler had a good reputation for making quite affordable luxury cars with a distinctive but elegant american flavor, Voyagers and the older 300C wagons are pretty much everywhere. Nobody cared for the sedan anyway…there was absolutely no need for pimping an historic brand like Lancia with a lineup that nobody’s buying…the only Themas you can see are chauffer driven fleet cars for diplomats or police big shots…
Preach it, brother. I’m going over to the club for some squash and an old-fashioned.
I honestly can’t think of anything that could sink Lincoln faster. Only until some cachet has been built back into the Lincoln brand will there ever be room for a top-tier flagship, if you will. Even Cadillac is being cautious in this regard with their current renaissance.
I believe C5karl is aware of a critical piece of the Lincoln survival puzzle, and that’s the Chinese. Get them to latch onto the American-ness of the brand, build a younger upwardly mobile customer base, and hopefully from those seeds could larger fruit grow. As for our marketplace, only if Lincoln cleans up their act in the $35-45k arena soon do I see them surviving long-term. An emphasis on female shoppers likely wouldn’t hurt either, as Cadillac really seems to be chasing the sporty/masculine demographic in the moment. Get younger affluent women to want your products (Audi anyone?) and the sky is the limit!
I don’t think anyone recommended a brand-wide shift, just a flagship model. Given that they presumably would not be trying to sell 200K of them, I’m not sure how that “sinks” Lincoln.
Why would they latch onto the American-ness of a brand that is trying to produce cheaper copies of European sedans? Do you envision Lincoln to be a Buick competitor? Or you want them to pursue younger women by copying Audi?
It’s an American car. At least for the flagship, they should stop copying everyone else and try to do something distinctively American, exclusive, and special that doesn’t look like every other goddamned car. It’s the only way to generate interest in the other cars in the lineup, as far as I’m concerned. Because the MKZ is *not* interesting. Not from a sports sedan standpoint. Not from a utility standpoint. Not from a status standpoint. Not even from a fogey standpoint.
Lincoln should create a flagship or there’s no point to its existence. In the latter case, Ford should get rid of it and just become one brand with different alphanumeric “series” like the Europeans.
“Why would they latch onto the American-ness of a brand that is trying to produce cheaper copies of European sedans?”
Precisely my point. There needs to be a shift in philosophy within, and fast.
“I don’t think anyone recommended a brand-wide shift, just a flagship model. Given that they presumably would not be trying to sell 200K of them, I’m not sure how that “sinks” Lincoln.”
I don’t think you would be seeing 200k sub-standard “other” Lincolns selling each year off the coattails of the Only Lincoln Worth Owning.
What kind of American-ness would you propose at the lower rungs, then?
I don’t think you would be seeing 200K on each of the other Lincolns either, but they would certainly acquire more of an aspirational quality than they have now. Certainly seems to be working with the C Class. And if you build The Only Lincoln Worth Owning, then Lincoln’s “C Class” rides up somewhat on its coattails.
American = choices
At least 3 shades of wood, plus the Teutonic carbons and metals for those so inclined..
Paint colors? 12 minimum in unique to all other Ford Mo.Co. Hues. Women love the Bespoke… Here is where a Lexus “only lets me pick black or beige”.
Maybe brushed aluminum bits outside for distinction yet understated for the Chromo-phobic.. Even simple stitch coloring could shoot a load of personality into their current ideal.. Tech is inescapable at this point so it’s a mute evolutionary point to me. My mother can’t figure out an email attachment but would rather die than forgo built-in navigation (she needs to figure her stuff out! No more I can’t emailm phone calls mom, I’m serious!).
That said, it’s hard to envision Lincoln as a premium tier product. As someone who can’t go back to the 60’s Continental days, there is too much Mark “who gives a F” in their lineage.. I’ve taken cab rides In Town Cars for the standard cab rate, this Summer..
I like these thoughts. And maybe they don’t have the budget. I could see them taking your ideas into account, yet also putting together the flagship ASAP.
Understand about the Town Cars but remember they really decontented them the final 10 years or so. I drove a 2010 for a rental and it was a big letdown; I’m definitely not proposing they bring back the Town Car in its most recent form. It’d need to be much better appointed. Econobox interior on a big, durable chassis is not enough to be premium.
V Dude said: ” A Lincoln should be big. It should look powerful. It should look like it belongs in your life when you have accomplished something big and important.
It should look like it belongs to a man. A Lincoln should be big enough inside and out for four football players..”
–That is exactly why young dudes buy SUV’s.
hate to be a downer, but I doubt we will ever see a traditional American full size car again. the New Rich are enamored with high tech and foreign car flavor, and the government is obsessed with ever increasing CAFE standards. we all love the idea, but we are a tiny fragment of the market.
V8, no wait, V12 flagships mainly go to the New Rich in New Rich Parts of the World. What’s Lincoln’s heritage outside North America ?
Pretty sure most Saudi Princes, Korean dictators, and other noted ‘furriners would jump at the chance to buy a big American car. It’s not as if we don’t sell to these people already, no need to moralize.
Also again, I think this need not be a high production vehicle. if there is demand, it can be, but it could also be like the (pre-1985, RWD) Fleetwood 75 of yore, built by the best folks in limited quantities. It’s not the bread-and-butter profit vehicle. It’s the flagship. The exclusive. No financing allowed. If you have to ask how much it costs, you can’t afford one.
It will at least take a quarter of a century to get there, but probably longer. And a North Korean dictator will never buy one.
What’re they doing with 70s Continentals at the old man’s funeral then?
Of course, I’m not saying that’s the be-all end all example. Plenty of major figures in third and second world countries would serve just as well. Car service companies probably WOULD buy a small number, as well, though not for their everyday black cars like the last years of the Town Cars were used. There are still people in Manhattan who have drivers and private cars. They’re holding onto their DTSs with built in footrests, old Fleetwood style. Maybe it is more fashionable to buy yourself a Panamera now instead but not everyone is fashionable or nouveau-riche flashy, or wants to be, even if they can afford it. (Thank God, what a hideously ugly sedan).
Didn’t the previous one get carted off to his exclusive suite in the Inferno in an old Lincoln Towncar? The oval opera window was a dead give away.
North Korean dictators wouldn’t buy one? Like hell they wouldn’t…
If they realize this they’re just in time for the next funeral.
The “new rich” have the same tastes that brought us the worst of “broughamism”, its just that their tasts have moved to SUV’s and crossovers. I’ve seen plenty of neo-nouveau-riche roll up in their crossover of a “luxury” mark attired in the finest of sweat pants or track suit glory.
Lots of money+no class/taste=fugly jellybeans loaded with tech BS they don’t even know how to use and 4WD they couldn’t manage if their life depended on it. Gauche-mobiles it is.
Seems the combination of taste and money is akin to hen’s teeth these days…
Put the door handles in the proper place and add a chrome insert body side molding in the middle of the doors where it belongs and I would buy one.
Think globally, act locally, Klockau. Put some whitewalls on that sled, stat! While Goodyear and Michelin both still make them in your size.
I can’t; the Michelins on it are too nice to replace. And I’m too cheap 🙂
When they wear out, however…
Roger, carry on. 🙂
Sadly, Lincoln’s only prudent course of action at this point is off a cliff. Globalism is the point of no return in turning cars as we know them into mere appliances and we thrusted past it in the last few years. Near Luxury is dead and that’s all Lincoln could ever be on a platform sharing stratagy.
Sadly, I agree. Lincoln is the new Mercury, and we all know what happened there. I think there is a niche for old style RWD American cars,updated, and that niche is filled by the Chrysler 300.
The Chrysler is too accessible.
Nobody hold their breath. Been waiting for the return of the Caprice/Roadmaster/ Brougham for 18 years…
Oh, believe me. Not holding it one bit. This is a nice idea. I’d take bets on many other things before I bet on Detroit, however.
CTCCDE: center-opening doors, not center-hinged.
That black design looks astonishingly elegant. Lincoln CAN do it.
Ford should pick up the floorpan and suspension design from Australia’s recently-defunct Fairlane – that would give Lincoln its own unique, modern component set, with tooling already paid for – and put that body on it. Engine? Shelby Mustang. Go all out for Luxury. Forget Cadillac; aim higher. A car that elegant could aim for Rolls-Royce.
Three words, Lincoln – Just Do It.
If only Detroit agreed:(
I’m not optimistic. This discussion reminds me of the “woulda, coulda, shoulda” regarding Mercury just before that brand was deep-sixed.
I don’t think Lincoln has much of a future — there will simply be plain Fords and fancy Fords.
Well, with Mercury gone and now Ford and Lincoln <in name only) remaining…
Sadly, there has not been a Mercury or a Lincoln built for years.
All that's left now are simply plain Fords and fancy Fords.
“Mr. Ford, you’re gonna to drive me to drinkin’
If you don’t start buildin’ that hot rod Lincoln!”
Allan Mullalleys one Ford doesn’t include the Lincoln which Ford has already been chosen and carefully disguised for each market to hide its origins from the punters Ford US will build pickups and the odd Mustang everything else will come from Europe.
At first I thought “Old Henry would be pleased.” But I’m not sure he would. Lincoln ran along quite nicely on his watch – under Edsel, I know, but Henry was El Supremo. The Zephyr perked up Lincoln’s popularity, but the big Lincolns kinda faded away, along with much of Lincoln’s popularity and image.
What do we learn from this? Lincoln must be a flagship automobile for people to admire and aspire to, if it is to be anything at all.
Can’t Mullaley get this? Or doesn’t he care?
It makes me so mad when car companies make decisions even blind Freddie can see are wrong!
This is really nice. It’s probably what the 1998 Town Car should have been. Keep in mind the 1998 car and up didn’t do very well with retail buyers and became heavily a livery car. I’d raise the roof – it would still look good and be much more roomy and comfortable – and avoid those gun slit windows.
Couldn’t agree with you more Dave. No offense to Tom K. and his latest acquisition. I am quite certain he is enjoying that car, but my lust, let alone like for Continentals and then Town Cars ended hard in 1997.
And, what a different road Lincoln would be on now if they carried this theme thru and kept if fresh through today in looks and technology. They’d be far beyond just hanging by a thread, offering up expensive Fords and attempting to stay relevant (and failing).
I have driven these final Town Cars, and had dozens of rides to and from the airport over the years in them (as our livery service had them exclusively). Certainly they drive and ride quite nicely for the intended purpose and customer base. They are smooth, quiet and comfortable large cars.
But, my comment is based on styling ‘feel’ and the ‘look’. And as mentioned so many times by myself and others, styling is so very subjective. I dislike the last Town Car for the same reasons that apply to the 3 cars that come up so often in my comments. It lost it’s way, it is far to ’roundy’ and once again bloated as are the final Fleetwood, Caprice and Roadmaster. Let alone the drop in interior appointments and overall quality/class.
No, I never had to ‘make’ myself want a Continental, or just about any Town Car thru 1997. My favorites of the run (excluding Continentals) would be 1986 and 1997. I just can’t get myself to even warm up to these ’98-2011’s
Mark, no worries. I actually prefer the 1995-97 TCs as well, but my 2000 was so nice and so pristine, it probably would have taken years to find an earlier Cartier in similar shape anywhere near me.
Plus, a good friend of mine’s last car was a 2002 Signature Series. If you read the My CC on my car you’d get a better idea of my reasons for purchase.
And I do love the car; I think the 1998-2002 looked better than the 2003-2011. They were certainly better appointed inside.
Interesting, but the roof looks too low to provide real headroom, judging by the size of the wheels & tires unless they are giant – in which case the car will be too large to park anywhere.
I think when Ford cancelled the global RWD platform they killed basically all hope of something like this returning. While platform-sharing is a valid concept, there is not much in common between a cheap sports coupe (Mustang) and an S-class competitor. They are so risk-averse I can’t see them committing to years of losses to build a reputation globally.