“Luxury that needs no introduction.”
For the 1989 model year, the final big Lincoln of the 1980s remained essentially unchanged. The base version gained a fancier “Frenched” back window on its standard vinyl roof. Otherwise, only color and trim changes were visible.
The 1989 Town Car’s only available powertrain was a Windsor 150 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with sequential multi-port fuel injection mated with a four-speed automatic with overdrive. An optional dual exhaust added 10 bhp. 0-60 came in a little over 11 seconds in a car with about a 4,100-pound curb weight. Fuel economy was 17 city/24 highway by the day’s standards (15/22 by 2025 measures). With a smallish 18.0-gallon gas tank (compared to the competition), a Town Car owner could expect a middling range of 300 to 330 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.
The Town Car’s base price was $25,205 for 1989—approximately $67,700 in today’s dollars, or almost exactly what the 2025 Lincoln Aviator Reserve SUV goes for. Standard exterior and mechanical equipment included quad-rectangular halogen headlamps, tinted glass, power recirculating ball steering, power front disc/rear drum brakes, and P215/70R15 white sidewall steel-belted radial tires (a size still readily available) on 15-inch steel wheels with full wheel covers. Inside, 50/50 Twin Comfort Lounge cloth front seats, a six-way power driver’s seat, interval wipers, fingertip speed control, Automatic Climate Control, power windows, power vents, power door locks, and an AM/FM stereo cassette radio with a six-speaker Premium Sound System were included.
Series’, Options, & Production Numbers
For $3,301 over the base Continental, the Signature Series added the Comfort/Convenience Group, which included a six-way power front passenger’s seat, rear floor mats, dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors, a headlamp convenience system, and a power decklid pulldown. A Luxury half-vinyl coach roof with a frenched rear window, turbine-spoke aluminum wheels, and an illuminated/keyless entry system also came with the Signature Series.
For an additional $1,326, the Cartier Designer Series included everything in the Signature Series and added Dual-Shade paint in Silver Frost Clearcoat Metallic over Pewter Clearcoat Metallic, a Silver Frost coach roof, and maroon accent stripes. Inside, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and front floor mats with the Cartier logo were included. Cartier purchasers got a no-cost choice of either leather and cloth seat trim or all leather seat trim.
Exterior and mechanical options included a power glass moonroof ($1,420), a Traction-Lok differential ($101), and wire-spoke aluminum wheels ($873 for the base car, $395 otherwise). Interior options included an automatic-dim day/night mirror ($89), an Anti-Theft Alarm System ($200), a twelve-speaker Ford JBL Audio System with a 140-watt amplifier ($525), and a compact disc player ($617). The Cartier Designer Series was the only way to get Dual-Shade paint in the 1988 model year.
1989 was a good year for Lincoln’s traditional full-size sedan. 123,669 were sold, making the Town Car almost 60% of total Lincoln production, and marking the peak for the first-generation Town Car.
The View From 2025
Town Cars of this era attract collector interest—and there is club support. According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, a 1989 Town Car in #1/Concours condition is $26,900, with a far more normal #3/Good condition version going for $4,800. These Town Cars are often available in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer. As I write this blog entry in September 2025, there’s a Cinnabar Clearcoat Metallic 1989 Town Car with 8,700 miles for sale on Hemmings, asking $34,500.
Make mine that same Cinnabar Clearcoat Metallic, please.
Other Lincolns I have covered include the 1980 Continental Mark VI coupe, the 1984 Continental Mark VII LSC coupe, the 1986 Mark VII coupe, and the 1987 Continental sedan.
Eighties Cars 