Lincoln Continental Mark V

Lincoln Continental Mark V
Overview
Manufacturer	Lincoln (Ford Motor Company)
Production	1977–1979
Assembly	Wixom Assembly, Wixom, Michigan, United States
Body and chassis
Class	Personal luxury car
Body style	2-door coupe
Layout	FR layout
Powertrain
Engine	400 cu in (6.6 L) 400 Cleveland V8 460 cu in (7.5 L) 385/Lima V8
Transmission	3-speed C6 automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	120.4 in (3,058 mm)[1]
Length	230.3 in (5,850 mm)[2]
Width	79.7 in (2,024 mm)[2]
Height	52.9 in (1,344 mm)[2]
Curb weight	4,762–4,960 lb (2,160–2,250 kg)[2][3]
Chronology
Predecessor	Lincoln Continental Mark IV
Successor	Lincoln Continental Mark VI

The Continental Mark V was a personal luxury coupe that was sold by Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company from the model years 1977 through 1979. A basic continuation of the Mark IV chassis and mechanicals, the Mark V featured all-new creased, angular sheet metal, featuring now-classic styling elements such as concealed headlamps, chrome-plated Rolls Royce inspired front grille, elliptical opera windows, and spare-tire contour trunk lid - with that classic 7-foot long hood, short deck, hardtop coupe styling.

The 1977-1979 Mark V was the largest version of the any Mark series ever produced, and, with the exception of the 2.7" longer ( full-size ) 1977-1979 Lincoln Continental two-door coupé, the 230.3" long "mid-size" ( per EPA size classification standards of the day ) Mark V was the longest 2-door coupe ever sold by Ford Motor Company. It was definitely the longest mid-size car ever produced... beating out its perennial arch-rival, the 224" long Cadillac Eldorado. With an average of 75,000 units sold in each of its three years on the market, the Mark V was also the single best-selling version of any Mark model in its history...here also, beating out its main market competitor, Eldorado through 1978.

All Continental Mark Vs were assembled at the Wixom Assembly Plant in Wixom, Michigan, alongside the standard Lincoln Continental and Continental Town Car/Town Coupe. For 1980, the Mark V was replaced by the Continental Mark VI, which downsized the Mark to near-previous intermediate-sized exterior dimensions - utilizing the new-for-'79 Ford LTD/Mercury Marquis based "Panther" platform.

Overview

Jock Ewing's 1977 Lincoln Mark V on display from the television series Dallas

Hood ornament and grille insignia

For the 1977 model year, after a five-year production run, the Continental Mark IV was replaced by the updated Continental Mark V. In a cost-cutting move, Lincoln chose to re-use the same chassis and underpinnings (also shared with the 1972–1976 Ford Thunderbird).

Using a cancelled Mark IV styling proposal as a starting point,^[4] Lincoln designers replaced the Mark IV's softer, more-flared body styling with all-new, crisp, sculptured sheet metal, with more-angular, straight-edged front fender and rear quarter peaks, along with new "bladed" front turn signal housings with the Continental star emblem molded into its clear plastic surface. The greenhouse was also modestly updated, with a flatter roof surface, a more-horizontal ( less of a rearward-canted dropoff ) edge to the rearmost upper section of the roofline and above the door glass and the new, more-angular side quarter window glass; to coincide with the body shell's new crisp styling. These new quarter windows also provided a modest increase in visibility over Mark IV's shallower, more-upward curved quarter panel/glass. Styling cues, now unique to the Lincoln division (concealed headlamps, oval opera windows, the classic, Rolls Royce-inspired radiator grille and the Continental Mark deck lid - with its simulated (since the Mark III of 1969) "spare tire hump" contour were all retained on the new Mark V. To assist in cooling of the engine compartment, Mark V also received three new evenly-spaced vertical rectangle functional fender louvers on each side - located between the front wheel arches and the leading edge of the doors, just above the newly-standard (for 1977-79) Premium Bodyside Moldings ( bright, bumper-height, full-length lower bodyside moldings with color-keyed vinyl inserts, and integral bright wheel lip moldings ). The Mark V also marked the return of vertical rear tail lamps - not seen since the 1969-1971 Mark III. Flat, rectangular red safety reflectors also appeared on the Mark V's lower trunk lid, on each side of the spare tire hump contour, inboard of each chrome-trimmed tail lamp housing.

In a sign of changes to come across the entire US auto industry, Ford Motor Company engineers took steps towards improving fuel economy - even of their luxury cars. While physically larger than its Mark IV predecessor, careful weight reduction measures trimmed approximately 400 pounds from the Mark V's weight at the curb. To further improve fuel economy, Ford's massive 7.5L (460 cid) V8 was no longer presented as standard equipment (now-optional for 1977-78); the standard engine was Ford's 6.6L (400 cid) "351M/400" V8 - also available as an option on 77-78 Thunderbird/Cougar XR-7, 77-78 LTD II/Cougar (hardtops and wagons) and the pre-downsized 77-78 LTD/Marquis passenger car lines.

Year-by-Year Changes

• 1977: A new, even longer Continental Mark V continues the successful Mark IV formula, now with a new angular, freshly-creased exterior and moderately restyled interior.

Previously standard issue on Marks III and IV, Ford's 7.5L (460 cid) V8 (now the industry's largest remaining) was optional for 1977, as a smaller 6.6L (400 cid) V8 became standard. The 7.5L V8 was not available at all on Mark V in the state of California, as the powerplant was unable to meet that state's tougher EPA certification standards. Lincoln felt so bad about this, that for 1977 only, California-bound Mark V's were offered with the newly optional Turbine Style Aluminum Wheels as standard equipment, to compensate for their 460-less Californian clientele.

Also, 1977 was the first year since 1960, that a Mark-series model came with an all-metal, body-color painted (non-vinyl covered) roof as standard equipment. The Full-Vinyl roof - previously standard on Mark IV - was now optional, as was the rear-quarter Landau roof. The Givenchy Designer Series had exclusive use of a new, forward-placed, front-vinyl roof in all three years of the Mark V's production.

Mark IV's successful Designer Series Editions continued with revised color combinations on the new Mark V, as well as revised Luxury Group Option color trim packages. First available in mid-1975, as the "Versailles Option", a renamed-for-1977 "Majestic Velour Luxury Group" carried over to the Mark V - for 1977 only (minus the upper door trim panel woodtone moldings - which were on Mark IV with the Versailles option). The returning Gold/Cream and new Cordovan Luxury Groups came with an available unique (small block pattern) "Romano Velour" on the seat pillow inserts and matching upper door panel inserts - this too was also a relatively rare 1977-only one hit wonder.

Another limited-run, mid-year introduction was the Spring Luxury Group option, which came in the customer's combination of selecting Dove Grey (1N) or Dark Blue Metallic (3G) for the exterior paint color, a choice of Dove Grey or Dark Blue for the vinyl roof color, bodyside molding color and paint stripe color - with those same Dove Grey and Dark Blue colors in a standard tu-tone leather interior.

Luxury Wheel Covers, dating back to the 1972 Mark IV, were carryover as standard on all Mark Vs, except for Designer Series models. The Mark IV-era Forged Aluminum Wheels carried on as optional, as would new-for-1977 Turbine Style Aluminum Wheels (machined wheel lip and spoke edges with argent grey accent paint between the spokes, with bright, cup-style metal center caps). These new Turbine Style wheels would be standard on Designer Series models.

Standard tires in all three years were Michelin-X (225-15) steel belted radials with a narrow white sidewall design. First optional in 1975, and remaining so through the end of the '79 model year, were Goodyear's LR78-15" Custom Polysteel Radials, in a Lincoln-exclusive "Dual-Wide Band White Sidewall" design - (a wider white stripe about one-half-inch past wheel rim diameter, followed by a second, narrow, quarter-inch white stripe, about a quarter-inch outside of the wider inside stripe). This tended to create a more formal, luxurious appearance that only accentuated Mark V's exaggerated long-hood, short-deck, low-roofline styling. Back inside the trunk, in Lincoln's attempt to eek out a small increase in the amount of available trunk space, was a new-for-1977, inflatable spare tire option (a pressurized cannister of tire propellant was included) which would replace the standard conventional, full-size spare, This would be available all three years of the Mark V's run. Regardless of any exterior wheel option selected, the standard, conventional spare tire would be of either Michelin or Goodyear brand (matching the vehicle's four exterior tires), but would be mounted on a standard, 15" conventional steel wheel. Hardcore aficionados would go to their dealer's parts department and order an extra Turbine Style or Forged Aluminum wheel, and have the dealer remount their spare tire, so that now all five wheels matched one another. This practice of spare tire wheel-matching was standard on Mark IV, but fell off the roster beginning in 1977.

An optional Illuminated Entry System. . .a timed (25-second) interior courtesy light illumination system with lighted door lock cylinder rings (activated by lifting either exterior door handle) also made its debut for 1977. This feature would set the stage for Ford's exclusive and popular Illuminated/Keyless Entry System (with driver's door belt molding mounted keypad), which would first be seen on the then newly-downsized Continental/Mark VI and Thunderbird/Cougar XR-7 beginning in the 1980 model year.

• 1978: Continental Mark V continues with even more luxury for its second year, after record-breaking 1977 model year sales

A larger radiator, heater core inlets and hoses were new, for improved coolant flow and heater performance. Door lock cylinders and ignition lock switches were also revised for greater theft protection. The standard 6.6L (400 cid) V8 engine got a slight detuning for better fuel economy, while the 7.5L V8 soldiered on for one more year.

A super-luxurious (and expensive) Diamond Jubilee Edition Mark V was introduced to help commemorate Ford Motor Company's 75th anniversary. The Diamond Jubilee Edition was available on both the Thunderbird over at Ford, as well as the Continental Mark V. Designer Series Editions and the Luxury Group offerings continued with revised color selections and trim.

With the mid-1977 introduction of Versailles, Lincoln was the first American car manufacturer to produce a two-stage basecoat/clearcoat paint process for their mid-sized luxury sedan. For 1978, this new two-stage paint process was expanded to both the Mark V and Continental, (for metallic colors only). This process produced a rich, deep, and especially glossy finish, because the paint pigment was protected beneath a layer of high-gloss clear acrylic enamel. Non-metallic, solid paint colors still continued to use the traditional, single stage paint process (no clearcoat).

Joining the optional Full Vinyl and Rear Landau Vinyl roof options for 1978, was a new, full-length, simulated convertible "Carriage Roof" option (available only in White canvas-embossed vinyl - with interior rear seat side-quarter trim panel vanity mirrors - in place of the normally standard opera windows, which were deleted with this option). The highly-desirable Power Glass Moonroof option was not available on Mark V when equipped with the Carriage Roof.

Also new options for 1978: a digital (L.E.D. display) "Miles-to-Empty" fuel indicator (which replaced the standard "Low Fuel" warning light unit in its location within the instrument panel below the fuel gauge), new Wire Wheel Covers (non-locking), a fully integrated Garage Door Opener control (built into the lower edge of the driver's side illuminated visor-vanity mirror), a new driver's side outside mirror-mounted Illuminated Thermometer, as well as Ford's new 40-channel CB Radio with fully integrated handheld microphone and controls...which also included a new, integrated tri-band (AM/FM/CB) power antenna - in place of the standard issue (AM/FM) power antenna.

Also new, (for 1978 only), were slightly revised standard Luxury Wheel Covers, with fewer ribs along the outside diameter of a slightly more-convex/bulging brushed center portion of the wheel cover. This wheel cover style would then only appear one more time - on the downsized 1980 Lincoln Continental and Town Car/Town Coupé models.

1978 also marked Ford's first usage of (the short-lived; 1978–79) electro-mechanical seat belt warning chimes, available, and standard only on Diamond Jubilee Edition. Lesser Mark Vs (in all years) were equipped with a traditional basic seatbelt warning buzzer ... and for those whoever owned/own one - if you ever started the car with the driver's door open, and not buckled in, the separately wired "key in ignition" warning buzzer unit would also start to buzz, and you would suddenly find yourself the unlucky victim of hearing an almost nightmarish drone of both units' wavering buzzing sounds at the same time, each at a slightly different sound frequency. Definitely not the most-pleasant aural experience!!

• 1979: The final year for a wildly successful 3-year run of the Continental Mark V.

In the engine compartment, the now-seemingly gigantic 7.5L (460 cid) V8 and dual-exhaust 400 V8 are discontinued, all in the name of helping Ford Motor Company meet the US government-mandated Corporate Averade Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, which were enforced beginning in 1978.

A new AM/FM Stereo Radio with Cassette tape player, as well as Ford's new top-of-the-line Electronic AM/FM Stereo Search Radio with Quadrasonic 8-Track tape player were added as new radio options. The latter received a floor-mounted foot-switch (inboard of the physically identical floor-mounted headlamp dimmer switch), which would allow the driver to left-foot-tap the switch to scan radio stations or advance tracks on the 8-Track player, without having to take their hands off the steering wheel.

As Mark V and Continental were the in their final year of being the largest, and the last "traditional-sized luxury" production cars in America (and the world, for that matter), a commemorative "Collector's Series" package (a few months later, an actual stand-alone listed model) was introduced. The ever-popular Designer Series and optional Luxury Group offerings continued - yet again in newly revised color and trim selections.

The 1972-style Luxury Wheel Covers would return for Mark V's final year as standard issue (on all but Collector's Series and Designer Series models) - as would the optional Wire Wheel Covers (now standard on Emilio Pucci Designer Series) and Forged Aluminum Wheels. The also-optional very popular Turbine Style Aluminum Wheels continued with argent accent paint between the spokes, except on Collector's Series, and the Cartier, Bill Blass and Givenchy Designer Series - where these models would be treated to color-keyed paint between the spokes, for unique added flair.

The Carriage Roof option (still only available in White canvas-embossed vinyl; but now standard on Bill Blass Designer Series) received new interior rear quarter trim panel inserts (a blanked off, color-keyed padded vinyl insert filler panel covering the area where the deleted opera windows were - with round (non-switch-operated) reading/courtesy lights in the center of these panels on each side; thus effectively replacing 1978's rear quarter panel vanity mirrors). These new interior quarter trim panel inserts would also appear on the Collector's Series, (in color-keyed vinyl, or cloth - depending on the seat trim color) as the exterior landau roof design also eliminated the opera windows on this model. Here, though, the reading/courtesy lights in these quarter panel inserts had control switches above the rear seat quarter armrests, to allow them to operate as customary door-jamb activated interior courtesy lights, as well as rear seat passengers being able to switch them on and off independently as true reading lamps.

1978's electro-mechanical seat belt warning chimes carried over into 1979...and were now not only standard on Collector's Series, but were also standard on the Designer Series models as well. From 1980-on, selected (higher-end) trim levels of Ford-Lincoln-Mercury models would adopt the use of a solid state, all-electronic combination (seat belt, 'key in ignition' and optional 'headlamps-on') warning chime module, with no moving parts, and no more buzzers.

Full and Rear Landau vinyl roof options continued for 1979. The all-metal, body-color painted roof also continued as standard equipment - though would rarely be seen. This all-metal roof style would not appear on a Mark again until the introduction of the all-new, Fox-based aerodynamic Mark VII for 1984.

Features

1977–1979 Continental Mark V, rear 3/4 view. Seen above is an example of an infrequently seen, standard, non-vinyl roofed Mark V.

Standard on all Mark Vs are four-wheel disc brakes (continuing is the "Sure-Track" anti-skid brake system from the Mark IV, as an option), a "Cartier" embossed logoed sweep-hand clock with day/date feature, and full power accessories including Automatic Temperature Control air conditioning, power windows, six-way power driver's seat, power radio antenna, etc. ^[5][6]

A new optional feature for the 1978 Mark V was the "Miles-To-Empty" indicator. This was a small rectangular display, located to the right of the steering wheel, which sat in place of the standard equipment "low fuel" warning lamp. The amber LED readout would indicate the estimated distance (in miles) available before reaching empty based on remaining fuel, fuel consumption, and driving habits. This system was a precursor to the electronic digital full-instrumentation which would be available on the 1980 Continental Mark VI. The system represents a first for an American automobile manufacturer, as it is the first dashboard LED display of an automobile's mechanical function.^[7]

Powertrain

On all versions of the Mark V, the 402 cu in (6.6 L) 400 Cleveland V8 was the standard engine. The 460 cu in (7.5 L)385/Lima carried over from the Mark III and IV was now an option on all Mark Vs sold outside of California. After 1978, the 460 was deleted from the Mark V engine lineup (as well from all Lincolns for 1979); the Mark V was the last of the Mark series available with any Ford large-block V8 engine.

As with its Mark III and Mark IV predecessors, the engines in the Mark V were paired with the 3-speed C6 automatic transmission; this would be the last Mark to use this transmission.

Engine	Displacement	Compression Ratio	Carburetor	Horsepower (SAE net)	Torque (SAE Net)	Transmission
Ford 400 Cleveland V8[8]	400 cu in (6.6 L)	8.0:1	Motorcraft 2150 2-barrel	166 hp (124 kW) @ 3800 rpm	319 ft·lbf (433 N·m) @ 1800 rpm	3-speed Ford C6 automatic
Ford 385/Lima V8[8]	460 cu in (7.5 L)	8.0:1	Motorcraft 4350 4-barrel	208 hp (155 kW) @ 4000 rpm	356 ft·lbf (483 N·m) @ 2000 rpm

The Luxury Groups - The Designer Series - The Diamond Jubilee Edition - The Collector's Series

1979 Lincoln Mark V Bill Blass Designer Edition (with full vinyl roof)

1979 Lincoln Continental Mark V Givenchy

1979 Lincoln Continental Mark V Cartier

Mark V with Luxury Group (1977-1979)

A rather successful marketing theme that began with the 1973 Mark IV, and continued in varying numbers through the end of the 1981 model year, the Mark V with Luxury Group option allowed the buyer to custom design their own Mark. The Luxury Group's "color name" was derived from the color of the interior. To start the process, the customer had to first decide on the interior trim, whether it be in cloth or leather-with-vinyl. At which point, the next step for the customer would be to choose an exterior paint color ( anywhere from as little as one, but most often from two to as many as four ) offered within the selected Luxury Group. After the exterior paint was chosen, the customer then would select their desired roof style ( painted metal, full-length vinyl, rear landau vinyl ) and then its color that was offered within that specific group ( for 1978 and 1979, a full-length Diamond grain vinyl simulated convertible "Carriage Roof" would also be an available roof style - but only in the color White ). Following the roof choice, would then be the customer's selection of the bodyside molding vinyl insert color - then to be completed by the selection of the available bodyside and decklid paint stripe color within the specified group. After all that was said and done, then the customer would make choices of wheels/wheel covers, options list, whitewall tire options, etc. The number of possible color combinations and options could border on the staggering. But in general, the Luxury Group was a rather fun 'mix-or-match" experience for the expressive Mark customer. The end result could be understated elegance to dramatically flashy, or anywhere in between.

Below is only a sampling of some of the many Luxury Group Mark Vs which were available throughout its three year production run:

• Gold-Cream (1977-1979)
• Cordovan (1977-1979)
• Light Jade-Dark Jade (1977-1978)
• Turquoise (1979)
• Midnight Blue-Cream (1977)
• Red-Rosé (1977-1979)
• Wedgewood Blue (1978-1979)
• Champagne (1979)
• White (1979)
• Majestic Velour (1977)

Mark V Designer Series Editions (1977-1979)

During its production, the Mark V was also available in special Designer Series editions. As with the 1976 Mark IV, there were four editions, which included Bill Blass, Cartier, Givenchy, and Emilio Pucci. Basically a "designer label" appearance upgrade, these models each consisted of designer-specified colors for the exterior paint, vinyl roof, bodyside moldings and striping as well as interior upholstery trim selection - and were unique to each edition and varied each year. All four Designer Series models were identified by a designer's logo decal on the trunk lid, along with the designer's signature laminated between the opera window glass - as well as a special 22-karat gold plated nameplate plaque to be mounted on the instrument panel (customer would receive this shortly after taking delivery of their new Mark V Designer Series).

Notable highlights

• For 1979, Bill Blass selected the White canvas weave vinyl Carriage Roof for a simulated convertible look for his Designer Series model that year. A White Valino grain Full Vinyl roof was also available.
• Also in 1979, for each of their models, Bill Blass, Ralph Destino from Cartier and Hubert de Givenchy selected color-keyed versions of the turbine style wheels for their versions ( first offered on the 1978 Diamond Jubilee Edition ) - as well as being standard on the Collector's Series models.
• From 1977 to 1979, Givenchy Designer Series had exclusive use of a unique front-half vinyl roof. ( in 1977 and 1978 the roof was in Chamois "Lugano" grain vinyl; and for 1979, in Dark Crystal Blue "Valino" grain vinyl ).
• The Emilio Pucci Designer Series had exclusive use of a glossy patent leather-like "Cayman" grain vinyl roof...White in 1977; Black in 1978. For 1979, Pucci selected the typical "Valino" grain for his Full Vinyl roof in Midnight Blue.

Lincoln Mark V Designer Edition Specifications[9][10]
	Bill Blass[11]	Cartier[12]	Givenchy [13]	Pucci[14]
Exterior Color	1977 Dark Midnight Blue (31) (non-metallic) 1978 Midnight Cordovan (5L) (non-metallic) 1979 White (9D) upper body over Midnight Blue Metallic (3Q) ("Moondust" paint color) (Tu-Tone)	1977 Dove Grey (1N) (non-metallic) 1978 Light Champagne (52) (non-metallic) 1979 Light Champagne (52) (non-metallic)	1977 Dark Jade Metallic (46) 1978 Midnight Jade (7V) (non-metallic) 1979 Crystal Blue Metallic (2D) ("Moondust" paint)	1977 Black Diamond Fire Metallic (1L) 1978 Light Silver Metallic (1Y) ("Moondust" paint) 1979 Medium Turquoise Metallic (4C) ("Moondust" paint)
Interior Color/Trim	1977 Chamois Leather (with Pigskin Textured Inserts) 1978 Cordovan Ultravelour Cloth Cordovan Leather (with Light Champagne leather accent straps/buttons) 1979 White Leather (with Midnight Blue accent straps/piping and components) Midnight Blue Leather (with White accent straps/buttons)	1977 Dove Grey (Leather, Majestic Velour) 1978 Champagne with Dark Red accent straps/buttons (Leather, Media Velour) 1979 Champagne with Dark Red accent straps/buttons (Leather, Media Velour)	1977 Dark Jade (Leather, Majestic Velour) 1978 Jade Leather (with Broadlace-embroidered Givenchy "G" logo) 1979 Dark Crystal Blue Leather (with Broadlace-embroidered Givenchy "G" logo	1977 White Leather (with Black component trim) 1978 Dove Grey Leather (with Dark Red accent straps/buttons and components) 1979 White Leather (with Midnight Blue accent straps/buttons and components))
Top Design	1977 Chamois Lugano Grain Landau Vinyl Roof 1978 Light Champagne Valino grain Rear Landau (YU) / Full-Vinyl (VU) 1979 White Carriage Roof - standard Diamond grain vinyl (CW) White Full Vinyl Roof - optional Valino grain vinyl (VW)	1977 Dove Grey Landau/Full Vinyl Roof 1978 Light Champagne Valino grain Rear Landau (YU) / Full-Vinyl (VU) 1979 Light Champagne Landau Vinyl Roof (YU) (with Dark Red wrapover molding with integral coach lamps)	1977 Chamois Lugano Grain (Front-half Roof) 1978 Chamois Lugano Grain (Front-half Roof) 1979 Crystal Blue Valino Grain Front-half Roof (Z7)	1977 White Cayman Grain Landau/Full Vinyl Roof 1978 Black Cayman Grain Landau/Full Vinyl Roof 1979 Midnight Blue Valino grain Full-Vinyl Roof (VQ)
Other Notes

Mark V Diamond Jubilee Edition (1978)

Lincoln Mark V Diamond Jubilee Edition

Ford Motor Company had its 75th anniversary in 1978. To commemorate this Ford and Lincoln produced two automobiles as limited editions. The 1978 Continental Mark V was one, the 1978 Ford Thunderbird was the other. Only 5,159 Diamond Jubilee Editions were produced.

The Diamond Jubilee was available in only two colors: Diamond Blue Moondust Metallic ( 38 ) and Jubilee Gold Moondust Metallic ( 66 ). Whichever color was chosen, the monochromatic color scheme was repeated throughout the car. In addition to the special clearcoat paint, the vinyl-insert bodyside moldings, vertical bars on the grille, bumper guards and rub strips, turbine-style cast aluminum wheels, hood ornament and padded vinyl deck lid kickup with matching vinyl-insert lock cover were all color-keyed. Also unique to this model ( and the '79 Collector's Series ), were bright metal moldings at the rear edges on each of the functional front fenders louvers.

Also matching the exterior color scheme, the interior featured front bucket seats with a padded center console. The console provided extra storage, and came equipped with an umbrella built into the underside of the padded armrest. The seats were upholstered in luxury cloth with a unique sew style.

Other distinctions included padded leather in high wear areas of the interior, as well as ebony wood-tone inserts on the instrument panel, door trim panels, front seat backs, and console - even the ignition and door keys held a matching ebony wood-tone insert. All Diamond Jubilee Marks were supplied with a leather bound owner's manual and tool kit. The outside edges of the opera windows were also beveled, and featured Diamond Jubilee Script and a simulated diamond chip laminated between the glass. The unique hood ornament featured crystal-like inserts within the Lincoln "star" emblem. After delivery, the customer could choose to have his or her initials monogrammed on the doors, interrupting the bodyside stripes. Most Mark V optional features were standard on this car, including the new digital LED "Miles-To-Empty" fuel gauge that calculated approximately how far the car could be driven with the remaining fuel in the tank, based on fuel level, driving speed, and fuel consumption rate.^[15]

Every new owner was given the special car keys and could request a Ford created cookbook entitled "Ford Diamond Jubilee Recipe Collection".^[16]

The 1978 Continental Mark V Diamond Jubilee Edition carries another distinction as it was, per the 1978 Lincoln brochure, the most expensive American standard-production automobile available in 1978. After the package price was added to the base Mark V, the final sticker price was approximately $22,000. Some of the select few extra-cost options available were 7.5 L 460 V8 engine, dual exhausts, power moonroof, and 40-channel CB radio.

Mark V Collector's Series (1979)

The 1979 Collector's Series Mark V had essentially the same equipment as the Diamond Jubilee Edition of 1978 and there were very few equipment options. Offered in just two colors initially, Midnight Blue Moondust Metallic ( 3Q ) and White ( 9D ) - two additional colors, Light Silver Moondust Metallic ( 1Y ) and Diamond Blue Moondust Metallic ( 38 ), started appearing at dealerships later in the year.

Midnight Blue 'Kasman II' luxury cloth bucket seats with a hand-stitched leather covered console and upper intrument panel crash pad were standard. Twin Comfort Lounge seats were also available in a choice of Midnight Blue leather or White leather ( in Luxury Group sewstyle ), at a slightly lower price - which did not include the console or a folding center rear armrest. Unique, tri-band paint stripes on the bodysides and hood, as well as gold tone "Collector's Series" script and padded vinyl wrapover band with integrated coach lamps on the rear roof quarters, gave the Collector's Series a unique luxurious appearance. Unlike other Mark V models, the Collector's Series did not include opera windows. Gold tone grille bars with gold tone "MARK V" grille badge and a unique gold and crystal-like hood ornament and a padded vinyl decklid spare tire contour with matching vinyl insert on the Continental star trunk lock cover also set it apart...as did the 18-oz color-keyed Midnight Blue trunk carpeting which lined the entire trunk - even under the deck lid!! Naturally, this model, and the above-mentioned 1978 Diamond Jubilee Edition, remain two of the most sought after examples of the many collectible late-seventies Mark Vs.

Actor Tom Selleck was featured in media advertisements for the car; this was prior to his television fame as Magnum, P.I. Being as fully optioned as the car was, naturally the retail price reflected this abundance. The Collector's Series option added approximately $8,000 to the base price of the standard Continental Mark V, bringing its base price to almost $22,000 US dollars which was about three times the cost of a regular Ford vehicle at the time.^[17] This option package was also available on the Lincoln Continental sedan which boosted the retail price of that car into the more modest but still pricey mid-$16,000 range.

References

1. "Lincoln Continental Mark V @ carfolio". Carfolio.com. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
2. http://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1977/1412000/lincoln_continental_mark_v_460-4v_with_trailer_towing_pkg_.html. Retrieved 1 March 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
3. http://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1978/1412210/lincoln_continental_mark_v_400-2v.html. Retrieved 1 March 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
4. http://www.classiccarstodayonline.com/2012/04/19/a-look-back-at-a-true-american-classic-the-1977-79-lincoln-continental-mark-v/. Retrieved 1 March 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
5. http://www.classiccarstodayonline.com/2012/04/19/a-look-back-at-a-true-american-classic-the-1977-79-lincoln-continental-mark-v/. Retrieved 1 March 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
6. Murilee Martin. "Cartier Cheapens Brand For Eternity With 70s Lincoln Editions".
7. "Image: 17.jpg, (1045 × 1134 px)". lov2xlr8.no. 9 October 2008. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
8. "1977 Continental Mark V Production/Specifications". Automotivemileposts.com. 1976-10-01. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
9. "Interior Trim 1977 Continental Mark V". Retrieved 2 March 2014.
10. "Interior Trim 1978 Continental Mark V". Retrieved 2 March 2014.
11. "1979 Continental Mark V Bill Blass Designer Edition". Retrieved 2 March 2014.
12. "1979 Continental Mark V Cartier Designer Edition". Retrieved 2 March 2014.
13. "1979 Continental Mark V Givenchy Designer Edition". Retrieved 2 March 2014.
14. "1979 Continental Mark V Pucci Designer Edition". Retrieved 2 March 2014.
15. "1978 Continental Mark V Diamond Jubilee Edition". Automotivemileposts.com. 1977-10-07. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
16. "Diamond Jubilee Cookbook". Lincolnmarkv.com. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
17. "1979 Lincoln Continental Mark V Collector's Series". Automotivemileposts.com. 1979-06-08. Retrieved 31 December 2011.

External links

• Mark V Resource Site