Would a fashion designer’s involvement in the production of your vehicle of choice sway you to pay more for a higher-trim model? Apparently, in the 1970s, it would have, given this car exists: the 1978 Lincoln Continental Mark V Emilio Pucci edition. Even though we live in an era of mass consumerism, I can’t imagine such a branding initiative would drive many buyers into showrooms, but it was a compelling offer when the big-body Continental coupe was in its heyday. Check it out here on eBay with bids to $5,000 and the reserve unmet.
In general, this was a fascinating time for domestic car sales. Americans loved these over-stuffed, poor-handling luxury barges like a guy with high cholesterol loves cheese fries: you know it’s bad for you, but you just want more. I suppose this is why a manufacturer like Lincoln felt perfectly at ease cranking out special edition after special edition based on affiliations with names and personalities associated with a perception of luxury. While there’s a lot said today about how unhealthy it is that young people see gross demonstrations of wealth everywhere they look, is the existence of a car like the Emilio Pucci edition really any different?
Of course, what’s somewhat hilarious about the whole thing is Lincoln didn’t even give you that much in exchange for signing on the bottom lime for this one-of-3,125 model: it was effectively a color scheme package, with a unique paint and interior combos offered as part of a series of so-called “Designer Series” cars that also featured names of other famous fashion icons like Bill Blass, Cartier, and Givenchy. Again, this was a different time, when an association with the likes of a famous styling house could get consumers to give a Lincoln a second look. It’s been said that out of the various partnerships, the Pucci edition is the rarest of them all, but this is mostly just speculation.
The seller claims it’s one of 700 made, but most sources I’ve found cite the 3,125 number I’ve referenced here. Regardless, they don’t pop up every day, but when they do, silver was not the only color offered. With 42,000 miles, one might consider this a “high mileage” version of a Lincoln special edition given how many were socked away as future collectibles; thankfully, the owner(s) of this Pucci edition at least used their mobile fashion statement on occasion. Would you spend more money for a special edition like this?
Nice ride. Back in the day in the ol’ ‘hood, after a mob hit the boys would take theirs out for a night on the town.
You could see a lot of them at Manchus Red Fox
Last place Jimmy Hoffa was seen.
The best opera windows 🪟 in the business 👌
Fabulous to drive and I have driven many. Moon roof a big plus. I had a dove grey Cartier for a while, a 77 with a 460. Beautiful color combo on this one. I know most dislike the 400 but it is a fine engine to me. I have never had a problem with any of mine.
Seems pretty tame for a designer car. I think they look better in triple black and might as well get one with the 460
I’m trying to imagine it, but I don’t recall EVER seeing one triple black! I’ve definitely seen a Mark IV and a Mark III in black. Not a Mark V. Every other color under the sun. Our neighbor had one in a monochromatic sort of cream/yellow color to go with their triple forest green color Coupe deVille. I have the feeling, knowing them, it was more that they got a good deal on both.
I had a triple black one. I believe it was a 77, no designer series, just a Mark.
Remember a two tone black or dark blue with Paste French Vanilla. Stunning combination. 👍 As for Designer Editions, Lincoln was more successful than AMC with Matador Barcelona and another one with famous Designer. Can’t remember which one 🤔???
Matador coupe was Oleg Cassinni. 💡. 1974 .
Back in those days, We were living with the 55 MPH speed limit and everyone was afraid gas would go to a dollar a gallon! Lincoln as well as Cadillac and even Chrysler offered designer series cars because no one WANTED to talk performance! These Cars gulped Fuel and Fuel injection was in its infancy! In many ways the auto industry was going through a transition, just like today! In the 70s and 80s it was paint schemes and trim levels! Today it’s 7 passenger and all wheel drive, the more things change, the more they stay the same!!
Maybe I would give it a go, if I were into Mark Vs or if I had the real estate to keep it safe. Pucci would be a good DS model, keeping with my ethnic lineage. It would also be funny to see people get confused over it: Is it a Cartier or a Pucci, or both? Because I’m pretty sure the clock still had the Cartier stamp.
Anyway, this survivor is very, very nice! Here’s hoping its new owner reaches out to the Lincoln Forum.
All V’s had Cartier clocks.
Yup! I was just texting a friend who works at a Lincoln Dealership about that same thing! They ALL HAD CARTIER CLOCKS👍 Even some of the Sedans…Love this one even w/o the 460 and the Moonroof is a PLUS imo…I have one in both of my cars. ’08 Super Bee and my wife’s Scion Tc Release Series 5.0 in Speedway Blue. Very close to my B5 Blue Charger and they both have black stripes down ea side…Zoom, Zoom😎
Oh yes, I’m well aware of that; all Marks from 1970 onward had Cartier-branded clocks. The point is that many people don’t understand what constitutes a Cartier Edition, thinking the clock alone is all it takes. Apparently, that confusion continues to this day, despite the real facts posted everywhere about the topic; there’s another posting on BF of another Mark V listed as a Cartier Edition, which it certainly is not. Very nice, car, fat in equipment ,and in near-museum condition, but not a Cartier.
It’s in nice condition, it sits right, the body is straight, the interior looks almost unused, high contrasting color interest, well optioned. If I were in the market for a vehicle like that, 10,100 bucks and I’d go for it for sure.
IDK Chris, all red interior or all white would look better in my opinion. The white inserts in the door panels look kind of garish. But I agree, fantastic car.
The contrasting interior colors on this Pucci edition are dove grey and maroon, not white.
I had a 1978 mark V back in 1980 great car it was blue with a burnt tan/orange roof and interior longest hood you could want measured it once think the hood was over 6 ft long traded for a new town car in 1985
In about 1990 I bought one identical for $300. 70,000+ miles just for the 460 w/C6 transmission. I sold the wheels and scrapped the rest. I still have the 8 tracks that were in the back seat.😂
LOL but sounds like you were on the WRONG track! 😮 Today you might be convicted of DESTROYING a MONUMENT to the GREAT AMERICAN LAND YACHT 🇺🇸 Did your Choo Choo 🚆 🚉 JUMP the tracks? 😀 😄 😁
The 400 is a great engine but Lincoln put an AC compressor kickoff to help keep adequate power in the large car. To some this isn’t a problem. I had a 79 Midnight Blue Collector Series Town Car in Atlanta. I tend to be a bit heavy on acceleration. The combination of a dark car in southern summers needing all the AC it could get but not getting it due to the AC cutoff killing AC to give moderate acceleration certainly didn’t work in my world. Lol. Give me a 460 Please…
As you probably know, you can thank gvmt, gas prices, and environmental folks for killing the 460 which was needed for these land YACHTS. As I recall 400 was the only available motor for Lincoln in 79.
Ironically, the LAND YACHT I love were replaced by what….Full size SUVs( Sporty Utility Closets!) Did we save gas? Nota ! Did we lose Class… YES..for the same fuel economy I will take that Mark any day of the week!!!!!
Bidding to $10k, now. Love the 460, but still think the ’72 was the best looking, and where I’d spend the money.
It’s the rarest because no one knew who Pucci was. If they put John Gotti’s name on it it would be really hot right now. These “ celebrities “ are so full of themselves that they think if they just ride in a car it jumps the value by thousands. I guess they really don’t but people for some reason do. I don’t get it.
Mark series cars were very good looking and a great compliment to the Eldorado. At least until the next downsizing. These is a good looking car except for all the colors. The brain can process two tone just fine. It finds it to be attractive. Three different colors becomes hard to process which is why three tone cars were such a short lived faze. This car with four colors is just too much. Probably someone’s self expression.
I’m rather partial to the Diamond Jubilee Edition. I have a friend whose father has a pristine example of one with extremely low mileage. It’s a beautiful car in a very light silvery blue metallic.
For some reason I think I remember the car having diamond chips or something embedded in the opera windows. I also feel like Ford-Lincoln-Mercury also had the Diamond Jubilee Editions available on the Mercury Cougar and possibly the T-Bird but my memory is not that solid to go back 45 years.
My favorites are the 78 and 79 Cadillac Seville Elegante and the 79 Eldorado which my father owned in a gorgeous Cedar Firemist, but the same era Mark V coupes were beautiful cars as well.
I liked the downsized and more nimble Caddies with the fuel injected Olds 350 engines.
Odd, apperently the only use of the iconic, uber-mod Emilio Pucci fabric is under the visors? Seats covered in Pucci’s signature material, his hand-written signature is on the fabric, and those crazy “opera” windows, would be wild! Hello Matt Helm! He had an early production Mark III, and that Mercury Colony Park, that turned into a big, bed! Gucci, Pucci and Fiorucci, indeed! Late 70’s disco chic!
At the time land YACHTS like this were 🎵 Stayin 🎶Alive 🎵. And DISCO was happily dancing 💃 🕺 to the beat. 🎵THOSE 🎶WERE 🎵the DAYS 🎶! These luxo liners ran even better than Our Old LaSalle! 😉
Mom had a 77 in…..1985?
..Light blue, white top, white interior. Beautiful car. Love the gills on the fenders.
I had a 70 Mark lll in 1991. Not as nice as this, but both are equally beautiful in my eye.
All marks of that era had clocks by “Cartier” , it was standard equipment.