. But the debut Town Car model wasn’t the first time Lincoln used the name. Town Car used to be a trim level for Lincoln’s other famous luxury car—the

Continental

Throughout the Continental’s early years, Lincoln occasionally marketed a model with the Town Car trim in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. It was the model’s ultra-plush and limousine trim, before taking on its own model brand as the Lincoln Town Car in 1981. Since then, it’s maintained a foothold in the American luxury car market, even after production ceased in 2010.

You can still find and buy Lincoln Town Cars to enjoy their famous luxury, from model years 1981 to 2011. To learn more about the lineup and its features, check out this guide from

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Is there a 1971 Lincoln Town Car?

There is no 1971 Lincoln Town Car, but there is a 1971 Lincoln Continental Town Car. It had the most opulent interior trim and was distinguished by its unusual vinyl roof. The Lincoln Continental Town Car continued through the 1970s until Ford Motor Company did some shifting around with its luxury line to kick off the 1980s.

The Lincoln Continental was essentially replaced by the Lincoln Town Car. The Lincoln Versailles was eliminated from the lineup. No Continentals were produced for the 1981 model year, but for the 1982 model year, the Continental was re-introduced as a mid-size luxury sedan while the Town Car held the full-size luxury spot.

What Lincoln Town Cars can you buy?

You can find Lincoln Town Cars for model years 1981 to 2011. Here’s a breakdown of what each of the model’s three generations brought to consumers.

First generation: 1981-1989

The first generation of Lincoln Town Cars, launched in 1981, held firmly to the classic Continental’s sharp-lined flat-sided panels and imposing front end. Its boxy headlights were divided by a radiator-style grille. All this edginess, though, was countered by a plush interior, with available six-way power-adjustable front seats, keyless entry, and an optional digital display.

Second generation: 1990-1997

By 1990, trends in exterior car design were shifting to something less angular and rigid. The Lincoln Town car followed suit. It wouldn't fully adopt the

Ford

oval shape until the third generation, but its edges were softened a bit, making the car more aerodynamic and somewhat less aggressive looking. The digital instrument panel became a standard feature along with a walnut dashboard.

Third generation: 1998-2011

By its third generation, the Lincoln Town Car finally embraced the 1990’s oval look. It became a few inches shorter, two inches wider, and an inch taller. The exterior took on a curvy, bubbled, oval shape and Lincoln ditched the hood ornament—but the famous radiator grille remained. Inside, the car offered a center-mounted Motorola cell phone with voice recognition for a few years, as well as the RESCU telematics system.

In its final model year of 2011, the Lincoln Town Car’s base specs included the following:

Starting MSRP: $53,840

KBB estimated used price: $7,661-$11,020

Engine type: 4.6 L modular SOHC V8, 239 hp at 4,900 rpm

Fuel economy: 19 mpg combined/16 mpg city/24 mpg highway

Seating capacity: Six passengers

Trim levels: Signature Limited, Signature L

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Where to buy a Lincoln Town Car

Depending on your shopping preference, you can find a Lincoln Town Car for sale by private parties, some dealerships, and online services. If you like in-person shopping, you may need to have a used Lincoln Town Car specially delivered to your local dealership.

If online shopping is your thing, check out

Carfax

and

Carvana

. Their inventory reach is deep and they can give you lots of information about the specific vehicle you’re looking at upfront, including the car’s history, condition, odometer reading, and features.

The bottom line: should I buy a Lincoln Town Car?

There are pros and cons to owning a Lincoln Town Car, but if you’re ready and willing to take on a used vehicle, the Town Car might be a great way to drive a luxury car without making luxury payments.

Lincoln Town Cars have a great reputation for lasting and

RepairPal

gives the model a reliability rating of 4/5.

Any model year you go for will be a spacious, comfortable ride—though Town Cars from the late 1980s are coveted and may be hard to come by. But in each year of its production, Lincoln used a body-on-frame construction, like that used by heavy-duty SUVs and pickup trucks, making the ride smoother than cars with unibody construction.

It has great safety ratings across its three generations, and it’s popular enough that aftermarket parts and custom modification supplies are still readily available today. So if you want a smooth luxury ride in an iconic and recognizable vehicle that tends to turn heads, the Town Car might be the right car for you!

MORE:

Top 10 cheapest Luxury cars to insure

How to find car insurance for the Lincoln Town Car

If you do end up buying a Lincoln Town Car, you’ll want to check into your insurance options. You should shop around any time you buy a vehicle, but especially when buying a used luxury vehicle. Insuring an older car with luxury features is quite a bit different than insuring a new car off the lot.

To make it easy to find the right insurance coverage—while still getting a good price—you should check out

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