1988 Lincoln Town Car

Description

Is this 1988 Lincoln Town Car collectable? I'll leave that for you to decide, but the truth is, if you were to put one away as a future classic, this would be the one. And that's not even taking into consideration that these are just fantastic highway cars with impeccable road manners and an interior that is more like an isolation chamber. All for under $10 grand? Yeah, I can see how this car would have a lot of fans.

Triple black is the way you should always order your big luxury sedans because they always look formal. This car was built near the end of the line for the formal, upright Town Car styling that really dated back to the early '70s, and it has aged quite well now that it's practically become an icon. It's about a mile long, an impression that is reinforced by the straight bodywork and shiny black paint, which is unquestionably original. It shows just over 45,000 miles, which we have every reason to believe is authentic, and build quality on these cars was such that it still feels tight and solid. Of course, there's plenty of chrome and bright trim, all of which is in excellent condition and really sparkles against that black paint, from the baroque grille to the shiny rocker moldings. Add in the padded half roof and it almost looks like a mini (that's a relative term, by the way) limousine.

Plush velour upholstery was the ultimate in luxury in 1988 and the all-original interior is in remarkable condition. The black seats, carpets, and door panels make it feel very private and upscale inside with just a few touches of chrome and faux wood to liven things up. The instruments are Lincoln's traditional square dials with round gauges inside, a look that's still in use today in the Navigator. And as you'd expect, everything is standard, from automatic climate control to cruise control, to cool power windows with little vent windows that go down first. An aftermarket AM/FM/CD stereo is fitted and there's massive stretch-out room in back, so you can take the whole family on road trips and nobody will complain about the first-class accommodations. The trunk is truly huge, able to handle all their gear and finished in gray mouse-fur upholstery that's in outstanding condition.

Ford's fuel-injected 5.0 liter V8 was the sole powerplant, and you'll surely recognize it as the same one found in Mustangs of the period. OK, it's not as powerful as the Mustang unit, but it's unbeatably smooth and torquey and moves the big Town Car without working too hard. The fuel injection system has proven itself to be bulletproof and yes, if you're that kind of guy, all the Mustang modifications will work on this car, making it potentially one heck of a sleeper. Backed by an AOD 4-speed automatic transmission, it's a tranquil highway cruiser and it probably goes without saying that the suspension soaks up bumps and potholes like a hovercraft. Power steering and power brakes mean that this yacht is easy to handle and it's equipped with factory alloy wheels that give it an upscale look, especially with 215/70/15 whitewall radials wrapped around them.

Nicely preserved and an excellent specimen in a great color, this is a heck of a lot of first-class transportation for not a lot of cash, regardless of its future collectability or not. Call today!