The 1988 Lincoln Town Car

A used 1988 Lincoln Town Car typically costs around $4,025, but availability, condition, and mileage greatly influence the price.
Written by Maxine Boyko
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The largest production-run and best-selling
Lincoln Town Car
was the 1988 model year. The super-long luxury vehicle was and remains an incredibly popular and cool car for many reasons, including a standard V8 engine, 6-way power driver’s seat, and power-foldaway heated mirrors. 
In addition to a generous list of standard features, the 1988 Lincoln town car also came with an unending list of customization options. There’s quite literally a lot to love about the Lincoln Town Car, but you should consider its full range of perks and quirks before bringing one home. 
Before you let the mounting pile of possibilities run you out of town, allow the car experts at
Jerry
to guide you through your options. We’ve compiled everything you should know about the 1988 Lincoln Town Car, including what makes it a great car, what you can expect to pay, and how to find affordable
car insurance
for your throwback vehicle.

Is the 1988 Lincoln Town Car a good car?

Starting MSRP: $23,126
Engine type: 4.9L V8, 150 hp at 3,200 rpm
Fuel economy: 18 mpg combined
Seating capacity: Six passengers
Trim levels: Town Car, Signature, Cartier
Over 200,000 Lincoln Town Cars were sold in 1988, the most ever for the model line—which is impressive considering production jumped from being over a year behind to two weeks ahead in just one year. Against all odds, Lincoln continued to provide unmatched safety, comfort, and luxury design for the 1988 Town Car. 
The Town Car was majorly revised in 1985—the luxury six-seater was now the most aerodynamic, streamlined, and well-integrated Town Car to date. But Lincoln took things a step further for the 1988 model year, with an improved instrument cluster, a brushed-metal panel between the reverse tail lamps, and a wood-trimmed dashboard and steering wheel.
One of the most exciting aspects of owning a Lincoln Town Car at the time was the wide variety of color choices. Across its lifetime, the Lincoln Town Car has had a total of 60 exterior colors. Today, you’re most likely to find an ‘88 in Midnight Black or Arctic White, but you may get lucky and find some of the more obscure colors, such as:
  • Platinum Clearcoat Metallic
  • Rose Quartz Clearcoat Metallic
  • Prairie Mist Glamour Clearcoat Metallic
  • Glacier Blue Glamour Clearcoat Metallic
Standard interior colors included Oxford Gray, Shadow Blue, Cabernet, Taupe, Sandwood, and more. For a complete list of all interior and exterior colors offered on this model year, refer to the second to the last page in the
1988 Lincoln Town Car Portfolio
.
The Special Edition package was also introduced and offered for the ‘88 Town Car Signature Series. This $2,461 special edition model replaced an in-progress Gucci edition Town Car and offered these premium features: 
  • carriage roof (mimicking a convertible top)
  • JBL sound system
  • wire-spoke aluminum wheels
  • leather upholstery with contrasting-color piping
  • leather-wrapped steering wheel
Pro Tip If you want to refresh your Lincoln Town Car with new paint, you’ll need to know the color code, as Lincoln recycled the same names across different shades over the years. 

How much should a 1988 Lincoln Town Car cost?

According to NADA Guides, a used 1988 Lincoln Town Car can cost anywhere between $1,550 to $9,000, with an average retail price of $4,025
In addition to mileage, condition, and other basic value factors, the price will also fluctuate based on trim level, any additional features, and whether it’s a special edition model. For instance, the top-trim Cartier model typically costs $1,000 to $1,500 more than the base Town Car.
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Where to buy a 1988 Lincoln Town Car

Despite a record production year, you may still have trouble finding a 1988 Lincoln Town Car through traditional methods like dropping into your local used car dealership. Instead, you should consider using web-based services to research and purchase your classic car.
Not only do websites like
Carfax
and
Autotrader
list used vehicles on the market, but they also offer free financing tools and detailed history reports. But if you aren’t in a hurry, you can also passively search on Craigslist or the classifieds section of
Lincoln forums
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The bottom line: should I buy a 1988 Lincoln Town Car?

If you want to own one of the very best Lincoln Town Cars to ever be produced, then yes. While the Town Car has always stood for luxury, there is something special about the first generation cars produced from 1981 to 1989—and not just because they can easily reach over 250,000 carefree and comfortable miles with regular maintenance.
If you manage to find an ‘88 with lower mileage, buy it and don’t let go! There are few other luxury vehicles on the market that are as reliable, spacious, classy, and unforgettably iconic as the Town Car. Sure, it’s quite square by modern design measures—but if you can think outside the box, you’ll enjoy the 1988 Town Car’s many merits.

How to find car insurance for the 1988 Lincoln Town Car

If you’ve decided to park a 1988 Lincoln Town Car in your driveway, you’ll want to make sure it’s protected the whole ride home. Unfortunately, buying
used car insurance
could end up taking you hours. With Jerry, however, you can start your search for free in just 45 seconds!
That’s right, after downloading the app and answering a few quick questions, Jerry quickly gets to work on sourcing the most affordable rates from the best providers in the nation. All you have to do is confirm your favorite policy, and Jerry will help you make the switch (and can even cancel your old insurance). Plus, Jerry auto-shops for new rates before every policy renewal.
All you have to lose is time and a great rate! Or you can download the Jerry app and gain back time, money, and peace of mind. The numbers don’t lie—Jerry’s average user drives off into the sunset with over $800 in car insurance savings each year!
“I’ve used
Jerry
twice now, and their service is phenomenal. In 7 minutes I changed to a Progressive plan that was the best deal for me. Everyone I’ve talked to at the company has been wonderful, too!” —Reese M.
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