It’s whammer-jammer time and today’s award goes to this 5,200 lb., 228″ long 1976 Lincoln Mark IV – it is a beautiful beast if a bit over the top in its “Cartier” trim. When I see a whole hog rig like this with its opera windows, stand-up hood ornament, vinyl top, and five MPH rammers, fore and aft, I imagine that I’m hearing strains of K.C. and the Sunshine Band, Donna Summer, the Bee-Gees, or some similar disco-duck band thumping it out in the background. The elephant in the room is this Lincoln’s reported mileage of only 44 miles! It’s not authenticated or further claimed, and the seller admits to using this car, so maybe it’s a misprint. Whatever the case, this big Lincoln is in spectacular condition. It’s located in Chicago, Illinois, and is available, here on craigslist for $13,900, OBO. A nod is due to Rocco B. for this discovery.
Lincoln’s Mark IV was at the end of the line in ’76 having debuted four years earlier in ’72. The still longer, but slightly lighter Mark V would replace it in ’77. As ostentatious as the Mark IV had become, Lincoln decided to pimp it out a bit more with designer series for ’76 including Pucci, Bill Blass, Givenchy, and Cartier editions. The Cartier versions were finished in pale gray – “the color of freshwater pearls” as the sales brochure proclaimed and fitted over a “monochromatic look gray velour interior“. A red and gray pinstripe highlights the top body line while Cartier’s signature, in case you forgot which Lincoln you bought, is etched into the opera windows. The coup de grace is a 22-karat gold-plated identifying dash plaque etched with the owner’s name.
The seller states, “This vehicle is all original not restored they only come like this once from the factory this is a family-owned vehicle that is always been garage kept and covered since new use for pleasure and family wedding events never in any accident. All original paint this beautiful piece of Lincoln history”. Got it, it is absolutely like new and needs nothing in the aesthetics department.
We’re told that this Mark IV runs and drives excellently courtesy of its 460 CI V8 engine which manages to cough up a measly 202 gross HP. From an acceleration perspective, his big Mark clocked the quarter mile in a bit over 19 seconds so a hot-rod Lincoln this ain’t. Nope, it was more about quiet, cosseted cruising.
One look at that pillow top interior and I’m getting drowsy. And that was always my thought with cars like this, slip a soft jazz 8-track tape into the player, set the cruise control for a 1976-approved 55 MPH, and let the cruise, and the nap begin. This type of velour upholstery, and the seat cushion design, will reveal moderate use pretty early on in a car’s life and this interior’s entire environment is a testament to careful, considerate, and limited (no champagne spills!) use.
I suppose this would be a fun cruiser to own, if for no other reason its size and visual statement. Of course, you’d want to garage it and an addition maybe to accommodate this automobile’s stretch. As for the price, $13,900 OBO seems reasonable to me, how about you?
I’m pretty sure by “44”, they mean 44,000, and a far more plausible number. 44 miles doesn’t get it home from the dealer. It sure is in outstanding condition, I doubt you’d ever find one with 44 miles, but you can’t go wrong here.
That’s what I was thinking too Howard. Maybe some rattle can blue touch up under the hood? A very nice Mark.
Carefully used but definitely not 44 miles. Additional photos in Craigslist ad shows drivers door sill paint scuffed all along that edge. Two front photos show the same rock chip on front hood edge over the Continental emblem. Air cleaner snorkel missing. But it’s still a damn nice plushbucket.
I remember my dad drooling over one of these new – too expensive for our Mercury budget.
Agreed, it’s likely a misprint but this is one gently used car.
JO
I totally agree Jim! These big Marks are coming out the woodwork lately.! Gotta dig those chrome/stainless mudguards too…This one still doesn’t come close to the Silver Edition in Hollywod last week, but a VERY NICE Car…There was also a Pucci Edition a few days ago…I LOVE ME SOME BARNFINDS IN THE MORNING ! Y’all keep ’em coming! GLWTS
Immaculate ’76 Mark IV ! Those cars were designed solely for comfort and of course , luxury . The Lincoln models were Fords ” top of the line ” cars and naturally were the costliest to own , usually purchased by wealthy people . Price ? If you have to ask the price , then you can’t afford to buy it . Happy Motoring !
I couldn’t think of a more comfortable journey if I had to drive coast to coast. For some reason I keep thinking I would love to get a mark 3 or early mark 4 and install a 6.0 powerstroke engine along with the 5R110 transmission. With 325hp and 550ft/lbs. of torque and the factory final drive it would make for a capable cruiser with decent fuel economy like 18-20mpg. Would also accelerate pretty good.
To be honest, the 460 here was no slouch. Remember this car weighs a tick over 5,000 lbs( 5050) and while it says 202hp., we all know it was a different rating (SAE to NET, or visa versa?) don’t kid yourself, it had torque up the wazoo. It had to in order to move this car.
You know, you say cross country trip, where this car shines, I can’t help but think back to that miserable Kia I rented. The trip would have been a lot different in this car. Can’t help but rub it in, but we, as a country, gave up a lot for that all precious gas mileage.
Yea, I know about the 460. It’s a great engine with a very thirsty appetite for gasoline. My 92 F250 with 2wd and the 4R100 with O/D and lock-up TQ could only achieve 13-14mpg on the highway but would drop to 7-8mpg in city driving. The Powerstroke would make the Lincoln relevant being used as a daily. Plus who wouldn’t want an extra 120hp and 200ft/lbs of torque with better fuel economy. Don’t get me wrong I loved my F250. One of the best trucks I ever had. I just couldn’t afford it when gas was pushing $5 a gallon.
Power stroke huh? That didn’t occur to me when I was thinking of ways to make a car like this more practical as a daily driver, but it’s a good idea. Online there’s articles on swapping a 351 Windsor into older Lincolns and I was wondering about a 3.5 twin turbo Ecoboost V6, until I heard some horror stories on that engines reliability. I like your idea.
Who in the whole wide world of sports would put a diesel into a MK IV?
Actually, Lincoln put BMW diesels in some of these at about that time.
I worked for the Scholfield dealership in Wichita at that time.
Yes put a smelly, noisy Diesel engine in it and I will still dust it with my 76 Cadillac and my 509 CID engine like I always do to diesels and to Lincoln’s as well.
Diesels are like a spoiled baby,
they have a new rattle every day!
Local kid put a 6.0 powerstroke in a late model Crown Vic. I watched his video and it was insane! I’m not looking for a tire smoker. Just something that would deliver good torque and mpg. Kind of have your cake and eat it scenario. I realize it’s sacrilegious for some but it would be fun. I converted my 04 F250 gasser to a 4X4 diesel about 7 years ago. Kept the engine at its stock tune and it’s been a reliable rig. Did it for 3K with the purchase of a wrecked fleet maintained truck so I would say it’s a economical solution as well. You gotta admit the sound of a 6.0 under boost is pretty sexy.
Your 509 with 165hp. Yee-haw!
I have the same stainless steel mud guards on my 1976 Buick Regal T top S/R that I bought new when I was 23 years old. I’m now 70 and the car has 29000 miles on it.
Nice looking Mark. Great road tripper. Top the tank, set the cruise, put on some road music and watch the miles go by. Love this.
Then keep stopping to top the tank. Over and over.😄
You gotta get out every few hours anyway. Don’t want to develop a clot from sitting so long.
This definitely hits the MARK for OTT excessive chromed American luxury. 🏆 Had 460 in a 77 Grand Marquis and 78 Town Coupe. No lack of power. Smooth cruisin in style and class. The living room effect of this interior adds to desire to sink in and 🎵Fly, Robin 🎶 FLY🎵 down to the disco! Not practical for me, it is making my check book itch. This is a rare opportunity to buy a MONUMENT to the GREAT AMERICAN LAND YACHT. Something unfortunately never to be built again. LINCOLN, what a Luxury car should be, and once was.
Ad deleted on Craigslist so I only scrolled through to make sure Rick W. didn’t miss this or blow by it in his 460!
Got to love you, Jon! Always looking out for fellow lovers of the GREAT AMERICAN LAND YACHT! Still hoping to find 🎵 Loretta 🎶 Lynn’s 🎵 LINCOLN 🎶 (Josh Turner) which I frequently play while passing the peasant cars 🚗 in my Signature Limited, on my way to VERSAILLES! 🏰 This MARK did make me slow down for a long examination 👀 🏆 👍 2YS UR 2YS U B I C U R 2YS 4 ME! 😉 Well, folks R U ? 🤔
Will check later for answers to my question! 😃 By the way, this month, I will turn 77. Though years back 💪 Some might have approved 💪, I will spare ALL by NOT doing a 🎵 77 🎶SUNSET 🎵 Strip🎶 🙏 😀!
44 miles? Do we
looksound that stupid?Drive n stop every 2-3 hours for gas n repeat all the way to Florida
44 miles..And he”drives it”. Hokay. Let’s call it a turned back 44k miles. The car does look nice however and a 460 of this year still put out decent power. Passes everything but a gas station!
I was just 20 years old in 1975, but I was already a mini Gearhead regarding the American Big Three. Back in the 70s our entire family drove Fords. Mostly Lincolns. My parents owned a 76 Town Car, it was Dark Red Moondust Metallic, both inside and out. The seats were velour which added to the luxurious feel. I have been a huge fan of the 1974 through 1976, Mark lVs. It was love at first sight and that has never changed. In my opinion the Mark lVs are absolutely gorgeous. Every thing about them captures the Lincolnesck look with every detail. Sure they were huge, but that’s part of Lincoln’s heritage. I would have had mine black on black. Yes, both the Town Car and the Marks were totally Mafioso, and elegant at the same time, being Italian, I know a Mafioso Car when I see one. Every Sunday the entire family would gather for a sauce dinner that rotated from house to house. But when my parents would host, our driveway was filled with Lincolns, Cadillacs and Imperials. Our neighbors thought for sure it was a major Mafioso meeting. We never actually had a Mark IV in the family, but we did have Mark Vs and a couple of Mark Vlls.As I mentioned the Mark lVs were my favorite. At that time the Marks were built on the same platform with the Thunderbirds so it stands, I love the 74 through 76 Thunderbirds too. That means I would have to have one of each. In any event who ever ends up with this magnificent Mark I know you will love it as much as I would. I would add few additional points. In the 70s I had several cars, trucks and even a motorhome all with the Ford mighty 460s in them, and I loved how the 460 preformed in every one of them, and it was all about the torque the 460 had.
Great minds cruise 🛳 the same roads in LAND YACHTS smallest car I ever owned was 77 Monte Carlo with acres of hood! Check other comments! Too much is NEVER enough. OTT excessive chromed luxury. 🏆 once saw a parked Cadillac Series 75 Limo will RR grille, Statue of Liberty hood ornament and front plate reading. Mafia Staff Car . You toucha my car, I breaka you face. 🎵Mambo 🎶Italiano 🎵 LOL to ALL! 😉 👍
You left out the curb feelers!
Waatsamatta you’s? Eh?
Well, Jon, I just went back to Napoli, to enjoy the scenery and find a COSMOPOLITAN! Always thinkin LINCOLN! Can’t seem to CURB feeling 😕 like a GRAND MARQUIS 👑 when viewing the CONTINENTal BTW, can U answer my question in previous post 🤔
44 miles means about 3 trips to the grocery store in the past 48 years.
Typo? or scam?
Either way i would have no problem falling asleep in the back seat where it looks more comfy than my living room sofa.
I have always liked big cars. I especially like big station wagons. One of my all-time favorite cars, I have so many, it’s hard for me to pick one favorite. But my 1975 Mercury Marquis Colony Park wagon was a fantastic car. It was a 9 passenger, white with tan tuck and roll vinyl interior and every available option including ATC and because it was a Marquis Colony Park it had the Ford Motor Company massive 460, that moved that wagon effortlessly. It would get 10 to 12 mpg no matter how much it was loaded with people and gear. When I put my foot in it, it would always respond. I always kept in showroom condition, my woodgrain panels always looked fresh. I thought it was the best looking wagons ever built. Ford always knew how to build great looking wagons. But it didn’t stop there. I had a couple Town Cars, 2 Marks, a 77 Mark V, and a 1990 LSC. At my heyday, I had 8 cars, and a 33 foot Southwind motorhome built on a F450 Super Duty. I’ve had 2 Explorers, a 97 Eddie Bauer, and my current daily driver, a 2008 XLT, it’s a 4.0 V6, my first ever non V8.I love it, it has great power, and it gets 18 mpg in town and 20 to 22 highway. It’s also my first cloth interior, and I really like it. Cloth is very comfortable year round, and it amazingly has one of the smoothest rides I’ve ever known. Yes it’s every bit as smooth and comfortable a my 95 Town Car. I really didn’t think I would like this Explorer over my 97, Eddie Bauer, but I love both of them. The 97 had a few more features that come with the Eddie Bauer trim.I have no complaints. The 97 had the 5.0 V8 underhood that had a great sounding exhaust, as most V8s do. The only other thing about the 97 that I liked more was the so very cool aqua blue dash lighting. I loved that color. Ford started putting it in all Ford vehicles starting in 1963 through 97. In 98, Ford switched to a very rich green, which is cool and easy on the eyes, but oh that aqua went right through me ever since I was a little kid in the 60s. The bottom line is I love cars, I love everything about them, including driving them. But that said, I have always driven Fords one way or another. I do have a soft spot for Chrysler. I grew up in Chryslers. We had a lot of them when we lived in Detroit. My mom’s side all worked and drove Chrysler products as loyal Chrysler employees. My dad’s side all worked at the Ford Motor Company, dad even knew Henry pretty well, Ford was the last of the Big Three to join the UAW. My dad was an informer to Henry by providing information about what the workers wanted. There was an equal number of employees who wanted it and who didn’t. Back in the 30s when the UAW was just getting started, it didn’t take long for the UAW to become one of the strongest unions in the country, the Teamsters are the oldest and the strongest of all unions. Just ask Jimmy Hoffa, if you could find him. I believe there was a time when the UAW was beneficial to the employees by representing them to the manufacturers. But now there are federal laws that protect workers by keeping the manufacturers to be fair to the workers. However, in my opinion, the UAW is a parasite to the manufacturers. The cost of the UAW is so high the manufacturers have to keep raising the prices of the cars to the point that they are not competitive with the foreign manufacturers, which by the way do not have UAW represented by unions, because they don’t need them. The last UAW negotiators were able to get the manufacturers to agree and sign the contracts by striking and walking off their jobs. If that persists in costs manufacturers millions in lost sales, not to mention the risk of losing market share to the competition, and once that happens, the Big Three lose ground that they will never get back. To think there was a time when Detroit held 70% of the global market. Why? Because there was very little competition if any at all. The competition was limited to the US manufacturers, as well as competing with their own brands. That happened all the time. Also in my opinion it was the 1973 oil crisis that dealt a damaging blow to the Big Three. Add to that, the government was requiring better safety and gas mileage requirements the Big Three had to comply to, and that was a huge problem that Detroit had to deal with. The 70s were a very dark time for the US auto industry. Admittedly, these changes were needed, but hitting all at once nearly killed the US auto industry. Things have gotten better, the Big Three are clearly making safer and more efficient cars, but it was too much all at once. It just kills me to see so many foreign cars on our streets and highways. There is absolutely no consumer loyalty to the US auto industry and that just kills me. I don’t think any of us Gearheads could have seen all this coming. Detroit was building the cars we wanted, and nobody cared about good gas mileage, we didn’t have to. I find it very disappointing that US businesses, not just the auto industry, don’t seem to learn from our mistakes. It’s always been happening. As new technologies promote better ways to do things, and that always means replacing the old to bring in the new. The best example of this was the rise and fall of the Railroads. The Railroads built literally bult this country. The railroads created towns all across the country. Made it possible to travel between the east and the west, they provided thousands of jobs and pretty much dictated the future. But then there were great highways, great vehicles to drive on them, and they could go everywhere, something the trains could not do, they of course had to follow the tracks, and there were thousands of tracts, but they couldn’t scale to go everywhere the trucks and cars could. By the 1960s the Railroads were just about gone . Then in the early 70s, the US government stepped in and Amtrak was born. That saved the Railroads, and that saved the Railroad people and infrastructure that was created . Today Amtrak is thriving. Mostly with fright, passenger trains are still in use but it’s more of an option people take to enjoy a cross country trip. Amtrak also provides people a way to commute, mostly in the east, but it’s growing. A new high speed train has been approved and funded between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Looks like trains are making a comeback, and l’m glad.
Well, I can tell you as an individual who spent almost his entire professional career in the railroad industry Amtrak had nothing to do with “saving” the rail industry. It was the Staggers Act of 1980 which deregulated the industry that has allowed it to thrive to this day. Today, the “Super Six” (CSXT, NS, BNSF, UP, CPKC, and CN) do exceptionally well because they don’t still have the heavy hand of regulation hanging over them like the Sword of Damocles. Of course, lately insidious regs are creeping back in but that’s a story for another day.
As for Amtrak “thriving”, that’s not exactly the case either. I worked for them too, up in D.C. years ago and I know how the sausage is made. They make money on the Northeast Corridor, which was a gift to them from Congress back in 1976, then lose $$$ on regionals, and lose a ton of $$$ on long distance trains. They are technically a for-profit corporation, incorporated in D.C. as the “National Railroad Passenger Corporation” in 1970 but they’re run like a massive gov’t bureaucracy – they can’t cover all of their operating expense and virtually none of the needed capital – it all comes to them as a gift from you, me, and everyone else through our taxes which fund the annual congressional appropriations, and most recently, in the last budget busting infrastructure bill.
As for L.A. to Las Vegas service, known as “Brightline West”, that’s courtesy of Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure, an arm of private equity firm Fortress. They also built the Miami to Orlando service known as “Brightline”. I used to work for Fortress as a contractor, advising them on freight rail acquisitions, and they have a real “get it done” approach to business (and deep pockets) but it’s ultimately about dollars and cents. They’re in this to make $$$ not provide a service that gov’t thinks should be provided.
Fortress’ involvement will be a litmus test as to whether privately owned passenger rail can truly operate as a profitable concern. As for Amtrak, that will never happen, they’ve made notable efficiency strides since their 1971 inception (it has only taken 53 years so far!) but it’s almost all the result of federal appropriations.
Over and out.
JO
Being a hard core GM guy, Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, you get the picture. Long hood has a special place in my heart. This is a Hack, cough, Blue Oval I would consider. Yall are sworn to secrecy. If repeated, I’ll deny, deny, deny. LOL! Absolutely a great ride!
😉 be careful, with all the Mafia comments out here, the GODFATHER might make you an offer you can’t refuse!
Actually to Rock W.
Riddle answer:
Too wise you are, too wise you be, I see you are too wise for me.
You actually admit publicly to being a GM guy??
LoL 🤦🏼♂️
Actually to Rock W.
Riddle answer:
Too wise you are, too wise you be, I see you are too wise for me.
🏆 I knew🎵you could do it! 🎶 You deserve a big hand 🎵 Curtain UP 🎶 Nows Your Inning 🎵 LINCOLN is gonna see to it! 🎶 Everything’s comin up ROSES🎵 I’m not sure if this LINCOLN would really benefit from ETHEL 😉 🌹 💐 🌹
Rick W., not rubbing it in, just posted twice! 😡
If only I were The ROCK 💪, I’d be able to buy land YACHTS for both of us. Since we’re bosom buddies, I’d be Sonny and Cher with you! We’d Rock n Roll down Sunset Boulevard to see Norma Desmond who seems to love Land YACHTS, including her Isotta Frascini. 🏆
How do l buy the car
Sold already.
JO
I almost bought a 76 just like this one in 77, dealer wouldn’t agree to my offer, I’m glad I waited because at the end of 77, I found a beautiful Cartier with 1100 miles on it, full leather interior, not that tacky velour….
19′ of automotive isolation chamber guzzling gasoline at 9mpg, those were the days.
Dove Gray was one of my favorite shades of this era Lincoln, the other was Lipstick Red
Yes to velour showing moderate use early on. I’ll take leather any day. Easy slide in and easy slide out. Looks amazing. And holds up to use.
By all the comments I guess I’m not the only one who thinks thee are fine automachines. I had a 75 and I loved it. I mean who really cares about gas mileage when you’ve got this kind of comfort to ride in? I see I’m not the only one who prefers cloth over leather seats. I’ve had both, cloth no sweat, leather sweat all the time even with cold a/c.
God Bless America
I love these cars! From when a luxury car was big, stylish, and comfortable, just look at those seats! All it needs is dual exhaust, then preserve and enjoy it for what it is, a very comfortable car that is a pleasure to drive. Those obsessing about gas mileage, buy a Prius. Anyone who is willing to enjoy such a Lincoln knows what he’s getting into.
My yard rolls off into about 600 acres of cranberry bogs. There are a bunch of pump houses scattered throughout the land. Most are powered by commercial slant sixes. One has a 460, no muffler just a big pipe coming out the side of the house. It’s probably the furthest away but it sure is a nice tone coming across all that mostly open land.
I love my Corrola hybrid but this would be a fun second car
Had a Mark 5, now own a 3 never really liked the 4.
My dad bought the 4dr version lincoln town car same dove Grey, for my mother only with Grey leather interior. Had her name on the dash. What a boat . Got about 12 mpg but man was it comfortable. Drove it a few times when home from college. My buddy’s thought we were really styling!
It’s funny, in a way, that these Lincolns ( and Chryslers/ Cadillacs) during this time were VERY luxurious – in Dove Gray . Who would of thought that this trend in Gray colors would escalate to the point that people got SO SICK of gray and even dark silver that they would even go out of their way to NOT buy ANYTHING in Gray. The 1970’s Luxury Cars wore Gray colors with grace and elegance. Funny though – it’s not the color that makes a car great – it’s the GREATNESS of the car that makes the color. This is a GORGEOUS car! Good luck!
Absolutely! Unfortunately there are no CARS currently built to measure up to these GREATEST stars 🌟 of all!
🏰 .Are you out there Norma Desmond?
Somehow I’m always last on the list to see these posts 🤔 So, you’re never gonna see my post, okay…
Besides, hell no, I’m not taking a trip to “Chicago” to buy it, I’d never make it out of the place!
And the first shall be last , And the last will be first! I C U NOW, But 🎵 THIS is my kind of car 🎶 A Town Car is one car that won’t let you down 🎵 the best in the Town 🎵 it’s MY kind of car! 🏆
This is a beautiful car, and I’m looking to sell my 73,Grand Prix SJ and get another one of these, they ride so beautifully, love gas I had a pool liner blue 75, w Dk blue roof and interior, but this time I want a 76 Lipstick edition white w red 1/2, roof white interior w red piping, red rugs and body side molding w a moonroof, need the total NYC Disco experience