What a beautiful, long, lean, luxurious car. I’m not talking about the yellow Corvette, I’m referring to this beautiful brown 1978 Lincoln Continental Mark V that’s squeezed into this garage. I know the feeling of trying to squeeze a Lincoln into a garage and it didn’t work out quite as well for me. The seller has this one posted here on craigslist in Harrisonville, Missouri and they’re asking $9,500. Thanks to Pat L. for sending in this tip!
First things first, I have always wondered what a four-door Lincoln Continental Mark V may have looked like, so I did this quick “design study” shown here. Or, maybe a suicide door version? I’m not quite sure if that works or not, I guess it’s best to leave the car designing to professional car designers. Battering ram bumpers notwithstanding, this Mark V is a beautiful car.
The deep root-beer-brown color on this Mark V is perfect for this era. I don’t see a flaw anywhere on or in this car, do you? The Lincoln Continental Mark V was made for three years, 1977, 1978, and 1979. It was a nice finale for the two-door-only Mark series which would go away for the Mark VI which was available in both two-door and four-door body styles. The two-door Mark VII would come back for the 1984 model year but on a much smaller platform and about 28 inches shorter. Hmmm.. I wonder what a Lincoln Continental Mark VII four-door may have looked like…
As expected, the interior looks as nice as the exterior does. Lincoln offered several special editions of the Mark V, fancy designer-swathed cars, but this is a regular one if there is such a thing as a regular Lincoln Continental Mark V. The back seat wasn’t as easy to get into as it would have been on a four-door sedan, but once you were back there, all was well with the world. Even the trunk was plush.
There were two engines available, a 400 or 460 cubic-inch V8 with either 165 or 210 horsepower. The seller doesn’t say which one this is and they don’t give a VIN or any engine info at all. I believe that it’s the 460 but one of you will know instantly. It has cold AC, new tires, and everything works. Hagerty is at $10,900 for a #3 good condition car and $23,000 for a #2 excellent condition car so this one appears to be a screaming bargain. Any thoughts on this Mark V?
Nice car. Given their original clientele it’s not unusual to see nice Marks like this. It’s a great representation of its place in time. I like the dark brown paint and the light-colored partial vinyl roof, bodyside molding, and interior trim. Cruise in comfort and style.
As a point of reference, a 2021 F-150 Super Crew 5.5′ bed (which I believe is the most common configuration) is about 1 1/2 inches longer — so essentially the same length. Scotty, tell us about your too-small garage experience…
Thanks, Bob. My ’66 Continental Coupe was a few inches too long for our garage with the cabinets in there so I had to get a storage unit. The only one that I could fit it in was a 10×30 at $220 a month. After several months of storing it there and spending a couple of grand on storage fees, I figured that it was time to let it go. I really miss that car. Now we have a nice, new 26×34 garage that I could easily fit it in, my timing was off by about three years.
One Sweet Ride. If the bottom is as clean as the top. Hopefully it has the 460 and NOT THE 400.
It’s definitely a 460. I also have a 78 with a 460.
Spying those valve covers, it looks like the 400 to me.
If this were most any color other than brown, I would be very interested. Magnificent car!!
OK, I’ll say it. I’d take the ‘vette.
Same here Steve! I was thinking the same thing.
If I recall, the noise baffler to the right of the air cleaner was on 460 engines only.
Thanks for the info, J.C, I was thinking the same thing but photos of baffler and no-baffler both came up on my search for 460 engines.
This is a great car to Cruisssssseeeeee in . Great price . Someone should give me the money to buy it (LOL) .That is a sweet car !!!!
That four door concept of yours I think works well…but it should have “suicide” back doors like the early 60’s four door Continentals.
Gaaaa! You’re right! I’ll try another one… A missed opportunity there, dang.
These years don’t rank too high on the gauge of classic Luxury models that can be had. Now how about that 1969 mark series yes please
That is a 460BB the 400 has the alternator right in your face, and please correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t the 460 only offered a half year in 78 and it was totally gone in 79. I owned a 77 1 owner car from 2001-2018 put about 15k on it when I owned it. I put a edelbrock performer rpm intake, 800 edelbrock carb, headers, xpipe, Flowmasters, edelbrock cam, double roller timing chain and new valve train for the heads, car ran excellent and sounded awesome you can’t beat a big block in the sound department haha. I also re-did the whole suspension with polyurethane everything. The only problem I had was power windows and axles, don’t miss it, it’s a giant car.
Thanks, J.Max, that’s good info.
Power & Comfort what more can one ask for . Still a Beauty !!!
Having worked at the dealer when these were new, all i can say is these were soooo comfortable to drive. At 6’3 220lbs this car was built for ME!
As an apprentice in a small family print shop in ’84, I was blessed to drive my boss’ ’78 Mark V to run errands. Black and charcoal over a light gray leather interior with a lower stance and the 460. Gorgeous, unbelievably comfortable, fast, wire wheels and even a “brick” cellular phone. I didn’t dare make a call, as the bill would likely be more than my paycheck. It sure left an impression on me, as this model is still in my top ten. ~S
I had a couple of these. A ’78 Cartier & a ’79 Bill Blass edition, both brand new. Both with the 460. A subtle but nice thing about these cars were those power vent windows that would always go down 1st. before the main window. Sure miss them.
Definitely the 460. I know, I’m kind of into them lol. Very striking car and the dark brown and tan combo in here looks quite luxurious.
These ride incredible and I dont believe anything made nowadays can come even close.
If memory serves me correctly the only engine available in 1979 was the 335 series 400 cu inch v8, while this car has the 385 series 460.
Not that I would propose doing it to this car, but there are a lot of performance enhancements available for the 460 from excellent aluminum heads, cams, intakes, etc. Not hard at all to make 550 hp with torque up in the 700 ft. Lb range. Just saying
Hopefully it will go to a good home
I remember looking to buy one of those a few years back. The thing that amazed me most was that for such a long car, there was so little interior room.
I happen to like the 72 thru 76 Mark IV better, less bulky, the 75/76 my favorites, I had a 75, when they are good they’re great, but when they are bad, you can’t believe how bad can be
I don’t know how many years they were offered, but you could get a four-door Mark VI in 1982 for sure. I rode in one once. It was very much like my mom’s 1982 Crown Vic.
I had a Mark V once, seemed like a nice car all in all, but it needed some electrical work I couldn’t afford to perform. I ended up regretfully selling it. But it was a clean car in great colors, and I really liked it.
Listing update: someone grabbed it, which of you have it in your garage?!
Wish I could say it is me, but it won’t fit in my garage.
Not at all a car buff, so be kind! Just purchased property that has what looks like a 78 Lincoln. It is the very definition of a barn find. Not driven for years. I have no details other than I am the second owner. The title exchanges in about 22 days. The owners were elderly and recently passed, leaving no one to give a history. What’s my best and worst case $$? The interior does not appear to be faded nor chewed up-probably thanks to the black snake I found in the barn too! Exterior looks really good without giving it a wash to be able to see any dings etc. My goal is to get it in the hands of someone who’ll appreciate a good project and out of my barn for some money to repair the well. Looks maroon or brown, very dark and hard to tell in its current location.