You can’t get much for $1,500 these days, certainly not a nice-looking luxury car. This 1985 Lincoln Continental Mark VII LSC is about four decades old now and is vintage enough to be older than a decent percentage of Barn Finds readers, but it still seems “newish” to me. The seller has this Lincoln posted here on craigslist in one of my favorite cities: Tucson, Arizona. They’re only asking $1,500 for this one and here is the original listing.
There are a couple of caveats with this “cheap” luxury car: the first one is that the seller says it has been sitting for around a year, but it’ll start right up with a jump. The other caveat makes the $1,500 asking price make sense: they think it needs a headgasket. Ok, that’s a biggie, but for most Barn Finds readers, this is barely a weekend project, and you can do some upgrades while you’re under the hood. This is the Luxury Sports Coupe (LSC) version so it could be worth it.
It also appears that the “Goodyear-designed rubber air springs”, at least in the front, have started leaking or sagging, it’s sitting fairly low and I don’t think it’s because it was modified to look like that. Add that to the list, but still… $1,500! Ok, the list is adding up, but that’s the problem with knowing someone like Todd Fitch or almost any of the other writers here. They would zip this car into their respective garages and in a couple of days it would be sitting right and running right.
Lincoln named their Mark VII the Lincoln Continental Mark VII in 1984 and 1985 and the Continental name went away for the 1986 model year. They were made until early 1992 and I remember thinking, someday I’ll own that car. As an LSC model, The standard seat inserts would have originally been perforated leather rather than the blue velour seen here, but cloth seats were a no-cost option and maybe those were more appealing to a Tucson buyer than leather. They appear in nice condition both front and back but the interior is showing its age in spots.
Here’s the major wild card, Ford’s 302-cu.in. OHV V8, which would have had 180 horsepower (net) and 260 lb-ft of torque when new. Backed by a four-speed automatic sending power to the rear wheels, this one needs work, according to the seller. Hopefully, it’s as “easy” as a head gasket, they don’t list the mileage so we don’t know how many miles that head gasket has traveled. Hagerty gives a #4 fair-condition value of $4,100 and a #3 good-condition value of $9,800 so there’s a lot of room to do some repairs here. Is this “cheap Lincoln” worth saving?
Hot Rod Lincolns are awesome.
I agree, Stan! I’m hoping someone (like our own Todd Fitch or a similarly knowledgeable mechanic) will buy this car and redo the engine in their garage, fix the suspension, add EFI to replace the old throttle-body injection, and have a faster, better, more reliable car than when it was new while keeping it under the $9,800 good-condition value number. I’m probably dreaming as usual.
If it was a later model with EFI, maybe. This one would have to be a labor of love, although I did read recently that replacement air bags aren’t too expensive or difficult to replace.
I believe this car has CFI/throttle-body fuel injection, Todd.
Yes, I think you’re right. I should’ve been more specific in my statement – as you know, I was referring to the later SEFI which came along for the ’86 model year.
LoL you don’t just pull a head off and replace the gasket. It’s rebuild or replace this engine if it’s leaking. If the gasket surfaces aren’t machined you’re just going to wind up with another leak. I definitely think one of the authors on this page should take on this project and take us through it.
You’re probably right, RKS. I had both head gaskets changed on a 1997 Subaru Outback when they blew (as most of them do/did) and that’s all it took to get the engine to last for another 250,000 miles before it rusted to death, still running like new with just two new head gaskets. Sometimes it’s possible, but maybe not in this case.
Good thing I am in Missouri as my trailer is already hooked to my truck. I wouldn’t be able to resist
DISCONNECT NOW!
Desert tires are required west of the Mississippi. Save your money. You will thank me in your will.
Merry Christmas! Be safe.
If this was closer I would definitely check it out. But if it was a Midwest car it wouldn’t be in as nice of shape. IDK, I had a head gasket replaced in my Honda Civic one time. A backyard mechanic did it for me literally in his backyard and it was fine. Cost me $400. I too heard the air bag fix is not too tough, but I thought only the rear suspension had them?
Fox owner, this page of a 1985 Mark VII LSC brochure talks about the suspension:
https://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/lincoln/85lcf/bilder/10.jpg
My ’87 Continental had this suspension. I bought it used, and cheap, and also thought the air suspension was a quick fix. I threw everything at it. Bags, computers, etc. Took it to a Lincoln mechanic (off duty), and he couldn’t get it right. It was a gorgeous car, zero rust, black with black leather interior. I sold it to some guy in the ‘hood, and was glad to see it go. Just sayin’…
I have an 85 Mark VII Givenchy with airbags on all four wheels. It was the Town Cars that have springs on the front and airbags on the rear.
Mike,
My 91 MKVII LSC has all 4 corners of “air springs”. They are a spring inside the air bag. That’s why they are called air springs.
I drove one back in ’99 when in wholesale car business. I almost kept it but like my ’72 Capri, no leg room in back seat. Makes a great “couple” car for cruising. Tempted, but have to add $1000 for shipping. I’ve spent more and got less, that’s for sure. Would have to sell something to make room in garage. Will be gone by then.
Just sold my 91 LSC. Had it for 11 years. There are some issues with the MKVII that some say are a easy fix. Not so. All four corners are air springs plus struts in the front and shocks for the rear axle. I replaced all corners, the main brain computer, the above console circuit board and numerous other maintenance items plus the air pump for the suspension. Keep in mind that these cars were prime candidates during the “Cash for Clunkers” era. Consequently I was running into part acquisition problems. There is a club for this model of Lincoln which I found helpful in my search for parts.
I’ll give you my two cents on this one.
Run don’t walk.
Merry Christmas ya’all!
You can buy spring kits , problem solved!
Rw,
Sure you can. However if you ever drove one of these through the twistys you would appreciate the independent instantaneous air suspension cornering that was one of the big selling points of this car of its era.
These cars competition were the BMW, Audi and such from their day.
I got a 78 mph driving award on a very nice mountain road section of hwy 95 in Idaho with a 45 mph speed limit. Summer time, windows down, moonroof open with my seat belts on twice. Doing what these cars were designed to do. The MKVII LSC was the last of the Lincoln road cars.
Oh, and yes you can also put all new suspension components in the car if want it to feel like it was intended to feel. Parts are still available, new.
Rockauto has front and rear airsprings for this model $65 each
CT Dave
The Hagerty valuations are crazy. I’ve been trying to sell mine (with a rebuilt and upgraded 302, new air springs, etc) for <$5k for 2 months without luck.
Joe,
Warmly sell it for what ever you can get for it. Lick your wounds and chock it up to a very enlightening experience. Memories are made from good and bad decisions.
I had around $8k in my 91. Put 80k miles on it and got $1200 out of it.
I enjoyed it. So did alot of my friends. There cars will never be anything more than a Kool classy car to drive until it doesn’t.
Beautiful looking car. I remember when this generation Continental MkVII. Although I was way too young at the time to drive a car, I remember finding the the best looking car Lincoln offered.
Beautiful looking car. I remember when this generation Continental MkVII. Although I was way too young at the time to drive a car, I remember finding the the best looking car Lincoln offered. If only more pictures were posted on Craigslist.
Mmmmm. I do loves me a Lincoln.
I owned a 87 LSC for 5 years I have seat time..
I owned an 89 for about five years. Great road car. Got up one morning, and the air suspension had leaked down. I traded it that afternoon.
, so , i guess you are not the one we discuss maintenance with !