When the Lincoln Mark VIII debuted, it showcased the flexibility captured within the big-body sedan’s massive redesign. It was no longer simply a dressy version of the Thunderbird, or a step up from a Mustang with leather seats. It was suddenly a Lexus competitor, a car that was blessed with three of the most critical ingredients: great looks, solid power, and a healthy assortment of technological doo-dads that made it drive far better than a car this size should. This particular Mark VIII is offered here on Facebook Marketplace for just $5,500, which looks like a steal.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Terry for the find. Despite all of those attributes, the Lincoln hasn’t waltzed into the automotive history books as an absolute home run. When they do show up, they still attract a crowd, and as such, I wouldn’t expect this one to stay listed long. It’s a shame they don’t always command a higher price, especially when cars like this one appear to be in very good condition for having 100,000 miles. The paintwork appears clean with no major dings or dents running down the sides. I suspect many of these were used gently as grandpa cruisers when they were new.
Lincoln didn’t just stop with the exterior, however; it also chose to thoroughly massage the cabin. The interior refresh marked a dramatic shift for Lincoln, coming across as equal parts modern and comfortable. Traditional Lincoln shoppers were not disappointed by the comfortable surroundings, along with acres of leather. New customers would appreciate the quick steering with excellent turn-in and feel, as noted by road test editors at the time. The center console is home to a trusty 4R70W 4-speed automatic transmission.
When new, the 32-valve four-cam V-8 came with an elaborate plastic engine cover, which was apparently discarded in this car. That’s no big loss, but it does dress the engine bay up a bit. Power and torque are both healthy, with 280 b.h.p. and 285 pound-feet of torque, good enough to project the big coupe to 60 miles per hour in under 7 seconds. Taking all that in, this is still a terrific option for a daily driver or a car to limit to weekend use on backroads or the interstate. For all the talk of how expensive fun cars have become, this is one of the last great bargains.
I’ve always liked the Mark VIII’s. Specifically inside: the curved, flowing instrument panel and the close-at-hand console-mounted controls. I also liked the styling, especially the first few model years with the smaller headlights. They came in some attractive colors.
In hindsight, they were quite the change from the tidier Fox-based Mark VII. Today, I’d say the Mark VII (LSC especially) has a bigger following, but these do have their charms.
I agree with Jeff’s write-up, this one looks good for 100,000 miles, and it’s cheap. You won’t see yourself coming and going. Kind of the end of the two-door large personal coupe era?
Agreed. These seem to be under appreciated cars
Good deal already gone.
My biggest worry with this car would be the 28 year old “technological doo-dads”. Can those things even be replaced or repaired? Other than that, these were top of the line.