Lincoln Continental Mark IV

src: upload.wikimedia.org

The Continental Mark IV is a two-door personal luxury coupe that was sold and marketed by the Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company from the 1972 to 1976 model years. Following the success of the Continental Mark III, Lincoln renewed the model line to again compete against the Cadillac Eldorado.

Sharing the underpinnings and much of the roofline with the redesigned Ford Thunderbird for 1972, the Mark IV was given distinct body styling from the windows down. In addition, the Mark was distinguished by hidden headlights and the "Continental spare tire" trunklid.

All Continental Mark IVs were assembled at the Wixom Assembly Plant in Wixom, Michigan, alongside the standard Lincoln Continental and the Ford Thunderbird. For 1977, the Mark IV underwent a substantial exterior styling revision and was replaced by the Continental Mark V.

Video Lincoln Continental Mark IV

Design

Following the successful redesign of the Lincoln Continental for the 1970 model year, Ford Motor Company chose an evolutionary design path for the successor of the Continental Mark III. With designers again using sharp-edged fenders, hidden headlamps, and a tall radiator-style grille, the Continental Mark IV retained the traditional "long-hood, short deck" coupe proportions of the Mark III along with its "Continental spare tire" decklid. The spare tire was actually stored on a ledge in the trunk on top of the gas tank, immediately behind the rear seat.

In a cost cutting move, however, Ford Motor Company forced the Mark IV to increase parts commonailty with the Ford Thunderbird; while the roofline, doors, and inner body panels were shared, the Mark IV and Thunderbird still were given different outer body panels below the roofline and different interiors. In a major break from American luxury car tradition, the rear wheel openings of the Mark IV were designed at the same height as the front wheels (similar to the 1966-1970 Oldsmobile Toronado); its large fender flares precluded the use of fender skirts.

In 1973, the front bodywork underwent a major redesign, necessitated by the addition of 5 mph bumpers; in various forms, the front body style would be seen on Continentals and Lincolns until 1989. For 1974, a 5 mph bumper was added to the rear body work, moving the taillights from the bumper into the rear bodywork.

All Mark IVs were equipped with a vinyl roof. The Mark IV introduced the opera window to the Mark series, a feature that would be featured in the Mark through the discontinuation of the Mark VI after 1983. For 1972, it was an almost universally specified option, becoming standard for 1973.

Maps Lincoln Continental Mark IV

Mechanical specification

All Mark IVs were equipped with the 460 cu in (7.5 L)-4V Ford 385 series V8 engine, which is a 2 valve engine. "4V" stands for 4 venturi and adresses the capacity of the Autolite carburetor. All 1972 Mark IVs were rated at 365 bhp gross, the engine being a direct carry-over from the previous Mark III. In 1973 compression-ratio was lowered considerably due to new changing EPA requirements, and Ford adopted a new SAE method of measuring horsepower, resulting in 212 SAE net hp (158 kW). The performance-gap between the 1972 and its later-year brethren was significant. All model years drove through a C6 three-speed automatic transmission.

A feature retained from the Mark III was "Sure-track" brakes, making the Mark IV one of the first American cars to become equipped with anti-lock brakes. Both front seats were power adjustable.

Performance was not competitive with contemporary premium personal luxury cars. However, no other "personal luxury" models were six-passenger vehicles, except the Cadillac Eldorado.

Collectible Classic: 1972-1976 Lincoln Continental Mark IV

src: st.automobilemag.com

Designer editions

For 1976, to attract further interest to the model line, the Mark IV debuted four "Designer Series" special-edition option packages. Intentionally for appearance purposes, each version of the Designer Series was developed through the consultation of notable fashion designers of the time (Bill Blass, Cartier, Givenchy, and Pucci), with each edition featuring a coordinated exterior and interior color, with specific trim and interior fabrics. In addition, the opera window was fitted with the signature of the corresponding designer, a 22-karat gold-plated plated instrument panel plaque (which could be engraved with the name of the original owner).

Preceding the Designer Series, the Mark III offered a Cartier-branded dashboard clock as an option. Though the Mark IV was in its final year, the Designer Series proved successful and was retained for the Mark V, Mark VI, and Mark VII, with Lincoln adapting the Cartier brand for a flagship trim level of the Lincoln Town Car from 1982 to 2003. While no longer associated with fashion designers, the Lincoln Black Label series (introduced in 2017) is a close revival of the Designer Series, with a specially coordinated exterior and interior design theme.