With the Panther platform looming in the distance, Lincoln’s Mark V Continental marked the swan song for the massive personal luxury coupe. While other brands scaled back their focus on big luxury coupes, Lincoln refused to give up on the model segment that made its name synonymous with superstars and mob bosses. This example is, like so many others, extremely well preserved, likely out of a former owner’s desire to hold onto it as a future collector’s item. With just 27,000 miles, it’s listed here on craigslist with an asking price of $6,800.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Doug from Riverside for this find. I don’t normally get worked up over these, but from this angle, you can see how overly designed they were. The fake spare wheel hump, the subtle fender flare, the double creases in the rear bumper – there’s a lot going on. I dig the color combo of this example, with the light blue paint matching the navy half-vinyl roof quite nicely. Plus, check out the turbine-style wheels and chrome grids on the taillights – this design is anything but boring (and don’t forget the flip-up headlights!)
Of course, with mileage this low, you’d expect the interior to be in mint condition. The acres of leather remain in great condition, and the same goes for the dash and door panels. Additional photos show a backseat that looks like it’s hardly been used, and the fake wood trim in the dash is surviving nicely. The seller notes that the vintage eight track and antenna still work, along with the power moonroof. If you ignore the total lack of handling abilities, you can begin to appreciate how well a rig like this would likely soak up the highway miles for days at a time.
The moonroof is a nice touch, and likely still pretty rare to see in the late 70s on all but the highest end cars. The era of consumers paying big money for a low-mileage Lincoln has passed, at least for all but the best-of-the-best examples. Cars like this may have brought tidy sums a few years ago, but the buyer for such a classic has begun aging out of the market, leaving a smaller and smaller pool of buyers to choose from. At its current price and combined with the low mileage claim, this Mark V coupe looks like a fair deal for the next owner.
Beautiful car! With gas at $1.99/gallon, at least here in Arizona, you might just be able to afford the gas for this thing.
Back in the 80’s I drove one of these as a demo for a few days at the dealership I worked at. (We were given used cars as demos.) Every time I stepped on the gas and watched the speedometer go up the gas gauge would be going down at the same time.
One major factor when I refuel both of my 79 Mark Vs that people overlook is these cars are just mere weekend cruisers and not daily commuter cars. I’ll switch them for car shows and fill their fuel tanks about once every 2 or three months. So gas prices and MPH matter not.
Translation? A Prius owner fills up way more than I do.
Cheapest gas around here (In Maryland, near Washington, D.C.) is $2.09 for regular. But, this is a beautiful land yacht. Looks sharp, rides like a dream and turns like a limo (takes 3/4 acre). I always wanted one years ago. But, today, I’ll stick with something more fuel conscious.
Nice example. I especially like the classy color combination. To me vehicles like this, now completely gone from the automotive landscape, are quite interesting…. more interesting than some muscle cars.
If you lived in a small- or medium-sized town and used this car to drive to your office on nice days, you would quickly pick up the moniker “that guy (or lady) with the cool old blue Lincoln!”.
Price drop to $5300. It shouldn’t last long.
Price lowered to $5300. I wish I could buy it.
With a curb weight of 4,589 pounds, that works out to $1.15 a pound. Super bargain for somebody. Hopefully one of our readers will snatch it up.
I just went into Craigslist to buy the car and the ad does not respond to reply or provide the owner’s contact information. f anybody knows how to reach the owner, let me know so I can purchase this car. Thanks.
I found an older listing for the same car and the contact information buttons didn’t work on that one either.
I don’t see this particular car listed anymore. Here is another low mileage’79 you may want to check out.
https://lasvegas.craigslist.org/cto/d/las-vegas-1979-lincoln-continental-mark/7097701593.html
cool posting. But he only wants “Serious inquires only”… I am reading between the lines, mind you… :-P
(People do know that repeating that crap on a CL listing does nothing to deter tire-kickers, right? Makes me laugh every time. And this guy took it to 11!)
The identical car, same colors, has been sitting outside right next door to me for at least 6-8 years. Owners father said his kid would take $2K, about 3 or 4 years ago. Now it’s worth, maybe, $1K. Didn’t start when I looked at it 6 or so years ago, and is now deteriorating quickly in the New Mexico sun. I wasn’t that interested in it then and even less so now. Too bad. Pretty car with nice potential.
Car sold today. Seller has cash in hand.
Many thanks.
Used to pick the hydroboosts and rear discs off these cars. Still occasionally see them in the pick a parts.
I’d be there buyin if it wdnt cost the same to get it home. There’s one just like it but without the hood damage for 18000 and with 80000 mi !!
I tried to buy it, but the Craigslist contact information does not work. So, there is no way to contact the owner.
When you go reply to the ad, the phone number is not coming up. I am wondering if it a scammers ad?
I had two of these when they were new but both were the bucket seat “collector” series. They would really run especially when you consider they had the 400ci engines.
I consistently got 17 to 18 mpg on the highway and I drive them hard
The 460 versions I had from 72 thru 78 all got around 10 to 12 mpg in town or on the highway. but there was suprisingly no difference in power between the 400 and 460 engines.
Amazingly well built cars with a great ride, plenty of power and virtually no maintance problems.
Moonroooooooof!
(sorry, I get overenthused when I see one, especially on a car from six Presidents ago) :D
Aside, that car looks like a great place to spend a road trip in. If those front seats could fit into a modern Honda, I’d accept the challenge.
Sold today. Owner has cash in hand.