Lincoln Town Car

Lincoln Town Car
Production period:	1981-2011
Class :	Upper class
Body versions :	limousine
Previous model:	Lincoln Continental
Successor:	Lincoln MKT Town Car

The Lincoln Town Car was an American car model of the upper class of the premium brand Lincoln belonging to the automobile manufacturer Ford .

This has been Lincoln's flagship since it was launched in 1981. Town cars make up the majority of luxury sedans in the United States (about 85%) and stretch limos are almost entirely town cars.

Even with its normal length (not as a stretch limousine), the Town Car was considerable. With a length of 5.47 m (model with long wheelbase 5.62 m) it was the longest mass- produced American car at the time and the fourth longest in the world, after the Maybach , the Rolls-Royce Phantom and the Bentley Mulsanne (2009) .

Although the town car was considered a status symbol in the US, it was relatively inexpensive compared to the competition. The prices for a town car were recently between US $ 43,045 and US $ 56,915. The Cadillac DTS was the largest competing model on the US market at the time . In Europe, where the town car was only available from a few importers, it is mainly known as a stretch limousine .

history

A special version of the 1959 Lincoln Continental was first referred to as the Town Car . After the Continental got a new design, the Town Car special edition was no longer available. It was not until 1971 that the name Town Car was used again. From 1971 to 1980, the model was provided with the most extensive range of special equipment on the Lincoln Continental called the Town Car . In 1981 production of the Lincoln Continental was temporarily stopped and the Lincoln Town Car became the prestige model of the Lincoln brand.

The Town Car name refers to a sedan version that was very popular in the US in the 1920s . In the Town Car models of the 1920s, passengers sat in the back seat in a separate cabin, while the driver sat outside the cabin outside. Various manufacturers of luxury automobiles in the 20s such as Duesenberg , Rolls-Royce , Bentley and Lincoln sold town cars.

Model generations

Lincoln Continental Town Car, 1978-1979

Predecessor until 1980

From 1970 to 1980 "Town Car" was the name for the most luxurious equipment package of the Lincoln Continental , the then flagship of Lincoln. The Lincoln Continental with Town Car Package got its name because of the multiple design elements that were adopted from the classic town cars of the 1920s and 1930s.

From 1977 to 1979 the Lincoln Continental was also available in the Williamsburg Town Car equipment and from 1975 to 1980, equivalent to the Town Car, there was the Town Coupe equipment for the Continentals in the coupe form .

For the 1979 model year, the 7.5 L V8 engine was omitted from all Continentals and Mark V models and was replaced by the 6.6 L V8.

1st generation

Lincoln Town Car, 1985-1989

1981

With the model year 1981 the Town Car became an independent model and at the same time the flagship model of Lincoln. The name Continental was assigned to a new, smaller model from the 1982 model year.

1985

In 1985, the Town Car received a minor facelift, which rounded off the body edges, revised the rear, and included visual changes in the interior. From 86 the Centralpoint-FI was replaced by a Multipoint-FI.

2nd generation

Lincoln Town Car, 1990-1994

1990

The Lincoln Town Car was completely redesigned for the 1990 model year. The angular design elements of the body of the town car of the 80s have been replaced by a more aerodynamic, rounded design. In 1991 the Town Car received the Car & Driver Car of the Year award . In the same year, the previous 5-liter engine was replaced by a modern aluminum 4.6-liter engine with overhead camshafts, which is also used in the current model series (since 2007).

Lincoln Town Car, 1995-1997

1995

The interior was completely redesigned for the 1995 model year. New seats, instruments and a new dashboard were part of the redesigned interior. On the outside, clear glass headlights and a new grille were among the changes. In addition, the bumpers, trim strips and taillights have been carefully modernized. The 5.0l-V8 with 150PS was no longer offered. From 1995 there was only the 4.6l V8 with 209-213PS.

3rd generation

3rd generation
Lincoln Town Car, 1998-2003
Production period:	1998-2011
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Petrol engines : 4.6 liters (176–224 kW)
Length:	5469-5624 mm
Width:	1986 mm
Height:	1473-1491 mm
Wheelbase :	2999-3142 mm
Empty weight :	1970-2100 kg

Lincoln Town Car (2003-2011)

1998

The Lincoln Town Car was completely redesigned for the first time in eight years in 1998 and received a much more aerodynamic body. The interior has also been redesigned. A new dashboard, new seats, and interior trim on the doors were among the improvements. Many of the previous plastic surfaces have been replaced by wood paneling or leather.

2003

Several minor bodywork elements were renewed for 2003. The hood ornament as well as angular style elements that are considered to be "American design" have been reintroduced. The front axle has been completely redesigned - with Jaguar being the inspiration for the new steering geometry.

The Lincoln Town Car is a popular base for the stretch limousines popular in the USA

End of production

Due to violent protests from the limousine industry, the original plan to stop production in 2007 was changed. The production facility of the Town Car in Wixom , Michigan, was closed, instead the model continued to be built on the assembly line together with the parallel models Ford Crown Victoria and the now discontinued Mercury Grand Marquis in St. Thomas, Ontario , Canada . The production of the Lincoln model was last at around 1500 copies per month. The three models were the last of their kind to feature a platform based on a traditional American body-on-frame construction, equipped with a long-life V8 engine and rear-wheel drive.

On August 29, 2011, the last copy of the Town Car rolled off the assembly line. The Lincoln MKT as MKT Town Car is intended to replace it as an exclusive rental car and fleet vehicle.

Trivia

In September 2006, Warren Buffett sold his 2001 Lincoln Town Car Signature Series for USD 77,000 on the online auction platform ebay and donated the money to charitable causes.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Lincoln MKT Town Car Livery and Limousine - Official Photos and Info. Car and Driver Magazine, February 2011 online edition

Web links

Commons : Lincoln Town Car  - Collection of Pictures, Videos and Audio Files

Original Lincoln sales brochures from 1966–1976 and 1977–1987

Lincoln timeline

Lincoln models timeline from 1970 to present
Type	1970s										1980s										1990s										2000s										2010s										2020s
	0	1	2	3	4th	5	6th	7th	8th	9	0	1	2	3	4th	5	6th	7th	8th	9	0	1	2	3	4th	5	6th	7th	8th	9	0	1	2	3	4th	5	6th	7th	8th	9	0	1	2	3	4th	5	6th	7th	8th	9	0
Middle class																															LS						Zephyr / MKZ							MKZ
upper middle class								Versailles					Continental VII						Continental VIII							Continental IX													MKS									Continental
Upper class	Continental V										Continental VI / Town Car I.										Town Car II								Town Car III
Personal Luxury	Continental Mark III		Continental Mark IV					Continental Mark V			Continental Mark VI				Mark VII									Mark VIII
SUV																																													MKC					Corsair
																																						MKX									MKX / Nautilus
																																	Aviator								MKT									Aviator
																													Navigator I					Navigator II				Navigator III										Navigator IV
Pick up																																	Blackwood				Mark LT				Mark LT