Gorgeous, Powerful, Don’t Be Childish!
A twelve-cylinder engine has always been the epitome of ultimate refinement (in the 1930s, Cadillac and Marmon even built V16s). Those who considered that too much of a good thing could still opt for an equally impressive eight-cylinder. The V8 was even the standard engine in the States for a long time. With all the downsizing going on these days, a new eight-cylinder is almost unaffordable due to emission requirements. Fortunately, we still have the used car market.
We’re keeping it simple this time: eight for about eight, or: the beauty and power of a V8 for around eight thousand. Strike now while you still can!
Lincoln Town Car Signature – 2000 – 275,271 kilometers – €7,500
It is sometimes said that a true car enthusiast should own an Alfa Romeo at least once in their life. We would like to add that you should also take a ride in an American V8 battleship once in your life. If you want to go further and buy one yourself, this Lincoln Town Car is a possibility. A huge carriage on a separate chassis (in this case, Ford’s strong Panther platform) and a proven V8 – with limited power – that drives the rear wheels via a four-speed automatic transmission… It doesn’t get much more classic than that, just like the body that we also know as (police) Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis, but which are still slightly different.
Lincoln is at the top of the status ladder, and that is why the Town Car (production stopped in 2011) was a popular object to be converted into a stretched limousine. The standard Town Car also measures an impressive 5.47 meters and therefore does not live up to its type designation. The portrayed occasion is originally Dutch and has had nine owners in the past quarter century. The latter photographed the car in a suitable setting: at a gas station. Still: with the cruise control at 100 km/h, 1 in 10 should be achievable. Well, the Lincoln Town Car… Sink into the huge armchair (three people in the front is possible in principle), start, roll away quietly, turn on the cruise control and gently sway to the rhythm of the road. Although American cars are no longer the mops of yesteryear, driving straight (better: gliding) is still better than going around the bend. Meanwhile, enjoy the comfort, the luxury and somewhere deep down the satisfied murmur of the Ford 4.6. Pity about the holes in the dashboard. For the rest, this Yank has survived its (long) life fairly unscathed.
Specifications
Brand Lincoln
Model Town Car Signature
Year of construction June 2000
Mileage 275,271
Asking price €7,500
Where to buy? A2 Automotive, Loenersloot
Technical data
Engine V8, 4,601 cc
Max. power 150 kW/204 hp at ? rpm
Max. torque 380 Nm at 3,500 rpm
Empty weight 1,795 kilos
Luggage space 583 l
Max. braked trailer 907 kilos
Avg. consumption 1 in 8.4 (NEDC)
0-100 km/h 9.5 s
Top speed approx. 180 km/h
All data according to manufacturer’s specifications
Daimler Super V8 – 1998 – 220,095 kilometers – €7,900
Just as Lincoln is Ford’s top brand, Daimler is the head of the already impressive Jaguar. If we were to qualify the above Town Car as a rough-and-ready car, this Daimler Super V8 is aristocracy and ultimate refinement. However, the ST-GS-04 (early 1998, six previous owners) is more than that, because with a four-liter V8 equipped with a mechanical compressor (which we also find in the Jaguar XJR) it is seriously fast. Doesn’t that detract a bit from the ‘Daimler idea’ of old money? Isn’t an XJR a better compromise then? It depends. First of all, the Super V8 is standardly equipped with a long wheelbase, so that you (finally) have a space in the back that suits a top sedan. However, that space is strictly for two people, because the center console runs all the way to the center armrest. So it is a car to be driven and to drive yourself. You do that in an interior where the materials used are even more upscale: softer leather, more luxurious types of wood… and a detail such as a stylized D stamped in each headrest shows the far-reaching eye for detail of the time. We find the instruments a bit out of place: too simple. The center console with its many buttons, on the other hand, looks imposing, but requires some study. Electrically adjustable and heated seats front and rear, an electric sliding/tilting roof, electrically adjustable steering wheel… Everything you could expect in the automotive top at the end of the last century is present. At that time, the quality and reliability had already improved by leaps and bounds, but such a castle on wheels remains a very expensive pleasure. And of course the dilemma: drive or be driven? This Daimler Super V8 is suitable for both. Also nice: a Jag or Daimler ages nicely – never ordinary, and always retains its distinction.
Specifications
Brand Daimler
Model Super V8
Year of construction January 1998
Mileage 220,095
Asking price €7,900
Where to buy? Autobedrijf Hazet, Ochten
Technical data
Engine V8, 3,996 cc, mechanical compressor
Max. power 268 kW/365 hp at 6,150 rpm
Max. torque 525 Nm at 3,600 rpm
Empty weight 1,770 kilos
Luggage space 410 l
Max. braked trailer 1,900 kilos
Avg. consumption 1 in 7.6 (NEDC)
0-100 km/h 5.7 s
Top speed 250 km/h
All data according to manufacturer’s specifications
Mercedes-Benz S 500 Long – 2001 – 134,241 kilometers – €7,950
A Lincoln or a Daimler is a car that you consciously choose, just like a Maserati Quattroporte and also the LS from Lexus. However, the majority of shoppers in the top class go for a German (Audi A8, BMW 7-series, Mercedes-Benz S-class), so we will finally take a look in that direction. In the far north of Friesland we come across this Mercedes-Benz S-class that stands out due to its low mileage. But beware: it was not until this occasion was sixteen years old that it entered our country (and has since served two owners). And: it is sold on behalf of the customer, so there is no guarantee. If we also tell you that this generation of S-class – as a slimmer, more elegant successor to the Cathedral (W140) – initially suffered from rust and other ailments, then the purchase of the NS-548-F would almost be a bigger gamble than that of the expensive Brit and the ‘simply’ constructed American. However, the photos show a neat car that has not yet been spoiled by wheels that are far too large and other conversions.
Just like the Daimler, this S is extended, so there is nothing to complain about in terms of space in the back. A four-zone climate control is just as present as air suspension – comfort is paramount. Although the five-speed automatic transmission can also be shifted manually, it never becomes sporty, not even with the adaptive dampers in the firmest position. For that, the body leans over just a little too much in fast corners and there is a lack of lateral support from the otherwise excellent (electrically adjustable) seats. Many more (electronic) goodies are present, both in terms of luxury and safety. In its time, this S may have been the most advanced four-wheeler in the world, but also know that everything can break down over time – and then the imposing German turns out to be less of a certainty than the Daimler, which is known to be somewhat erratic, and the ‘shabby’ Lincoln.
Specifications
Brand Mercedes-Benz
Model S 500 Long
Year of construction August 2001
Mileage 134,241
Asking price €7,950
Where to buy? Autobedrijf Kloostra, Sint-Annaparochie
Technical data
Engine V8, 4,966 cc
Max. power 225 kW/306 hp at 5,600 rpm
Max. torque 460 Nm at 2,700 rpm
Empty weight 1,855 kilos
Luggage space 500 l
Max. braked trailer 2,100 kilos
Avg. consumption 1 in 7.5 (NEDC)
0-100 km/h 6.5 s
Top speed 250 km/h
All data according to manufacturer’s specifications