71,000 original miles. Three owners with known ownership history. California car. One of only 304 white/white Collector Series Mark Vs built. Nicely documented. These are growing in popularity so grab a good one now!
Perhaps Lincoln was a little prescient when they called the last of the Mark Vs a “Collector Series” because these are some of the most popular ‘70s luxury cars on the market today. The angular styling has aged rather well and there will never again be land yachts like this roaming America’s highways. Almost 18 feet of 2-door coupe, which seems ridiculous to us today, was the ultimate evidence that you had well and truly arrived in 1979. Code 9D White was the second most popular color after Midnight Blue, and it looks great on the crisply folded Mark V sheetmetal. Having been ordered new in California explains the color choice and a lifetime out of the elements is reflected in the excellent condition of both the paint and the bodywork underneath. No harsh winters on this car, although the second owner was in Minnesota and the third here in Ohio. It was obviously treated as something special by its owners and it shows. There’s a nice gloss to the paint that is just right for a car approaching its 45th birthday and details like the padded roof and weather seals remain in excellent shape. There’s also plenty of bright chrome that shines up nicely and the lenses (including those ornate front parking lights) are unchecked and clear. You’ll note that in addition to being a Collector Series, this car also has optional gold trim, including the grille, bumper and side moldings, and wheel accents.
What makes this car a bit more unusual is the white leather interior—most of the white cars received blue or burgundy upholstery. We like the dark blue accents and the upholstery really is in great shape with no splits or tears and only minor creasing on the seating surfaces. The deep pile carpets are pure 1970s funky but suit the Mark V just fine. You’ll also note that the door panels are in fine condition with no major cracking on the armrest, which is always the first place to show issues. This car came loaded with accessories and options, including A/C, power locks, seats, and windows, remote mirrors with a driver’s side thermometer (a $28 option!), cruise control, tilt steering column, a trip computer, and a decent-sounding AM/FM/8-track stereo systeml. Nice! The back seat is spacious and looks hardly used and the headliner is taut and unmarked. In back, there’s a beautifully upholstered trunk (even the lid is carpeted) with matching dark blue carpets as well as a full-sized spare tire and jack assembly.
The only engine available in 1979 was a 400 cubic inch V8 with a 2-barrel carburetor. It isn’t a powerhouse, but it makes smooth, quiet torque that suits the Mark V’s luxury mission just fine. It also makes for a fine highway cruiser, because once it’s up to speed, it’ll stay there until the tank is empty. The engine bay is very original and quite clean, with factory markings, decals, and hardware still visible throughout. It has been properly maintained and runs beautifully, with easy starts, a nice idle, and a purring V8 soundtrack from what appears to be the original exhaust system. The bright aluminum and galvanized bits under the hood are more evidence that this car has never seen winter weather and you’ll note that the A/C has been converted to R134a refrigerant for easy service in the future. The C6 3-speed automatic transmission offers almost imperceptible shifts and is incredibly durable, so this car should be able to be enjoyed for years to come. There’s also a big disc brake at all four corners and 2.73 gears in the rear end make it the superb highway cruiser that it is. Note that the floors and rockers are in excellent condition with no rot and as I mentioned, we believe that’s the original exhaust system which still sounds smooth and quiet. Factory alloy wheels are in excellent shape with no curb rash and carry 235/75/15 whitewall radials.
Documentation is excellent, including the original owner’s manual and folder, original OwnerCard, window sticker, Marti Report, ownership history, and more.
In terms of sheer sheetmetal-per-dollar, the Mark V is hard to beat. But that undersells the car, because these are really fine road cars that recall an era that we’ll never see again. If you were there, you get it, and if you want to see what it was really like to be a captain of industry at the helm of your own land yacht, this Mark V is a fantastic choice. Call today!
Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.