Lincoln Town Car I gallery (1980–1989)
The first standalone generation of the Lincoln Town Car was a classic full-size body-on-frame luxury sedan on the Panther platform.
For the 1981 model year, Lincoln established the Town Car as an independent flagship model line, separating it from the Continental nameplate. Built on Ford's robust body-on-frame rear-wheel-drive Panther platform, the Town Car retained traditional American luxury styling with upright proportions, chrome brightwork, and an optional vinyl-padded roof. While a two-door coupe was briefly offered for 1981, subsequent production was dedicated entirely to the four-door sedan. Power was supplied by the venerable 5.0-liter (302 cu in) Windsor V8 with electronic fuel injection, producing between 130 and 150 hp, mated to Ford's four-speed AOD automatic overdrive transmission. A mid-cycle refresh for 1985 brought smoothed bumper profiles, revised taillights, and an updated interior featuring an optional electronic digital instrument cluster. It was widely sold in the United States and Canada as the premier choice for luxury fleets and traditional buyers.
