This beautiful cream-colored 1977 Lincoln Continental Mark V seems more suited for Florida or the Southwest United States than where it’s located in western Wisconsin, but it’s a transplant. The seller says it’s an Arizona car with just 76,000 miles on the odometer. We’ve seen a few nice examples here on Barn Finds recently and it’s a shame that there aren’t many car companies even offering a wide range of “cars” anymore, let alone two-door luxury cars.
This is a long car with a lot of interior space, but it’s actually a few inches shorter than some previous Mark Vs yet the designers and engineers still found a way to maximize interior space. It’s a crisp, clean design and Lincoln refers to it as “sculpted”, which is an accurate description when compared to its predecessors. Lincoln also touts the enhanced corrosion protection over the previous generation cars. Sadly, even though this is an Arizona car, according to the seller, there’s rust appearing at the base of the Landau vinyl top on both sides. Kudos to the seller for not hiding that fact.
Speaking of hiding, hiding in that trunk is a giant speaker that takes up much more space than I would want, or maybe it’s because I’m tired of booming bass cannons in vehicles going up and down our street in the summer as if all of us want to listen to that. “Hey, take this!” (Gershwin music cranked out of my car window)
The “leather and vinyl” seats looked a little cooked, maybe from the Arizona sun. Hopefully they’re softer than they look and can be maintained with some good leather cleaner and conditioner. The back seat looks perfect, if a bit dirty.
The engine is the optional Ford 460-cu.in. OHV V8, which had 208 horsepower and 356 lb-ft of torque when new. It’s matched to a three-speed automatic and sends power to the rear wheels. The seller has this Mark V posted here on craigslist in the Rice Lake, Wisconsin area and they’re asking $12,500. Here is the original listing. As a general ballpark number, Hagerty is at $8,700 for a #3 good-condition car, and with some rust repairs and paint-matching needed, I can’t imagine this one bring a lot over that price, 460 V8 or not. How much would you pay for this Mark V with the rust by the vinyl top?
As a co founder of the GREAT AMERICAN LAND YACHT SOCIETY, I am happy to be first to comment on this BIG BOAT 🚢. Other than mentioned intrrior, this looks to be exactly what LINCOLN Luxury, elegance, and panache intended to put a SUNNY 🌞 smile on the face of targeted buyers who love Old School OTT excess. Although not a gas miser 😉, the 460 was the right motor to propel the huge and heavy cruisers. As mentioned, NO car manufacturer builds ANYTHING like this today. Clorified TRUCKS now prowl the roads,masquerading as Luxury vehicles at astronomical prices. The Price is right and much less than today’s POS. I don’t believe this Sunkist beauty will last long before some connoisseur grabs it! LINCOLN, what a Luxury CAR should be and ONCE was.
The wire wheel caps look odd like they might be aftermarket but it looks like the OEM hub caps may be in the trunk. Also, the tires look too small for the car and don’t fill out the wheel wells very well. So some expense there may be needed. Repairing the rust around the vinyl top would be tricky and likely impossible to match the paint, so now you’re talking a complete respray to make it look nice. The interior also appears to be pretty tired, so that’s another expense. I’d pass on this one and find a better example with lower miles in the $20’s. Pass.
Loved my ’78 Givenchy Mark V … that 460 would propel it to at least 130mph … the Quadrophonic sound system was the absolute best … anti-skid brakes, hydro-boost power steering, moonroof – everything except the heated vibrating seats … no mechanical problems over 200k miles except, of all things, the “pig iron” of the shifter broke and I had to make-do with a screwdriver … replacement is on my “bucket list” …
Some kid owned this, hence the giant subwoofer in the trunk, the EQ in the dash, and the tires that are too small.
Hard pass.
What is it with folks coming here to AZ and buying these cars and taking them to other states to sell….just to say AZ car !
When I lived in Chicagoland in the 70s, two acquaintances made a good living by buying cars in CA, AZ, NM and bringing them back to sell … their favorites were the tri-fives – BIG sellers up north and prices were very affordable back then …
Hi Jon. When I was a youngster, in NW Indiana, there was a tailed shop named for its owner, John Chico. Small world? 👍
Nice color. Not as good as a light yellow Cadillac but nice.
Rick W … I think you mean Jon Cicco’s place in Merrillville, IN … no relation … I’m a jeans kinda guy in Chico, CA … :)
JON, You are correct. CICCO had a second shop in Valparaiso. I frequently had shirts tapered when I was in Bodybuilding. Good man, great work, a bit too high in pricing. BUT, today you can’t find anything close to it. Enjoy California. I Left My Heart in San Francisco 💔 years ago. Now, Down and Out, but not in Beverly Hills!