OK, now I'm really puzzled!!
I ran the serial number through Ford's OASIS (Online Automotive Service Information System) and got back, "ID not valid- No Match Found".
If I decode the number myself, this is what it gives me:
1LN = Lincoln North American production
L = restraints: seatbelts, 2 airbags
M = specific line: Lincoln for North American Sales
82 = series: Town Car, Signarure Series
V = engine YES, V IS THE IDENTIFIER FOR A 4.6 DOHC 4V ENGINE! Every other Town Car I've ever seen has a W in the 8th position, designating 4.6L 2V!
7 = "breaker digit" that is ALWAYS 9 on Town Cars, but is a 7 in your case!
V = year: 1997
Y = plant: Wixom, Michigan
48122 = build sequence pruduction number
I honestly don't know what you have here.
It's got to be something really rare if it's not even on Ford's OASIS database!
Are there any Ford/Lincoln history nuts out there that can help???