The Lincoln Town Car and its kissin' cousin, the Ford Crown Victoria, were the gold standard for full-size luxury sedans from their launch in 1981 to their final demise in 2011. The name "Town Car" dates much earlier, first appearing on a one-of-a-kind Lincoln built for Henry Ford in 1922. A version of the Lincoln Continental Mark IV that resembled a limousine also carried the Town Car name in 1959, but that name was not seen again until 1969. This version was only offered in black and carried a unique padded vinyl top which was unseen on another vehicle.

In 1969 the Town Car name was attached to an interior option for the 1969 Lincoln Continental and as an option package for trim the following year. The name continued to be attached to the most expensive trim option package until 1980. This included extra-plush velour seats, among other high-end amenities. 

The Lincoln Town Car was introduced as its own model in 1981. This was done in conjunction with the downsizing of the Lincoln Continental. The Town car has gone through three generations of design innovations which were introduced in 1981, 1990 and 1998.

The first generation Town Car was ahead of its time as far as luxury, offering an early "trip computer" with a digital display, as well as a keypad entry system. This system, which does not require a satellite or releasing personal information to an operator, is still in use on a lot of Lincoln, Ford and Mercury models. 

The second generation Town Car was updated frequently, but the changes were minor and mostly cosmetic. All of the cars corners were softly rounded and the bumpers were narrowed and set flush with the sides of the car. Black satin trim on the lower dashboard panel was sophisticated and elegant. This model remained largely unchanged for a decade.

The Town Car's second generation, launched in 1990, featured a brand-new design. Wraparound composite headlamps and a more aerodynamic Rolls-Royce grille updated the Town Car's look without changing it that much. This series went on to become one of the most popular American luxury sedans, with sales of over 120,000 Town Cars sold in 1994. 

The third and final Town Car series was launched in 1998 with a complete design change, both inside and out. The more rounded front lines, sloping hood and trunk, cat's eye headlamps and the removal of the opera windows and hood ornament gave the Lincoln Town Car the sleekly elegant look that became its trademark. The interior was updated with more wood trim and more ergonomic controls. 

Discontinued in 2011 in response to the harsh demands of ecological reality, the Lincoln Town Car's demise marks the passing of an era.