All-new for 1993, the Lincoln Mark VIII improved on the 1984-1992 Mark VII in many ways, and served as the launching point for the 32V DOHC 4.6L Intech V8. This 1993 Lincoln Mark VIII in Fraser, Michigan shows a mere 30,000 miles, and looks ready for a second life. The styling still looks fresh nearly 20 years later, svelte even, compared to the outgoing Mark VII despite being five inches longer and four inches wider! Metallic gold is hard to touch-up, and at least one picture here on eBay shows signs of paint work up front. The Classified asking price of $10,900 probably leaves some wiggle room, but other than a non-working power antennae there’s few obvious flaws on this top-flight luxury coupe. Thanks to reader Larry D. for spotting the well-kept Lincoln.
Interior design took center stage during Mark VIII development, according to Wikipedia, and the supple leather, sweeping dash, and angled center console suggest comfort and composure for trips long or short. Nothing beyond knobs and buttons looks decidedly 20th Century.
Ford’s modular 4.6L (281 cid) V8 launched in the 1991 Lincoln Town car, besting the venerable 5.0L (302 cid) in power and fuel economy. The ’93 Mark VIII received Ford’s first 32 valve version that produced 280 HP during a year when the Mustang Cobra 5.0 made 235. I drove a Lincoln Aviator rental years ago with a similar motor and, even in the heavy SUV, it pulled hard in the upper RPM range. This car comes with maintenance records and “runs great,” according to the seller.
The full-width continental treatment on the trunk lid pays homage to Lincolns dating back to the 1942 Continental, but the styling on this Mark VIII is anything but retro. Put this ’93 on a platter at your local Lincoln show room and novice buyers might think it just hit the market, especially since Lincoln doesn’t make cars anymore. While the roof line renders the rear seats impractical for anything beyond a short trip for adults, I can see this ride showing up at a golf course in Florida or transporting snow-birds during their annual migration from Michigan. Would you consider owning this barely-used luxury coupe?
Good job Todd. When these came out I thought they looked cool, with the swoopy yet clean styling. The interior is nicely styled too. When I asked for my wife’s opinion at the time, she said something to the effect “that car is for older guys.” Well now that I are an older guy, maybe it now works for me?
Quite different than the Mark VII, but I agree the styling has aged well. Lots of swoopy styling on today’s new vehicles, but the added cuts and angles make them look over-styled to me.
This looks like a nice example.
Bob I couldn’t have said it better myself. So I will shut up now!
The mark vll was way better looking IMHO always wanted one but don’t really know why? Had a 5.0 foxbody guess it’s next step up.
Fresh out of college in 1990, I went to work for Ford in an engineering unit that was based inside the Dearborn proving grounds. I remember the day that everybody was gathered in front of the windows that faced the test track, watching a car do laps. I walked over to join them, and saw my first glimpse of the Mark VIII. A few minutes later, the car exited the high-speed track and parked outside my building. I half expected it to fold up like George Jetson’s car. I went outside to get a closer look. It looked sleek and futuristic, yet still kept some recognizable elements of the Mark VII. I always thought it deserved a better reception than it got.
The last time Lincoln made a Continental worth buying…Nixon was president.(imo) They pretty much phoned it in design & luxury-wise thereafter. No one cares what I think…but there’s absolutely a market out there for a high-end retro throwback interpretation of the four door sedans & ragtops of the 60’s.
Same thing for Caddys. Rant aside…this is the cleanest MK VIII I’ve ever seen. Buy this puppy…get a baggy double breasted suit…slick your hair into a mullet…go find a oldies club where the band has a keytar player and lead singer with too much Aquanet in her hair.
“Nearly 20 years ago”… Try 30, looks like I’m not the only one who has lost 10 years somewhere.
Beautiful design that has aged well
I personally hate beige but this is sooo clean
Todd, I know it doesn’t feel like it, lol, but 1993 is almost 30 years ago, not almost 20 years ago.
I drove a rental Town Car when my wife and I flew across the country for her niece’s wedding (back in the early 2000s). It felt like an old man’s car (in a good way). My wife did not appreciate me saying this with her father sitting in the back seat. How I wish Lincoln would build a Continental sedan with suicide doors in the back. I would buy it and would pretend I was Perry Mason and my wife was Della Street.
Mike, they did build the Lincoln Continental in the last few years with suicide doors as an option.
But sadly, very few people, apparently, bought them.
But there are bound to be some for sale out there if you really want one.
I had a green ’93 that I bought around ’02 to use for my highway commute. Worked out great. They were already beater car priced at that time. If i remember correctly, It had a full air suspension and the car lowered down at highway speeds to increase the MPG. Great car, quiet and comfortable with good highway economy for what it was. They were great cars…
I’ve read where the ’98, the last year made, is the one to get, with an improved transmission.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/564676471305314/?ref=search&referral_code=marketplace_search&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3A607434a3-478c-4f7b-8ab0-dbc588fa7f2c
Detroit Land Yacht…..
What have you got against Aquanet?
The one and only Lincoln I’ve had was a 1962 Continental 4 door convertible with suicide doors.
Always hated the Mark VII, too short, too narrow and too tall. I love the Mark VIII. Sleek, swoopy, all class
Had one, a pearl-white ’96 bought new. It was a very nice car, but approaching 60K miles the air suspension was already developing problems, and the car got traded off for an ’01 Mercedes flip-top roadster that still lives in my garage. Not that M-B is any paragon of reliability or freedom from repairs, but this one has been pretty good.
I always loved the way the Mark VIII hunkered down on the highway. That was pretty cool.
Gorgeous car, Americana at its best.Looking at this beauty one wonders how it is possible such a make died on the vine. We live in an insane world when great stuff like this bites the dust.
The styling has aged very well but while the interior has style and design something big was lost between drawing board and execution. Cool design inside but it looks low rent, even though I’m a fan of American cars. By the time this car came out most luxury buyers had looked at the hi tech interiors of lexus and Infiniti vehicles and knew this was a luxury poseur.
Shame how ford and gm lose the brand cache they once had.
I never liked this shade of gold/beige whatever it is but it really works and improves the looks of this Mark VIII. There is a dark red one on ebay at this same time but it just doesn’t have “the look” of this car.
Is it just me or can you look at the profile of this car and it seems it looks like an oversized Thunderbird?
Built on the same platform as the Thunderbird, so that’s basically what it is, a luxed-up oversized T-bird.
I had one of those cars. It was nice and had olenty of power. However it had issues with the air suspension so I sent to the next owner
I have already seen/studied this very car in my area! It is underpriced for the mileage! This car commands at least 20k and more on other classic car sites! buyer BEWARE!!! If something is too good to be true then it is???? I’m just a motor-city car lover that has already turned down buying this very car due to bad air-ride leveling system/ even though it has a new one uninstalled in its trunk. GOOD LUCK with this future/past lemon!!
Of all the cars I have owned, this one is in the top 3, it was such a joy to drive and own, I still miss it. I brought it in 2003, we had taken it in trade from Green Valley AZ, which is South of Tucson, about a 45 minute drive. We got many nice older cars from there because it’s a retirement town. This one was Jewel green with every option except a moonroof, it had a little over 40k on it, and once I drove it I had to have it. Got a smokin deal on it (15k) and all it needed was tires. There wasn’t a nick, scratch, flaw in the entire car, the owner must have weighed 80 pounds because there wasn’t a wrinkle in the leather, it still smelled new. I beat every car that tried to race me, it was sneaky fast. I replaced the tires with new Michelins, and then drove to Michigan. I drove 110-115 mph for an hour and a half trailing 2 other cars. It was an exhilarating experience that I will never forget, new tires, fast car, and freshly paved road as far as the eye could see. The sun had just came up and zero traffic, it was as fun as driving gets.
Always loved this car. All it needs (for me) is more power.
OK, Timmy.
I guess I’ve seen one of these in the flesh but I sure don’t remember it if I did.
I remember reading in Motor Trend about the 4.6 when it first came out, those guys took a stock 92 mercury marquis i believe it was and did a few things to it like lowering one inch and removing the limiters and was able to run it up to 160 or something like that. Its been a long time since i read that article and don’t remember all the details. Maybe someone else does
We took one and put daul exhaust on it and took the 130 mph governor off and got up to 180 it wad A fun car
180? I don’t think so.
Please read: http://www.markviii.org/LOD2/bonneville.htm
The car in the article had very few mods. It had less than 300 hp.
With modern tuning, these cars have very high top speeds. Remember, we were just learning how to get power from the 4.6 4 cam motor. With tuning and a mild cam swap (4 cams) these motors put out about 380 hp in mild daily driver cars naturally aspirated. Boosted, you have to see a dyno run to believe it.
A stock 1998 Mark III will do 130 mph, and because of the air leveling suspension, it runs like it’s on rails. When I drove the 115+ for an hour and a half, telephone poles went by like fence posts. It takes a lot of concentration to keep it under control even on very gradual curves. This car loved to be pushed, you had to put premium gas into that was mandated by Ford or it wouldn’t perform properly. The air suspension will go bad, my service advisor had one, and suggested that I buy the Ford warranty which covered them, I used the warranty as these are expensive to repair. The rear neon taillight was over 2k for just the light assembly. I don’t think you need anymore power than that. Awesome car.
Ha
Aquanet!
Reminds me of an old time car dealer here in the Phoenix area.
Jack Ross Lincoln/Mercury.
Wife was a former B grade movie star named Aquanetta. They did some memorable late night TV ads. One of my favorites had their kids in it loudly drinking slurpies from seven eleven. The drinks were their reward for getting straight “A’s” on their report cards. They don’t make ‘em like they used to.
I like this one!!!