Lincoln : Mark Series Cartier Designer Edition

1978

Lincoln   

Mark V Coupe

Cartier Designers Edition

VIN: 8Y89A810655

So. where else are you buying your clean. lower-mileage. collectable Lincolns anyway?  Reluctantly. this car was turned over to us a few days ago after having had only two owners from new.   Based on over-all condition it's apparent this Mark V has been lovingly cared for its entire life.   The odometer now reads 13. 65 and. based on the owner's history recitation. nbsp;repair receipts and the car's condition. has turned over only once.   Think about it. this boulevard cruiser appears to have averaged only 3. 50 miles per year since new!   Along with the title. I'll be forwarding the original factory build sheet & owner's manual to the car's next caretaker.   I also will include a $3. 00 receipt from Olympic Lincoln-Mercury (formerly here in North Seattle) showing the engine was rebuilt at 80. 00 miles.   As always. please contact me at (206)914-1173 with questions or to discuss a sale. My name is Mark Thompson.

If you follow my Ebay auctions regularly you know I've been able to offer many clean. unique Lincolns here over the past decade.   We've sold all four versions of the Mark V Designer Coupe and a few very sharp Mark III & IV's as well.  Finding a well-kept “Cartier” Designer Edition with the tan leather interior is a real treat!  The original owner purchased the car new here in Seattle. Washington during the fall of 1977 and both he and the second owner (who purchased in 1989) kept the Lincoln local to this area.

For those not familiar with the special Designer Mark V series here's a little background info gleaned from several sources:

The final opportunity to purchase a full-sized American luxury car came in 1977 with the introduction of the Mark V.   Never again would automobiles be so large. or demonstrate such a sheer presence based on size alone.  For many years Lincoln had trailed Cadillac in sales. but during the sixties and seventies Lincoln finally established a look it could claim as its own. and had finally started to challenge the Cadillac for the top spot.  In fact. the Mark series often outsold its Cadillac competitor. the Eldorado.

Since Cadillac had down-sized its sedans in 1977 and the Eldorado for 1979. the Lincoln Continentals were the final full-sized. full-fledged American luxury cars.   To commemorate this milepost. Lincoln introduced the Special Designer Series cars.  Available in models commissioned by the fashion houses of Givenchy. Bill Blass. Cartier and Emilio Pucci each had its own unique paint color. leather and fabric options found only on their edition.  Lincoln had put its customers on notice that this would be their last opportunity. and they'd best not put it off for long if they wanted a new traditional luxury car.

The 1977 - 79 Mark V Series was Lincoln's supreme achievement. the pinnacle of American luxury car design that has its roots buried in the age when bigger was better. style was based on grand visions. and a powerful engine under the hood provided status and became part of the American dream. Automotive styles and visions may change with time. but excellence. quality. and standards don't. With a lineage that goes back to the original 1939 Lincoln Continental. the Mark V was a dream car that was also a reality. The highest expression of luxury and it always will be!

CONDITION

Ever spent an afternoon driving a classy. vintage Lincoln? What a treat!  Smooth is the word for sure.   Smooth powerful acceleration.   Smooth handling in the curves or on the highway.   Comfort. styling. and versatility all in one gorgeous ride.   For my money. these Mark V Coupes are the best values for the overall driving experience that Lincoln had to offer.   Look over my photos and I'm sure you'll agree what a find this is.   What you're viewing is the result of a wash and vacuum only!  “Time capsule” is a good adjective to use when describing this car.   I know you'll admire its overall provenance.   All the glass is fine; no chips or cracks.   The exterior appears to have had one quality repaint to the original factory color.   Climb over. under and throughout. though - I know you'll come up smiling!  You're NOT going to find body rust where it typically appears on cars from other parts of the country.   Yes. the Puget Sound area is famous for rain. but our winter roads are rarely salted.   We only have one or two days of light snow each year.   Everyone panics and just stays home.   The padded vinyl landau top is absolutely perfect; probably the nicest original. factory-installed landau I've encountered on the 30+ Lincolns we've sold here on Ebay!  Because the car has always been garaged. it hasn't faded over time and there is NO shrinkage or UV-induced “tiger-claw” shredding or cracks that you'll often find on other Mark V's.

My interior photos clearly show the great original leather upholstery front and back.   I'm quite impressed with the condition of the dash gauges. too.   They are as clear and bright as the day this rig left the Wixom plant on a September afternoon over 36 years ago!  The ashtray's never seen a cigarette!  The carpets are clean and original.   They've always been protected by the factory floor mats and I'll be sure to include them when shipping to the next owner  The headliner is just about perfect and the Cartier dash clock still keeps accurate time!  Though I've only found a few things. I always try to point out negatives as well.   I'd plan on having the AC system serviced as it does not blow cold now.   Will you ever really need it?  Just open the extra-large power moonroof and you'll have all the cool air you can handle!  Looks like the original Ford radio was replaced with a Pioneer AM-FM cassette player back in the ‘80's that still works fine.   The miles-to-empty gauge doesn't light and it sounds like a piece of paper has slipped down onto the squirrel cage heater fan. almost like when you clothes-pinned a playing card to vibrate off the spokes of your bike when you were a kid!

  
Mechanically the car appears quite strong.   Even after sitting in my warehouse for a few days at a time it has never failed to start right up at about the first few cranks.   You just can't beat the great 460 CID motors in these late-70's coupes!  Pump the gas a few times. turn the key and it starts instantly. even when cold.   The C-6 automatic three-speed transmission shifts great and we all know how good these Ford/Lincoln rear ends are!   The brakes feel just fine to me. too.   All four factory turbine-style alloy wheels are straight & true with new P235/75R15 Eldorado Legend Touring radials.  I've now added a few hundred miles to the car cruising the freeway over the past week and can't find fault with the way this Lincoln runs or drives out.

I have no problem encouraging bidders to do what many of our previous buyers from as far away as Alaska. California. the east coast. Canada and even the Mexican Baja have done – fly in here to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport just a few miles from my vehicle storage warehouse.   I'm happy to pick you up and you can begin the drive home the same day!

TERMS OF SALE:

Please check the photos over closely and call me with any questions BEFORE you place a bid!  Come by my Auburn. WA warehouse and drive the Lincoln if you're in the area.   DEALERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO BID AS WELL!  Additionally. I reserve the right to end the auction early if the car is no longer for sale or an acceptable offer has been agreed upon.  

Please BID WITH CONFIDENCE and know that you are purchasing a nice vehicle from a respected Ebay seller.   I want you to be happy with your purchase (and with me) and that's the main goal!   Please don't be upset if I miss some flaws or you are required to spend a small amount on an unforeseen problem!  No used car is ever perfect.   While it is being sold AS-IS. I have every reason to feel this vehicle is ready to be driven cross-country tomorrow.   

A nonrefundable $500 deposit is due within 48 hours of the auction's conclusion with the balance to be paid within seven business days unless prior arrangements have been made with me.   I can accept PAYPAL. but if you plan to pay any more than the deposit through them I'll first need to invoice you and ask that you cover the 3. 5% fee PayPal charges.   Please remember you are bidding to buy and I fully expect the winning bidder to fulfill their Ebay contract!  You're not bidding to hold or then come inspect and test-drive the vehicle later -- You're more than welcome to do this before the auction ends.

SHIPPING THE CAR:

If you decide to have the Lincoln transported I'd suggest getting a quote from Dependable Auto Shippers (DAS).   They're the biggest in the business and are partnered with Ebay.   Call my designated rep. Janice. directly at (469)587-5096 and give her my affiliate number (2362642).   She'll pull up all our information for a station-to-station or even door-to-door quote.   Alternatively. you may also want to get shipping bids from the U-ship. com website.   You'll be able to choose a transport broker from multiple offers.   The zip code for pick-up on my end is 98002 (Auburn. WA).   As always. the transport of the car and company chosen are the responsibility of the BUYER and I'll be happy to work with whoever you go with.   You may keep the Lincoln stored at my warehouse for up to two weeks after the auction closes assuming full payment has been received.   After this period I charge $20/day storage.

Also published at eBay.ca

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