・Incredibly original 1980s Lincoln

・Very low mileage

・In excellent condition throughout

While the Lincoln Town Car might be a rare sight on UK roads it was a hugely popular machine in its native America and examples like this mid-1980s machine represented the very pinnacle of Ford’s upmarket Lincoln division. Believe it or not, this was actually a downsized Lincoln, but it packed all the luxuries imaginable for its time. It might have seemed a little brash for our delicate European tastes but there was no getting away from its opulence with the car’s brochure confidently proclaiming; ‘The 1986 Lincolns. Truly what luxury cars should be.’

The example on offer here is the desirable top of the range model, the Signature Series, that packed even more equipment than the standard car. It had climate control, six-way power front seats, a trip computer and LED instrumentation and even a key pad security system fitted to the driver’s door. There was power everything and an opulent cabin while its status as the top dog in the range was demonstrated to passers-by via its plush half vinyl roof, chrome wire-style wheels and lashings of chrome. If you owned a Signature Series Lincoln you really had arrived.

The example we have here has led a pampered and cosseted life, racking up just under 23,000 miles during its 35-year life. It’s in exceptional original condition and is virtually unmarked inside and out. It represents an excellent opportunity for a collector of Americana to own what must be one of the finest examples in the country or for someone who likes their cars to be comfortable, luxurious, stylish and just that little bit quirky. 

This Lincoln Town Car, the high-specification Signature Series model, was first registered in 1986 and enjoyed sparingly by its first owner until 2004 when it was handed on to a new custodian with the mileage at just 14,658 miles. In 2006 it was imported from Virginia to the UK where it was registered before being sold to its first UK keeper based in Surrey. 

He obviously enjoyed the Lincoln, looking after it well and not racking up a huge number of miles before he eventually sold the Town Car to another Surrey resident who kept it for a year before deciding to sell it at an Historics auction.

And that’s where it was purchased by its current owner back in 2014. He’s owned several luxury cars and after having sampled Jaguars and Daimlers he decided to see how a Lincoln would compare, being particularly keen on the promise of a cosseting and comfortable drive. He’s used it sparingly over the intervening years and the Lincoln now shows a genuine mileage of just 22,644. Living in rural Kent he’s come to the conclusion that the combination of narrow lanes, left-hand drive and a nigh-on two metre width are not happy bedfellows so he’s now looking for a new owner for the Lincoln.  

As with many imported cars there’s not a significant amount of paperwork from the car’s country of origin although the Lincoln does retain its original owner’s handbook in its original wallet complete with various warranty and first owner cards from the selling dealer. There is also a Carfax report – America’s rather more comprehensive version of an HPI check – detailing that the Lincoln had not been involved in any accidents, written off, subject to fire or flood damage and that its mileage was genuine at 14,658 miles back in 2006 when the report was generated.

The Town Car’s history since having been in the UK is rather more comprehensive with a virtually unbroken set of MoT certificates dating back to 2006 and there have barely been any advisory items of note. There are also several receipts relating to servicing and maintenance carried out between 2009 and 2013 including several services, replacement centre and rear exhaust sections, new front and rear brake hoses, HT leads, distributor cap and rotor arm and a new air conditioning condenser.

Since buying the car the current owner has covered less than 500 miles and other than having annual MoT tests and an oil service it has not required any work. The Lincoln was serviced the day after it was photographed and also passed its MoT test so comes with an MoT valid until April 2022. There is a V5C in the owner’s name along with two sets of keys.

Hopping into the cockpit of this Lincoln Town Car is like stepping back in time, both in terms of its amazing condition and the top of the range technology that was on offer in the mid-1980s. 

The blue velour seats are in exceptional condition as befits a car with such low mileage – there are no rips, tears or scuffs to the seat fabric and the seats themselves are supremely comfortable. The front seats have six-way power adjustment too, while the blue headlining is in similarly excellent condition.

All the interior brightwork is in excellent original condition along with what Lincoln referred to as the ‘Wood-tone appliqués’ that adorn the dashboard and doors. There’s central locking, power windows, a power antenna for the six-speaker Premium sound system and a power boot, sorry trunk, release located in the glovebox. There’s a climate control system and an oh so 1980s trip computer along with funky green LED readouts in the two dash binnacles either side of the speedometer.

The overall interior ambiance screams 1980s – in a very good way – and you can imagine soaking up the miles while being cosseted by the comfy seats and magic carpet ride. The only point we could find that isn’t in perfect condition is the driver’s interior door trim panel which has a small split at the back for the armrest. (Please see photos for this.)

The boot is in excellent order with clean, unmarked carpet and appears as if it’s hardly been used. The boot lid pops up and opens an inch or so with a press of the button in the glove compartment and when closing the motors take over and whirr the lid down almost silently for the last inch of travel. Very cool. 

The Signature Series of the Lincoln Town Car was the top of the range model with all the bells and whistles when it was new and that’s reflected in the car’s exterior which had a number of additional features over and above the standard Town Car’s comprehensive list of standard equipment. As you’d expect there are lashings of chrome and this even extends to the lower rocker panels giving the impression of a solid band of chrome running around the lower part of the car. Needless to say they’re in virtually perfect condition.

All Town Cars had a vinyl roof but Signature Series car had a luxury half-vinyl ‘coach roof’ with ‘frenched’ (smaller) rear window and the blue vinyl on this example is in very good order. Another item that was standard on the Signature Series cars was the set of four wire style wheel covers and white wall tyres – the set on the car were new in 2010 and still have plenty of tread remaining.

The blue paintwork presents very well and appears to be all original with delicate gold coastlines running along the car’s flanks and on the bonnet. There is the odd mark here and there – the car is 35 years old after all – but any imperfections really are tiny and in no way detract from the car’s originality and exceptional condition.

All the car’s badging appears to be present and correct and all the lights and lenses are in good condition. Underneath the Lincoln appears to be very solid.

The Lincoln fires up on the first turn of the key and settles into an even idle. The car comes from an era when American manufacturers were worried about spiralling fuel costs and thus downsized many of their engines but it still packs a big V8, badged by Ford as a ‘5.0-liter’ even if its capacity was actually 4.9-litres. 

As you’d expect with a car that’s covered so little mileage the condition of the components under the bonnet is generally excellent with plenty of original stickers to enhance the under bonnet ambiance. 

As can be evidenced from the paperwork the car was serviced and any necessary repairs were carried out when it was receiving more regular exercise and the current owner reports that it’s always been reliable and never given him any trouble or cause for concern.

The 1980s are very much back in vogue and this Lincoln perfectly sums up the era from its wonderfully period interior to its chrome-covered body. It has that classic 1980s shape – all straight edges and ever so slightly gawky angles – and today it is a perfect representation of Americana from that decade.

Despite selling in big numbers in America the Lincoln Town Car is a rare sight on our roads, especially in such excellent condition as this example. With low mileage and an excellent provenance it presents as a rare opportunity to relive the 1980s in all their velour and chrome glory.