Vehicle Description
1978 Lincoln Continental Mark V, Emilio Pucci Edition
From Ford Motor Company's perspective, the greatest satisfaction of
the Lincoln "Mark" cars of the seventies lay in their regularly
out-selling arch-rival Cadillac's comparable models. Car
enthusiasts, however, simply remember the cars as the defining
American luxury vehicle of the day. The Continental was even
immortalized in the seventies movie classic, "The French
Connection," where a Mark I car was the well-heeled French
villain's choice for smuggling cocaine into the country. There was
just something about this car's long-hood, short-deck, sharp-edged
styling, luxury appointments, and classic grille that communicated:
"First Class."
Very few of these big, beautiful cars have survived in the
outstanding condition of the Mark V Continental offered here in
silver, with a dark-gray landau padded roof. Originally assembled
in the Wixom, Michigan plant, the car was shipped to the Cleveland
(DSO33) market for sale. More than four decades later, calling its
condition "showroom-like" is no overstatement, as the more than 150
photographs and the video available on the our main website (Garage
Kept Motors) clearly demonstrate. From Florentine fashion designer,
Emilio Pucci's, perfect signature on the c-pillar opera window
designating this as one of four different designer-edition Lincoln
choices for 1978, to the near flawless condition of the paint,
brightwork, and glass across the entire car, this is a top-tier
survivor of the top-tier personal luxury model of its day.
Ample power travels from the 400 cubic-inch V8, through an
automatic transmission, to the street via Michelin thin-stripe
whitewalls around full-width wheel covers. The engine compartment
is complete and unaltered, while the underside of the car is tidy
with only minor surface rust visible on a few components. The car
has clearly benefitted from regular loving care, and limited
use.
Open one of the two wide cabin doors and enter what can only be
called a seventies den of automotive comfort. Seats in dove-gray
leather accented with burgundy trim are appropriately padded and
nicely broken-in, exhibiting no undue wear. Front buckets feature
individual center armrests. The use of burgundy carpet and trim
nicely contrasts with the sliver exterior (although the exterior
double-line burgundy pin striping hints at the delights inside).
The burgundy dashboard is a period statement of status with square
analog instruments highlighting the Continental trademark and
abundant faux wood trim. Unlike way too many examples from the era,
the woodgrain still shows in overall near-perfect shape. A power
glass moonroof, air conditioning, the original AM-FM
stereo/cassette audio system, and even a period-correct security
alarm system are all in place and operational. Displayed total
mileage of 71,000 accumulated over 30 years, is less than what most
average owners would rack up in just five years.
Included in the sale are a host of maintenance and repair
documents, a long-term owner's binder of information, and the
original owner's manual. This symbol of seventies status is sure to
impress classic car enthusiasts. And it'll look pretty special in
your driveway, too. Call or email before it goes to someone else's
garage.
