I’m old enough that I remember when a black-on-black car was considered elegant, but the seller describes this 1972 Lincoln Continental Mark IV as being sinister in black-on-black. Maybe that’s a bit of what TV reality car shows have done for (or, to?) the vintage car market. They have this barn find listed here on eBay in Stockton, California and the current bid is $202.50, but the reserve isn’t met.
Disclaimer: the seller does acknowledge that this black-on-black car is the “ultimate expression” of this model, and of what is known as black car service today – as in, limousines and other chauffered vehicles. I hate to say it, but I really like the look of this car with white wall tires and without wheel covers. I know that most likely won’t be popular, but hey, if you’re going to go sinister, that works.
The Mark IV was made from 1971 for the 1972 model year until 1976. I always think of the Bill Conrad detective show Cannon when I see these cars. He didn’t start out with a Mark IV, having had a four-door Continental in the pilot and then a Mark III, but for me, it was his Mark IV that defined the show. That, and his gut and tough guy style. Enough about classic TV, back to this classic Lincoln.
Kudos to the seller for providing a wide range of photos, even including several underside photos! Nice work! And also for not just showing the dusty good parts, which are the vast majority of this car. They also show what they refer to as the “cottage cheese” area under the front of the vinyl top. The black leather seats look as if they could be conditioned back to look fantastic again, and we don’t get to see the back seat but I’m picturing it being even nicer than the front seat. They say that this Mark IV was hidden in an airplane hangar for years and has recently been taken out in hopes that a new owner can get it back on the road again.
The engine is Ford’s 460-cu.in. OHV V8, which would have been rated at 212 horsepower and 342 lb-ft of torque; down quite a bit from just a year or two prior to this. It sends power through a three-speed automatic to the rear wheels and the seller says that this one has just over 63,000 miles, it’s all original inside and out, and will need the usual treatment having been in storage for so many years. It would be fun to bring this one back to life. Are there any Mark IV fans out there, or even better: Cannon TV show fans?
Thanks Scotty. I wasn’t much of a Cannon fan, but I do like the Mark IV. This first-year model’s styling is attractive, not having the dreaded 5 mph bumpers. Black on black always looks good on these big coupes. That rust under the vinyl roof looks ominous. Maybe someone can work the car back into a nice cruiser.
Great article Scotty!! And thanks for the Cannon memories. I remember my parents watching him when I was a kid. Remember his dog? And that Car Phone? That was some stuff back then. I Also would go with black painted steel wheels , perhaps chrome lug nuts and wide whitewall tires for sure. It just looks ” right ” on a tripple black car.
Driveinstyle, the Bulldog was in one of Mr. Conrads other shows “Jake And The Fatman”.
Karl, I stand corrected. I saw both shows when they were on. I got them mixed up, I think his name was Max.
BUT……. I earn 50 percent credit because he DID have a phone in his Lincoln.
A HotRod Lincoln looks best in black.
What a beast. I’m talking about Frank Cannon not the Lincoln. I like me a Lincoln, but I would go with black alloy wheels over the black steelies. Agree that area of the roof could be a problem but otherwise looks good, just surface rust underneath. Hey as long as you’re redoing the roof why not do it in a different color? I know it won’t be triple black anymore but how about red?
I loved the look of these when they came out. Don’t care much for black-on-black, myself. But if I owned this, I would work to bring it back just as it was built, original wheel covers included. But while I love the LOOK (can’t stand the 1973 and later bumpers, so ’72 is the only year I would consider), I utterly HATE leather seats!!! They LOOK great and SMELL nice; but I won’t sit on anything I might STICK to in warm weather! — thanks; but NO thanks! But the ’72 Mark IV is a work of art!
1972 was the year for so many great styles- Camaro split bumper, Torino and Ranchero and the ’72 mark with that new and lighter feeling chassis and the small bumpers.
Turbine hubcaps from an earlier continental would look at home on this 72. They just are not worth much, but that should be a reason to buy one.
Cannon was my man with his Mark IVs and yes he did start out in a Continental then a Mark III, I owned a 75 and loved it, if I had room this would be my Christmas gift, but my wife said stop, so…
@JohnO
I had one of those in fact a few=O =). And no more no’s after that. Been living the dream ever since. In fact my friends hate me for it.
My buddy had one triple black also his had a moon roof option. Car was a land yacht so comfortable cruiser! Was a real stunner freshly detailed 😂
Love Cannon, his iconic Marks, and this car. Hope it finds a great home.
Aunt had a black ’74.
You haven’t lived until you’ve guided one of those down the road.
Think DiCaprio hanging off the front of the Titanic.
Driveinstyle, the Bulldog was in one of Mr. Conrads other shows “Jake And The Fatman”.
Hope it doesnt end up in a destruction derby
@Chuck Simons
I had to look at what State the car was located in. A fate worse than a derby would be the crusher. California BTW is where the car is at offer old car owners a tempting sum of cash to get them off of the road. This work of art predates smog requirements but also requires leaded fuel unless you rebuild the engine.
Personally I never cared for vinyl tops even when they came out in 1964-1965. I would love to rescue own and restore this beauty sans the vinyl top. The Marks and Eldorados looked chic without them as with all other cars as well.
Not so sure about the leaded fuel. In ’71 GM began producing multi-fuel engines that could operate on leaded, low-lead or no-lead gasoline. By ’74 I would believe others had followed.
Hey Frog Man FYI Ford specifically built the 460 with lower compression and de-tuned it to run on unleaded fuel for the 1972 model.
This is my favorite year for the Mark lV. The grill dips into the front bumper, not the bumper going across the grill, shortening it. The taillights are in the rear bumper not on top of it.
The vintage black on black is nice because you had chrome to set it off. Even without the hubcaps it looks good, but today’s blackout is just horrible. Reminds me of late 40s early 50s cars, the absolute cheapest base model…… black with no chrome.
$100,000 for a blackout Escalade. And it looks like a cheap base model.
Black out the whole exterior, bam! you got “The Car” starring James Brolin 1977 horror movie. 🤣
@Jon
Almost.
“The Car” was a Lincoln Continental, not a Mark.
Also, not sure of the year but I believe “The Car ” was a late 70s Lincoln.
These are way cool cars, I worked at a L/M Dealership in 1972 prepping cars for the showroom. They drive fantastic, the ride (at least by 1972 standards) fantastic. It’s too far away for me to even think about it. What’s with all the stuff coming from the west coast lately?
@Paul
I just commented on this and for the sake of duplicity read my post to Chuck Simons. Blessed are the gatekeepers for their efforts in saving the old iron from recycling.
@Jon
Almost.
“The Car” was a Lincoln Continental, not a Mark.
Also, not sure of the year but I believe “The Car ” was a late 70s Lincoln.
I left a comment here, but it did not post… Wonder what HAPPENED to it??
It happens sometimes. I’ve been blocked for explaining the financial economics in China and the US. Also for eluding to antics precipitated in my youth.
That happens a lot here, Harrison. Not sure why, unless you put some personal info in the post. Then they delete it.
Thank you, Angel Cadillac Diva. It does seem to occur when I stray off-topic to other things (such as radio stations heard) triggered by my nostalgia, or I give clues to my age. Frankly, it pleases me that I have lived this long and still have my faculties (including my precious hearing! — and my ability to walk briskly) — when, at my age, I might not wake up tomorrow. Since I am all alone here, perhaps I try to leave pieces of myself in posts, in case I suddenly am no longer at some point. Ray Anthony will be 103 on the 22nd of January, I believe, if he makes it — one of less than a handful of musicians I remember, still active and with us. But most all of the contemporaries I knew in my youth are long-gone now: my equally “ancient” siblings are about the only ones to whom I can say, “Do you remember?” — so perhaps I “ramble” a bit. When nearly all of the popular music recordings I purchased in my youth are 78s (which I still play and enjoy, by the way) — when nothing in the way of pop music available on the radio now even remotely relates to me — when I walk down the street with my 1961 transistor radio, and a young adult asks me what my “device” is and where she could get one — then I know that I am obsolete! (smile)
@Harrison Reed
Good morning my pen pal. First and foremost I want to let you know what an honor and privilege it is to be able to communicate with you in script and spirit. We are both teachers and students but we must be students first in order to become teachers.
Although your age has not been revealed it is noteworthy of reverence and veneration. My mother just passed away 3 months shy of her 97th birthday. Although she showed signs of declining health in her remaining years she had a remarkable memory and was able to live independently until her last year.
As we reflect back and look at the changes unaware whether good or bad only time will decide. But one thing is certain, the mind is a terrible thing to waste. The dependency on computers, cellphones laptops batteries AI etc. is going to or shall I say has caused the demise of the human brain. Want to know something? Press a button or a few keys for an answer. Lost your device? You’ve lost your mind. Batteries dead? Same scenario. My father always preached thinking and using your head for more than a hairstyle or hat rack. You have perseverance. I would tell my mother she was in the 1% club. My blessings go out to you.
To Frog: What a lovely and undeserved accolade, Kind Sir! I’m like some of these cars — a “survivor” — though through no special merit of my own, I assure you. I am blessed, and I am grateful; that’s all I can tell you. This portable cellular telephone is my sole concession to the computer age, because it became a necessity. Other than that, I have a 1979 Zenith colour television console which still works fine but will not receive any channels (unless I get a converter) — but I use it occasionally to watch a DVD, and I never watched broadcast television much, anyway. Perhaps the most difficult part of my age is the solitary nature of my life now. I am okay with having myself for company, but it would be nice to have someone stop-by one-in-a-while. I do see people when I go out for walks. About 3/4 of a mile from here, there has been a nice-looking 1965 Chrysler which I’ve been curious to stop and ask about. It sits in that parking lot, all day, every day, winter, spring, summer, and fall, though it does re-locate from place to place, so I assume that it runs. It has licence-plates. And it shines as though garage-parked, even though it surely isn’t now. I have not snooped at the interior: perhaps I should. Thank you again so much, Frog.
Harrison, I agree with you. The acronym KISS means keep it short and simple or plain and simple as i prefer. Technology is great and can be useful as a helpful tool or can be used for entertainment which can consume and take over a person’s life. I don’t know if you still drive or not. It’s a responsibility and privilege to do so. I know the day will come when I may not be able to do so anymore. Many times we take for granted the basic independence we have. But i also try not to get involved with others drama or problems which at times have a way of inviting itself in. I am alone but not lonely if that makes any sense.
Good morning Angel! I didn’t know you liked these. It does indeed look
really cool if you just wanna get it running, driving, and stopping, and enjoying the fruits of your labor. Oh
yeah, turbine rims a must have here.
BTW, found a pattern for a ’58 Lincoln
convertible after getting off work at my store. OMG! What a day! Started
out fine until we got slammed by not
one, but 2 tour busses at the same time. I was too tired to even work on
the Silverado pickup on my table. Well dear, gotta run! Almost time to
leave and drop my niece off at her store and then dash with Sis today.
💋 Bye.
And while you’re going through the engine, you can spice up that bland 460 by installing ’69-’70 heads for better breathing, a same year intake manifold, a slightly bigger carb, and camming it up by using an RV cam
From a 460 truck engine. To keep it cool and lubed up right, use the oil and water pumps from a boss 429.
If I remember correctly, these parts bolt right in and on as this engine and
the 429 are members of the FE family. You can also mill the heads to
raise the compression ratio to at least
10.5 to 1. But watch how much you do, otherwise you”ll turn this car into a Buick by blowing all 8 plugs out through the front fenders! And if you’re gonna keep it stock, either you, or your mechanic should check the valve guides for excessive wear. Not
doing so will raise your oil consumption and smoke out the little old lady parked next to you at your
local shopping center. And last, but not least, install some wooden clothespins on the fuel line running from the fuel pump to the carb. This
us a Ford product! And what do Ford products do on hot days? They vapor lock! By doing this, your Ford will start on the hottest summer days, and your wife, girlfriend, or date won’t
get pissed off when the car suddenly
stops running and they may just let you keep it if it follows you home.
Hello, Frog! KISS is not exactly high on my list of talents. Amongst my other sundry oddities (most likely, the cause of them), I am Autistic. We Autists seem to come in two basic communicative varieties — reticent, withdrawn, and quiet to the point of near-invisibility — or verbose and detailed to such an extent that we become an abrasive bore (you can guess which category I fall into!). I MEAN well, though. I’m that guy who never knows when to shut up, and cannot discern when you have utterly no interest in the topic I have chosen. Great age, though, allows me to get away with this far more than I used to (before folks could simply say, “you’ll have to forgive him — he’s very old, you know — and you understand how old people can get sometimes”): trouble is, I’ve ALWAYS been this way (only, I used to be far worse!). I would not say that I am lonely, exactly — I simply enjoy less frequent human company now, than I used to when those rare contemporaries who could put up with me were still living. You worry sometimes, as you get more and more advanced in age, over the many things which could go wrong with you and ways your life could become physically and/or mentally limited: what you don’t think about in advance is how all the people in your life could die-off and leave you remaining by yourself. I still drive (though I don’t wave my birth-certificate at passers-by, so as not to scare them!). My vehicle is a 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis with 387,000 miles, which is beginning to outlive its practical usefulness, what with a slipping transmission, squealing bearing on the compressor-pully, failing window motors and door locks, and other problems I can’t afford to have fixed. Since you can’t any longer teach this old dog new tricks, I am looking lately at a 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis with only 113,000 miles.
Auction update, this Lincoln sold for $5,600.