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Upscale El Camino? 1985 Lincoln Mark VII

Among the numerous automotive trends that seem to just take a life of their own, converting vehicles into an El Camino-style arrangement (or a flower car, for you sophisticated types) is one of the more ambitious backyard hack-jobs I’ve never quite understood the popularity of. We’ve actually seen a fair number of classic Mercedes-Benz products with this work done in recent years, but this is the first Lincoln Mark VII that I recall seeing with a custom pickup bed added. Aside from trying to find a creative way to salvage a vehicle with loads of rust in the trunk lid, trunk floor, or roof cavity, I’ve yet to find a concrete answer as to why – but I always enjoy checking them out. Find this early Lincoln Blackwood tribute here on Facebook Marketplace for $5,000 in Illinois.

Thanks to Barn Finds reader Keith for the find. The Mark VII is one of my favorite Lincoln models, especially when found with the all-black trim, BBS wheels, and ground effects kit. Those things just looked the business. Even in standard form, these were handsome cars equipped with the venerable 5.0L, which means it will make reliable power and never cost all that much to own. The interiors were bordering on sporty with nicely bolstered bucket seats, two-tone leather, and a host of technological gadgetry that made the driving experience feel positively space age in 1987. Despite the hackage that happened out back, the seller’s car seemingly remains in very nice condition inside – but the seat belt tied around the steering wheel is worrisome.

What this usually indicates is someone was trying to get the steering wheel to “lock” before moving it with a dolly or other towing apparatus, which suggests to me that this Lincoln has a hard time running at the moment. Of course, it could also be the seller’s admission that it needs brakes, and is otherwise undrivable. If that’s the case, then the asking price seems somewhat ambitious, even if it is a well-done custom pickup conversion. I suppose some good news is the fact it doesn’t appear very rusty and is presumably complete under the hood. It’s hard to kill one of these, so fingers crossed it just need a brake job to be a reliable runner; still, $5K for one of these that can’t be safely driven is a bummer.

Well, there you have it: the money shot! Yes, you can haul lumber in your Lincoln if you buy a converted Mark VII. There’s no telling if this was well done or a ham-fisted attempt in the backyard one night after too many Bud Lights. But, I like seeing the matching wheel well covers (is that what you’d call them?) on each side, and the floor itself appears to be neatly installed. Still, with a custom conversion like this, the small details that tell you to what level the work was done are only visible up close, so it will take an in-person inspection to determine just how thorough the original builder was. Would you drive a Lincoln like this? And how much would you be willing to pay for a pickup-converted oddball?

Comments

  1. Avatar Nevadahalfrack Member

    More appropriately an upscale Ranchero, though the descriptor “upscale” is a stretch….
    Use what you’ve got to get what you need done, I suppose. If this were offered for free, maybe it’d be a worthwhile project for some but then again it always comes down to the old adage of whatever lights the fires of your dreams, right?

    Like 21
    • Avatar Steve Clinton

      I was gonna say, it looks like an upscale Ranchero, not an El Camino. Shame on you, Jeff!

      Like 12
  2. Avatar Rw

    Bodywork actually looks purdy good.

    Like 14
    • Avatar Last 1LE

      The rear window, surrounding trim and some metal, as well as the upper edges of the inner and outer bed, plus bed trim appear to be 1973-77 Chevy El Camino.

      Like 4
  3. Avatar Fred W

    This looks more like a quality aftermarket conversion than backyard. In fact, I don’t see how this could be done by a hack. Look at and around that back window. I say some company was cranking these out in limited quantities.

    Like 7
  4. Avatar Fred W

    This looks more like a quality aftermarket conversion than backyard. In fact, I don’t see how this could be done by a hack. Look at and around that back window. I say some company was cranking these out in limited quantities. Or, it’s a flower car.

    Like 7
  5. Avatar Bud Lee

    This looks like something Gingerbilly would feature in his YT videos .

    Like 5
  6. Avatar Joe Haska

    I agree body work looks fairly good, and that’s all you are buying, it needs every thing else. It could be a fun project, if you were looking for one and wanted to do something different and not spend a fortune doing it.

    Like 2
  7. Avatar Robt

    Flower car. Too clean to be a backyard build.

    Like 13
    • Avatar Bmac777

      Exactly what I thought. The work was definitely done professionally.
      A few years ago I was thinking of trying to buy a 5 or 6 year old Cadillac flower car to use for a home inspection company but life got busy and I never got around to it.

      Like 0
  8. Avatar John

    I wonder about the wider rear track.

    Like 3
  9. Avatar Steve Clinton

    21 weeks on FB and no takers.

    Like 4
  10. Avatar Last 1LE

    The rear window, surrounding trim and some metal, as well as the upper edges of the inner and outer bed, plus bed trim appear to be 1973-77 Chevy El Camino.

    Like 3
  11. Avatar charlie Member

    I would be OK with it, could haul manure without fear of degrading it. It is what I need a pick up for – going to the dump, hauling manure and topsoil for the garden, hauling fire wood out on a dirt road, buying stuff at a flea market, things you would no do with a “restored” ’50 Ford pickup that you only take to cars and coffee.

    Like 2
  12. Avatar Tank

    Ford had Ranchero. This would be an upscale Ranchero.

    Like 1
  13. Avatar t-bone BOB

    Located in Charleston, IL

    Like 1
  14. Avatar Johnmloghry

    Strange, Twilight Zone stuff here. The unimaginable things people do to old cars in there after life. Okay Elco-Ranchero.

    Like 2
    • Avatar RexFox Member

      A coworker many years ago coined the phrase (or term) Raunchmino (raunch, not ranch) for car/pickups and it stuck with me. I do like Raunchminos though, preferably those made by Chevrolet in the mid to late 60s.

      Like 0
  15. Avatar Claudio

    I would really like a very slow walkaround

    It looks well done , looks good , lines flow ,im not implying that i would buy it but i would investigate for a few hours !
    Price is too high cause its been on line pretty long

    Like 1
  16. Avatar Boatman Member

    El Camino?! Seriously? Have you ever heard of a Ranchero, Jeff?

    Like 2
  17. Avatar JagManBill

    As others have said, the body / conversion looks pretty clean. The seatbelt tied off to the wheel makes me think this was a tow-away so a key may also be an issue. IF (big if) there’s not much wrong, then replace the Bubby rims/tires with a factory unit (that fits under the wheel wells) and you’d have a pretty classy run-a-bout.

    Like 3
  18. Avatar ruxvette

    I like the cup holders in the bed. Not much else, tho…

    Like 0
  19. Avatar ed the welder

    The ” quick and dirty ” diamond plate is quite well done . Needs some sorting out. It’s out of my league skills wise but the right guy/ gal could make this right. Hey Jeff , sorry you don’t “get ” the Ute conversion but for those of us who do , this could be a really cool ride

    Like 0
  20. Avatar Lawrence Milby

    Is the 85 Lincoln Mark / Elcomino still for sale??

    Like 0
  21. Avatar Lawrence Milby

    IS the Mk VII Ranchero still for sale???

    Like 0
    • Avatar John

      I checked the link and is is now $7500.

      Like 0

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