In the world of the half pickup, half car, a market segment Australians call the “Ute”, Ford Motor Company provided one option for 1979, the Ford Ranchero. Ford fans with a desire to upstage their neighbor’s loaded Ranchero had one interesting lever to pull, though. American Custom Coachworks (ACC) of (where else?) Hollywood, California converted a number of Lincoln Mark V coupes into what you see here, a St. Tropez pickup truck or what you might call a Linchero. This 1979 Lincoln St. Tropez Pickup in La Habra Heights, California comes to market here on Offerup with a crushed left front fender and a $10,200 asking price. Here’s an insider tip: I bet they’d take $10,000 for it! The listing makes no mention of running or driving condition, so figure on bringing a very large and sturdy trailer, and a beefy tow vehicle to match. This isn’t the time to impress your friends with the pulling power of your Nissan Frontier. Credit reader Anthony C. with spotting this rare and interesting find.
The wood-look bed shows signs of weather damage, but what might be Cordovan Metallic paint looks good when wet, a seller’s trick to mask fading. Anything this glossy wet can be brought back with carefully-chosen products and elbow grease. The French village of St. Tropez dates to the Roman Empire, and features tiny convoluted streets and a notoriously swanky night life i.e. the perfect environment for a giant gas-sucking luxury pickup truck.
The saddle leather interior has seen better days, showing cracks but no obvious tears. While the engine is neither depicted nor described, it’s likely a corporate 400 cid (6.6L) V8 making (sorry; you’re breaking up) 166 HP. Sadly the mighty 460 vanished after ’78. The 400 grew from the highly-praised 351 Cleveland, according to Wikipedia.
Styling-wise I would have extended the rear sail panels another six inches or so to mimic the more balanced coupe, but considering the work required to make a Lincoln into a pickup truck, it could be worse. Aside from the customized pickup parts, maintenance items and the bolt-on fender should be readily available and cheap. Can you see yourself cruising the quaint village of St. Tropez in this high-rolling pickup truck?
I may be wrong, but I thought I saw this on Copart.
I have been studying the Mark V for couple of months now, trying to decide if I like the design. I finally concluded that, in fact, I do not like the lines of the car, and this unfortunate hacking of the car does not help!
But in all fairness, no other attempt at turning any coupe into into Ute has ever worked. The ’57 Ranchero and the ’59 El Camino got it right the first time, and any subsequent attempt can only fall flat.
“Linchero?” Ha,ha. Looks like something the “Dirty Dozen” could use. I’ve never been a fan of Lincolns either. In legal parlance it is stated: “must fail.”
Sooner or later the seller will learn the hard way, rare doesn’t equal valuable.
As mentioned above, it looks like the pictures were taken at a CoPart, it would be interesting to know if it has a salvage title.
Steve R
If you are starving for attention, this is the car to buy. (and it may not be favorable attention.)
For 10K the seller should at least locate the parts to fix the front end. Most of these tanks were scrapped when light iron was paying $400 a ton. The 400 motor is a gutless gas guzzler as well. A shame it doesn’t have the superior 460 in it which can be made into a real performing motor.
Ford made an ’81, I think,a Fairmont Durango which was a compact Ranchero which is the one to buy if you are looking for something unique like this.
This Lincoln would do well with a 351, and straightened up might be mildly bizarre and OK if the tailgate actually works.
If none of this appeals to you, look at Professional Cars for Sale sites and find
yourself a Cadillac Flower Car. They are proportionate stunning pickups generally speaking if one must have a big one.
I did own the 81 Ford Durango for a couple of months. National Coach Works in LA is the company who did the conversion of the 81 model year and early 82 years (not many) to the Ford Durango. The engine was the 3.3L. It was bogging down at about 50mph, and I didn’t want to spend money on what I didn’t know like all that emissions stuff! The vehicle sat for a while it appeared, and the guy I bought it from bought it at an estate sale. At the same time, I found a 81 El Camino that was over all better condition so I sold it to a guy who flipped it.
The freshly washed wet look also hides peeling clear coat.
That leather interior looked the same way 5-8 years after they were new. So it’s actually in “near new” condition.
You know if they extended the C pillar like you suggested, they could have put in “Opera” windows and eliminated the blind spots. Lol Of course they could have just not put vinyl over the quarter glasses. The rear roof line angle still looks original.
St. Tropez is on the Mediterranean Sea, but this boat won’t float. It was sad that the 400, although it looked like a 351C, was a tired under-powered boat anchor.
They could’ve put the stock Lincoln oval opera windows in the existing sail panels, turned vertically. The engraved logo would be the wrong way but it would resemble a 1920s “vestibule” window.
This Lincoln is super cool. Easy to fix and I’m sure the price is negotiable. Everyone always talks of having something unique for their local cars and coffee and I think this Lincoln wins. Hoping someone rescues it ! I wish I had money. Ha
Just one descriptive word: LUDICROUS! Another word regarding the “builder”: WHY?
Just another way to spice up an otherwise bland automobile. Both Ford
and Chrysler did it in the ’40s with their
Sportsman and Town & Country models
as a way to lure buyers into the showrooms. Sadly, however, a unique
car like this one doesn’t age well once
the new wears off. Bet if you flashed
$500 in his face he’d take it.
WHY? Because he could. Maybe couldn’t afford a Cadillac Flower Car.
Had time on his hands. Not interested in pleasing everyone.
Not the worst conversion I’ve seen, but IMHO would look 1000% better if the tailgate were reskinned without the fake “spare tire” hump.
cant C much of it but it reminds me a lill of the short run Durango (less than 1K made) a ‘fox ute’ (early ’80s). Those were based offa da fairmont/LTD/Marquis (not crown vic or grand marquis). Just do as Pairs sez’n U got it (well, the big rectangles frm the 80s – for the tail lights).