American luxury cars from the 1970s are a unique breed. Big, soft, comfortable, and angular, they defined success and provided the ultimate in isolation. In the years that would follow, European brands would make inroads and the American land yacht would eventually disappear forever, marking the end of an era. But for some, the incomparable feeling of sitting at the helm of a vehicle with its own horizon line just can’t be replaced, making these behemoths of the 1970s a suddenly red-hot segment of the hobby.

In 1977, Cadillac downsized the Eldorado’s V8 to 425 cubic inches, leaving only one as the undisputed champion of size, power, and luxury: the Lincoln Continental Mark V. This beautiful 1977 Mark V is one of those beautifully preserved survivors that seem to show up now and then, particularly from this era, and it shows just 59,870 original miles. Perhaps it’s because they were owned by careful older caretakers who didn’t drive far, but it’s always exciting to climb in and feel a car that’s almost exactly as it was forty years ago. The Dove Gray color is a timeless choice, far superior to many of the earth tones of the era, making this Mark V more desirable than most. As far as we can determine, it’s wearing 100% original paint, which has a soft shine that only time can create and which looks exactly right on the big, flashy coupe. It appears to have spent a majority of its life in Florida, which means no winters, not salt, and no rust in any of the usual spots. The massive doors open and close with an ease that you wouldn’t expect from something so big, although it does take a good slam to get them closed simply because the weather seals are in such great shape—this car seals up tight and feels like an isolation chamber inside! The only issues might be some faint micro-blisters on the hood, but they’re all but invisible unless you go looking for them, and perhaps a small smudge where part of the burgundy pinstripe was rubbed away. Quite honestly, you won’t find many 40-year-old cars that look better than this.

Detailing is exquisite on the Mark V, and you can tell that the Ford engineers went out of their way to make it feel special. I have always loved the wonderfully ornate parking light lenses, which use refraction to illuminate the Lincoln star emblem—lord knows what it must have cost to tool those. The chrome is, of course, in excellent condition with only the most modest signs of age, and the padded roof is original and quite nice. There might be a few popped threads, but they’re not noticeable, and it has been recently cleaned and repaired to fix a tiny split near the trunk. You’ll also note the opera windows show “Cartier,” indicating that this is the top-of-the-line Cartier edition (many enthusiasts wrongly believe that the presence of a Cartier clock makes a car a Cartier edition—all Mark Vs had Cartier clocks). This is a big car that delights in showing you its details.

The sumptuous gray leather interior was the best you could get in 1977, spacious yet intimate, and it’s hard to believe that a 19-foot-long car could be considered a “personal” car with two doors. Yet here it is, in all its splendor. The leather is in excellent order, showing only minor comfort marks that are well within expectations for age and mileage, very plush carpets that are protected by a set of heavy-duty mats, and perhaps most surprisingly, a dash pad that hasn’t been cooked by the sun (while in Florida, this car was surely garaged). The door panels are also original and there’s some minor discoloration on the arm rests, which is pretty typical, but otherwise it’s quite nice. If you look very, very closely you can see some almost imperceptible cracking in the various plastic bezels around the switches and handles, but you really have to go looking. There’s plenty of faux wood on the dash, door panels, and steering wheel, which warms up the otherwise monochromatic interior, and it appears that this car has virtually every available option: automatic climate control, cruise control, power windows, locks, seats, and mirrors, a reclining passenger’s seat, an AM/FM/8-track stereo radio, twilight sentinel and auto dimmer system, and a glass moon roof, which remains fully operational. Angular and square, the instrument panel groups the controls ahead of the driver, making everything easy to reach, and once you’re familiar with the layout, you’ll find it easy to use. Everything appears to be operational save for the clock and the A/C, which seems to simply need a recharge. Both seats motor back and forth, the windows glide quietly up and down, and from behind the wheel, it’s easy to feel like a captain of industry in this car. The back seat looks almost completely unused, and the trunk is as beautifully furnished as the interior, including what might just be the original full-sized spare tire with jack assembly.

The base engine in the Mark V was a 400 cubic inch V8, but the massive 460 cubic inch version was still available, and that’s what is installed in this car. Effortless in everything it does, impossibly smooth, and with impeccable manners, it’s the ideal powerplant for a ‘70s land yacht. With just 59,000 or so original miles, this one has never been opened up and owners of similar vehicles will report that the engine will last virtually forever with just basic maintenance. Emissions controls were not a huge issue yet, so a basic 4-barrel carburetor helps build power and never gets fussy, starting quickly and idling smoothly even when cold. Throughout the engine bay there are signs of proper maintenance and care, and that’s factory-issued Ford Blue engine enamel on the block and air cleaner. It’d tidy, clean, and nicely preserved, if not detailed for show. Extensive recent servicing makes it a reliable travelling partner and there’s nothing this car loves more than to gobble up huge expanses of highway on a long road trip.

Looking underneath, you might be surprised by its specifications: dual exhaust, big front and rear sway bars, and 4-wheel disc brakes, making the Mark V a surprisingly competent machine under all conditions. A C6 3-speed manual transmission is robust and durable, shifting all but imperceptibly under normal conditions; squeeze the accelerator and suddenly you find yourself cruising at 60 MPH without much sensation at all. Out back there’s a heavy-duty Ford 9-inch rear end with 2.73 gears inside, which is part of why this car is such a tremendous highway cruiser. The exhaust system is recent and was custom-built by an exhaust shop to exactly duplicate the original, complete right down to new catalytic converters and even the separate ground straps! The sound is muted and smooth, not rumbling and racy, just the way you’d want from your luxurious Lincoln. The undercarriage is completely original but remains in great shape, more evidence of a life lived someplace warm and dry. There’s a bit of surface scale on the heavy metal parts but no issues with floors or critical support structures. New shocks are fitted all around and the brakes have been recently serviced. Optional “turbine” aluminum wheels are unmarked and in excellent shape and carry expensive new 235/75/15 Diamondback twin whitewall radials that were custom made to emulate the unique Goodyear Polysteel Radials original on the car, a design exclusive to the Mark V.

This car also includes books, manuals, and the original Cartier plaque for the dashboard, which was removed by the second owner (it has the first owner’s name on it).

Big ‘70s luxury cars are a growing segment of the hobby and this Lincoln is very easy to like. Like all hobby cars, it transports us back to an earlier time, one that perhaps we remember from our youth, and there’s surely no way to get more sheetmetal for your dollar than this big Mark V. This is a beautiful car, properly maintained, loaded with options, and in great colors. If you want a first-class trip to the ‘70s, there’s no better way back than this. Call now!