1973 Lincoln Continental Mark IV

Description

The '70s were both a great time and an awful time for American luxury cars. ON the plus side, cars like this 1973 Lincoln Continental Mark IV had effortless power, incomparable ride quality, and a bigger-than-life persona. The downside was the color pallet of the 1970s: browns, tans, and weird greens. Fortunately, this car avoided that and instead offers a classic triple black color combination that makes it a sure-fire future collectable.

OK, so Mark IV values haven't skyrocketed, but if you want a great American luxury car with big block power and a great look, there is no more sheetmetal for your dollar than this. The gothic Mark IV was longer, wider, and lower than the Mark III and delivered what was arguably the best combination of full-sized luxury and muscular performance. This car is very well preserved and has obviously been properly maintained all its life. The black finish is glossy and rich, just the way you'd expect from a high-end luxury car. It's not perfect and it's been driven, but between the razor-sharp fender creases and almost chopped roofline, this is one great-looking luxury coupe. Chrome was still in fashion for luxury cars, but Lincoln, as usual, took it easy on the bright stuff, giving it a traditional upright grille and shiny bumpers, but not much else. The attractive parking light lenses up front are miniature works of casting genius, while the deck lid features the Continental's trademark spare tire hump. There's also a black vinyl roof in good condition, adding formality with a set of oval opera windows.

The black leather interior is probably original, and with that in mind it's in remarkable condition. The bucket seats show minor signs of use and age, but it would be easy to believe this car was a few years old, not a few decades. You'd think that all that black in there, including the carpets, door panels, and headliner, would make it feel dark and claustrophobic, but you'd be wrong. Instead, it feels sophisticated and elegant, and kind of private, like an upscale club where they don't let just anybody in. There's plenty of fake wood on the dash, and all of Lincoln's trademark square gauges are in good condition. Options include factory A/C, cruise control, power windows, locks, and seats, and an AM/FM stereo radio. The back seat is as spacious as many full-sized cars today, and the giant trunk is outfitted with more plush carpeting and a full-sized spare with its own matching cover.

Ford's smooth and refined 460 cubic inch V8 provides effortless performance in the Continental. Horsepower may have been down, but the word in the luxury car world was torque, and the 460 delivers. Still quite stock, it shows more than $6000 in recent repair receipts, so it's in excellent condition today and runs superbly. That is original Ford Blue engine enamel on the block itself and the A/C has been upgraded to R134a refrigerant for ease of maintenance. It's backed by a C6 3-speed automatic that is unobtrusive in operation, as it should be in a luxury car, and with highway-friendly 2.73 gears this is a superlative highway car. You can see more repairs underneath where there are recent springs and shocks, a nice-sounding single exhaust system, and newer 235/75/15 Hankook whitewall radials at all four corners.

Regardless of their collector status, these cars are iconic machines, the likes of which we'll never see again. For fans of luxury, few cars can touch the effortless ease of these great land yachts. Call today!