19,858 Actual Mile Mark IV Versailles Survivor 460ci V8 Automatic A/C

Until you've been behind the wheel of a 'Motor City Behemoth' from the disco era, you just don't know what smooth cruising truly is. Lexus has made a fortune selling isolation, but classics like this 1976 Continental Mark IV, finished with a cushy Versailles interior, take that mindset to an entirely different level. A special treat for Lincoln gurus, this fantastic full-size is an extremely well-preserved time capsule that's driven only 19,858 miles in roughly 40 years. And if you've been looking for a collectible that's both largely original and decidedly unique, you'll have a hard time finding ANYTHING cooler!

APPEARANCE

Mid '70s metal features some of the most ornate styling from the Malaise Era. And this coupe's classy silver-on-red color combination is the perfect canvas for far-flung detail. In fact, the car's luxurious yet traditional pigment is decidedly stately, proving once again that good taste never goes out of style. Under that color, itself a single PPG respray of the car's original Silver Diamond Fire single-stage, vast sheetmetal appears as straight, clean and crisp as the day the Motor City stamped it. That solid fuselage is well aligned, featuring re-dyed vinyl and wide doors that open and close with ease. Spears of red outlining stripes stretch 19.5 feet down the sides of one of the longest profiles ever built. And overall, this Lincoln's looks defy the decades its VIN suggests.

POWER

Motivation for this 5,300-pound beast is provided by a proven Ford 385-Series 460 which, according to the factory, twists 202 horsepower into 353 ft./lb. of smooth torque. Highly original, the massive engine bay is in great condition throughout, mixing a roster of correct components and vivid factory markings. All major service items are 100% functional, including factory air conditioning. Bright Ford Blue skin covers the mill from its unique air cleaner all the way down to its deep oil pan. The car's Satin Black fenders are clean, its firewall straight, and all the places you'd expect rust to hide are essentially solid and untouched. And overall, this Lincoln looks every bit as road ready as it was in 1976.

DRIVABILITY

Bottom-side, this Continental is equipped with Ford's reliable and sturdy C6 3-speed, which drives a 9-inch axle and mild, 2.75 gears to effortless highway cruising. That powertrain rides a heavy-duty suspension, which mixes sturdy disc brakes with requisite power steering. Exhaust is handled by factory-style pipes, which front a factory replacement muffler and factory replacement tailpipes. Like the car's engine bay, that undercarriage is clean, honest and certainly not afraid of wet weather. And everything rolls on gorgeous forged wheels, which spin 235/75R15 Suretrac Power Touring whitewalls around elegant Lincoln center caps.

COMFORT

Naturally, the plush Versailles interior is just as cool as the rest of the car, wrapping minimal wear in exquisite '70s luxury. Pillowy seats, pairing a reclining option for the front passenger with standard power adjustment for the driver and front passenger, are nicely padded pieces that feel every bit as supple as they look. In front of those mitts, a wood-trimmed dash hangs conservative factory telemetry amid factory climate control, Philco AM/FM audio and a classy Cartier clock. At the sides of that dash, padded and wood-trimmed door panels found an array of power accessory switches above virtual acres of shag carpet. In front of the driver, an attractive steering wheel spins factory Speed Control around a tilting column. And behind the cockpit, a massive trunk features enough space for a massive shopping spree.

Now that they're over the AACA's 25-year age limit, '70s luxury cars are becoming increasingly popular as both show queens and road kings. These days, it seems everyone wants a high-strung curve carver, making this Continental's superlative road manners, full-size comfort and smooth V8 the fruits of a bygone era. There simply can't be many Malaise Era cruisers that are nicer than this, and a classically themed Lincoln is most definitely the one to own. If you're looking for a spectacular classic that also happens to be largely original, this opulent coupe will not disappoint!

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SUMMARY

* A well-maintained survivor that's benefitted from one repaint
* Correct Dark Red Versailles interior
* Correct 460 cubic inch Ford 385 Series V8
* Correct Ford C6 3-speed automatic transmission
* Correct PPG Silver Diamond Fire paint / Silver vinyl top
* Factory air conditioning
* 15-inch forged alloy wheels
* Factory power steering
* Factory 4-wheel disc brakes
* Correct Ford 9-inch rear axle / 2.75 gears