When it comes to underrated 1980s classics, I believe the Lincoln Mark VII LSC should be high on every collector’s list of cars to own. The combination of reliability from the venerable 5.0L V8 powerplant with the luxurious interior and somewhat limited production – all for a very reasonable purchase price – make it a slam dunk of an enthusiast vehicle. This particular car has just over 80,000 miles and benefits from a rebuilt automatic transmission and recently replaced power steering pump. The bodywork appears to be in excellent shape and the interior is mint; it’s listed here on craigslist near Denver for $9,500.
These were such classy cars when new, but I always loved how muscular it was at the same time. You wouldn’t call this Lincoln “dainty” by any means. The stance is what always got me about these luxury coupes, as it was probably the one time Lincoln got the formula right of building a luxury car that someone under the age of 65 would want to own. It’s a shame this product line didn’t continue because you can just imagine today what a model like this would have evolved to; think of a Dodge Challenger with good manners, for example. In today’s automotive industry where power and convenience are both in high demand, I can’t imagine a car like this Mark VII LSC wouldn’t be a seriously popular model.
Now, everything about these cars may have been just loosely warmed over from the Ford Thunderbird and Mercury Cougar, but even by FoMoCo standards, they did a great job of setting this model apart. The deeply sculpted sport bucket seats were always the biggest surprise for me, because if there was one thing you weren’t getting in a Lincoln, it was a seat with lots of heavily-contoured support. The Lincoln also provided plenty of high-tech features for the day, like air suspension, anti-lock brakes, and I believe a few options for digital screen read-outs in the instrument cluster. However, the LSC stuck with analog gauges to tie it more closely back to a performance car design rather than just a fully-loaded luxury coupe.
Even so, Lincoln designers couldn’t create a performance car without a hump in the back to pay tribute to the Continentals of old with their rear-facing spare tire mount. Of course, there was no spare tire back there, but like all things Lincoln, you couldn’t completely ignore the average age of the crowd that represented your bread-and-butter buyers. The sharp BBS wheels are yet another feature providing evidence that Lincoln wanted to build an actual performance-inspired model that would bring younger shoppers into the showroom, and considering the immense appeal it still has today, this packaging would have worked on me had I been a car buyer in 1990.
Seems like a great price – all it needs are self-sticking ventiports, a rear wing, windshield tint with something written on it, and gold anodized BBS wheels.
But I digress. A classic beauty with a tweakable 5.0! How do you go wrong?
Nice write up, the transmission being fresh is a plus. The air bags are my only concern. Always thought Lincoln hit the mark with this one, that 5.0 will run forever with proper maintenance. Great looks and price is reasonable.
It looks like it has only the one airbag (on the steering wheel). I’m not sure when passenger airbags were required, but I know my 94 Civic only had the steering wheel variety.
I think he was referencing the air suspension.
@ David Nelson. Well that would make a heck of a lot more sense as there would definitely be more than one of those air bags.
It is not a Brute in a suit,who says that?it’s a Lincoln with a 5.0 HO.
It was a brute compared to a Cadillac of the same year. These were in a class by themselves in looks but looking like a Thunderbird.
At the end of the day though it’s still a Ford with weak electronic transmissions that fail. Switches and electronics that fail and the 1990’s interior full of plastic wood. The steering wheel has to be one of the ugliest and is shared with the full line. You think because it was a Lincoln they would source a different steering wheel.
What would have helped in collector value would have been to offer a 5 speed since we are sharing so many parts. With the rebuilt electronic trans, It will fail again. I like the looks but not enough to write a check.
I hear ya regarding the switches and electrical problems on these cars. A friend of mine bought an 86 LSC in black, brand new. It was a stretch price wise for his income level, but he’s a car guy and figured he’d keep it long term. His cars were always carefully driven and meticulously maintained, and this one was no exception. But sadly, by the late 90’s, he couldn’t keep up with the electrical problems anymore. They were happening all to frequently, and he felt he couldn’t rely on the car for daily driving anymore. So he sold it to someone at his workplace. The car looked so good that even though he made it clear that he’d been having problems with it, guys were literally fist fighting amongst themselves trying to be the one who would ultimately buy it. It looked THAT good.
What’s that old saying? – be careful what you wish for…
Good write-up Jeff. These LSC’s looked good and performed well. A well-done package for its time. Available for not much money.
I would love to have this one!
I’m sorry but Jeff still said “Brute in a suit”
Owned its twin. Altogether a really nice ride. Style, comfort, and surprisingly respectable performance beset with electronic gremlins that gave the air conditioning a mind of its own and could occasionally leave you “found on road dead”. Still, a car I would consider owning again.
The air suspension can be easily rebuilt with a kit from Arnott. Typically the only thing I worry about with that is the controller. An AOD transmission can be modified to take a tremendous amount of power. You just have to have somebody who knows what they’re doing rebuild it. What would be really nice is to build a 347 for this thing with a mild cam which would have a stupid amount of torque And idle very smoothly.
I have this car in light crystal blue mine was built late September and came with the turbine wheels.
Where do you find a 1990 ‘luxury muscle car’ in this condition for $9500 nowadays?
(Oh yeah, in Craigs List.)
loved this beautiful car when I was in school. What classic beauty, beats anything from that time period.
I think he was referencing the air suspension.
HOT CAR, need only one thing to make is GREAT again! I MANUAL 5 or 6 SPEED!
For my pleasure it would need to be ;
1 convertible
2 no fake spare wheel bump
3 no woodgrain
And , yes it was a great ford design
Here’s a 92 w/ only 47K miles for $7800 on the Phx. C’list:
https://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/d/chandler-1992-lincoln-mark-original/7490170868.html
That’s a decent price especially with that mileage.
Buying one of these now! A 92 LSC Special Edition in Garnet red over black interior. Car is in fantastic condition with 62k easy cared for miles. Always garaged and a 2 older adult owner car. Absolutely no rust anywhere! Super excited to finally get one of these. Paid 11.5k for it.
The pre 1990 cars were the best ones transmission wise. I was a Ford/Mercury/Lincoln dealer service manager when these came out and we had very little problems with them. I have always liked them too.
These also had (besides 4 wheel ABS) 4 wheel disc brakes. And the front brakes had larger rotors and calipers. (not to mention larger brake lines) The calipers are very reminiscent of the ones on the SVO.
Yep! The SVO brakes were pulled from the Continental parts bin and also used on these cars through 1990. They switched to Varga rear calipers in ‘91.