My recent visit to the Martin Auto Museum in Phoenix left me reminiscing about my great-uncle Victor’s 1979 Lincoln Continental. It was a green-on-green machine with a hood that was a mile long – or at least, it seemed that way when I was 14. That walk down memory lane compelled me to browse the classifieds, and lo and behold, I found this:
The Pick of the Day is a 1979 Lincoln Continental Mark V listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Lutherville, Maryland. (Click the link to view the listing)
“One of 273 produced for the year in its particular paint and trim,” the listing says.
While different in color combination from Uncle Victor’s, the look is otherwise identical. My favorite features of the exterior – and there are many – are the waterfall grille, vertical marker lamps, hideaway headlamps, power antenna, and faux continental kit on the trunk. This car even boasts a color-keyed vinyl roof covering with “Collector’s Series” badging.
According to the accompanying Marti Report, assembly took place in Wixom, Michigan, on December 12, 1978, and the car was originally delivered to Joe Gibson Ford in Greenville, Texas. The report gives some context as Lincoln’s production data for the 1979 model year: There were 75,939 Mark Vs built in 1979. Among them, 18,241 were white, and 273 of those had Midnight Blue leather upholstery.
Speaking of the interior, a couple of modern touches have been added to the car including a back-up camera with a digital display in the rearview mirror. After all, any added visibility is a definite bonus when piloting a car this large!
Under the hood, we find a numbers-matching 400ci V8 mated to a three-speed automatic transmission. When new, Lincoln rated the engine at 179 horsepower. The seller says that a fuel-injection system has been added, and the included under-hood photos shows how tidy the engine bay looks. The seller doesn’t state whether the indicated 22,356 miles is reflective of a true reading, but based on the pictures, such a number is believable.
Lincoln’s promotional materials said, “You demand full-size luxury. And Lincoln Continental is the obvious choice. An elegant automobile designed to satisfy even the most discriminating owner in terms of styling, a spacious interior, and generous luggage capacity.”
Model year 1979 marked the final year that the Mark V was sold, so if you are a Lincoln collector (or if you know someone who is), this delightful Mark V is worth a closer look.
The asking price is $24,885.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
