Lincoln Town Car: a used buyer's guide to the 4.6L V8 years and every generation

By CarWhere Research · Updated

The Lincoln Town Car is a full-size, rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan that Lincoln sold from 1981 to 2011 on Ford's Panther platform. From 1991 on it used a 4.6L V8 with a four-speed automatic. EPA rates the final 2009–2011 flex-fuel cars at 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined mpg. The last Town Car was built in August 2011.

Type
Full-size rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan (body-on-frame)
Powertrains
Town Car 4.6L V8 (2009–2011), Town Car 4.6L V8 (1998–2008), Town Car 4.6L V8 (1991–1997), Town Car 5.0L V8 (1981–1990)
Current generation
Third generation (FN145), 1998–2011

Lincoln Town Car engines, horsepower and mpg

EPA data for the Town Car starts with 1984, so there are no EPA ratings for 1981–1983 cars. Ratings held between about 15–16 mpg city and 22–24 mpg highway. EPA lists the 2009–2011 cars as flex-fuel vehicles that can run on E85. We could not open a Lincoln source for horsepower ratings, so output is left blank.

Lincoln Town Car powertrains with Lincoln-rated output and EPA fuel economy (city/highway/combined)
VersionEngineHorsepowerTorque (lb-ft)TransmissionDriveEPA mpg (city/hwy/comb)
Town Car 4.6L V8 (2009–2011)4.6L V8 (flex-fuel capable)[1][2]——4-speed automaticRear-wheel drive16/24/192011 MY[2]
Town Car 4.6L V8 (1998–2008)4.6L V8[3][4]——4-speed automaticRear-wheel drive15/23/182008 MY[4]
Town Car 4.6L V8 (1991–1997)4.6L V8[5]——4-speed automaticRear-wheel drive15/22/181991 MY[5]
Town Car 5.0L V8 (1981–1990)5.0L V8[6][7][8]——4-speed automaticRear-wheel drive16/24/191986 MY[7]

Output is as rated by Lincoln; fuel economy is the EPA estimate. "—" means no official figure was found.

Town Car by era

EPA ratings and engines for each Town Car generation.[6][7][8][5][3][2]

Town Car by era
YearsEngineEPA mpg (city/hwy/comb)
First generation1981–19895.0L V8, 4-speed14/20/16 (1984); 16/24/19 (1986)
Second generation1990–19975.0L V8 (1990), 4.6L V8 (1991–1997)15/22/18 (1990, 1991)
Third generation1998–20114.6L V8, 4-speed15/22/18 (1998); 16/24/19 (2009–2011)
  • Every Town Car has a V8, rear-wheel drive and a four-speed automatic.
  • The 2009–2011 flex-fuel cars have the best EPA rating.
  • EPA has no ratings for 1981–1983 cars.

Which Town Car years to look for

Most buyers want a 1998–2011 car. It is the newest generation, every one uses the 4.6L V8 and four-speed automatic, and EPA ratings rose to 16/24/19 mpg for the 2009–2011 flex-fuel models. Cars from 1991–1997 also use the 4.6L, while 1981–1990 cars use a 5.0L V8.

Because so many Town Cars worked in livery and limousine fleets, it is worth checking a car's title and history for commercial use before you buy.[3][2][5][7][9]

Flex-fuel Town Cars (2009–2011)

EPA lists the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Town Car as flex-fuel vehicles that can run on gasoline or E85. Their gasoline rating is 16/24/19 mpg, a little better than the 15/23/18 of most earlier 4.6L years.[1][2][4]

Recall to check on 2005–2011 cars

Recall 13V385 covers about 355,000 2005–2011 Town Cars, Crown Victorias and Grand Marquis originally sold or registered in certain states, for a steering column lower bearing that may separate. Confirm it was done with NHTSA's VIN lookup.[10][11]

Lincoln Town Car generations by year

Every US Lincoln Town Car generation with model years and engines, newest first
GenerationUS model yearsEnginesNotes
Third generationFN1451998–20114.6L V8, 4-speed automatic, rear-wheel driveThe final Town Car was restyled for 1998 and built at Wixom, Michigan through 2007, then at St. Thomas, Ontario alongside the Crown Victoria and Grand Marquis. EPA lists the 2009–2011 cars as flex-fuel. The last one was produced on August 29, 2011. Many were built or converted for livery and limousine use.[3][1][2][9]
Second generationFN36/1161990–19975.0L V8 (1990); 4.6L V8 (1991–1997); 4-speed automaticA rounder redesign on the same Panther platform. The 4.6L V8 replaced the 5.0L for 1991, and EPA rated the 1991 at 15/22/18 mpg.[8][5][9]
First generation1981–19895.0L V8, 4-speed automaticThe Town Car became its own model for 1981, after serving as a trim of the Continental. Signature Series and Cartier Designer Edition trims sat above the base car. EPA rated the 1986–1987 at 16/24/19 mpg.[6][7][9]

More Town Car research

See how a Town Car was built at the factory.

Trim names and packages on a used listing are not always right. The CarWhere Lincoln build sheet reconstructs factory colors, options and packages from licensed VIN-level build data — availability is checked free, and it is $9.99 only when detailed build data is found for that VIN.

Lincoln build sheet by VIN

Frequently asked questions

What years was the Lincoln Town Car made?

Lincoln sold the Town Car as its own model from 1981 to 2011, over three generations. The last car was produced on August 29, 2011 at St. Thomas Assembly in Ontario.

What engine is in a Lincoln Town Car?

From 1991 to 2011 every Town Car uses a 4.6L V8 with a four-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive. The 1981–1990 cars use a 5.0L V8.

What gas mileage does a Lincoln Town Car get?

EPA rates the 2009–2011 Town Car at 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined mpg. Most 1998–2008 cars are rated 15/23/18.

Why are so many Town Cars used as limousines?

Many Town Cars were used in fleet, livery and limousine service, and from 2012 to 2019 Lincoln even kept the Town Car name for livery versions of the MKT. As a result, many used examples have commercial histories.

What replaced the Lincoln Town Car?

No direct replacement. From 2012 to 2019 Lincoln used the Town Car name for livery versions of the MKT, and the 2017 Continental later came closest in size.

Sources

Prices and output are as published by Lincoln for the model year shown; fuel economy is from the EPA. Equipment changes between model years, so confirm a specific vehicle against its original paperwork or build sheet.

  1. EPA fuel economy: 2009 Lincoln Town Car FFV — U.S. EPA / DOE (fueleconomy.gov)
  2. EPA fuel economy: 2011 Lincoln Town Car FFV — U.S. EPA / DOE (fueleconomy.gov)
  3. EPA fuel economy: 1998 Lincoln Town Car — U.S. EPA / DOE (fueleconomy.gov)
  4. EPA fuel economy: 2008 Lincoln Town Car — U.S. EPA / DOE (fueleconomy.gov)
  5. EPA fuel economy: 1991 Lincoln Town Car — U.S. EPA / DOE (fueleconomy.gov)
  6. EPA fuel economy: 1984 Lincoln Town Car — U.S. EPA / DOE (fueleconomy.gov)
  7. EPA fuel economy: 1986 Lincoln Town Car — U.S. EPA / DOE (fueleconomy.gov)
  8. EPA fuel economy: 1990 Lincoln Town Car — U.S. EPA / DOE (fueleconomy.gov)
  9. Lincoln Town Car (history corroboration) — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
  10. NHTSA recall 13V385000: Steering column lower bearing may separate, 2005–2011 Town Car, Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis (Aug 2013) — NHTSA recall (DOT recall dataset 6axg-epim)
  11. DOT/NHTSA recall dataset query: "Town Car" — U.S. DOT open data (data.transportation.gov)

More Lincoln tools

Independent reference compiled by CarWhere — not affiliated with or endorsed by Lincoln or Ford Motor Company. Lincoln, Black Label and the model names are trademarks of their owners.