Dearborn, Michigan Police Department
(Uncredited)
Originally published in the Third Quarter 1981 issue of Continental Comments (Issue # 145).
The happiest Police Department in the country is Dearborn, Michigan. They ride around in their 25 Lincolns, 1981 Town Cars or Mark VIs.
Sticker prices on these Lincolns are $15,000 to $18,000, but they are being leased for $1 each per year. In addition, the Ford Motor Company handles all services on the restraint system and repairs any breakdowns, promptly.
Some of these Lincolns are used for surveillance, but most are marked and rigged with such familiar police car equipment as flashers, sirens, prisoner restraints and emergency gear.
Louis B. Ross, Executive Vice-President, Product Development Group for Ford’s North American Automotive Operations, noted that “Ford believes this program will provide real-world experience of our lastest inflatable-restraint design which could contribute to the development of future passive restraint systems.”
The air-bags being tested are fully operational and have been under development for four years. Ford representatives began working with the Dearborn Police Department a year prior to develop this experimental program.
It is estimated that each of the Lincoln squad cars will roll up between 50,000 and 75,000 miles in the coming year. Drivers make entries in log books provided by the company to assist Ford engineers in obtaining needed data during the regularly scheduled inspections.
Already there is valuable test data. Police Chief John T. Connolly reports that the Lincolns average 10.5 miles per gallon, compared to 8 miles per gallon with the previous Ford LTDs. “We feel that this is pretty good economy when you figure how tough traffic patrol is on any car. There’s a lot of round-the-clock driving in heavy traffic, a lot of idling time and a lot of quick starts.”
The Dearborn Police are the only ones in the country enjoying such luxury. But, this isn’t the first. Details are not known, but they have a picture of a 1932 Lincoln being used by their predecessors.
Attention!
Lincoln Continental Owners Club Members
That luxurious 1981 Lincoln behind you as you drive in Dearborn
might not be another member following you to the Eastern National Meet.
Northstar News – April 2022
The Jack Nicklaus Edition Lincoln Town Car
(Uncredited)
Originally published in the January/February 1996 issue of Continental Comments (Issue # 207).
The title is a little corny, but the idea is to occasionally spotlight the sleepers— Lincolns less than ten model years old, that may become tomorrow’s collectibles. Surprisingly, there are quite a few, and here we think is one of the best bets, or maybe we should say a hole in one.
In 1982, Lincoln-Mercury Division became the exclusive automotive sponsor for TV coverage of 17 Professional Golfers’ Association tournaments. By 1992, Lincoln-Mercury Division was the title sponsor of the “Lincoln-Mercury Kapala International” golf tournament. It should probably come as no surprise, then, that in the fall of 1991, Lincoln offered a 1991 Jack Nicklaus Edition Town Car.
At first it was marketed only in the Southwest. By January 1992 it was being sold nationally as a 1992 model. Although the Jack Nicklaus Town Car was discontinued after the 1992 model year, in February, 1992 Lincoln-Mercury Division reported that for the first two months it was offered nationally, it accounted for 20% of all Town Car orders. We don’t know the total production numbers for the Jack Nicklaus Town Car, but despite all the hype over sales figures for a two month period, it can’t be all that many.
Two exterior color/trim options were offered—“deep jewel green clearcoat metallic” and “arctic white clearcoat”. Some, possibly all, Jack Nicklaus Town Cars have contrasting vinyl roofs, (white on green cars and green on white cars). All Jack Nicklaus Town cars came with white leather upholstery with green piping on the seats and the Lincoln star on the seat backs sewn in green thread. Special badges with the “golden bear” and Jack Nicklaus’ signature appear on each front fender, on the lower deck lid and on the dash above the radio. The carpeting and floor mats are dark green, and the front mats have a small “golden bear” sewn near the outside edges.
Some dealers have also added chrome fender reveal moldings and gold plated exterior trim. About the only thing the car didn’t come with was a golf club compartment and a set of golf clubs. We guess that the ultimate golfer’s Lincoln would be a classic model of the ‘20s or ‘30s with an authentic golf club compartment and painted jewel green with a white top.
LMCF Centennial Homecoming 2022
The 100th anniversary of the Lincoln Motor Company, one of the world’s great luxury marques, will be celebrated in 2022, commemorating the centennial of Lincoln’s acquisition by the Ford Motor Company in February 1922. Originally founded by Henry Leland, Lincoln had begun building luxury passenger cars in 1920.
The Lincoln Motor Car Foundation, which oversaw creation of the Lincoln Motor Car Heritage Museum & Research Foundation, Inc., will hold this year’s Centennial Homecoming on August 10-13, 2022, on the museum grounds in Hickory Corners, Michigan. Optional pre-Homecoming events will take place in Dearborn, Michigan, on August 7-10.