You know, it’s funny. I’ve done WAY more B-body posts on CC than Panthers, yet I wind up with a Panther. My Jaguar-esque Y2K Cartier is much more modern looking, but I also have an affection for the three-box Town Cars, despite JP Cavanaugh’s disdain for the ’80 Town Coupe his dad had. This black cherry one caught my eye at the Quad City Cruisers show back in August.
By the mid-Eighties, the contrasting vinyl top or coach roof had largely given way to the color-keyed versions. But you could still mix and match colors when ordering your new Box Town Car, as this one shows. I am not 100% on the aftermarket wheels, but they do give the Townie a rather mean stance. I’d rather have the factory wire wheels or turbine alloys. And whitewalls, of course!
And for you folks who do not particularly care for Panthers (Syke, I’m looking at you), never fear! I have a full set of pics of that lovely gray 1949 Cadillac Sedanet in the background of the photo above and intend a writeup soon. Here’s a sneak peak. No frickin’ resto mod horse hockey on this baby!
While the 1980 Continentals–the first of the Panther Lincolns–were rather severe in their 90-degree angularity, a 1985 refresh smoothed the lines–just a bit, as the three-box style was still quite evident.
I think it improved the looks, and I think an ’85-’89 Town Coupe might well have looked less awkward than the rare ’80-’81 model. But would it have sold? With the lovely Mark VII available at the same time, I doubt it.
Inside, towels covered the floating-pillow velour seating, unless Lincoln had some rare Bean Bag Luxury Group option package. What isn’t covered by towels looks quite well-preserved, though.
Here’s a brochure pic to show you what’s under those covers. Quite comfy, I’m sure–though I’d rather have leather. Handling? Har har har! My 2000 model is probably like a W124 compared to these ’80s versions, but I love them all the same–marshmallow suspension and all.
Actually, what I’d really like would be one in midnight blue with matching top with the turbine alloys! As American as a bacon cheeseburger, but so luxurious. In their own way, I think these were quite elegant in their day.
These 1985-89 Town Cars are getting scarce here in the heartland, except for the occasional ragged-out version. So seeing this one in fine shape made my day. Such a sharp color, too!
The Town Cars of the 1980’s were the most dependable and comfortable cars I ever owned until Lexus came along.
Tom…cool writeup! Here is mine with a FACTORY mock top. It was commissioned to ASC by Ford. I’m sure there were other years than ’88, but they made more than one….I saw my identical car on eBay a month ago except with 100k fewer miles. Same color, cloth, top, and electronic gauges…a true twin!
(Oh, and you are absolutely correct. I need either turbines or real wires…)
Nice car! I think the 1980-89 Town Car is about the only car that actually looks good with a simcon top. It actually looks real–even the B-pillar is covered with canvas, like a convertible sedan from the ’30s.
Yes, I really did hate my father’s 1980 Town Coupe. That picture brought it all back. I might have liked it better if it had not directly followed a 78 Town Coupe.
I am coming around on these as a rule, but this particular one does nothing for me. First, the wheels. Turbine wheels or nothing on one of these. Second, these just did not look good with a contrasting vinyl roof, but looked better when the roof matched the rest of the paint, like that navy one in the brochure.
Also, this is one of the few cars that looks good with a fabric carriage roof, which smooths the car out by replacing that landau vinyl roof with the basket handle molding that goes up over the B pillars.
Turbine wheels FTW! Did they ever sell a version of these without the landau or fake convertible top? I’ve always wondered what one would look like “clean” and perhaps with a true two tone paint job instead of trying to add color with vinyl.
These were the Town Cars of my youth but getting rarer by the day. Would love to find one with a clean body/interior and give it a more modern engine/transmission.
Nope, but you could get a full vinyl roof on the non-Signature Town Car as shown below. I agree that a steel-roofed one might have looked pretty cool, especially in a dark color with the turbine alloys.
Owned an 85 and an 86. The 86 was a signature series with a moon roof. Liked them both but wound up trading back to get a wagon (77 impala). I would take any of those three today but the 350 in the impala was the difference maker.
The big difference between the 85 and the 86 was the difference between the 302 and the 5.0. Same engine with all of the difference bolted on. The 86 was the hottest I had in a while and my ex sold it with over 300k on the clock. It still looked good. It withstood the miles better than the impala or the 85 TC. The EFI was the reason IMO. I think it was the best looking of all the town cars but from what I read the 4.6 was an upgrade over the 5.0. My biggest complaint was that you couldn’t buy them w/o that trashy vinyl roof. Houston humidity trashed that very quickly.
When I started teaching I still moonlighted in my trade (AC). I had a small trailer with a ladder rack and the car never let me down. I thought the Impala was stronger but when I was just doing research for a purchase I realized the TC will (now anyway) tow 4Klbs. You could have slipped them into about any of the pictures from a couple days ago with the MBs towing RVs.
For me the mustang and the TC (MGM/CV) represent the sweetest spot in ford manufacturing in the last 50 years. rwd, decent economy, and good power. Excellent highway cars.
Whenever I see a Box LTC I think about that commercial with the W-Body Electra, the 98 and the Sedan DeVille… a true classic commercial. When was that… 1984 IIRC?
This one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaZqQLpbjFU
THAT’S IT!!! LOVE that commercial!
1.3 Million mile 83′ Town Car. Watching this video makes me wonder why 70’s and 80’s American cars get a bad rap. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czYUZOlclSo
Because GM.
“These 1985-89 Town Cars are getting scarce here in the heartland, except for the occasional ragged-out version. So seeing this one in fine shape made my day. Such a sharp color, too!”
Here on Long Island, I see far more well maintained box Town Cars than ragged out ones. Could be because the ones that were ragged out years ago have now rusted away and the ones that are in better condition have been maintained by people who take pride in these cars. They are also getting rarer here and will probably be like hen’s teeth 10 years from now because there unfortunately doesn’t seem to be many people into preserving these old beasts.
Never underestimate the ’86 Lincoln Town Car, it will save your life if it has to
I had an ’88 TC. Nicest interior the Town Car ever had. Classic looks. But a drive in it revealed the many ways cars–even mid-price sedans–have gotten better since ’88. Best used just for jaunts to the cruise-ins.
“Anybody seen Richie?!!!”
I remember driving one for 290 miles through the back roads of Texas in 1986 or so with a friend who was in a Taurus. I could never fathom how much front and back overhang there was. That and the simple fact it drove like a waterbed on wheels, had me begging to switch cars for the entire drive. Its the only time in my life that a car made me seasick. Absolutely horrible ride, no lateral support in the twisties, just pure squishiness. But alas I was 19 and not 72, and pushing the car on a drive it was not designed for. It was built for the drive to church, the country club and straight down the interstate.
Yes, Eighties’ Town Cars are getting more scarce now.
I have contemplated buying something else.. for a change. But every alternative.. is either too-high priced, or has some objectionable fault. I bought my ’85 Town Car in October of 2010.. for $1200. I had planned that it would be reliable transportation. It has been so ever since…. BUT not only does the clock still work & keep accurate time, the A/C STILL blows COLD air!!! In October of 2015, I bought an ’88…. knowing that these were getting more scarce… and this ’88 was in fine shape, with hardly the least fault…. and again, only $1200 cash! [Yes, it’s A/C still works, too.]
I have wanted to find a ’74 – ’78 New Yorker Brougham four-door hardtop.. in good working order and no rot… with leather.. (hopefully-working A/C)…. in preferably a lighter color (or, at least, NOT black!)… and, most of all, VENT WINDOWS!!! And, oh yes, a reasonable price. That’s a tall order. I’m still looking, and will keep looking.
The only possible alternative, as I see it, is a RWD Cadillac Brougham from ’90 – ’92, with the Chevy engine—-not one with one of those ‘doggy’ Olds 307s that can’t blow off a tired Yugo.
And, if these aren’t scarce enough now, in mid-2016, a “box” Caprice from the 80s… is even harder to find than a RWD Cad from the same era. I’m serious!
So, despite already having two 80s Town Cars, I will consider adding a third one.. to the stable.
They’re impossible to beat for reliability, value, and practical comfort…. w/ reasonable mpg.
Yes, RWD forever.. and only! Give front-wheel drive to the fat lady!