(first posted 12/19/2011) Ah, the 1970’s. It was the Big decade, a time for big houses, big hair, big families, and big cars!
Despite this being the Malaise Era, status seekers still knew what they liked. Show the world you have arrived with a Fleetwood. Keep up with the Jones’ by buying a Cutlass.
But according to stories I have heard, if you were the owner of a Steak House, or a Car Wash, you drove one of these.
The Lincoln Continental Mark IV.
The Mark IV debuted in 1972. Once again based on the Thunderbird, it was a huge (no pun intended) success for Lincoln. By 1974 it got even longer, thanks to the mandated larger bumpers, but it was one of the few cars from that era that actually wore them somewhat well.
As time wore on, Lincoln realized that they had to do something to keep the Marks interesting, and in the best of 1970’s ideas, came up with the Decor Options, which was basically different color schemes one could order up. But the big news for these came for 1976 with the introduction of the Designer Series, featuring models with colors and fabrics inspired by Bill Blass, Givenchy, Pucci and Cartier. Along with these the Decor options were still available, and Lincoln used the tagline, “This year, make your own Mark”.
This particular car holds a special place in my heart. It belongs to my grandparents, who bought it slightly used in the late 1970’s. It became my Grandma’s summer car and trip car. I loved riding in it because it didn’t matter how warm it was outside, the white interior never seemed to get hot.
I remember in 1982 we had to travel to Virginia from Michigan to attend the funeral of my Great Grandmother, my Grandpa’s mother. Mom and I sat in the back while Grandma and Grandpa rode up front. Grandma always cooked for the trip so there was a basket of fried chicken and fritters in the floor for her to feed to us the whole way.
A couple of days later the funeral took place and we were in the processional heading to the cemetery. It was a long ways away, up in the mountains, and for some reason Grandpa seemed to be in a bit of a hurry. He was whipping that big ol’ Lincoln around the curves as fast as he could, with the tires squealing and me sliding across the leather back seat back and forth, and my poor Grandma holding on for dear life, knowing she better keep quiet!!!
The car has the 460 ci engine, which purrs like a kitten still. I always got a kick out of how on the dash there is a light that says “Lo Fuel Econ”. It’s supposed to help encourage efficient driving. However, every time Grandma would pull away from a stop sign, or anywhere for that matter, that light would start flashing!
When I was eighteen they let me take it out for a drive. I always likened the experience to piloting a 747. It was serene yet somewhat ponderous, and I’ll never forget it. That was in 1993, and that was also the last summer they registered it for the road.
Finally this year Grandpa decided to get it freshened up. It’s in remarkably good condition, with just 42,440 miles on the clock. This particular car came with the Jade and White Decor option. It’s rather rare and still looks incredible.
Grandpa has decided that he wants the car sold. Grandma is sad about it, but understands that they don’t need three cars at their age. (There is also a 1991 Town Car and 1997 Grand Marquis in the garage. Yes, Panther Love runs deep in my family)
It’s not everyday that someone can see and touch something from their childhood, and I’m glad that this car has stood the test of time.
Big, heavy, and full of flavor, kind of like that Steak I’m now craving!
Check out Richard Bennett’s Facebook page “The Brougham Society”
I always thought the big bumpers on these helped the looks of the rear, but hurt the front. Oh well.
Nice car!
This had to be the only car from the 70’s that actually looked better with the big safety bumpers.
I see your point on the bumpers, but I’m not sure I can go with you on that. I certainly prefer the taillight and front corner light treatments on the big bumper cars, but the 74-76 lights on the 72 bumpers would have been my favorite. That 72 front bumper was also interesting – some cars came with no crossbar over the grille, while others (like my Dad’s) did. The bumper without the grille crossbar looked awkward, but the one with the crossbar looked the best of all the Mark IV fronts, IMHO.
Here is the car with the crossbar on the grille
On that photo you can see how the ’72 bumpers were integrated with the contour ofthe fender ends and the trim on the sides. In back it’s the same way. The rear bumper tucks under and flows into the body in like manner. That was lost when the safety bumpers were bolted on. I do agree that the rear bumpers look better than the 1974-76 Cadillacs which have too many plastic gap fillers.
Ah, I prefer it without the crossbar! With the bar makes the grill look short and dumpy, without it the front of the car looks almost light, or at least svelte.
Even on my Town Car I like that it is implied that the grille extends down behind the bumper several inches visually, in addition to the fact that it actually does when you look at it.
Is this car for sale?
I’m sorry, the car was sold shortly after this was written, a little over two years ago…
Richard,
I had to ask – do you remember a show from the early ’70s called “Cannon?” It starred William Conrad as an overweight private detective in L.A., and he owned a ’72 Lincoln Mark IV.
I once read that the producers decided to have the Mark IV be Cannon’s main ride b/c it suited his larger-than-life personality, not to mention his size. I’ve seen several episodes and in almost all of them, the car gets damaged in some way.
‘Tis all good 🙂
Sadly I am not familiar with that show, as I didn’t come along until the mid-70’s!
Nevertheless, I can imagine the premise, as these cars totally would have matched that kind of life and personality, though truth be told, my grandparents did not fit that mold at all!
To join your thread for a moment: William Conrad did a lot of stuff starting with the heavy parts (I mean bad guy, not portly) in a bunch of post war movies. He was also Matt Dillon on radio before James Arness got the part on TV. Horses or cars, he would have been a load.
Conrad also narrated Rocky & Bullwinkle, which some have described as a radio program with pictures.
Of course Cannon had to drive a Lincoln barge, for it was a Quinn-Martin production. You’d think it was a secret Ford subsidiary.
Did someone say Cannon?
Frank’s residence.
Big bumpers hurt the looks of any car IMO.
Even though I prefer the 72 Mark IV, this is one of the few cars where the big bumpers don’t hurt the looks.
Its like old home week all over again ! I was a Mark IV fan after seeing it in action in shows like Cannon, Hot Shots, and the Beachcombers. My late Uncle was a Mark IV owner, in the same Red as Hawaiian Punch, I loved it!! It prompted me to find my OWN Mark IV, and I did. a Green ’73. And to top it all off, I can take it to a Petro-Canada station, and fill it with green Syn-Gas/Ethanol, it runs like a top, alongside my Miata, Imperial, and 124 Spiders. I’ll NEVER part with it!
Very nice green color. Hell, even the seat belts are green! A car that simply scream Lincoln. I suppose this is sort of why Lincoln is in trouble now. Their car simply don’t scream Lincoln anymore. Of course they can’t make a car like this anymore, so they need to come up with a design language that scream Lincoln again, but modern, like what Cadillac did.
Do they still make Lincolns? 🙂
(sorry, I’ll find my way out…..!)
As far as the 1970’s are concerned, I have nothing good to say about Ford, but these Lincolns actually worked. Excessive excess for sure, but that’s what Lincoln and Cadillac SHOULD be, after all!
A workmate had one of these in the 80’s – candy apple red, white roof and seats and red everything else. It was a very sharp car, but not as nice as the one under discussion here.
I had to check out that quarter window glass when I got a ride one day as we were picking up lunch for the office and I was surprised and disappointed that the window slid rearward only about 3 inches and didn’t roll down! “You’ve got to be kidding” I said to my co-worker. He just shrugged his shoulders and said “oh, well”! He didn’t care, but at least it opened as a vent. It must just be me, after all…
Gas mileage? Horrible! But he always had his foot firmly in it, so I could have done better if it were mine. I believe he averaged something like 10 mpg!
Gas mileage aside though, that car was one magnificent cruiser – it rode smooth as silk. The rough, potholed main drag we drove – well, you might have well been on a flying carpet – which is what these cars were, and we’ll not see the likes of them again!
Richard, you should consider keeping this magnificent machine in your family, as it looks to be in splendid condition.
A lot of us in the family agree that it will be a sad day when it goes, but we just don’t have room for it!
It really is as nice as the pics make it out to be. Is it perfect? No. But one has to remember it’s 36 years old.
I’ve been begging Grandpa to let me do a pictorial of it for some time, but it was buried in the garage and he didn’t feel like getting it out.
Lastly, I can’t take it because I have two cars of my own that barely fit in my garage. If you look closely in the opening picture, you can see my Buick, AKA CC# 2 for me sitting in the driveway. It’s now put up for the winter.
Re the back windows not rolling down. In this generation of Thunderbird, Mark IV, Ford Torino and Mercury Montego, on the 2-door cars, the windows rolled back into the C-pillar, not *down* into the body as you would expect. Opera windows (windows, usually oval or 4-sided) were common back then, as an option on some cars, standard on others, varying from year to year. Also, many dealers back then added opera windows.
When the car had opera windows, they blocked the area where the rear window would roll back into. At some point, Ford quit making the 2-door models of many of their cars with roll-down back windows, leaving only the front windows with roll-down capability.
The early Mark IVs (my dad had a 72) with opera windows still allowed the rear quarter windows to retract into the C pillar, but only by about an inch or two. The most useless power windows in the world, I think. Someone here said that in the later models, the rear quarter windows became fixed.
For Torinos, the rear windows on the 1972-73 fastbacks rolled down, the formal roofs rolled back. After 1974 they became fixed.
Great write-up, Richard. And forget the steak, I want a fried chicken roadtrip!
I may be the only one, but I prefer the Mark IV to the V. I think that the way the IV’s fender flows into the c-pillar ties it all together better.
It really was one of the more interesting designs of the 70’s, especially from Ford.
And yeah, if you ate my grandma’s cooking, you would agree completely!
Loved your writeup…. and the road trip story was sweet and I totally associated with Grandma or Mom cooking for the trip. In our case it was empanadas (ground beef pastries) and other goodies.
*good times*
As you’re supremebrougham after all… why don’t you make grandpa and offer- I’m surprised he’s not offered you the car.
He gave me a car last year, so I don’t want to seem greedy. Plus, I just don’t have the room for it, and I’m not going to take on something that I can’t give proper care to.
And thanks!
Yeah, you don’t wanna seem greedy.
You know, he hasn’t given a car to me yet, so maybe he should give it to me! I’m a Lincoln guy already! I have a 2-car carport but only 1 car! My Lincoln doesn’t have hidden headlights or portholes!
C’mon, be a pal and put the word in with pops how bout it!
I’m going to have to let you talk to him about that one 🙂
Great article, my grandfather had a triple dark green ’72 Mark IV. It was before my time, but I rode in its replacement, a triple midnight blue Mark V. Your grandfather’s Mark is beautiful, I love the jade and white color combination. He may want to put word to the Lincoln Continental Owners Club that the car is for sale. I’m sure it would go to a good home.
So what was the car your grandfather gave you? Inquiring minds want to know!
He gave me the Mercury Mystique that was the feature of my first CC on here back in the spring. I just sold it a few weeks ago to my best friend. Grandpa wanted me to sell that car, so I’m not too hurt about letting it go. Plus, with my friend James having it, I can go for a ride in it whenever I want, so it’s all good.
That’s right, I forgot that the Mystique came from your grandparents. I hope the Mark finds a good home, hopefully with a local car guy so you can visit it!
Richard, a nice writeup. And you must not let that car leave the family!
I have written before about my father’s 72 Mark IV. He kept it for 4 years and over 80K miles, which was an eternity for him at the time, as he was a new car every two years kind of guy. You are correct, these things were smooth, silent cruisers. The doors each seemed to weigh as much as a whole Maverick and closed with the best sound found on any U.S. car since. These were expensive cars back then, and soundly thumped Cadillac in sales and prestige. Lincoln trivia: the 72 Mark IV was the first American car to bring back the standup hood ornament. The old-style Lincoln ornament (last seen in 1966 or 67) was fixed (and seemed designed to eviscerate any pedestrian you might hit) but the 72 version was spring-loaded. These were popular retrofits on Mark IIIs.
Also, about those rear quarter windows. On the Mark III (and presumably the early Mark IV that lacked opera windows) the window retracted straight back into the C pillar instead of down like most other cars. But on opera window cars, the opera window interfered with quarter window travel. Rather than fix the quarter window, each Mark IV had tracks, motors, wiring, switches, and all the rest so that the quarter window could crack open 2 or 3 inches. So, Lincoln should earn some Zackman credit for all the expense they went to in order to provide movable windows instead of just fixing them. After all, Nasser was still 20 years in the future at Ford.
“So, Lincoln should earn some Zackman credit for all the expense they went to in order to provide movable windows instead of just fixing them.”
Credit duly given, JPC!
You know, on the window thing, commenter Syke apparently thought my thoughts and feelings on fixed vs. openable rear windows is a schtick I use, but not true at all.
When I went to the Chevy dealer in Septembe 1972 to get a look-see at the 1973 models and saw a Chevelle coupe and later the rest of the mid-size GM lineup and all that fixed side glass, I was horrified. I didn’t notice the bumpers ’til much later, nor cared until the Laguna models appeared, but that’s another story. That impression has stayed and continues to remain with me to this day when considering cars.
Fixed side glass on a large car was and still is simply unthinkable to me. To GM’s credit though, the doors were a block long and weighed a tremendous amount, thus allowing for a larger door window, so that made up for a bit, but in my mind eliminated the functionality of a mid- to large-size coupe forever-after for me, increasing A/C availability, regardless. To this day, I will not buy a large coupe – I did consider a Monte Carlo when perusing my 2004 car purchase, but for that reason and a few others, the Impala is what I have and a mid-to large four-door is what I will stay with.
And Just So You Know, YOu Are Not The Only one. I Have Hated The Fixed Rear Windows ever since that Same September 1972 day…. WHY ON EARTH would You WANT Fixed Windows ? Its a Big Thing to Me too. Before the 4 door I have Now, I Had Three convertibles, and 2 coupes which had Moonroofs, I DO like The Back Windows to go down.
So It Stopped receding because of those “Elegant” Opera Windows, of which T-Birds were a slanted Rectangle ~ Why THAT Shape? I always wondered… I sissed The Etching in Gold so often included within a Lincoln’s Opera Windows. Peeka Boo!
The discussion here has turned to the idea of fixed side windows on 2-door cars. GM went one step further when they downsized their mid-sized cars for 1978 (i.e Malibu, Cutlass, Century, LeMans). GM did this to cut weight and provide more room inside, since the armrests were recessed into the doors. (This also would have cut costs, by eliminating the window regulators inside the doors). The recessed armrests, to me, weren’t that practical, because you had to lean forward to be able to put your arm on the armrest.
The FOUR-door models of these cars had fixed windows in the back doors, with swing-out glass rear-quarter windows in back of the doors. The Olds Cutlass and Buick Century 4-doors came out as fastback models (GM originally planned mid-sized hatchback models of their mid-sized cars – hence the fastback styling), while the Chev. Malibu and Pontiac Lemans had conventional notchback styling. After very little sales of 4-door Cutlasses and Centuries, GM revised them for 1980 with a new notchback shape that resembled the 1st generation Cadillac Seville. These cars still had fixed back door windows, but had vent quarter windows in the door, and solid C-pillars.
The GM mid-sized rear-drive cars continued on with fixed side glass on the 4-door models until they quit making them in the later ’80s.
The first year (1981) of the Chrysler K-car (Plymouth Reliant and Dodge Aries) also had fixed side windows and swing-out quarter windows in the rear doors. When the 1982 Chrysler LeBaron and Dodge 400 came out as dressed-up versions of the K-car body, their 4-door cars had roll-down back windows. A few months into the ’82 model year, Chrysler made a running change and started giving the Reliant and Aries roll-down windows as well.
Thank you Ron!
When I was 10 or 11 my family rented one a brown Buick Century for several weeks. (Our normal car was a Volvo).
My entire family was smitten with its smooth ride, plush interior and excellent comfort. I, however, thought it absolute cruel that the rear windows did not roll down! I have never forgiven Buick for this travesty!
IM Curious… Any Idea HOW MUCH $ That would Cost Then and /or Today … Per Window ?
I Love Back Windows that open even for a vent only. It is My Only Consolation for driving a 4 door sedan these days.
It wasn’t just the new Mark IV; the 1972 Lincoln Continental sedan and coupe also gained a spring-loaded hood ornament (along with bright moldings along the entire fender tops, curving around to the front and rear bumpers – a feature also seen on the Mark III, but not the Mark IV).
Oh cruel world, just in the jade collor I’ve always wanted but me with no money… 🙁 But still a beautiful car and a real piece of automotive history.
You Need To get it. It Fits You. When will you see another this great, from a blue chip CAR family if ever there was one. I’d Love To have My Mother The Car…. Her 1973 Black/Black out /White Leather interiored T-Bird is WhaT i Remember her Driving … Aaron Spelling Drove One for a relatively long time also.
She had Pride in that Car. It made Her feel a bit enviable if that makes sense.
She felt she didn’t have to apoligise for that car, even when it was 10 years on. I get it, It was a T-Bird. Same would go for a Lincoln Mark to the Crowd like me who Loves Then.
They WERE Better Than The Cadillac ElDorado, for MUCh if not all of their run…1968-1998 ?
Yes I Loved these cars…If Only I could, I Would love To own this Jade beauty as Well..
Thanks Supreme/Brogham for sharing these precious memories with us. I wish we Could convince you to keep it. Living in a self contained Box,2 car garage/townhouse with no yard… left no room for my Mustang GT Conv either…Sigh… sometimes there simply are limitations.
I remembered the Bill Blass, Givenchy, and Cartier versions but had forgotten the “Poochie” edition.
This piece also remined me how in 1977 I, in my parent’s 1969 Buick Speical station wagon and late for school, backed out aggressively and without looking into the alley and wiped out the entire right side of the creme-colored Lincoln Continental Mark IV being driven down the alley by our neighbor. That sinking feeling never leaves you.
I don’t see how can any car be kitchier than this. The basic shape is not very nice with the huge overhangs and misshapen cabin but the level of unnecessary, uglifying details is staggering. This car looks as if it came from a cartoon parody, like something you expect to see if you fall down a rabbit hole.
If one was being unkind, one could say your post is also “kitch”.
I don’t see the point in piling up only praise for this vehicle.
I understand the cultural background and familiarity determines the taste to large extent so that’s why the uniform comments. Often one can read about typically American cars on this site but to me Paul’s texts about such cars are usually the most interesting as he expresses some criticism contrary to some of the other authors and commenters who mostly just give praise and show nostalgic love. Not that that is bad in any way, it is just not that much fun for me.
Perhaps my comment was too strong but that’s how I see this car, in my opinion saying just it is over the top or excessive is an understatement.
marjanmm: all cars provoke different opinions and points of view. Here at CC, we try to respect them all. That’s not to say we also don’t encourage dissenting opinion.
Cars, like just about everything else in life, has to do with personal context. Any car, kitschy or not, can/will mean a lot to those that grew up with them, and learned to love them.
In the past few years, I’ve broadened my horizons: I can look at this Mark IV with loving respect for what it represents: a rolling time capsule. And especially when this particular example is so well cared for.
But I can also see its many profound limitations, like any other car too. Today, there’s going to be a love fest for this remarkable family survivor. On another day, I may tear a Mark IV to shreds. It’s all in good fun, and realizing that there are many ways to look at any one car.
Well said, Paul. This is supposed to be all about fun. As the site gets more hits the original core group is kind of getting supplanted but please, let’s keep this fun for everyone.
This is one fantastic sled. If I had a place to park it, I would snap it up an a heartbeat.
I like it, too. I actually have the money; just that I have better uses for it right now.
But that would be a statement. It wasn’t me, then; but it’s very-much me, or what people perceive me as, now. Somewhat loud and gaudy…like a Michigan bankroll. Would go well with my blond, Dry-Look haircut…and white moustache and sideburns.
I can see myself…stylishly rumpled, coming out of that thing…on an important errand, at Gordy’s Country Market or the liquor store…
Also, a lot of Mark III and Mark V fans — including some Ford execs of the time — don’t particularly care for the Mark IV. (It was approved by Bunkie Knudsen during his brief tenure as Ford Motor Company president.) So, it’s a controversial design even among Mark supporters.
I’m not keen on any of them, but they’re really not my cuppa.
86er: Please don’t equivocate. Either be “unkind” and say what you feel, or better yet, respect the fact that almost all cars are going to evoke different opinions. And we’re all big enough here to respect a range of opinions without feeling personally attacked. Thanks.
When I wrote my article for TTAC, I made a point of not responding to any of the comments, positive or negative.
It looks as though I should’ve taken my own advice in this regard.
I responded to what I felt was a gratuitous affront to the collegial atmosphere around here. To use a western analogy, I circled the wagons when there was no sign of bows and arrows.
I accept the admonishment without reservation.
And that’s no dodge!
I Like Good Kitche Im not gonna Lie. And Any Car With That Roof , window opera treatment Etched in Gold? Lighted. They were Pisshhwa elegant in 74-76 as I remember it. Good for a Night out in the City. Can be seen in white leather. That Aqua is Good kitche to me, it screams 1975-76 to me.
For Me, color -wise, This car is very Similar to my current 4 door, which is a slightly less Emerald,more hunter,forest,, little more basic chrysler product.
Oh heck its a green Intrepid Darn it, 2.7 even… the survivor of 2 so far…knock on wood ` dogs bark
It’s possible to appreciate this car for what it is, while realizing that it would be a fish out of water in today’s automobile market. This Lincoln has to be ultimately judged in the context of its time. These cars were hugely popular when new, so someone obviously liked them. But, like all automotive fads, demand for for this type of vehicle died after a few years.
In many ways, it’s no more “kitschier” than a 1970 Plymouth Superbird, except that Chrysler would have liked to have sold even 1/3 as many Superbirds as the number of Mark IVs that went out the door in any one year.
…and that is exactly why I liked these cars so much as a kid (a kid born in 1969). Ridiculous? Yes. Perfect for the time? Yes. Cartoonish, of course, but then I was watching a lot of cartoons back then.
None of the Marks matched its time as well until the Mark VIII (still one of my favorite shapes).
I always preferred the Mark V. A friend has a mint 1978 Diamond Jubilee edition, and it’s a very sharp car. Much better looking than a contemporary Cadillac Eldorado, and better built, too. But I would happily take a Mark IV. The Mark IV and V are more attractive than contemporary Eldorados, in my opinion.
Lincoln ran off the rails with the downsized Mark VI. The formal-look styling touches simply did not translate well to the smaller platform.
That seems to be a re-occouring theme here about how these are better than their contemporary Eldorados, but having owned and driven several clean examples from each make, I really cant see it, I would rate them about equal, but I prefer the Eldorado, since it did offer a convertible and I like the 1977-1978 Eldorado Biarritz interior with its huge couch like pillow top leather seats.
Though I give the nod to Lincolns power vent windows and rear reading lights.
I’m sure that a fair amount of it comes down to personal preference.
Several of the Eldorado’s interior details come across as cheap compared to those on the Lincoln, while the plastic fender caps that Cadillac used after 1973 deteriorated rather quickly.
Living near both Carlisle and Hershey, I’ve had the privilege of seeing well-preserved examples of both marques from the 1970s at numerous shows. The Lincolns just seem more solid and better assembled, both inside and out, to me. Can’t say I would ever turn down a Cadillac from those years, though.
In the 1950s, when choosing between Cadillac and Lincoln, I’d take the Cadillac every year, no questions asked.
In the 1960s (starting with 1961), it would be an even choice.
In the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, I’d take the Lincoln.
After 2000, it would probably be “neither.”
Like the Marks generic FORD Pinto to F-150 steering wheel does not come across as cheap?
It really is an ugly wheel. What a stupid place to save money…
And, the Eldorado was available with power T-tops. That’s got to be worth some points.
I’d have loved when I was 20 1979 Biaritz Red With Steel Top White Leather , Landau roof … red With Wood Dash – Info pkage,p seats.
Were Sunroof even available on this? Still Nice Car. I Test Drove and Wanted 84,85 Biaritz Convertibles used at 5k$… ran well but slow… I Was Put Off By “Might Blow a Rod” as to the 4.1….. But I Prefered the Mark 5 to the Eldo offered 77-78, 74-76 as well
I believe that the Mark IV was the first car with a moonroof – the tinted glass-panel sunroof that later became so commonplace.
Believe Me, It can very easily be Made Kitschier… You Could Start By Checking out the Bill Blass Edition…..Which I Loved…. But The Blue With Chamois (Orangey Caramel ) Roof Treatment , never looked Kitchierrrrr than on the 78 or Better yet 1980 Cougar XR7, Particularly with The matching Vinyl Trunk Belts and Square Spare Tire hump covered in same orangy viynl….
I Do Love The 2 tone Mark V , and oddly downsized Mark VI , In Red and White, Thats Pretty Kitchy, If you are going for that, go all the way!
pIMPED oUT Eldorado Biarittz de’elegante could be pretty kitchy too,
Always hated the 78 Brown and Creme 2 Toned ones that look like Loud Sport Shoes for The toupe crowd.
Beautiful car—-looks like it only needs the period correct wheel covers. Those are later model Mark V, Continental, Town Car ones.
I would go with the big dished alloys that were available and replace the wire caps, though I like everything else.
My grandfather’s ’77 midnight blue Mark V had those chrome dished wheels, they were very sharp!
Agreed.
I think the original owner must have replaced the original wheels, as I recall the car having some rather extreme looking wire discs on it. I think they kept falling off so Grandpa ended up putting a set of 70’s Marquis hubcaps on it. They actually didn’t look bad on it, and they are currently in the trunk.
Grandma told me “Look, your Grandpa put the original hubcaps back on”, to which I had to reply, “Those aren’t the originals, they’re from the 80’s”
But it still looks really good.
I always kinda liked these in a sinister killer whale kinda way, If I had one, I would have to be silver with a black top and red interior like the one William Conrad drove in CANNON.
I dig the Mark III the Frog drove in ‘the french connection’. that earlier shape is more sinister looking, IMO.
I almost bought one that was really close to the Charnies, aka The Frogs Mark III, same color combo. I always like the scene in the movie when they take apart the Mark III looking for the heroin.
Now as for the Mark III , I loved That Diamond Green was it…. It was Like Dayglow White with a Green creamy paint Very close to White. Looked Great With White Top & Leather… I’d have to hold out for the right color of each. It was hard to go wrong with a Lincoln Mark II or III, perhaps more easily with the Mark IV ~ But Unlimited should be the choices in my world, for a cost of course.
You guys would never guess what that oil-filter looking object on the side of the air-cleaner is for! I was first intrigued by these when I found our ’76 460 Elite didn’t have it,
while a friends ’74 460 Cougar did. Seems like Iacocca’s notorious 70s bean
-counters got to it.
Lincolns and T-Birds, perceived as higher-end cars, kept this feature until the end of Limas in passenger cars, at the end of ’78.
What is it?
OK you got me whats it for?
I think it was an oil catcher or separator for the PCV system.
Nope!
It’s simply an air chamber which changes the resonant frequency of the air intake system (to eliminate any “droning” sounds at certain engine speeds).
You can see the same thing on many modern cars, foreign and domestic, except that they are now made out of plastic. My 1996 Civic has a HUGE resonant chamber at the RF corner of the car.
Yep, it’s a Helmholtz resonator. The beancounters took them off the cheaper cars with this engine.
This cars Broughamliness factor is quite high
Silver Faced gauges-check
Roman numerals-check
Opera Window-check
Cornering Lamps-check
Abundant woodgrain aplique-check
Stand up hood ornament-check
Large formal grille-check
Wire wheel covers-check
MY GOD, this is brilliant!
We need a Broughamliness factor checklist, and then figure out what car has the highest Broughamliness factor!
(My bet is it will be some kind of late ’70s or early ’80s AMC product.)
I would add
Designer Editions
Any kind of heraldic crests involving shields and lions
Woodgrain How much? and where is it applied?
(i.e AMC Matadors have wood faced gauges….I think thats exclusive)
Number of total emblems that read “Brougham”
Filigree and bric-a-brack
Pillow top seats
Clocks: Roman numerals vs rotating digital
Wood-faced gauges must be a lot of bonus points. Does velour upholstery rate higher than leather?
Limousine (small/inset) rear window has to be worth points too.
Not to forget sheer size and inefficient use of same – I wouldn’t think you could beat the MkIV/V on that front.
Depends on the velour pattern and colour.
Limousine style rear windows are also a bounus point
Points are also added for vinyl covering any other exterior part in addition to the roof, like the vinyl covered hump on some Lincoln Mark V’s.
The AMC Ambassadors had the wood-faced gauges as well, I have a ’72 brochure that shows it. You could even get an Ambassador Brougham wagon. 1974 was the last year. I think ‘Ambassador Brougham’ has a nice ring to it.
If anyone wants to see Broughamliness on display, there is a dealer of such cars in South Florida that has GREAT pics. Seems to really specialize in the Marks. It is a place called mjcclassiccars.com. FYI, I have absolutely NO connection to that business. I just cannot get enough of the pics of the greatest cars from the malaise era in all of their colorful glory!
If only they did not drive so poorly, You have to admit, the colorfulness of that era, in restrospect, compared to today’s “any color interior as long as it is black, grey or puke tan”, is awfully fun to peruse.
Padded roof check
Broghomly… :p haha
Cant say I like these though this car is in good nick Its the car from CANNON not something seen on local roads. A mate of mine imported a 460 engine to fit into his 78 Aussie LTD and was horrified at the lack of power it had less go than the 351 he pulled out that was cured by a couple of grands worth of aftermarket parts but a LTD is nowhere near as fat as a mark tank so these things cant have been fast even in a straight line, another Iaccoca all show no go car?
The 460 started being put in a lot of cars right as all the efficiency and emissions regulations came on line. There was never a -really- hot factory 460 option, they just never had the chance. But it takes little to make one quite potent, and engine building guys I respect say it is a superior engine to a big block Chevy.
Yeah the end results was awesome but off the shelf so to speak gutless
this 460 was in one of my old man’s F350 Mason body (gas, not diesel)…. Holy crap what a monstrously powerful engine…. only problem is that it got about 3 mph. :/
These engines weren’t built for blazing performance, or fuel economy. They were built to effortlessly lug around huge cars while powering numerous accessories and very strong air conditioners.
People who bought Lincolns were not going take one to the drag strip and run the quarter mile. They wanted a car that could cruise all day at 70-75 mph, with the air conditioning on full blast, without the engine sounding and feeling as though it was going to send shrapnel through the hood.
The 460 in my Dad’s 1970 Mark III was a premium gas-only engine and would move the car pretty well, as I recall. The 72 was detuned for regular.
According to Wiki, the 70 version was rated at 365 SAE gross hp, while the 72 version came in at 212 SAE net hp. If the conversion factor is that SAE net = roughly 80% of SAE gross, then the Mark III would have been over 290 SAE net. Thus, the Mark IV lost roughly 80 horsepower from its predecessor.
There’s no really conversion factor for SAE gross to net ratings — you can extrapolate or guess, but there isn’t a formula for it.
Cadillac published both gross and net ratings for the Eldorado’s 500 cid engine in 1971: 365 horsepower and 535 lb-ft gross, 235 hp and 385 lb-ft net. I haven’t yet found any manufacturer net output ratings for the ’71 Mark III, but L-M quoted the same gross ratings in 1971 as in 1970: 365 hp, 500 lb-ft. (Curiously, they didn’t change the ratings even with a half-point drop in compression ratio from 1971.) As you mention, net ratings for 1972, which brought a further reduction to 8.5:1 compression (from 10.0), were 212 hp and 342 lb-ft.
Even in the SAE gross system, I would expect that a 1.5-point drop in compression wouldn’t cost more than 25-30 hp. (Road Test‘s first assessment of the Mark IV, written before L-M had issued net ratings, estimated a gross output of 350 hp for the lower-compression ’72 engine, but I don’t know if that was ever confirmed by the factory.) That would suggest that the 1971 460 had something like 235-240 net horsepower, comparable to the Eldorado (albeit with less torque). The 1969-1970 engine, with 10.5:1 compression, might have been somewhat higher, perhaps 250 net horsepower. Of course, that was probably accompanied by something between 360 and 390 lb-ft of torque — hence the locomotive pull at low speeds.
You start with D0VE or D1VE heads and go from there with different cam, pistons, and induction. It can be stroked out to 700 inches. A very well made block and heads. It features canted valves like the Cleveland series and very good breathing through the exhaust ports.
I assisted in the creation of a dual 4 bbl monster in a 69 Mustang that ran 11s regularly. We used Chevy rods to increase the displacement to around 500 Cu on special pistons.
Huge amounts of torque and very reliable.
Aw, I’m torn. That is such a beautiful car – I love the white and green color combination inside and out. I liked the stock wheel covers on these, basically flat satin-finish discs with octagonal centers. (I ran a set of those on my red ’76 Cheyenne short-box pickup for a while, and definitely got some double-takes.) But I had a 1968 Lincoln sedan and remember what a PITA the big motor was, with its tendency to wear out its flywheel gear, and its typical huge appetite in comparison to its power output, and the nylon power window gears, and so I think I’ll continue to admire this one from afar.
To me these are the ultimate American car of the time. While the Eldo made the statement “HEY, I’M SUCCESSFUL” the Mark said “I’m successful”.
I don’t like most green car colors but this one with the white interior works pretty good. Mainly just because I’m a sucker for a white interior, don’t know why.
I agree that you can’t let this well preserved example, particularly with its history, leave the family.
Nice car and a great article. I’d find some way to keep it!
I remember the designer edition Lincolns. As a kid, I was very impressed with them, particularly the “lipstick and white” version (can’t remember which one that was).
The local garage owner had a 1975 or 1976 Continental Mark IV in a very rich light metallic blue color, with a medium-blue vinyl roof. I believe it was a designer car, too.
Lincoln, however, was not the pioneer with this concept. AMC, believe it or not, got there first with the Cardin Javelin and Gucci Sportabout for 1972, followed by the Levi’s interior package for the Gremlin for 1973. The first two really went nowhere, but the Levi’s package on the Gremlin was a big success.
And how about the Oleg Cassini edition Matador coupe-spaceship thing?
Forgot about that one! But the Cassini version debuted for 1974, along with the radical new body style.
A well-preserved car, and some nice photos there, as well.
That color combination is an absolute stunner! If there’s any way to keep that car, do so!
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v136/inaband/?action=view¤t=lincolnanddog006-1.jpg
My ’78 Mark V was purchased for $1500, one of my best deals in awhile.
I sold it a couple of years ago when I lost storage. The R12 a/c still worked
as well as everything else.
That was a beautiful car!
One of my aunts sold a 1979 Collector’s Series Mark V back in the summer. I got some pics of it, but they aren’t that great because I couldn’t get far enough back to shoot it!
Thank you everyone for all the comments!
As much as all of us in the family would like to see the car stay in the family, none of us have any place to keep it!
If anyone is interested, the car, located in Ypsilanti, MI is for sale. I think Grandpa is asking something like $6900, but I’m sure he’d be willing to deal just to get rid of it.
Small world. Although I grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, I was born in Ypsilanti where my folks lived for about 3 years.
Oh that is too funny! I too was born in Ypsi but first left when I was fourteen and we moved to Florida. If you ever find yourself headed back up that way let me know, I try to get there about once a month.
If it is just an issue of space, have you considered a loan to a local auto museum, if there is one around? Otherwise hopefully it goes to a good home, surely Lincoln/Continental club members would be all over it
That’s not a bad idea actually, I’ll have to mention it to Grandma and Grandpa. There are several museums in the area. Thanks for the suggestion!
These Were Very Big sellers in New Jersey. I seem to remember Hairdressors having a thing For These as well as all Things Brougham to a lessor extent. Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse, I for one can vouch to Numberous Managers and Danny Terio Bartenders driving them too. A White Top was Icing on the cake, all the Better to see your fine looks inside the Matching leather interior.
I want The Pearl Aqua 75 or 76 Was It Givinchy or Pucci Edition, You could even get color coordinated 2 tone Leather interior… reality Check … $4.00 gas… If I was a rich man…
The Mark IV is the only car I have ever driven and decided not to buy because it was too big. Not in overall length, but in the amount of said overall length that is in front of the driver. It feels like you are driving from the back seat. I’m pretty sure that in a normal driving position the driver’s head is behind the front-to-back centerline of the car.
Also, the unfortunate fact of 70’s Lincolns is that their gas mileage is the worst of all Malaisemobiles. Drive a ’76 Cadillac gently and not too fast and you will get 12-13 mpg. Most likely this Mark IV will not return double digit mileage no matter how hard you try. In the early 90’s I had a ’77 Town Car, and 9.5 was the best I could do. I have heard of people having even worse results today with E10 gas.
…anyone besides me notice, that dash is straight out of a Gran Torino cum Thunderbird cum LTD II?
I have a lot of respect for Lido. But love, for what he did?…not so much. He’d pick, in his mind, ONE platform…and make it the Company. A thousand and one permutations; and all on the same easily-produced, high-profit, low-tech platform.
Which is, of course, exactly what he did at “K”hrysler.
Sorry, that dash shares it’s tooling with the ’72 T-Bird only. The ’77 and later T-Birds used the LTD-II dash, but these Marks continued with the same dash from ’72 to ’79.
But the confusion is easy because virtually every FoMoCo dash of the 70s followed the same general style, from the Mustang II to the Mark IV, and almost everything between.
Same styling, same questionable hardware.
Tell Grandpa to hold fast before he scraps it.
I have to think about this; and maybe juggle some finances…but maybe, just maybe…no promises…but I might be able to make an offer.
Maybe.
I can promise you…whatever I buy it for, I’ll keep it in all its glory. No parting-out or ridge-runner-izing of it.
If you are in the market for one of these I reckon you could look for a long time to find a better example this thing while not my cup of cha is mint.
He won’t scrap it, he’s a car guy at heart.
I heard that they got a call on it, but I don’t know what became of it. The car is listed in some kind of a “Trader” publication.
Let me know if you want to try and make something happen. Take my user name here and add an at yahoo to the end of it and email me.
Also, I have a lot more pics that I took when I took these that show a lot more detail of the car. And FWIW I shot these about two months ago, so they are current.
One Other Thought… Was The 72 Style One Year Only? I always Felt that was a much more Classic and Subtle -y looking luxury car. It was quietly elegant, an In My Opinior the 73-76 cars Looked Somehow More gussied up than The Original Mark 4.
But Bring on The Kitche, I’m all for it. I’d Love to see an article on Kitche 21st century style…
1. any Side Ports That Do Nothing 2. Fake Hood Scoops, RIMS,…
Ok Maybe Retro Kitche isn’t all that great on a daily diet…. beats sterile though.
The Mark IV came with a standard full vinyl roof in 1972 through ’74, either cavalry twill or optional textures. Neither the “halo”-type full vinyl roof nor the half-vinyl-roof options were offered until the 1975 model. It’s the 1975-76 Mark IVs that are the really kitschy cars.
The ’72 (which offered the choice of deleting the opera window) was indeed a lot more elegant. I prefer the ones without the bumper guard across the lower grille.
I owned a couple towne cars from the 80’s but not one of these. Do have a favorite memory though. Big shot boss of mine while I was learning air conditioning. Had one of these with a 460. We were to visit a job and he couldn’t be seen riding in my Datsun truck so we took his lincoln. Had to loan the cheap jerk $5.00 for gas to get us back. Afraid that’s been my memory of 460’s as a whole
I never had to pay for the Gas in the TBird, but I remember the gauge was Like 1 (ONE) inch total in 1/4 increments. AS IF It emptied the tank slower because the gauge travel was small, AS IF I should Have worried about 56 cent gas my Parents left in the car…
Connie Francis lived in the snootyier suburb with her parents I imagine. I wouls see her car (Like Angelynnes pink Corvettes in LA) a 76 Mark 4 In (custom? ) Pinker than Playboy pink with Red Vinyl top… I Like an odd colored car. I ALWAYS notice them , and If done Right they Look and Appear factory, Well THAT is Impressive. I rarely have seen my Favorite Aqua Mark IV.
Mom car made me feel feel proud of our car when i was a Teen… Cool Mom. I guess that mattered , to me, then … hmmm. I Know I’d ride my bike and check to see if the Pink Lincoln was tucked back by the garage of her 60s mod house, and it usually was.
I wonder if I brazenly walked up to her door, offering Xmas cards For sale ?
Such an awesome looking car, even with all the Brougham-itude. Great example too.
I only now notice the extreme front overhang though. Seems to me that that’s kind of a Ford thing. Every Mark has it, every Panther has it, and so does every post-60’s Thunderbird and Cougar. Since none of these are stuck with the FWD front overhang syndrome, which is now ubiquitous, it seems like they’ve missed out on a good opportunity to apply proper overhang proportions to these cars.
The Broughamiest of all would be the AMC Matadaor Coupe with the “Barcelona II” package. I just found this excellent website on them.
http://homepage.mac.com/christopher.z/hobby/78-Matador1.html
Well, it’s time for a final update.
I spent this past weekend at my grandparents house for Christmas. On Christmas Eve a man came to look at the car and…he bought it. I don’t think I want to say how much he got it for, but Grandpa gave him a very good deal on it. The good news is that he is an older gentleman that enjoys collecting classic cars and is going to make sure that it is well cared for. So we are all happy about that.
So we are all happy about that.
As you should be… at his price I feared a kid with more money than sense.
I am another guy. I will take it off your hand for a fair price. It would replace a 1995 Town car, Teal Green with green leather. You have my email.
I’m afraid that the car is gone. A collector bought it a few weeks ago. Thankfully it went to a good home.
I’d love to see pics of your Town Car. Going on the year it sounds like it’s Medium Willow Green with the Willow Green interior, one of my favorite color schemes on those cars!
left out the old before guy
Final update: My grandpa passed away a couple of weeks ago at the age of 81. He was such a brilliant man. He could do, and did, anything he set his mind to. I was so proud of him.
My condolences Amigo.
What an amazing post. Very, very nice car and a great story with a poignant ending. Thanks for sharing, Richard.
Lincoln really had its act together for this one, even if it came along in “The Great Malaise”-Gerald Ford to Jimmy Carter era. Now, in Obama`s Great Malaise ll era, Lincoln is struggling like most of America to create cars Americans actually want to buy,
Exactly; with their pre-Baby Boomer customer-base dying out, neither Lincoln nor Cadillac, in my superficial opinion, have much distinctive to offer anymore. They cannot win against the Axis Powers (Germany & Japan), despite Cadillac’s recent pathetic attempts at American Particularism. The German Car Cult has too much momentum, & it’s been reduced to a game of who can add the most computer rubbish.
Good point Neil. Makes me wonder what will happen to BMW, Lexus, Infiniti, Audi, etc when the so-called boomer purchasing base dies off.Guess in this respect, the Axis powers really won the Car War.
It always brings a smile to my face when this now older story makes it’s way back around.
As an update, for reasons I am not sure of, the man that bought this car from my Grandpa has decided to put it up for sale. I found it by the side of the road a couple of weeks ago near Dundee, Michigan. Needless to say, it caught me by surprise and I flung my little car across the highway to see it! Since he took it, it has traveled less than 100 miles, and still looks incredible! I do hope it finds another good home. I told my Grandma that I had found it, and she said if she didn’t have her Town Car, she’d buy it back, just because!
She should! Then you could take over the 1991 Town Car. 😉
Your grandfather is totally behind this. Get it back! Then it will at least get driven. 100 miles? I wouldn’t expect him to use it as a daily driver but it seems like a waste of machinery to buy something to just sit around.
Absolutely beautiful car but then I am biased. I just happen to love all the big cars from 1966-78 which was my formative years. Sadly they are harder to find in decent condition and harder yet for car specific parts and then harder still for storage. I try with two and manage while always keeping my eye out for a third. From what I see above it sounds as though the buyer has the intention of flipping the car rather then keeping it for the love of the car. Typical, especially if his price is fairly higher than what he paid. This is what makes me keep my two in the garage covered now because in the past people kept stopping to ask if they were for sale and I knew for what reason.
I was reading the other day that you can buy the current Honda Accord Sport manual with a black or grey exterior, and a black interior. In the modern world, I’m sure a Jade Green and White Continental seems shocking to some.
But, this was actually fairly popular in its time, and the high contrast interior was a way to put a little design wow into showrooms after some pretty conservative interiors that were the standard by 1964, and lasted until about 1971.
It is interesting, the ’50s were considered a conservative time, but the cars became outrageously flamboyant inside and out in the late ’50s. The ’60s were a time of great upheaval, and the cars got a lot more conservative. Things started quieting down again by about ’74 as Vietnam and Watergate petered out, and cars started going baroque in a big way with two-tone paint jobs augmented by vinyl roofs. The foreign invasion killed this post war trend with a completely new direction.
Absolutely gorgeous. Love 70s Lincolns.
I followed the comments from when it was sold, then the one about his passing soon afterwards, I kept thinking you should buy it. Now you have a second chance. I think you should buy it for your Grandmother. Would make for a great Christmas gift. The fact that you made a quick U turn when it showed up on your drive makes me think deep down you know it deserves to return to the family. OK I’ll shut up now. Great story, really touched my heart.
They don’t make ’em like that anymore! (Thank goodness!)
Truth be told, if I had the $$$ and a place to keep it, I would take the Town Car and find a way to get this car back for Grandma. Sadly though, I have neither at this time…
As for the man that bought it from Grandpa, he was an older gentleman that wanted it for a summer car. My guess would be that perhaps his health deteriorated and that’s why the car is back on the market. And, the price isn’t much more at all above what he paid Grandpa for it. One thing is for sure, in the right market, it could fetch a lot more than the asking price…it’s that nice.
First, great write up and nice story:)
As gorgeous and perfect as the ’61 was, and still is, there is something about the ’70s Lincolns and Marks that are just as great. Really the very end of an era.
This is a beautiful car and a great color combination. I know that some here prefer the later years in the series, and some the earlier years. here’s one that just popped up in my Hemmings daily email today….a beautiful 1972, all black.
http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/carsforsale/lincoln/mk_4/1681554.html?refer=news
My best friend and I volunteered to park cars at church one day, in a spur of the moment endeavor to get seat time in some nice cars. We didn’t have our licenses yet but that didn’t matter.
The older wealthy women had the best cars and they all wanted them parked. We parked an 8.2L Eldorado and a 460 Mark IV that day. The Mark IV blew away the Cadillac in acceleration and sounded like a cop car with the pedal floored. The car was a ’76 or so, with dual exhaust and a 4-barrel and it hauled ass. I’ve been a Mark IV fan ever since.
I always enjoyed reading the car magazines during the 70’s. I forget which one it was, Motor Trend, Car and Driver, or Road and Track, but they always did a “King of The Hill” comparison between the Lincoln Mark and the Caddy Eldorado. It was always interesting to see which one they liked better. I loved them both, so I’d be torn to pick a favorite.
PS… The Jade Green and White color combination on Grandpa’s car is beautiful. I wish that today’s manufacturers offered such beautiful colors and more interior choices than black/grey/tan. I noticed that Caddy is offering some reddish/brown colors these days, but nothing beats a white interior with a contrasting dash, carpet, and seatbelts.
That Jade and white combo is amazing. Lincoln really went over the top with these color combos in ’76…at a show a couple years ago I saw one with the “Red & Rose” Decor group, which was a deep red leather interior and vinyl roof on a metallic pink exterior, complete with textured vinyl side moldings. But as much of an impact as that made, this jade is even more perfect to my eye.
And I think it’s a great story that you saw the car again. Hopefully it will find another good home to honor your grandpa’s memory.
Great post and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all the comments. My father passed away when I was six years old and he had several of these Marks in the 70s so I’m very fond of Mark series. He was an executive for Ford Tractor and was able to order a new car every year for his pay grade. In 1975 he had a navy Blue Mark IV with blue interior. I was too young to remember this car, but I’ve seen pictures. The first one I remember was the 1976 Silver Mark IV with red interior, this car had some bad luck and was in two accidents the year he had it (one with him driving, the other my at the time teenage brother). In 1977 he ordered a Black Mark V with white interior. I liked this combo, but my mom said it felt like a pimp’s car. In 1978 he took a break from Lincoln and got a metallic brown Diamond Jubilee Edition Thunderbird. His last Lincoln was a 1979 Mark V that was maroon with burgundy interior and a white faux convertible top that he had when he died. All great cars and I love reading about them to bring back those faint memories of my dad and early childhood.
Loved this post. The car is beautiful; love that color scheme! I hve always been in love with these cars (much to the chagrin of my family) since before I could drive. I bought a ’73 back in 1996 when I was just a young knucklehead with too much money & not enough sense. I was a store manager for Auto Zone back then, making good money, & also had a seasonal side business detailing cars. Mine was the Silver Luxury group with dark red leather. The fact the trunk was lined with the same delightfully plush carpet as the interior cabin was cool factor of 10. I must have sunk ten grand into this car essentially rebuilding everything. The motor I could not resist tweaking for more power; not to win drag races, but to more easily pass lumbering douchebag rednecks in lifted 4x4s blocking my path on innumerable 2-lane roads in Colorado. I outfitted the car with later model turbine wheels which I custom painted between the spokes with silver for a trick look. I spent $600 for a NOS grille to replace the original dented one, & about died when the bill came to $3K to replate both bumpers & some assorted trim. I had a sweet dual exhaust put on & some vanity plates that read “HWYRUNR.” I loved how this car rode & the looks I got; girl I was dating at the time actually LOVED it, interestingly. On the negative note, its handling was horrible, though drastically improved with poly bushings and big 255/70/R15 tires. Also fuel economy was abysmal, especially after the engine mods. I kept it for 4 years & I bitterly regret selling it. I can’t even afford one now. Your post brought back some great memories for me, cruising with Amanda by my side, Everclear blasting through the custom Pioneer sound system I installed. Thanks, man!
William,
I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing your story with us about yours!
It was Motor Trend who did the “King of the Hill” comparo. They ran it every year from 1970-1974. There used to be a store in Denver called Car Books, and you could buy old issues of any car magazine for whatever the cover price was, which in this case was just a buck. I was too young to read all this good stuff when these cars were new, so I bought every issue that had the “King” comparo in it. I remember the ’74 write-up was especially entertaining; it was stylized similar to a midieval jousting match. In ’75 they spoiled it somewhat by not only pitting the Eldo & Mark against each other, but also a Chrysler Imperial, a Jaguar XJ6, Mercedes 450SEL, & a BMW 733i, I believe. Still a good read but not as much fun as previous years.
I just bought a 1976 Lincoln Mark IV barn find. Can’t decide if I want to get it running and drive it or take the engine, transmission and 9 inch with 3.00 gear and put it in a 1955 Ford Pickup.
Bought a ’75 MK IV Nov 74 and still driving it.
Big, austentatious, and over the top. I love it. Love the colors that were available too back then. One caught my eye recently and it is a IV.
A friend’s father had a yellow one much like your photo. It may have been the only yellow car in our small town as the town’s sole taxi was a green Rambler. A few people had gold cars, but I don’t recall other yellow ones.
I rode in it a few times as teen but my friend only got to borrow his mom’s Pinto – never the Mark. I do recall the family always referring to the car as a “Mark whoop-de-do”. Seems fitting. That was a lot of yellow slathered on a car that was already a bit showy for our small town.
A green and white Mark IV, could it get any better? I lived through the period when the Mark IV and V were the “IT” cars, everyone wanted one.I couldn’t afford a used one at the time, though I did have a couple of Coupe De Villes and a convertible Caddy. I found my ’77 CdV to be a more sensible car, than the big PLCs, so I never really considered an Eldo or Mark at the time.
Is the Navigator a realistic alternative and replacement for these big Marks? I used to hate luxury SUVs, but I ended up changing my mind. The Navigator has a lot of presence, it coddles the driver and passengers in comfort, and is a great highway machine. It is equipped with a level of luxury in the cabin that even the Marks lacked, and they are surprisingly quite practical and useful.
However I still appreciate and love looking at those glorious classic Lincoln Marks.
I discovered this car in the “Cannon” program when I was a kid, I didn’t know the brand and I thought it looked like a Rolls-Royce, audaciously stylish. I have retained a real fascination for this Lincoln, which is extremely rare in Europe. Unlike other people on this blog, I find its forms both balanced and majestic, even if this car has characteristics in terms of the dashboard, the upholstery and the abundance of plastic and fake wood, which is far from equaling British luxury. It is normal that as Americans you have a more critical approach to this period of your automobile production that you call “malaise” or “Brougham”, but recognize that the cars of this period looked good compared to the uniformity of current production. For us Europeans, these “belles américaines” were nothing less than dream cars, and have remained so!