A (Brilliant) 1986 Lincoln TV Commercial:
   • 1986 Lincoln Commercial  

The follow up:
   • Lincoln Town Car TV Commercial  (2 of 2)  

The Panther Platform may have been a downsizing move by Ford in the late 1970s, but by 2011 standards - when the last Lincoln Town Car rolled off the line - it was enormous.

This car that was meant to be a temporary measure to hold Lincoln over for a couple of years until a smaller, front-wheel-drive model took its place lasted a bit longer - 35 years in all, and spanning three generations. While missteps by Cadillac were helpful to the car's success, they inherent goodness of this platform was also largely responsible for them becoming beloved cars of older Americans seeking traditional luxury, as well as livery companies looking for a large, full framed car that could do hundreds of thousands of trouble-free miles without making much of a fuss or sacrificing ride comfort. When Ford stopped building the Panther Platform, there was an actual panic in the transportation industry.

And the Town Car was peak Panther. The smoothness and stability of the platform lent itself very well to a large and comfortable American luxury car in the traditional style. People who had grown up with large, full-framed cars were narrowed down to only a few choices - unless they wanted a truck.

All in all, the Town Car started with humble ambitions, and went on to make automotive history, remembered with a fondness by countless drivers and passengers alike.

In-depth review of a 1986 Lincoln Town Car Cartier by Bill of Curious Cars. Vehicle is for sale at Autohaus of Naples, on the web at www.AutohausNaples.com, or by phone at (239) 263-8500.