31,404 original miles. Beautiful Wedgewood Blue with matching cloth interior. Loaded with options, everything works, extensive recent service. Invisible upgraded Bluetooth stereo. Fantastic luxury that has been loved since day one!

This beautiful 1979 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 31,404 original miles. Perhaps it’s because these cars were usually 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 decades ago. Wedgewood Blue 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 down south, 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 factory pinstripe accentuates the car’s length and even the plastic bumper fillers are in outstanding condition. Quite honestly, you won’t find many 45-year-old cars that look better than this.

The sumptuous blue cloth interior was the best you could get in 1979, 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 upholstery is in excellent order, showing only the most minor signs of use that are well within expectations for age and mileage, very plush carpets that are protected by a set of matching carpeted mats, and perhaps most surprisingly, a dash pad that hasn’t been cooked by the sun. The door panels are also original and in great shape with none of the usual cracking that often happens on these cars. There’s plenty of faux wood on the dash, door panels, and steering wheel, which warms up the otherwise monochromatic interior, and no worries about the steering wheel—it’s in great shape under the leather wrap. 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 works thanks to a recent service—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. A powerful Bluetooth stereo has been installed, including upgraded speakers and a hidden subwoofer in the spare tire in the trunk, and it’s all controlled from an app on your phone so the original radio remains in the dash for an authentic look. 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 only engine in the 1979 Mark V was a 400 cubic inch V8 with a 2-barrel carburetor—not impressive for horsepower but just effortless in everything it does, impossibly smooth, and with impeccable manners. It’s the ideal powerplant for a ‘70s land yacht. With just 31,000 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 the carburetor 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, complete with most of the original decals on the valve covers. 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. 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 2.47 gears inside, which is part of why this car is such a tremendous highway cruiser. The exhaust system is recent so 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 whitewall radials that were custom made to emulate the unique Goodyear Polysteel Radials originally on the car.

This car also includes books, manuals, and some marketing materials for the 1979 Mark V, as well as receipts for much of the recent work.

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!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.