A decade ago, if you wanted a fancy ride home from the airport, you didn’t order a limo — you ordered a town car. Despite having gone out of production nearly 13 years ago on Aug. 29, 2011, the Lincoln Town Car is still a fixture of the American automotive psyche. It’s still being used in stretch limo applications, still revered by lovers of American luxury, and still the final brick in the classic American sedan wall to tumble. Hell, it even made it to China as a Hongqi.
As many of the last Town Cars were destined for fleet use, nice ones are becoming fewer and further between, something we’re seeing in the used market. For every octogenarian and nonagenarian who’s given up driving their low-mileage Town Car, some strong retained value may await.
In fact, the cream of the crop is now worth as much as a brand new BMW 3 Series, a car that’s still the gold standard for entry-level luxury sedans. That’s an incredible amount of money for a Ford product on a platform that started life during the Carter administration, but evidently, some are willing to pay it.
What’s The Appeal?
There’s often great historical value in automotive lasts. The last of the Hellcats, or the last of the front-engined Corvettes, or the last of the Honda S2000s, for example. Whether or not the end of a model’s production run is a Concorde moment, if it’s heavily ingrained in the automotive psyche, a handful of people will take a shining to it. The final generation Lincoln Town Car is the last body-on-frame American luxury sedan, bowing out of production after the 2011 model year. The darling of livery companies and airport rental counter splurges, it harkens back to a time on American roads when more really was more.
In long-wheelbase post-facelift Signature L trim, we’re talking about 221.4 inches of car. That’s more car than a new Mercedes-Maybach S 680. That’s more car than a Rolls-Royce Ghost. That’s more car than two Smart Fortwos welded nose-to-tail Human Centipede-style. The hood is bigger than most high-rise balconies, each door feels like it weighs as much as a moon, and even the indicator lenses are comedically long, yet seem sized just right when they’re on the car. Driving a Lincoln Town Car Signature L is like captaining a dreadnought, you’re constantly aware that you could make mincemeat of 90 percent of all cars in traffic in a slow, unyielding manner.
Under the hood sits a 4.6-liter V8 making 239 horsepower and 287 lb.-ft. of torque, and it’s hitched to a four-speed slush-o-matic torque converter transmission. This is good for what can technically be classified as acceleration. In Car And Driver instrumented testing, a third-generation Town Car ran from zero-to-60 mph in 9.5 seconds, which is 1.1 seconds slower than a Toyota Echo. Handling is best described as aquatic, and if you tried to hustle one of these land yachts through a slalom, you’d get the impression that anyone who said the words “precision” or “dynamic” at any point during the development process was promptly taken out back and shot. This isn’t a BMW 7 Series competitor, and it’s all the better for it.
Huh? Yep, instead of wheeling in a globe, landing a finger on a country called Germany, and discovering the existence of the Nürburgring, the people at Lincoln set the Town Car up for Florida — it will do 70 mph on tedious arrow-straight freeways in the utmost comfort endlessly. The springs and dampers are so pocket-coil soft that passengers in the back won’t wake up if you accidentally run over an alligator, and the air conditioning is so powerfully frigid that you might want to pack a sweater. The Lincoln Town Car is a purely American expression of luxury, a car for a place with all the space and distance in the world but major infrastructure dating back to Eisenhower. It simply makes driving unbelievably relaxing, and that’s something more cars could stand to do.
Are They Seriously That Expensive?
If you want the absolute cream of the crop, absolutely. A brand new BMW 330i with no options caries an MSRP of $44,595, and ultra-low-mileage Town Cars go for more than that. Take this 6,000-mile 2010 Town Car Signature L, for example. It sold this week on Bring A Trailer for $46,007. That’s not a typo. Sure, the black paint has a mirror gleam, the interior plastics look brand new, and the sale price has depreciated over the new MSRP of $54,560, but we’re still talking serious money for a top-notch example.
Mind you, it’s not the only nearly-new Town Car to recently sell in the mid forties. This 2003 Town Car Cartier sold on Bring A Trailer in December for $45,000, with two previous owners and 5,000 miles on the clock. The Cartier trim is unique in that it got monogrammed grey leather, a Cartier-branded clock, black badges, and unique chrome wheels. It’s also a bit of a throwback to the Designer-series Mark models of the ’70s and early ’80s, back when you could order a Lincoln with Givenchy, Pucci, or Bill Blass branding.
Is A Collector-Grade Lincoln Town Car Worth It?
As a recovering former Panther owner myself, probably not unless you already have six figures worth of Lincolns in your garage. Sure, there’s a corner of the internet that believes the Panther platform is God’s gift to mankind, a slab of American excellence that can shrug off bingo hall bollards, and in Lincoln trim, do it with mafioso style. Sure, the Watt’s Link rear end was better than any solid axle setup ever put under a Mustang. Sure, the ride quality is serene enough to make a Bentley Flying Spur shatter its monocle on the marble floor in astonishment. Sure, the trunk is bigger than most studio apartments. None of that makes an ultra-low-mileage example a good buy.
The best part of owning a Lincoln Town Car isn’t looking at it, it’s driving the damn thing. Static, it’s a curiosity. In motion, it’s eye-opening. You can pick up a Town Car with somewhere between 20,000 and 40,000 miles for a fraction of the price of these top-tier examples, and you can actually drive it without feeling guilty that you’re taking some sort of pristine reference piece out into the world of debris, weather, and homicidal rideshare drivers. I totally understand why these cars have collector appeal, but most people would be crazy to pay for a top-tier collector-grade example.
[Ed note: It’s worth it to me if I get to put on a cowboy hat and pretend I’m Raylan Givens – MH]
(Photo credits: Bring A Trailer)
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This is why I love this site.
Also–I once tried looking up the trim levels for Crown Vics and Town Cars over the years, and god, what a mess. The Cartier might’ve been the top trim one year and not the next, or the Signature, but not the Signature L…this was years ago that I looked, but it appeared stupidly inconsistent. I’d only ever buy an “L” variant if I was in the market, though.
You like this site because they exaggerate and misrepresent the handling characteristics of cars?
That is way, way too much money for one of these, but I love those cars. Back from when luxury meant “let’s take a 1979 platform and throw every option at it, add some old-growth faux wood and make it plusssssssh.”
That Dude in Blue on Youtube has featured a couple of interesting TCs.
https://youtu.be/ltC6YW1C2dA?si=EjC2WB4-4bRE51L_
https://youtu.be/q6T0SvRe8Sc?si=FRkBDt9qRHBfCYDo
Personally, I’d be VERY OK with a modded Crown Vic.
I am at the age where I look with admiration at the quick and nimble sports car, and buy the luxury sedan. The vast majority of my automotive life is spent in a 35 minute commute, not carving corners, and my back hurts. I want something nice, quite and comfortable. Maybe someday I can get a weekend car, but for now, give me my padded leather seats.
Me and my buddy, back in the 2000s used to joke that when we got older and fat enough, we would switch from our import tuner rides to Cadillacs, probably Fleetwoods. We figured we would have gotten fat enough to require a vehicle of that size to fit our bloated bodies into. Alas, that time has come and miraculously I haven’t gotten that fat. Nonetheless these Town Cars certainly strike the same nerve as a Fleetwood. I’ve never driven one but the idea of a cloud suspension and front bench seat are compelling. Throw in a weakling 4.6 Ford V8 to serenely haul it around and get kind of OK mileage and I’m in.
Y’know this nattering about how big these are chaps my hide. A new F150 is nearly a foot longer and two feet taller. Weighs a half ton more as well.
Your numbers aren’t high enough. My 1995 f150 is more than a foot longer and more than two feet taller. I’d guess a new f150 is more like 4 feet longer and 3 feet taller.
A beautiful homage to the Town Car.
The power and acceleration numbers surprise me. I’ve been in many Town Cars and Crown Vics that went like a bat on crystal meth out of hell.
My 2001 Vic is not that fast 0-60 because it does almost the entire run in 1st gear. It is the fastest car I have ever driven 70-100mph by a large margin. Gearing is everything.
Oh, that’s true. It’s really when you’re already going that you can feel the powah.
Wait- the Chinese called it a honky?
I’m wondering if this was a joke I’ve missed?
Heck yeah! I’d rock one. Black-on-black then add a supercharger to the v8 so it can keep up with modern luxury cars. Classic luxo-barge sleeper.
Look at that gorgeous interior, no taped on screen, real buttons and is that a bench front seat? Amazing.
It’s lacking the “vape lounge club” lights of a modern luxury car tho haha
Del Boca Vista ride here.
That was a Fleetwood Brougham, North America’s longest car.
Superior to this Lincoln by every single measure.
Yes. But I like saying Del Boca Vista…sorry.
That’s why you got the like
Sorry this article reminded me of my beloved Brougham, and your comment sealed the deal.
Please don’t apologize. It was pretty dern funny.
I thought it was the 73 Imperial LeBaron at 235.3″ long
Longest at the time of production lol
JACK: (worked up) What d’you think? I’ve never ridden in a Cadillac before?
Believe me, I’ve ridden in a Cadillac hundreds of times. Thousands.
MORTY: (skeptical) Thousands?!
JACK: What? D’you think you’re such a big shot now, because you got a
Cadillac?
Make sure you have your astronaut pen that will write upside down in the glovebox.
I will have you know that by the end of their life, the Town Car had gotten adequately quick, in both directions. As per Car & Driver;
“Fun fact: With a reverse 0-to-60-mph time of 9.2 seconds, the Lincoln is only 1.1 seconds slower going backward than forward. Try finding that out in anything but a rental car.”
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison-test/a15127448/rental-car-olympics-comparison-test/
Since when has 0-60 in under ten seconds been something that is merely technically classified as acceleration? Yeah, it is not quick, but it isn’t unreasonably slow either. Not every car is and doesn’t need to be some supercar worthy turboplaid-RSMAMG. Try driving any naturally aspirated diesel or any classic American car with straight six and tell me after that that this is slow.
For the seriously old among us, back in the day, anything under 10 seconds 0-60 was pretty dang snappy.
Yes, I remember when 10 or less was considered perfectly adequate acceleration. But seriously, how often do any of us ever really need more is regular driving?
My W116 from 1978 does 0-60 in 7.
10 seconds from a car this new?
I used to own a W116 300se, low gearing got it off the line pretty well but once it was rolling it was a dog. My moms Town Car oozed off the line but was much faster from a rolling start and would do 90 mph in effortless silence.
I agree. I drove a 4.6l Econoline and now a 2012 Prius v and both have 0-60 in the 10-11 second range. It’s perfectly adequate here in PA.
No sleeps as deep as falling asleep in the backseat while grandma drives.
That is a perfect and parsed autopian response. I salute your one-liner
Maybe a decade or so back, I recall, reading an article about European F1 driver, who got his hands on one of these things, and loved driving it everywhere. When asked, he said he had been driving rock hard, stiff race cars, and tightly sprung European cars his whole life, and the big boat was actually a comfortable vehicle he can relax in while driving…. makes sense to me!
I used to ride in these a bunch back in the day when Uber had just started and they were just Town Cars – now they’ve all been replaced by Escalades and Tahoes, and all I can say is whoever decided those are worthy black cars never rode in an actual Town Car. That car was a comfortable couch in a quiet room on wheels – the ride was incredibly supple, settled, and calm. Miss me with this fancy truck nonsense, give me a proper town car any day of the week.
20 year old me would have laughed at this article.
46 year old (and 23 years of commuting) me now completely understands the appeal, 100%. My CTS brings the same level of satisfaction, but has a stick, so more.
I just bought a Jaguar XJR on BAT. My VW with lowered hard suspension goes on carsandbids this week. I’m tired of feeling every single piece of gravel in the road.
Yay XJR!
I have a 1997 XJR6 and it is one of the best cars I have ever owned. I’ve thought about getting a newer roomier model but I love the looks of mine and the supercharged 6 torque never gets old.
Ever since I had a long commute, I’ve had a piece of me that looked at Town Cars, Buick Park Aves, Toyota Avalons, and Lexus LS’s as desirable options. I ultimately don’t think a Town Car would fit on my side of the garage, but that ride would be nice.
Yup… people like me can now only dream… from the other side of the world…. I’d have one of these in a heartbeat… like a size XL Falcon with any sense of economy or sensibility thrown to the wind
“Hello, Raylan, I thought that was your car outside. That or someone is going to the airport.”
I looked at these for years when they were dirt cheap to have as a second car that was a cruiser and never went for it, stupidly thinking they’d stay that way—after all, who would want them besides me, fourteen other weirdos, and the current owners who are dying off? For most things, all three heads agree with a policy of moderation, but for cars, we either want a sports car (coupe as I need at least some practicality in terms of interior space) or a land yacht (preferably also a coupe as we love the absurdity of giant doors, a pseudo-sporty profile, and such inefficient use of space). Sports cars are rare, but land yachts are gone. Sure, there are plenty of (too many) big-ass vehicles, but they don’t ride well and most of them are way too tall.
Chrysler 300(c) is always a good option for land yacht. A bit better handling, and with a HEMI or better, properly quick, and just eats up the miles on the highway. I had a regular 2006 300 in cool vanilla and I wish I never sold it.
Town Car is kind of in its own league, but if you offer me a choice between this and a Deville, I’ll take the Deville every time.
“Driving a Lincoln Town Car Signature L is like captaining a dreadnought…”
Have you ever driven a ’70’s version of this car? If not, then you have no idea what it’s like to “captain a dreadnought”. At least the final version had some handling, braking, and steering feel. With the older ones, steering could be done with a pinkie, with the steering responding to your commands after you counted to “Two-Mississippi”. Braking happened the same way. If you needed to avoid hitting a kid on a tricycle, the kid had no chance. You didn’t drive, you rode in total isolation, but in a very dangerous way.
Funnily enough, I almost bought a 1979 Mark V as my first car. That thing wasn’t a dreadnought, it was a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. I adored it, although I know my wallet wouldn’t have adored the fuel bills.
Ok. Instead of what? That decision tree here is fodder for a new article.
You adored it? An unconsummated love. Tell us more. . .
Everyone knows that Uber got it’s start in San Francisco – Right?
Before Uber, the drivers for Carey Cars and the C-Suite Execs of Wells Fargo, Bank of America, etc would sit around in their idling Towncars in the alleys of Downtown SF all day waiting for their next assignment.
Uber put these guys to work between gigs.
And it was a great thing.
As an early user, I would wow dates by walking out of a bar or restaurant punching stuff into my phone and suddenly a big black Towncar (or sometimes S Class) was at the curb with a driver was calling me by name.
So personally, I have a hard time separating “LWB Black Towncar” from “Uber”
It took a while for Uber to get to my city, so my default Uber car is a Kia Forte (or Grand Caravan if XL)
I shocked my friends and family (a month ago) by buying a 2004 Signature edition (from a local Phoenix, AZ area dealer) for $11,000. Arizona car (per Carfax) with 66,000 miles on the odometer. Not saying it looks brand new. but I think it looks 4 or 5 years old. Not really difficult to find pretty nice ones with (relatively) low mileage anywhere with large retirement populations. But who am I kidding? Since I’m now collecting both Medicare and Social Security, it was time for an old man’s car because, well, I fit the demographic. Not saying it handles real well, but agree it is great on the freeway. IMHO it drives a little smaller than it is as the turning radius is not too bad and (at least mine) does not “wallow” over bumps in the road. Used car prices may be coming down, but the prices are still favorable for buyers wanting a low mileage, reliable, usually well-maintained vehicle (but not an autocrosser or track day monster.)
Barge is love. Barge is life. Bring back land yachts…but as EVs. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
It’s funny, but in the land of SUVs in which we now live, they now have amazing presence. In a forest of tall boxes, these low, wide cruisers cut quite the figure.
Like the lone legacy restaurant on the outparcel of big box stores.
As usual you are 102.7% correct
The Lincoln is American luxury done right but done economically. It has the luxury ride, historical pedigree and unlike the furrin cars repairs and parts are used car cheap. Hell take a BMW, MERCEDES, OR ROLLS, of that vintage it no longer provides the luxury but spark plugs are like $2,000 each everything is wearing out and only 1 80 year old guy in schmucksburg knows how to work on each model.
I think you’re onto something, generally – they represent the last gasp of luxury seen as comfort, not as gadgets.
Luxury vehicles these days are basically expected to be slightly detuned performance cars with lots of extraneous-to-driving gadgetry added.
There are examples out there with over 300K miles for sale, something you rarely see in BMW without multiple engine swaps.
Most of those were airport limos, and were meticulously maintained. I saw one on CL with over half a mil on it, had replacement engine, transmission, rear end, and the seats were reupholstered with factory skins. Also THREE thick binders full of receipts. I think he was asking $4,000.
Horse-pucky. My 2001 BMW 330Ci is still on it’s original *clutch* at 208k. Zero issues with the M54 engine (other than the PCV, but that was a simple fix). Before that I had an ’87 325is that was just getting broken in with 225k on that sweet M20. BMWs used to be well-engineered. If you keep up with routine maintenance, older BMWs can go forever.
Routine maintenance? Like replace everything every 4 years? Where parts and maintenance are more than a new model? Versus a Lincoln with parts the same as their other models?
Ever hear about that guy Theseus? Some routine maintenance kept his ship going for a really long time.
I had not. Amazing knowledge of the unique on this site. You are quite astute.
Username checks out.
No I meant that seriously. He was on point and accurate with an ancient Greek mythology story. That’s more amazing than torch and his taillights
The ship of Theseus is an allegory for, among other things, the nature of permanence. If a ship has had all its parts replaced over time, is it still the same ship?
It’s the fuller version of the joke that goes “This is my grandfather’s ax. It has a new handle and the head was a replaced a while back.” Grampa wouldn’t recognize it as his ax, but to the grandkids, it is.
Yes I did a quick search seemed apropos to my comment.
It’s so fun to mess with BMW people!
One’s an elegant racehorse, the other a plowing-beast.
To compare them is to miss the design-brief.
By the time a big BMW hits 300k, it’s rotting in someone’s back yard with a carb’d V8 poorly bolted in and a Hurst shifter poking through a dremel-cut hole in the center console.