1985 Lincoln Town Car

4dr Sedan

8-cyl. 302cid/140hp CFI

#1 Concours condition#1 Concours
#2 Excellent condition#2 Excellent
#3 Good condition#3 Good

$6,500*

-14.5%
#4 Fair condition#4 Fair
Value Graph07/2410/2401/25$2k$4k$6kApr 2025
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1981-1989 Lincoln Town Car stats
Highest sale
$33,862
Lowest sale
$213
Most recent sale
$5,500
Sales
158

Photos

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1984 Lincoln Town Car Signature Series Sedan
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Model overview

Model description

For 1980, the all-new shared Lincoln Continental and Mark VI bodyshell was based upon the “Panther” platform utilized by Ford and Mercury. The two-door Lincolns utilized the same 114.3-inch wheelbase as the Ford and Mercury, but the four-door cars obtained a 3” stretch in the center for additional rear leg-room. Exterior sheetmetal was specific, as were interiors, but the expensive engineering essentials and most mechanical components were shared. A 302 cid fuel injected V8 engine was utilized, with optional 351 carbureted engine optional. New was the AOD four speed overdrive automatic transmission, which also assisted in improving fuel mileage.

For 1981, the Continental name was replaced and the new Town Car appellation was used for the non-Mark Lincolns. The lineup was also simplified with the elimination of the slow-selling Versailles model. The sole engine was the 302 V-8 with fuel injection and styling was virtually identical to the 1980 cars with only minor changes. The new Town Car retained the prior Continental’s exposed oblong dual headlamps and optional digital trip computer display, and added a new key-pad entry system. Lincoln’s formal upright grille was naturally retained. These cars were unashamedly aimed straight at mature customers with wealth money in the bank.

In 1982, the Town Car continued much as before, except that the one-year only two-door was discontinued and the car began to become popular with black-car limo companies in lieu of problematic 1981 Cadillacs.

In 1983, these factors helped lift Lincoln Town Car sales to 53,361 from 35,069 the year before. 1982 sales had lifted 25 percent from the year before, so Lincoln was on a sales trend of the right kind. New for 1983 was a completely restyled Lincoln Mark VI with aerodynamic luxury and panache’. The Town Car may have been eclipsed by the second all-new alternate Lincoln name-plate in two years, but obviously remained popular with both prior Lincoln customers requiring a formal sedan as well as defecting Cadillac customers.

The 1984 cars were similar, but a new two-tone Cartier Designer series became available. The Town Car Signature featured a coach roof, pleat-pillow upholstery, and wood-tone accents on doors and quarter trim panels. Sales soared to 93,622. In addition, Lincoln’s Town Car began to easily dominate the “stretch limousine” donor-car fabrication trade.

For 1985, the Town Car was facelifted slightly, and Lincoln sold 119,878 Town Cars. Late in 1985, Lincoln TV ads entitled “The Valet” rubbed salt in their competitor’s wounds by mocking how similar Cadillacs looked to Buicks, Oldsmobiles, Pontiacs and even Chevrolets. This commercial began the advertising line “Lincoln: What a Luxury Car Should Be.” The slogan was successfully used into the 1990s.

1986 saw Town Car sales about the same as 1985, and there was an all-new multi-port fuel injection system as well as the additional use of popular woodgrain interior trim. The 1987 cars added a single-slot CD player as an option, and in the spring of 1987, the 1988 cars were introduced early with another slight facelift. 1987, being both a recession / financial panic year and a very short “model-year”, saw Town Car sales plummet to 76,483. The extended 1988 model year, however, saw 201,118 cars sold.

The final first-generation of “Panther platform” Town Cars was the 1989 cars, which were virtually identical to 1988. The next generation would become an even larger sales success for Lincoln.

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Common Questions

The value of a 1985 Lincoln Town Car can vary greatly depending on its condition, mileage, options, and history. Typically, you can expect to pay around $6,500 for a 1985 Lincoln Town Car in good condition with average spec.

The highest selling price of a 1985 Lincoln Town Car at auction over the last three years was $7,700. The highest prices are usually reserved for rare or exceptionally well-maintained examples with desirable features or modifications and excellent history.

The lowest selling price of a 1985 Lincoln Town Car at auction over the last three years was $6,037. The lowest prices are usually paid for examples that have extensive maintenance needs, differ greatly from their original configuration, or have accident histories or title problems.

In the last three years there have been 4 1985 Lincoln Town Cars sold at public auction.

The most recent auction sale of a 1985 Lincoln Town Car was $6,037 on April 02, 2024 by Bring a Trailer.

Many factors can increase a car's value including excellent condition, exceptional originality, a recent restoration, low mileage, unique provenance, desirable options, popular or unique color choices, and excellent maintenance records. Upgrades and modifications that enhance performance or aesthetics can also add value.

Factors that can decrease a car's value include unusually high mileage, poor maintenance history, visible wear and tear, accidents or damage, title issues, and gaps in ownership history. Additionally, less popular color choices and extensive modifications that don't appeal to a broad audience can reduce value.

Mileage plays a significant role in a classic car’s value. Lower mileage usually increases value because it indicates a higher degree of originality, is rarer, and suggests less wear and tear. However, cars with exceptionally low mileage may also have maintenance needs due to lack of use. Whether someone should pay more for a vehicle with lower miles will depend on how they plan on using it, and the vehicle's specific condition.

The value of modified cars differs widely based on the type and quality of modifications. While some modifications can significantly increase value, especially performance enhancements and high-quality custom work, others may not add much or could even detract from the car’s value if they appeal to only a limited audience.

All prices shown here are based on various data sources, as detailed in About Our Prices. The Hagerty Price Guide is for informational purposes only and is not intended as financial advice. More information on how forecast models are calculated can be found on Forecasted Values page. For additional information and a complete description of benefits, visit hagerty.com/legal. Purchase of insurance not required for membership in HDC. Hagerty, Hagerty Valuation Tools & Hagerty Drivers Club are registered trademarks of The Hagerty Group LLC, ©2025 The Hagerty Group, LLC. All Rights Reserved. The Hagerty Group, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hagerty, Inc.