Aerodynamic what? This 1979 Lincoln Mark V is about as streamlined as a brick. You know what? Nobody cared about that in the era, because the point of such a car was to show command and control. Any air that dared oppose you, you just plowed out of the way. Fuel economy? What’s that? If you want that feeling to be yours, the car is available here on eBay for a no-reserve bid. The current number is about $10 thousand, with the auction stretching until Tuesday evening. Should you win this one, you’ll pick it up in Darby, PA and float it home over the great American interstates that are its natural stomping grounds.
This car is what used-car sales people used to call a “creampuff.” Low miles at 42,000, a big list of luxury equipment, almost flawless presentation. You want a test drive? All you’ll feel is the pillowy softness of a 70s-era luxury car suspension. The work is all done for you—power door locks and power windows (that don’t quite function) in an era when not every car had those. The exterior is appointed with chrome and other accents; the interior offers up cushions that look positively bouncy as they invite you to sit. There’s also a Cartier clock that, as the old saying goes, will be right at least twice on a given day, if not all the time. You buy this car, back then or now, and you’re cared for.
The engine that hauls this metal monster would have been a 400-CID V8. This model is part of the run of Collectors Series cars, all blue (two different hues), white, or silver, and featuring a lack of opera windows but distinctive gold accents on the grille and hood ornament. What else would signal success in a car that cost $8000 more—in 1979 dollars—than the standard luxury Lincoln? On this example, blue paint outside that presents nearly as flawless complements a blue interior. What’s the downside? Well, the power windows apparently don’t function properly. The tires need replacing also. Otherwise, all’s well, including functioning air conditioning, which is somewhat unusual for an old car.
The ad has a video that runs through the underside and shows how clean this car is. There’s no worry here—this car is as it claims to be. The only question is how much will it run to, price-wise, and are you willing to front that kind of money for a twenty-foot-long behemoth? Maybe you’ll be tempted by knowing that the Collector’s Edition replaced the factory eight-track with a cassette player. Time to get those old mixtapes cranking.
I always thought these cars were great looking. Too bad they were only made for 3 model years.
Had a 1979 Thunderbird that was on the same platform, that was dove grey with a maroon landau roof . It was a great Interstate cruiser and had a factory am/fm 8 track. Drove that car in my Cable TV days, in the start of that industry. So it saw plenty of little towns, who were first to get Cable TV.
And sadly that T-Bird was buried in Western NY by Chautauqua Lake.
A 79 Tbird was NOT on this platform. 77-79 Tbirds are on Ford’s mid-size platform which underpinned the LTD II and equivalent Mercs like the Cougar. The Mk IV platform WAS used for the 72-76 Tbirds, but not the later ones. Entirely different bodies, chassis, etc.
Yea I saw that after I did some research….but had no way to edit my comment. My T-Bird shared the Merc Cougar platform.
Surprising the speedometer only goes up to 80 mph. I know these cars went faster than that…..as it has a 400 V8. My T-Bird only had a 351 V8 and could go upwards of 100 mph. So back then we called it….pegging the speedometer.
Gas Crisis speedometer.
had a 1978 just like this same color wasn’t must difference between 77. 78. And 79 my 1978 did have the base engine which was the 351 great car think it was 6 ft from windshield to grill lol
Beautiful car. One of the finest and classiest from the era. The opera window 🪟 delete makes it look more stealth. Ford and Lincoln really dialed in this model.