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Lincoln Town Car Panther Platform (1998-2011)

1998–2011 · Panther · sedan

Final two generations of the Lincoln Town Car (3rd gen 1998-2002 and 4th gen 2003-2011) - both on the Ford Panther body-on-frame platform shared with the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor and Mercury Grand Marquis. 4.6L SOHC Modular V8 throughout (205-239 hp depending on year, dual exhaust standard from 2003). 4-speed automatic (4R70W / 4R75W / later 4R75E), rear-wheel drive, rear air suspension. The Panther platform got its largest update for 2003 with a fully redesigned frame, rack-and-pinion steering, and revised suspension. Production ended in 2011, mostly going to livery / executive-car fleets.

Watch out: Rear air suspension is the universal headache - air bags split at the folds, compressor burns out, and ride-height sensors fail. The standard owner fix is a coil-spring conversion kit. 4.6L 2V plastic intake manifold cracks at the coolant crossover are well-documented on 1998-2001 examples (Ford issued the aluminum-crossover replacement intake as the warranty fix). Otherwise the platform is one of the most durable in modern American history - high-mile examples are commonplace.