There was a time when a luxury coupe could stretch nearly 20 feet, wear enough chrome to catch a parking lot’s attention, and carry an engine big enough to make fuel economy an afterthought. The 1977 Lincoln Continental Mark V was a fine example of Detroit’s land-yacht era. Listed on Craigslist in Ionia, Michigan, this Lincoln shows 64,000 miles and is priced at $18,500 or best offer. The seller describes it as a two-owner, garage-kept car with a clean title and no rust.
The Cartier was part of Lincoln’s Designer Series, which brought a fashion-house approach to automotive trim. Along with editions bearing the names of Bill Blass, Givenchy, and Emilio Pucci, the Cartier featured coordinated colors and special interior touches. This car’s Dove Gray finish, matching vinyl roof, opera windows, concealed headlights, and turbine-style wheels make it a distinctive example of the era.
I have a personal connection to this particular Mark V. When I was 12, my childhood friend’s father bought a brand-new one in this exact color combination. I can still remember seeing it for the first time and thinking what a beautiful car it was. That impression stuck with me, and I’ve wanted one ever since. There’s just one problem: my garage isn’t big enough. If it were, I’d be working out a deal with the seller right now, with the Lincoln parked right alongside my 1991 Ford Mustang GT convertible!
Then there’s the engine. This example has the optional 460-cubic-inch V8, a big-block with a four-barrel carburetor rated at 208 horsepower and 356 lb-ft of torque. Those numbers might not sound like much from 7.5 liters, but the 460 was built for effortless low-speed pull. The three-speed C6 automatic was well suited to the job. California buyers couldn’t get the 460 in the 1977 Mark V because of emissions requirements.
The Mark V has a couple of interesting quirks. Its hidden headlight doors run on engine vacuum rather than electric motors, and aging vacuum lines can make a parked Lincoln look like it’s winking at you. The raised trunk-lid hump mimics the external spare-tire styling of earlier luxury cars, though the actual spare sits inside the trunk.
The seller says this Lincoln earned a Top 20 award at St. Ignace and points readers toward photos of the underside. Would you take this Mark V with its 460 V8, or would you rather have one of the smaller-engine versions? Thanks to Tony Primo for sending this Lincoln our way.
Easy choice for me Conrado. 460ci 👍 Love em.
Imagine if it had higher compression and a better cam as if it were from the late 1960s? That would be even more fun to drive!
I remember as a teenager seeing these even in ads of magazines, and thought how opulent looked. And I always loved opera windows on cars in the ’70s. They gave cars more of a luxury touch. I truly believe the information given on this Lincoln, given that picture of it parked in what looks to be a 3 car garage. Even if it has a few minor issues, to me it’s worth the $18,500 asking price
A friend used to rate a luxury vehicle by how much of the car extended beyond the front wheels and at nearly 4 feet the Mark was, in his opinion, one of the most luxurious,…
I’m in the same position as you. My garage isn’t long enough. Nice car and I’d feel a foot taller just wheeling this baby down the road. Hope the new owner treats it like the royalty it is.
I’ve been looking for a MK IV too! When they were unloved and basically unwanted? I didn’t have the room. Now? I have the room, and the good ones are $19,000. Which I don’t have! Oh, and the 460 is the only engine for these cars.
Big C:
Sorry but Conrado is correct.
The 460 ci 4-V engine was optional.
The 400 ci 2-V engine was standard.
Yes, I know that. I was stating that the 460 is THE engine to have in a ’77. The 400’s were slugs.
Nice.. beautiful car.. 460 motor all the way.. had a Ford F-250 with the 460 and that motor was strong straight up the mountain without hesitation
Absolutely beautiful automobile. Always loved the 70s era Lincolns. I had a 1977 Town Car with the 460cid back when they regularly roamed the roads. One of the smoothest riding cars that I ever had and got 16-18mpg on the highway. I have a nagging issue in that I DO have a 3 car garage that would cover this Mark end-to-end and it would look great standing guard over my 1956 T-Bird on one side and my wife’s 2019 Mustang GT convertible on the other. Then there’s living in the oil rich state of Louisiana with some of the nation’s lowest gas prices (our cars take premium and can find it all day at $4.25-$4.50/gal.), while cruising open roads in the Louisiana Delta to stretch out that 460 … then there’s the negotiable ask. Ya know, I think that I’ll go out and mow the grass before I end up on a plane headed North!! Hope that beauty finds a great home.
Thank you for your comments on this fine vehicle. The owner of it👍
If I bought this Lincoln I’d have to buy the garage it’s sitting in too. The days of really high horse power and super powerful engines like the 460 are way gone and forgotten. Kids today may never know the thrill of punching one of these engines and doing 120 in no time flat. I had one of these and a 58 Continental convert too and the 430 was just as great as the 460 but not as fast off the line.At higher speeds both these cars tended to float and one wrong move could be disaster in a split second.
And just for the heck of it, I paid $200 for the 58,all running and driving fine with a new paint job on it and $300 for the 75 Mark all running and driving and paid $2500 for a new paint job. hard to believe by todays standards.
If you are a fan of these cars, this one’s options, color, and condition make it a solid investment and find. Ford’s 460 is a must for these ships and offers good reliability and low RPM torque. Nice find and write up
Not a Ford guy here but this is a clean Land barge here with the better choice engine a 460 here!
Thank you for the great comments 👍 the owner of the vehicle
I have a 1974 Mark4 with under 47,000 showing on the odomitor that I will part with for $12,000.
I had a ’77, mine was blue with a blue quarter vinyl top, blue leather interior and the 460… I would love to have this one, and it actually would fit in my garage (barely).