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The Town Car was the undisputed large American luxury car of the 80s (and 90s) and probably the most reliable with the port injected 5.0. But I've always had a soft spot for the 5th Avenue. The proportions were right and it was plush.
Somehow they sold eleventy billion town cars too. They were EVERYWHERE. My 89 tow car was loaded and the 20 year old window sticker was in the glove box…. $38,000 in 1989 dollars.
My soft spot for the Fifth Avenue extended to buying one as a project. One almost became my first car too, except I let my grandfather talk me out of it. Ended up buying a 1973 Dodge Dart Sport 340 for my first car, with the engine in the trunk. I should have bought that first Fifth Avenue though. I'd probably still have it.
I had a 1987 Chrysler New Yorker/Fifth Ave., and it was quite luxurious, quiet, and pillowy soft on the road. I traded it in at 54,000 miles the morning I walked out to my garage and discovered that all of the engine oil had leaked all over the floor....and I had just driven it back to Ohio from S. Carolina, so I'm glad we didn't break down on some lonely highway the night before! I'm not a mechanic, so I refilled the oil in it, and it seemed to hold, so I drove it over to a local Buick dealership and traded it in on a new 1990 Buick Electra/Park Ave., which ended up being the best car I've ever owned, hands down! From there, I had 2 Cadillacs: MY FIRST AND MY LAST, total nightmare all the way around. I then bought a 1998 Lincoln Town Car, and it was on a par with that Buick for quality and reliability, so I've stayed with Lincoln. Don't know what I'm going to do once it's time to trade in my 2020 Continental, because I HATE SUV's, and I don't like foreign cars, either. Here's hoping that Lincoln re-thinks their very poor decision to end all of their sedans!
That Continental is the vehicle that could have saved Lincoln cars. Amazing vehicle, if only they’d have been patient and invested some ad dollars! Btw, I don’t think SUVs are all that, and many makes have great sedans for those of us who enjoy smaller cars (though my daily driver is an S-Class so not that much smaller!!)
@@feg3akatrey144 The Lincoln Continental and Cadillac CT6 both came to market at least 5 years too late to be successful. Full-size luxury sedans are tough to sell now unless they are fully electric...and so many buyers want either a SUV or large crossover. FoMoCo made a big mistake with that Continental... they should have gone retro with suicide doors and rear-wheel drive. A plug-in hybrid version would have increased sales, too.
I wonder if the guy who changed the oil left the the drain plug lose...Those 318's were bulletproof,but things happen with all cars..could have been the rear main seal,rare at that mileage but happens.. We had a lot of Mercury Grand Marquis in our family,1980's models..Those were really good cars but didn't handle like the Chrysler 5th Avenue..We had a few of those in our family,nothing bad sticks out they loved them.. Last of the cars you would like are the Chrysler 300,2023 is the last year of them...I have owned a few and very reliable cars..Either the 3.6 V6 and 5.7 Hemi are reliable,try one out..I had 180,000 miles on a Challenger with the 5.7 Hemi basically the same car as the 300/just a 2 door..My in-laws have a 2015 300 with the 3.6 V6 with 130,000 trouble free miles,they did zero repairs to it,regular maint..
There is one thing i dont think many people can argue with. These were great looking cars with style, grace, dignity, and elegance in spades. In addition, extremely luxurious interiors.
Yes, they were very nice.I got a lot of compliments on my car.When I go to a car shop I have eighty two chrysler new york or fifth avenue white and burger day in terrier show room condition
@@johnmaki3046 I've heard that before. My dad and his twin brother owned a mid-80s model back in the early or mid 90s. Eventhough it was totaled in a bad accident, they always remark on the ride quality and comfort it had and how nice it handled for them.
@@digitalneonblue97 The "Fifth Avenues" (really "trimmed-up" Gran Furys and Diplomats) were GOOD CARS! They were MUCH SUPERIOR to the competitors. The "318"/TorqueFlite was DEPENDABLE and "not horrid" on gas!
The 80s was really kind of disgusting. Young kids graduating college expected a 6 figure salary and BMW the first time out. They didn't want to work for it. They thought that because they went to college, it was just a given. GREED was everywhere ! Even in the movies ! Yuppies, were those who wanted to appear wealthy but really weren't . They were sometimes NEW money and were obnoxious about always trying to show everyone how much they had. Good times !
Had the Imperial been a Lincoln (with a Lincoln drivetrain), lots of people would have liked it. By 1981, Chrysler’s reputation was really poor and had just been bailed out by the U.S. government. Luxury car buyers were very wary of spending a ton of money with a company that has just been on the verge of bankruptcy. And then the awful fuel injection issues just killed it.
Probably like a lot of other American cars. They are crap for years, till certain models and power trains become perfected through time. I.E. GM 3800 V6. My parents had an '82 Buick Electra Limited with a 3.8 Liter V6. The big rear wheel drive model. It was a POS. They traded it for a new 1990 Buick LeSabre Limited w 3800 V6 (FWD) and that thing lasted 17 years with very few problems. Worked for a company with a 2012 Dodge Avenger w 2.4 4 cylinder power train w 270,000 miles. Long in the tooth by that time, but perfected in reliability through time with same design.
Killing the environment? I'm not sure what you mean? The internal combustion engine has been around since the 1860s. I'm still waiting for the doomsday. And yes. The 318Ci was a fantastic engine.
I really liked the luxury cars of the eighties, they were still quiet & comfortable. My aunt had a Fifth Avenue & it was quite fancy but my favorite is the Town Car!!! Large & luxurious, it was great!! Sadly, the Imperial turned out to be a real turd with its disastrous fuel injection!!! Frank Sinatra was not happy with Chrysler!!! 🙄
my choices for this are the Bustle Back 80-85 Cadillac Seville The 84-92 Mark VII Lincoln Continental The Chrysler 300 Buick Century gen 2 79-85 and the 2nd gen Lincoln Town Car which was a triplet of the Ford Crown Victoria/Mercury Grand Marquis. an uncle of mine had a Mark VII Continental when I was a youngster
@@GeeEm1313 I Mentioned the Century because my dad drove a used one in the mid 1980s and many Luxury Cars have had automatic transmissions or at least the option for them for those people that don't know how to drive a manual or choose an automatic for smoothness etc.
I owned a 1982 Fleetwood Brougham diesel coupe with d'elegance package in 1983. It had 30,000 miles on it when I bought it for 5,000. When traded it, it had 193,000 miles. The highway mpg was 34 and the city was 26. Not to mention the diesel fuel cast about 58 cents per gallon compared to 1.25 cents for regular. I traveled a lot in my youth Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and anywhere I could think of. I only had a couple if issues with the starter and transmission. The engine held up very well if you change the oil every 3,000 miles although it recommended that you changed it every 5,000 miles. I do miss that era when American-made luxury cars were and forevermore be the best that ever traveled our highways and streets.
I had a 82 Chrysler, New York or a 5th Avenue. Fully loaded sunroof was my parents car? They gave it to me. I take it. The car shows it is show rubbed condition
I never looked at a 5th Avenue and thought, "The owner of that car has money to burn!" More like, "Oh, they can't afford a Caddy or Lincoln." Owning Chrysler in the '80s was not a flex.
The Fleetwood has that classic look but the styling of the 80's cars was one of the worst. Today's cars aren't much better with everything looking the same. Cars don't have any character anymore.
Thank you. Nice video idea. I liked what you shared, but I feel you left out a bunch of cars that could have been on the list. I liked how you put it nicely about GM's downsizing in the 1980's. The C Bodies from 1980-1984 from Buick and Oldsmobile ( the Buick Park Avenue and Oldsmobile Ninety Eight)should have been on the list as well as the 1979-1985 E Bodies from all the GM brands Oldsmobile, Buick and Cadillac. I know post 1986-1989 are problem areas. Lincoln Town Car and Chrysler Fifth Avenue cashed in on GM's downsizing in the 1980's. The C Body Cadillac you shared ran up until 1992 model year and redesigned for 1993 and ran up until 1996 model year. It changed names during that time. A good list indeed.
I agree with you on the Buick and Olds.They were very nice riding vehicles too. My dad had an '82 Olds 98 that he held onto until he purchased his '94 DeVille that he drove for the rest of his life. The 307 Olds engine that it came with proved more than capable of moving the car briskly with decent highway fuel economy for the time.
I was in grade school when they came out. A classmate's dad was a lawyer and he bought a light blue Imp brand new. While a stunningly different car for Chrysler, the man complained that the car was prone to stalling and no starts. Indeed he picked my school buddy up 1 day right out front of the building, and the car refused to restart. It had to be towed. The tow truck driver wouldn't give him a ride home because the company's policy was no children were allowed in the truck since it only had lap belts for 2. He had to call a cab. As I recall, the car sat in his garage until Chrysler finally did the recall on it, switching it from EFI to a 2bbl carb. He sold the car in 1989, our 8th grade year, with just 53k on it because his wife refused to drive it, and bought a Fleetwood Brougham.
A friend once had one of these IMPERIALS. Believe it was Sinatra edition. Like my remorse in another post, I believe he might like to have it back. Thanks for sharing this post! Just a reminder of question What ever happened to CLASS?
My fav is Town Car. We were a Lincoln family in 70s/80s - I learned to drive in mother’s ‘85 TC Cartier edition. Then my dad bought her an ‘87 560SL but she loved her big car, so she gave me the SL to drive full time (in high school - I did not appreciate how fortunate/spoiled I was then) and dad finally convinced her to accept a new ‘88 560SEL as replacement for the TC. I am still a Mercedes driver, I’ve owned 20+ up to now, but I will ALWAYS have a huge place in my heart for the smooth and elegant luxury of that Town Car.
My parents bought a 1979 Cordoba and loved it then traded it in for a Cadillac Eldorado and that car was garbage. GM had this new engine called the 4-6-8 I think for better fuel economy and the engine just knocked hard no matter what grade fuel you put in it. My dad was the Chief of Police and his department had Ford Crown Vics and Dodge Diplomats. They were both excellent tough reliable cars. So after my dad's hundredth time to the Cadi dealer my parents decided to trade in the Cadi and go back to Chryslers and bought a 5th Ave. Yes it was Diplomat with a lot of extra options but if it's reliable and tough enough for Police work it could certainly handle being a family car. My parents never had any issues with their 5th Ave. And after 6 years they gave it to my brother as his first car.
I ordered and bought a 82 Grand Fury POLICE PACKAGE. To me it just a glorified Aspen and never compared to the 75 Fury 2, 76 Monaco and 76 Charger SE I had.
These cars overall did pretty good for gas mileage. I mean look at today 2025 mi to gallon for some Toyotas. That's not much difference in the 18 mi to gallon some of these cards were to get on the highway or better. I had diesel 5.7 second-generation engine in my 1980 Oldsmobile and it was a few years old when I got it. But it runs so smooth that wait for the heavy engine in front and I love my 32 to 38 miles per gallon on the highway and well into the upper twenties in town. The power and torque was great and I do believe that diesel fuel at that time was cheaper than gasoline. We piled 6 people in it. And all of our stuff and would go on road trips. We're talkin about 6:20 year olds and we were all athletes. Comfortable ride fantastic fuel economy and power and torque and everything
Of this group as shown, the Town Car was probably the best and most reliable. I'm a Chrysler guy and have owned 3 5th Aves, an 82, 85 and 87 (the 82 was the best) but the larger Lincoln was nicer, larger, and more responsive with the MPI. Plus they had OD something Chrysler sorely needed. But let's look at it this way. The GM B body, 77 and up, Ford Panther 79 and up, and Mopar M platform were really cash cows for all 3 for many yrs. These were the last of the old school American luxury vehicles.
The problem for Detroit is that these were all oldster mobiles. Yuppies went for BMW and Mercedes, and by the end of the decade the Japanese were breaking into that market as well.
Your comment is true. What do you think made the general public change their preference from these type of cars to german and Japanese cars. To me these American cars had way way more luxury. Thoughts?
I live in the mountains. Have you ever tried to navigate a domestic land barge in the mountains? They suck. Granted the most "luxurious" car I every had the misfortune to pilot was a 1985 Chrysler 5th Ave., in snow, coming back from a ski trip. I actually made myself carsick driving my grandparent's 1990 Crown Vic from Salem to Floyd, VA.@@howebrad4601
Loved older IMPERIALS. The 61 LEBARON was my ultimate dream car. The Limo like look, seems popular in many of these vehicles. Personally thought the bustle back Seville was definitely the best of the brand, but still preferred the larger more formal looking sedans.
So stop dumping these pick-up trucks that don't haul anything and the ugly idiotic $65,000+ EV's. Ford, GM, and Chrysler, look back to your automobiles prior to 1990 and recommence manufacturing sharp looking automobiles!
My parents have an ‘86 Fifth Avenue. It was a great looking car but the build quality was lousy, was very underpowered and not very refined. They traded it for a ‘91 Towncar. It was a night and day difference.
Good catch. You're paying attention! Yeah...I got the artwork off the net. Why the were there is beyond me. I should have caught that. My brother (co-producer) and I were DJs from 1982 thru 2012 and now own a radio station. We played the hell out of "Listen to your heart" and "It must have been love". Thanks!
Had 83 and 85 Fifth Avenues, 89 Fleetwood Brougham deElegance, and 89 Town Car Signature Series. All great OTT luxury vehicles! 🏆 🏆 🏆. Sad to see what is now considered a luxury vehicle 😕
My father had a 1985 Lincoln Town car in the late 1980’s in silver grey. He had it for a week in test driving it. The inside it felt like the Ford Taurus interior a little bit. He went back driving his 1982 Ford van. He traded it on a 1989 Dodge Grand Caravan in silver grey. That became my mother’s vehicle and the 1988 Ford Taurus was my father’s car. When we go to our vacation home that my father drove the mini van up. Even my mother does driving it do around the towns near our home. It was just long trips or evening having my grandparents in to ride in. The van was perfect in sitting in. My parents had different Ford vehicles during the 80’s and the 90’s. They had a couple of Jeeps and a Sebring convertible. Mostly Ford vehicles. Even all of my cars from the late 90’s and today are Fords. I only had one car that was a Mercury that was also a Ford. It was a 2011 Mercury Milan. To me that car was a luxury vehicle. Very comfortable back seat!!
You forgot to mention that for Cadillac a 4,1V6 was also avaiable. That engine was much more reliable than the 6 litre 8-6-4 and the 4,1V8. The 4,1V6 was avaiable from 1981 till 1983 and it was a very good alternative during this time. Only a few cars with it are left!
Chrysler Fifth Avenue(and all Chrysler products with lean burn) has a tiny smog carburetor that changing it you could easily get major hp gain..Albeit best was was to remove the lean burn/spark control computer with new distributor,ecu and carburetor...Even 4bbl versions swap the carb but were not as restrictive as the 2bbl cars..The car really did have power after that.. The lean burn/spark control computer never let the car have full throttle,you would understand if you swapped it out along with the carburetor..You only had 1/4 power with lean burn/spark control and smog carburetor vs removed.. Also if more power needed swap the 2.21 rear axle and add free flowing duel exhaust you would be surprised how quick they became with no internal modifications..You leave the heads,cam stock just the mods or deleting the lean burn and smog carb will wake the car up tenfold!
my favorite luxury car in the 80's was '85 eldorado with the tire on the back all in white. Lots of chrome, 2 door, beautifully proportioned car. Big rolls like grill as well.
I had a 1985 Chrysler New Yorker 5th Ave. It was my Grandfathers car. He bought it brand new in 85. He died in 92 and it sat in the garage till I got my lisence in 96. When I got it there was only 56,000 on the odometer. I loved that car. Most comfortable and smoothest riding car I've ever driven. It had a 318 in it and for a heavy car it would still move when you stepped on it. I drove it almost daily for 7 years but the transmission gave out. I moved and left the car sit at my old apartment for the night till I could go back the next day to get it. Overnight it disappeared never to be seen again. I told the police of the city I lived in and they just didn't give a shit and wouldn't help me out.
The Town Car was the most reliable. It's basically a Ford Crown vic with luxury featured added. The Crown Vic was the most widely used vehicle by police departments because of its durability and reliability.
The human body must be dressed with purity, moral and decency, not as if they were sexual objects, repent and believe in the gospel of Jesus the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the Christ.
The Caddy Brougham looked like it belonged in a Funeral Procession. Sevilles were cool though The Town Car was the best of the bunch with some classic lines reminiscent of the '61 Continental
A big expensive car with only two doors was generally a bad idea no matter who made it. Customers were usually over 40. More likely to have adult passengers than kids. Then there was the fatality rate differences between two and four door cars of the same make. People in the back couldn’t get out as easily.
Its funny now when you compare the actual dimensions and curb weights of these cars although they are styled to look big they were smaller and lighter than many of todays cars.
I like Mike in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. He always drove an 80s Chrysler. I think they were fine cars but not as prestigious as driving a Buick.
I wouldn't have listed either Chrysler on that list. I would have listed the Mark VII over the Imperial. A hot rod Lincoln for the 80's if there ever was one. And was way more reliable. And the FWD Continental over the New Yorker. I'm a Ford guy but always loved the look of the Fleetwood over the Town Car. Both were great highway cruisers though that catered well to the buyers that preferred that type of luxury.
Great 👍 show ! These were the cars from my youth which I still remember very fondly . My parents owned a Dodge Aspen sedan and a Pontiac Parisienne wagon back in the 80s.
On the other hand, when I look at a Mercedes S-Class, a BMW 7 Series, a Jaguar XJ, or even a Citroen CX, the USA "luxury cars" always remind me of poorly put together carriages.
Then your impression did not match reality. The big lincolns especially were very reliable and waaaaay less costly to repair compared to bmw or Mercedes
Reliability yes, but a Kate 80s town car or Cadillac deville are light years more luxurious than the dour dark, cold interiors of Lexus. I like Lexus cars, but they will never match the living room luxury of the big American luxury cars
Hi everyone. Which Chrysler/Dodge or Plymouth would you recommend for me? I'd like V8, rear wheel drive, reasonable reliability and I'm looking for comfort and luxury. Performance is not too important. Greetings from the UK!
I have driven the Town Cars of the 1980's a lot, the Cadillac Broughams some and the Imperial a little as late as in 2018. I would never buy any of them now. I would go for 1970's cars anytime, or jump to the 1990-1992 Cadillac Broughams or the 1990-1997 Town Cars. I am a great day of the latter. Have driven them a lot. Too bad they are so hard to get into the country.
I liked the early eighties Imperial when it debuted but after experiencing two that weren’t my own I didn’t think of it as the best American luxury car of the ‘80s. I thought that the Seville shown and its sibling Eldorado were great but as far as personal luxury coupe I was surprised that the Lincoln Mark VII LSC had that title.
How did you miss The Lincoln Mark Series and the Eldorado? Both cars were better selling than the Imperial and also better all around cars than the Chrysler New Yorker. Although I'd love to own a FS Imperial.
I always thought the 1985 t0 1988 boxed Maxima was also a luxury car. In some of the boxed Maxima's four door sedan had leather seats and included a sunroof. I had one and I let it go, stupid me. Oh well, life goes on.
Ricardo Monteban brought a lot of class to Chrysler. As the owner of a 2011 V12 Maybach, the Cadillac Seville still takes my breath away from the time I was a teenager in the early 80s to now in 2023 as a 53 year old man.
Boca you guys always do a fantastic magnificent video on car, & this video was no exception, absolutely informative & entertaining too❤ it thanks for producing & sharing, awesome
The 1981 to 1983 Imperial was indeed a sales flop...reasons include decline in popularity of luxury coupes, high inflation and interest rates, crappy fuel injection, and shift towards foreign luxury cars. The front wheel drive 1985 Cadillac included the Fleetwood...Fleetwood Brougham was the rear-wheel drive and larger car. Later on that big car was just called Brougham. Sales of the 1980 Seville declined significantly.... partially due to controversial styling. The cowl and roof were shared with the Eldorado. The Continental/Town Car was the most successful American luxury car of the 1980s. The most successful foreign luxury car sold in the U.S. during the 1980s was Mercedes Benz...both E-class and S-class.
I have a 1981 Oldsmobile 98 that still serves me well. And that was before they chose to shrink it and change it over to that front-drive layout...dumb move on their part!!
Although I loved even BIGGER LAND YACHTS, I was fortunate enough to have had 89 Fleetwood Brougham deElegance, 89 Town Car Signature, as well as 83 and 85 Fifth Avenues, plus 89 Crown Victoria LX. These were ALL great, comfortable formal looking beauties. All except Town Car had plush velvet interiors 🏆. The Town Car, however, gave best MPG of up to 24 MPG at 70 MPH .😊 Would love to have all of these back! Currently have beautiful low mileage Town Car Signature Limited! Last generation of REAL American Luxury cars. Recently referred to in an article as the American ROLLS-ROYCE. So sad to see what now is considered a luxury vehicle 😢. Glorified trucks 🚚! 🤮 😢🤮 😮!
Hello everyone! We want to thank all who have supported our channel. It's because of YOU that we keep growing. If you're not a subscriber, can you PLEASE help us out by clicking the subscribe button? We promise we won't bother you. As always, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING OUR VIDEOS! - Michael J - Boca Brothers
The Town Car was the undisputed large American luxury car of the 80s (and 90s) and probably the most reliable with the port injected 5.0. But I've always had a soft spot for the 5th Avenue. The proportions were right and it was plush.
Somehow they sold eleventy billion town cars too. They were EVERYWHERE. My 89 tow car was loaded and the 20 year old window sticker was in the glove box…. $38,000 in 1989 dollars.
My soft spot for the Fifth Avenue extended to buying one as a project. One almost became my first car too, except I let my grandfather talk me out of it. Ended up buying a 1973 Dodge Dart Sport 340 for my first car, with the engine in the trunk.
I should have bought that first Fifth Avenue though. I'd probably still have it.
The Chrysler "5th Avenue" was SUPERIOR to the "Town Car"! It drove BETTER, RODE BETTER, and had a FAR SUPERIOR POWERTRAIN!
I think the Caddy Sedan DeVille and the Fleetwood have something to say about that ! They were better than the Town Car !
Absolutely! You didn’t see Ronald Reagan riding around in a damn Lincoln he rode Cadillac baby!
I had a 1987 Chrysler New Yorker/Fifth Ave., and it was quite luxurious, quiet, and pillowy soft on the road. I traded it in at 54,000 miles the morning I walked out to my garage and discovered that all of the engine oil had leaked all over the floor....and I had just driven it back to Ohio from S. Carolina, so I'm glad we didn't break down on some lonely highway the night before! I'm not a mechanic, so I refilled the oil in it, and it seemed to hold, so I drove it over to a local Buick dealership and traded it in on a new 1990 Buick Electra/Park Ave., which ended up being the best car I've ever owned, hands down! From there, I had 2 Cadillacs: MY FIRST AND MY LAST, total nightmare all the way around. I then bought a 1998 Lincoln Town Car, and it was on a par with that Buick for quality and reliability, so I've stayed with Lincoln. Don't know what I'm going to do once it's time to trade in my 2020 Continental, because I HATE SUV's, and I don't like foreign cars, either.
Here's hoping that Lincoln re-thinks their very poor decision to end all of their sedans!
2020 Lincoln Continental...only seen a few of those on the road and at a dealership.
Lincoln didn't decide anything. They simply saw the 4 door sedans aren't selling. People don't want them. SUVs are now in.
That Continental is the vehicle that could have saved Lincoln cars. Amazing vehicle, if only they’d have been patient and invested some ad dollars! Btw, I don’t think SUVs are all that, and many makes have great sedans for those of us who enjoy smaller cars (though my daily driver is an S-Class so not that much smaller!!)
@@feg3akatrey144 The Lincoln Continental and Cadillac CT6 both came to market at least 5 years too late to be successful. Full-size luxury sedans are tough to sell now unless they are fully electric...and so many buyers want either a SUV or large crossover. FoMoCo made a big mistake with that Continental... they should have gone retro with suicide doors and rear-wheel drive. A plug-in hybrid version would have increased sales, too.
I wonder if the guy who changed the oil left the the drain plug lose...Those 318's were bulletproof,but things happen with all cars..could have been the rear main seal,rare at that mileage but happens..
We had a lot of Mercury Grand Marquis in our family,1980's models..Those were really good cars but didn't handle like the Chrysler 5th Avenue..We had a few of those in our family,nothing bad sticks out they loved them..
Last of the cars you would like are the Chrysler 300,2023 is the last year of them...I have owned a few and very reliable cars..Either the 3.6 V6 and 5.7 Hemi are reliable,try one out..I had 180,000 miles on a Challenger with the 5.7 Hemi basically the same car as the 300/just a 2 door..My in-laws have a 2015 300 with the 3.6 V6 with 130,000 trouble free miles,they did zero repairs to it,regular maint..
I always loved the Lincoln Towne Car, It made N.J. potholes disappear. I was the proud owner of the 1989 model, wish I still had it
There is one thing i dont think many people can argue with. These were great looking cars with style, grace, dignity, and elegance in spades. In addition, extremely luxurious interiors.
Yes, they were very nice.I got a lot of compliments on my car.When I go to a car shop I have eighty two chrysler new york or fifth avenue white and burger day in terrier show room condition
The 1985-1989 Lincoln Town Cars were the best of that era.
That they were!
NOPE! OVER-BLOWN LTDs and "Grand(?!) Marquis!
@@johnmaki3046 gm fanboy?
NOPE!@@laszynandriy
@@johnmaki3046 it’s ok you can’t let it get to you cocheese
Lincoln, what a luxury car should be
For sure!!!
Unfortunately, Lincoln is a shadow of its former self. It needs to sell big American luxury cars again. So should Cadillac.
@@johnnymason2460 agree
The Fifth Avenue is one of my dream cars, and God knows I hope to find one in good shape one day and own it
The "Fifth Avenue" had a QUALITY DRIVETRAIN! This alone made it FAR SUPERIOR to GUTLESS Lincolns and GARBAGE MOTORS Caddys!
@@johnmaki3046 I've heard that before. My dad and his twin brother owned a mid-80s model back in the early or mid 90s. Eventhough it was totaled in a bad accident, they always remark on the ride quality and comfort it had and how nice it handled for them.
@@digitalneonblue97 The "Fifth Avenues" (really "trimmed-up" Gran Furys and Diplomats) were GOOD CARS! They were MUCH SUPERIOR to the competitors. The "318"/TorqueFlite was DEPENDABLE and "not horrid" on gas!
The 80s was really kind of disgusting. Young kids graduating college expected a 6 figure salary and BMW the first time out. They didn't want to work for it. They thought that because they went to college, it was just a given. GREED was everywhere ! Even in the movies ! Yuppies, were those who wanted to appear wealthy but really weren't . They were sometimes NEW money and were obnoxious about always trying to show everyone how much they had. Good times !
The 1981 Chrysler was not a good looking car, nor was it a good car. My grandparents had one and it was a real lemon!!
Had the Imperial been a Lincoln (with a Lincoln drivetrain), lots of people would have liked it. By 1981, Chrysler’s reputation was really poor and had just been bailed out by the U.S. government. Luxury car buyers were very wary of spending a ton of money with a company that has just been on the verge of bankruptcy. And then the awful fuel injection issues just killed it.
Crap then crap now! 😂
I was never a fan of the look of this model, and doubt I’ve ever seen one in person
Probably like a lot of other American cars. They are crap for years, till certain models and power trains become perfected through time. I.E. GM 3800 V6. My parents had an '82 Buick Electra Limited with a 3.8 Liter V6. The big rear wheel drive model. It was a POS. They traded it for a new 1990 Buick LeSabre Limited w 3800 V6 (FWD) and that thing lasted 17 years with very few problems. Worked for a company with a 2012 Dodge Avenger w 2.4 4 cylinder power train w 270,000 miles. Long in the tooth by that time, but perfected in reliability through time with same design.
@@anonomous1546 The 3800 V6 is one of the best engines ever built by anyone. You could absolutely abuse them and they would take it and keep going.
If there was ever a car Chrysler used to make that deserves a 6.4 hemi it's the 82-88 Chrysler 5th Ave,a 4dr road runner.
The Town Car is the most reliable on this list
Killing the environment? I'm not sure what you mean? The internal combustion engine has been around since the 1860s. I'm still waiting for the doomsday. And yes. The 318Ci was a fantastic engine.
I really liked the luxury cars of the eighties, they were still quiet & comfortable. My aunt had a Fifth Avenue & it was quite fancy but my favorite is the Town Car!!! Large & luxurious, it was great!! Sadly, the Imperial turned out to be a real turd with its disastrous fuel injection!!! Frank Sinatra was not happy with Chrysler!!! 🙄
So did we!
Mark VII LSC.....
Eldorado.....
Park Avenue....
Tbird elan....
my choices for this are the Bustle Back 80-85 Cadillac Seville The 84-92 Mark VII Lincoln Continental The Chrysler 300 Buick Century gen 2 79-85 and the 2nd gen Lincoln Town Car which was a triplet of the Ford Crown Victoria/Mercury Grand Marquis. an uncle of mine had a Mark VII Continental when I was a youngster
The Century is a weak option for luxury. A 3 speed automatic?
@@GeeEm1313 I Mentioned the Century because my dad drove a used one in the mid 1980s and many Luxury Cars have had automatic transmissions or at least the option for them for those people that don't know how to drive a manual or choose an automatic for smoothness etc.
I owned a 1982 Fleetwood Brougham diesel coupe with d'elegance package in 1983. It had 30,000 miles on it when I bought it for 5,000. When traded it, it had 193,000 miles. The highway mpg was 34 and the city was 26. Not to mention the diesel fuel cast about 58 cents per gallon compared to 1.25 cents for regular. I traveled a lot in my youth Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and anywhere I could think of. I only had a couple if issues with the starter and transmission. The engine held up very well if you change the oil every 3,000 miles although it recommended that you changed it every 5,000 miles. I do miss that era when American-made luxury cars were and forevermore be the best that ever traveled our highways and streets.
I had a 82 Chrysler, New York or a 5th Avenue. Fully loaded sunroof was my parents car? They gave it to me. I take it. The car shows it is show rubbed condition
"Without feeling guilty about killing the environmentwith a massive car." Uh, no. That was before the climate hoax. 1:35
I just read it! I don't believe it either! lol
I never looked at a 5th Avenue and thought, "The owner of that car has money to burn!" More like, "Oh, they can't afford a Caddy or Lincoln." Owning Chrysler in the '80s was not a flex.
The Fleetwood has that classic look but the styling of the 80's cars was one of the worst. Today's cars aren't much better with everything looking the same. Cars don't have any character anymore.
Thank you. Nice video idea. I liked what you shared, but I feel you left out a bunch of cars that could have been on the list. I liked how you put it nicely about GM's downsizing in the 1980's. The C Bodies from 1980-1984 from Buick and Oldsmobile ( the Buick Park Avenue and Oldsmobile Ninety Eight)should have been on the list as well as the 1979-1985 E Bodies from all the GM brands Oldsmobile, Buick and Cadillac. I know post 1986-1989 are problem areas. Lincoln Town Car and Chrysler Fifth Avenue cashed in on GM's downsizing in the 1980's. The C Body Cadillac you shared ran up until 1992 model year and redesigned for 1993 and ran up until 1996 model year. It changed names during that time. A good list indeed.
I agree with you on the Buick and Olds.They were very nice riding vehicles too. My dad had an '82 Olds 98 that he held onto until he purchased his '94 DeVille that he drove for the rest of his life. The 307 Olds engine that it came with proved more than capable of moving the car briskly with decent highway fuel economy for the time.
Buick and Olds were near luxury or premium brands in the 80s. Not in the same league as Cadillac and Lincoln back then.
Thanks OLDS98!
Oh yes, 5 cars just wasn't enough to put on here, I use to love that Olds 98 that was a very nice vehicle.
ah before every person wanted a look alike, wheezy 4 cylinder, suv box....
I remember the Imperial. It was such a luxurious vehicle and looked great. I also liked the Cadillac Seville.
Both of my favorite of the time
I was in grade school when they came out. A classmate's dad was a lawyer and he bought a light blue Imp brand new. While a stunningly different car for Chrysler, the man complained that the car was prone to stalling and no starts. Indeed he picked my school buddy up 1 day right out front of the building, and the car refused to restart. It had to be towed. The tow truck driver wouldn't give him a ride home because the company's policy was no children were allowed in the truck since it only had lap belts for 2. He had to call a cab. As I recall, the car sat in his garage until Chrysler finally did the recall on it, switching it from EFI to a 2bbl carb. He sold the car in 1989, our 8th grade year, with just 53k on it because his wife refused to drive it, and bought a Fleetwood Brougham.
A friend once had one of these IMPERIALS. Believe it was Sinatra edition. Like my remorse in another post, I believe he might like to have it back. Thanks for sharing this post! Just a reminder of question What ever happened to CLASS?
My fav is Town Car. We were a Lincoln family in 70s/80s - I learned to drive in mother’s ‘85 TC Cartier edition. Then my dad bought her an ‘87 560SL but she loved her big car, so she gave me the SL to drive full time (in high school - I did not appreciate how fortunate/spoiled I was then) and dad finally convinced her to accept a new ‘88 560SEL as replacement for the TC. I am still a Mercedes driver, I’ve owned 20+ up to now, but I will ALWAYS have a huge place in my heart for the smooth and elegant luxury of that Town Car.
My parents bought a 1979 Cordoba and loved it then traded it in for a Cadillac Eldorado and that car was garbage. GM had this new engine called the 4-6-8 I think for better fuel economy and the engine just knocked hard no matter what grade fuel you put in it. My dad was the Chief of Police and his department had Ford Crown Vics and Dodge Diplomats. They were both excellent tough reliable cars. So after my dad's hundredth time to the Cadi dealer my parents decided to trade in the Cadi and go back to Chryslers and bought a 5th Ave. Yes it was Diplomat with a lot of extra options but if it's reliable and tough enough for Police work it could certainly handle being a family car. My parents never had any issues with their 5th Ave. And after 6 years they gave it to my brother as his first car.
I ordered and bought a 82 Grand Fury POLICE PACKAGE. To me it just a glorified Aspen and never compared to the 75 Fury 2, 76 Monaco and 76 Charger SE I had.
The first gen Seville is my favorite caddy of all time. The second gen was fugly as hell
Agreed. Growing up my best friends mother drove a 1977 Seville. I always looked forward to going for rides in it.
Agree!
These cars overall did pretty good for gas mileage. I mean look at today 2025 mi to gallon for some Toyotas. That's not much difference in the 18 mi to gallon some of these cards were to get on the highway or better. I had diesel 5.7 second-generation engine in my 1980 Oldsmobile and it was a few years old when I got it. But it runs so smooth that wait for the heavy engine in front and I love my 32 to 38 miles per gallon on the highway and well into the upper twenties in town. The power and torque was great and I do believe that diesel fuel at that time was cheaper than gasoline. We piled 6 people in it. And all of our stuff and would go on road trips. We're talkin about 6:20 year olds and we were all athletes. Comfortable ride fantastic fuel economy and power and torque and everything
79 caddy Seville my favourite and I'm from UK
Thanks for watching!!
1980-83 Lincoln Mark VI...
Of this group as shown, the Town Car was probably the best and most reliable. I'm a Chrysler guy and have owned 3 5th Aves, an 82, 85 and 87 (the 82 was the best) but the larger Lincoln was nicer, larger, and more responsive with the MPI. Plus they had OD something Chrysler sorely needed. But let's look at it this way. The GM B body, 77 and up, Ford Panther 79 and up, and Mopar M platform were really cash cows for all 3 for many yrs. These were the last of the old school American luxury vehicles.
fifth avenue was and is my favorite
I love all of them!!😊
The problem for Detroit is that these were all oldster mobiles. Yuppies went for BMW and Mercedes, and by the end of the decade the Japanese were breaking into that market as well.
Yuppies sucked
Your comment is true. What do you think made the general public change their preference from these type of cars to german and Japanese cars. To me these American cars had way way more luxury. Thoughts?
I live in the mountains. Have you ever tried to navigate a domestic land barge in the mountains? They suck. Granted the most "luxurious" car I every had the misfortune to pilot was a 1985 Chrysler 5th Ave., in snow, coming back from a ski trip. I actually made myself carsick driving my grandparent's 1990 Crown Vic from Salem to Floyd, VA.@@howebrad4601
Loved older IMPERIALS. The 61 LEBARON was my ultimate dream car. The Limo like look, seems popular in many of these vehicles. Personally thought the bustle back Seville was definitely the best of the brand, but still preferred the larger more formal looking sedans.
I had a 1987.
So stop dumping these pick-up trucks that don't haul anything and the ugly idiotic $65,000+ EV's. Ford, GM, and Chrysler, look back to your automobiles prior to 1990 and recommence manufacturing sharp looking automobiles!
My parents have an ‘86 Fifth Avenue. It was a great looking car but the build quality was lousy, was very underpowered and not very refined. They traded it for a ‘91 Towncar. It was a night and day difference.
I'm sorry. You really think Roxette was a one-hit wonder or is it a pathetic attempt at getting angry comments?
Good catch. You're paying attention! Yeah...I got the artwork off the net. Why the were there is beyond me. I should have caught that. My brother (co-producer) and I were DJs from 1982 thru 2012 and now own a radio station. We played the hell out of "Listen to your heart" and "It must have been love". Thanks!
@@ThisOldCarChannel 😀
Had 83 and 85 Fifth Avenues, 89 Fleetwood Brougham deElegance, and 89 Town Car Signature Series. All great OTT luxury vehicles! 🏆 🏆 🏆. Sad to see what is now considered a luxury vehicle 😕
Now that's what I call true Cadillac style!
My father had a 1985 Lincoln Town car in the late 1980’s in silver grey. He had it for a week in test driving it. The inside it felt like the Ford Taurus interior a little bit. He went back driving his 1982 Ford van. He traded it on a 1989 Dodge Grand Caravan in silver grey. That became my mother’s vehicle and the 1988 Ford Taurus was my father’s car. When we go to our vacation home that my father drove the mini van up. Even my mother does driving it do around the towns near our home. It was just long trips or evening having my grandparents in to ride in. The van was perfect in sitting in. My parents had different Ford vehicles during the 80’s and the 90’s. They had a couple of Jeeps and a Sebring convertible. Mostly Ford vehicles. Even all of my cars from the late 90’s and today are Fords. I only had one car that was a Mercury that was also a Ford. It was a 2011 Mercury Milan. To me that car was a luxury vehicle. Very comfortable back seat!!
$12487 for a brand new fifth avenue.. in todays worthless FIAT currency that’s about $50000 +inflation. The dollar is dead.
You forgot to mention that for Cadillac a 4,1V6 was also avaiable. That engine was much more reliable than the 6 litre 8-6-4 and the 4,1V8. The 4,1V6 was avaiable from 1981 till 1983 and it was a very good alternative during this time. Only a few cars with it are left!
Chrysler Fifth Avenue(and all Chrysler products with lean burn) has a tiny smog carburetor that changing it you could easily get major hp gain..Albeit best was was to remove the lean burn/spark control computer with new distributor,ecu and carburetor...Even 4bbl versions swap the carb but were not as restrictive as the 2bbl cars..The car really did have power after that..
The lean burn/spark control computer never let the car have full throttle,you would understand if you swapped it out along with the carburetor..You only had 1/4 power with lean burn/spark control and smog carburetor vs removed..
Also if more power needed swap the 2.21 rear axle and add free flowing duel exhaust you would be surprised how quick they became with no internal modifications..You leave the heads,cam stock just the mods or deleting the lean burn and smog carb will wake the car up tenfold!
my favorite luxury car in the 80's was '85 eldorado with the tire on the back all in white. Lots of chrome, 2 door, beautifully proportioned car. Big rolls like grill as well.
I had a 1985 Chrysler New Yorker 5th Ave. It was my Grandfathers car. He bought it brand new in 85. He died in 92 and it sat in the garage till I got my lisence in 96. When I got it there was only 56,000 on the odometer. I loved that car. Most comfortable and smoothest riding car I've ever driven. It had a 318 in it and for a heavy car it would still move when you stepped on it. I drove it almost daily for 7 years but the transmission gave out. I moved and left the car sit at my old apartment for the night till I could go back the next day to get it. Overnight it disappeared never to be seen again. I told the police of the city I lived in and they just didn't give a shit and wouldn't help me out.
The Town Car was the most reliable. It's basically a Ford Crown vic with luxury featured added. The Crown Vic was the most widely used vehicle by police departments because of its durability and reliability.
Them HT4100 (4.1 v8) was pure junk. Worst engine ever well, guess we could say the north star to. But the 4.1 was gutless as could be also
The human body must be dressed with purity, moral and decency, not as if they were sexual objects, repent and believe in the gospel of Jesus the Son of God, the Savior of the world, the Christ.
The Caddy Brougham looked like it belonged in a Funeral Procession. Sevilles were cool though
The Town Car was the best of the bunch with some classic lines reminiscent of the '61 Continental
HAHA!!!! YUP! They were the car to have. Not....Pimpy. I mean, don't get me wrong. I wish I had one but that ship has sailed. :( PIMPY!
A big expensive car with only two doors was generally a bad idea no matter who made it. Customers were usually over 40. More likely to have adult passengers than kids. Then there was the fatality rate differences between two and four door cars of the same make. People in the back couldn’t get out as easily.
Its funny now when you compare the actual dimensions and curb weights of these cars although they are styled to look big they were smaller and lighter than many of todays cars.
Well said about the Chrysler Imperial Boca Brothers! That car in my opinion was the most beautiful of the Malaise Era.
I like Mike in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. He always drove an 80s Chrysler. I think they were fine cars but not as prestigious as driving a Buick.
@5:43 The chopped-trunk Cadillac Seville...aka "The Garbage Truck." ;-)
I was always fond of the Olds Toronado and Buick Riviera body styles of the 80's. Wish Buick would revive the Riviera.
I wouldn't have listed either Chrysler on that list. I would have listed the Mark VII over the Imperial. A hot rod Lincoln for the 80's if there ever was one. And was way more reliable. And the FWD Continental over the New Yorker. I'm a Ford guy but always loved the look of the Fleetwood over the Town Car. Both were great highway cruisers though that catered well to the buyers that preferred that type of luxury.
I think that second generation Cadillac Seville and that two door Chrysler Imperial are two of the ugliest cars ever made.
Had an 87 Fifth Ave. it was a gorgeous car, had a nice ride and got decent gas mileage. No complaints from me on it.
Big boo boo, Buick Riviera should have been on the list, esp before sales flop Imperial.
Is it just me and my European eyes or did all US made cars in the 80s look exactly the same on the front?
Me gusta el carro
How come no 1979-85 Cadillac El Doradro or Lincoln Contential MK V11?.
I still own 1986 sedan DeVille short body caddi in all white with blue interior.. 😎
Great 👍 show ! These were the cars from my youth which I still remember very fondly . My parents owned a Dodge Aspen sedan and a Pontiac Parisienne wagon back in the 80s.
My uncle Tony had a '81 caddy Fleetwood brougham Brown exterior
Lincoln town car still the top of the line, Ford needs to bring it back
Still driving my 88 Vic. Guess it didn't make the video..😐
The 5th avenue made great cabs!!! Not to mention those dog dish hub caps!!!
I have a 1988 Lincoln Town Car 95,000 miles good car
My 84 Sedan Deville has trunk room for up to 4 bodies.
89 towncar, you can't beat it ,best car I have owned!
On the other hand, when I look at a Mercedes S-Class, a BMW 7 Series, a Jaguar XJ, or even a Citroen CX, the USA "luxury cars" always remind me of poorly put together carriages.
Then your impression did not match reality. The big lincolns especially were very reliable and waaaaay less costly to repair compared to bmw or Mercedes
I love my 84 Thunderbird. 13,300 miles
Ford always built a better more reliable luxury vehicle, but now Lexus is kicking everyone’s butt in reliability and comfort
Reliability yes, but a Kate 80s town car or Cadillac deville are light years more luxurious than the dour dark, cold interiors of Lexus. I like Lexus cars, but they will never match the living room luxury of the big American luxury cars
Great vid!!!
Ehrmantraut liked the video.
The best Chrysler engine made was a Slant 6!!!
Had an 89 town car, wish I had kept it.
Hi everyone. Which Chrysler/Dodge or Plymouth would you recommend for me? I'd like V8, rear wheel drive, reasonable reliability and I'm looking for comfort and luxury. Performance is not too important. Greetings from the UK!
Then find one of these 5th Avenues from the 80s. Checks all your boxes.
@@howebrad4601 Thank you.
Luxury is the riot of the rich.
The Impala was a poor man's Cadillac
3:10 Fake wood, on a "real" Caddy? :)
I have driven the Town Cars of the 1980's a lot, the Cadillac Broughams some and the Imperial a little as late as in 2018.
I would never buy any of them now.
I would go for 1970's cars anytime, or jump to the 1990-1992 Cadillac Broughams or the 1990-1997 Town Cars.
I am a great day of the latter. Have driven them a lot.
Too bad they are so hard to get into the country.
🇯🇵にも並行で乗っている人いるかな?
All day long Nothing But pure classic luxury in the 80s 5th Avenue Back in the day $12000 Cadillac over $20000 lincoln Towncar Mk7 the same
I liked the early eighties Imperial when it debuted but after experiencing two that weren’t my own I didn’t think of it as the best American luxury car of the ‘80s. I thought that the Seville shown and its sibling Eldorado were great but as far as personal luxury coupe I was surprised that the Lincoln Mark VII LSC had that title.
The Fifth Avenue (or as my Uncle used to call them 'Super Dips') was the K-Mart of luxury. All the pillowy velour did was silence farts.
How did you miss The Lincoln Mark Series and the Eldorado? Both cars were better selling than the Imperial and also better all around cars than the Chrysler New Yorker. Although I'd love to own a FS Imperial.
I always thought the 1985 t0 1988 boxed Maxima was also a luxury car. In some of the boxed Maxima's four door sedan had leather seats and included a sunroof. I had one and I let it go, stupid me. Oh well, life goes on.
Ricardo Monteban brought a lot of class to Chrysler. As the owner of a 2011 V12 Maybach, the Cadillac Seville still takes my breath away from the time I was a teenager in the early 80s to now in 2023 as a 53 year old man.
I've always seen the Fleetwoods and the Town Cars. Only in the last year. Have I seen an Imperial up close . I feel like i've been missing out.
Boca you guys always do a fantastic magnificent video on car, & this video was no exception, absolutely informative & entertaining too❤ it thanks for producing & sharing, awesome
Lincoln Mark Vll.
Love all those cars I bought my neighbors 1985 5th ave love belie inside brown out side rode on a clouds
The 1981 to 1983 Imperial was indeed a sales flop...reasons include decline in popularity of luxury coupes, high inflation and interest rates, crappy fuel injection, and shift towards foreign luxury cars. The front wheel drive 1985 Cadillac included the Fleetwood...Fleetwood Brougham was the rear-wheel drive and larger car. Later on that big car was just called Brougham. Sales of the 1980 Seville declined significantly.... partially due to controversial styling. The cowl and roof were shared with the Eldorado. The Continental/Town Car was the most successful American luxury car of the 1980s. The most successful foreign luxury car sold in the U.S. during the 1980s was Mercedes Benz...both E-class and S-class.
yup!
I have a 1981 Oldsmobile 98 that still serves me well. And that was before they chose to shrink it and change it over to that front-drive layout...dumb move on their part!!
They were forced to do it to meet us govt fuel economy rules.
Lincoln....
Although I loved even BIGGER LAND YACHTS, I was fortunate enough to have had 89 Fleetwood Brougham deElegance, 89 Town Car Signature, as well as 83 and 85 Fifth Avenues, plus 89 Crown Victoria LX. These were ALL great, comfortable formal looking beauties. All except Town Car had plush velvet interiors 🏆. The Town Car, however, gave best MPG of up to 24 MPG at 70 MPH .😊 Would love to have all of these back! Currently have beautiful low mileage Town Car Signature Limited! Last generation of REAL American Luxury cars. Recently referred to in an article as the American ROLLS-ROYCE. So sad to see what now is considered a luxury vehicle 😢. Glorified trucks 🚚! 🤮 😢🤮 😮!
The "Town Car" was NOTHING but a FAT LTD/Grand Marquis! They were NEVER ANYTHING except Fords!