1976 Lincoln Continental Town Coupé: Classy Chassis
I never know what I’m going to see at the annual Maple City Cruise Night in Monmouth, Illinois. It’s a treasure trove of the unexpected. And this year’s event was a case in point.
Most people know of the Lincoln Town Car, which originally was a top-of-the-line trim level on the Lincoln Continental and later became a model in its own right, starting in 1981. But for several years there was a two-door counterpart: the Town Coupé.
The Town Coupé first appeared in 1973. As one would expect, it had all of the plush interior fittings and extra trim of the four-door Town Car but in the two-door hardtop body style.
And so it went in 1973–74. But in 1975, the Continentals were redesigned in a more squared-up format that brought to mind luxury Pullman coaches. Of course, the Town Car and Town Coupé carried on as before, just in redesigned threads, both inside and out. In addition, the two-door versions were no longer hardtops; the new squared-off coupe roofline added a B-pillar, making the ’74 Continental coupe the final pillarless Lincoln.
There were five official Lincoln models for 1975: Continental coupe, Continental sedan, Town Car, Town Coupé, and the exclusive personal-luxury Continental Mark IV. For 1976, very little changed visually or otherwise, though the Mark IV gained four new exclusive Designer Editions: Givenchy, Cartier, Pucci, and Bill Blass.
As before, the Town Car and Town Coupé were top-trim packages for the Continental two- and four-door models. Not much changed, with the exception of some new and discontinued color selections. But there was no doubt these were fine luxury cars, whether you selected the myriad Luxury Groups, Town Car/Coupé options, or otherwise.
As the 1976 Lincoln brochure conferred: “For more than half a century, the graceful styling and precision engineering associated with the Lincoln name have helped to place it among the finest of the world’s luxury cars.
“Some with a less competitive spirit might willingly rest upon such a reputation (as Lexus has done for 20 years. Oops! I’m digressing again; never mind!). The Lincoln Continentals, however, have for four years now matched their riding performance and other features direct against other Cadillac models in independent televised tests—and in each of them won the preference of the majority of the participating Cadillac owners.”
Oh, those were the days. Cadillac, Lincoln, and (to a lesser extent) the Chrysler New Yorker Brougham, Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight, Buick Electra, and Mercury Marquis. Fine sedans and coupes, decades before buyers seemingly decided they wanted rough-riding SUVs and combovers (oops, I mean crossovers) to carry their New-Balance clad persons and dogs to the gym, instead of supper clubs for prime rib or surf and turf … with gin and tonics and whiskey sours. And don’t forget dessert!
I loved those days—at least from observations via print, TV, and movies of the era, since that was a good 5–10 years before I was born. Those must have been salad days. Driving your majestic, unapologetically large luxury coupe or sedan for cocktails and fine dining.
People loved their lives, their profession, and their children. There was no fretting about what may have been, what could be, what may happen in the years hence (or at least it was kept close to the vest). You just did your best, succeeded or not, and reaped the benefits—or not. But if you did—oh, if you did!—it was a grand time. Drive your V-8 luxocruiser, enjoy fine dining, and sit back and feel proud as your children grew up and succeeded too. Even if by 1988 they were buying Volvo 740 Turbos and Mercedes 190Es instead.
It was a vastly different time than today. Not that it was necessarily all-encompassing better, but there were perks. Like a Town Car or Town Coupé to whisk you to work and back and sit faithfully in your attached garage or in the parking lot at the country club.
Such thoughts went though my head as I spied and enthusiastically photographed this ’76 Town Coupé, gorgeous in optional Medium Chestnut Diamond Fire, with a dark brown coach roof and tan leather interior.
I was hoping to meet my friend Justin Landwehr at the show; he had recently purchased a 1977 Town Coupé in Cream and was going to be at the show. Alas, he had to leave early that day due to other commitments, and I missed him. But his car had been parked right across from this ’76 version. And although I was disappointed that I missed seeing his car, this one almost—almost!—made up for it.
He also owns a gorgeous 1978 Thunderbird in navy blue with Chamois top and interior that I’m hoping to write up soon, but that’s yet another car for another day. Returning to our featured subject, I loved the colors and nice condition of this ’76. And what a great color combination. I see so many bland, boring, allegedly luxury-class SUVs today in silver, refrigerator white, or black, and I think of Lincolns like this and wonder, can’t we do better? We certainly did in the past!
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Tom, did you not see the hand written sign in the windscreen saying the Town Coupe’ was For Sale. And I think it said $5K which is less then a dollar a pound. With a convince like that, you to can wheel into the parking lot of the Supper Club and know you have arrived.
Is the goat on the roof part of the deal?
Don’t know about goat on roof, but these Town Cars WERE the Greatest Of All Time. G O A T 🏆
Always enjoy your articles, Tom! Those were the days, indeed. These were true LUXURY cars, as were their Cadillac and other rivals. You can’t buy a car today, at any price, that rides the way these did. Yes, there is little road feel – wasn’t that the idea? Whisper quiet, living room comfort, and style. What the heck happened to cars?
Actually CARS have virtually vanished, replaced by Glorified TRUCKS, aka SUVS and crossovers. 👎
Automobile Quarterly did a special issue on the 81 redesign called Changing Of The Guard ,the new downsized Lincoln! That issue featured the Mark 6 and Town Coupe’/ car ( those are My favorite Lincoln’s ) My father had one of these as well as a 74 ‘ version of the above Town Coupe’! I wish we could get back to the Status Mobiles of Yore ! Today’s SUVs are rolling storage lockers weras Old School Town Cars were Stop and Lookers!!!!
I had an 89 Signature. So much better than downsized FWD Cadillacs. There is a vintage ad for Town Car that really slams similarities of GMs so called Luxury Sedans.
I was fortunate enough to have had a 1978 Town Coupe. The ultimate OTT excessive luxury LAND YACHT. Gas mileage was very bad, but driving it was worth every penny. I wish I had never let it leave my garage. These were MONUMENTS to the last of gigantic luxury vehicles. Currently driving a 2007 low mileage Town Car Signature Limited. Great car but not the OTT excess of the 78. This last generation of Town Cars was recently referred to as the American ROLLS-ROYCE. Sad to see what now is considered a luxury vehicle 😕!
LINCOLN…What a Luxury car Should be. Unfortunately after final 2011 Town Cars, not so sure it still applies 😕
Now that’s a boat!
I was a teenager in 1978 and my father had a Ford LTD as a company car. At the time I thought it was a boat which floated down the road answering helm commands in a lazy uncertain manner. Well my parents listened to elevator music from the 50’s and 60’s and loved that old tub whereas my friends were more moved by hot rods, Led Zeppelin and fast food.
WHO WOULD EVER THINK I’d someday miss it all!!
Thanks for the reminder of a time you never even knew!
When I was in high school, my dad had a 78 Town Coupe. Burgundy and white with a velour interior. I would take SOS pads to the whitewalls and wash the boat before he let me take it to the Drive-In. Road like a dream(michelins) it was quiet-just a sweetheart of a car. Took it to Florida once-it was like riding in your living room the whole way. Love to find a Town Car someday….
My dad grew up poor. He ALWAYS wanted a Lincoln. After he became a doctor and his kids were teens, he bought one. A 1975 midnight blue with white interior and white vinyl part top. As a teen who loved sports cars, I hated that car. Sure it was comfortable, but my Datsun would have fit in its trunk. After only a few years of ownership, he sold it and bought something smaller. People actually DID criticize him for driving such a wasteful car usually all alone.
But with age comes, well, if not wisdom, maybe perspective? Especially in the very attractive dark color of dad’s car, today I think it was handsome. And although we didn’t know it at the time, endangered.
Growing up I worked for a local farmer, whose family usually drove Mark IV, V & VI cars, later on Town Cars. Must have really liked riding in them as I have a ’74 Mark IV & a ’77 Mark V. Don’t think I can get rid of the Mark IV as it just seems to suit me perfectly! Yep, it’s a boat but never get harassed about its size, just compliments & smiles!
Nice, but I never found these as attractive as the Cadillac DeVilles of the same period. I think the Lincolns were just too boxy, whereas the Cadillacs at least had some rounded corners.
As I grew up in this era, I remember them well. And being in one with those super-puffy seats and being surrounded by over two-tons of steel was like riding in a cloud. People who drove these didn’t care so much about agile handling or “road feel”. Alas, the oil shocks and subsequent CAFE standards put an end to the era of the land yacht. “Performance” became the new luxury, and those wanting passenger and cargo space were driven to the newly contrived SUV segment.