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No Reserve - Stunning Diamond Jubilee, Texas Lincoln, Not Cadillac Coupe Deville on 2040-cars

Year:1978 Mileage:108224
Location:

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Rare 1978 Lincoln Mark V Diamond Jubilee Edition With NO RESERVE

400 V8, 108k original miles, Texas car. Rare Diamond Jubilee with Diamond Blue Moondust Metallic paint and Diamond Blue Landau Half-Vinyl Roof with matching padded trunk lid and Wedgewood Blue Luxury Broadlace interior. Priced at $20,529, the Diamond Jubilee Edition Mark V's were the most luxurious and expensive to date by Lincoln in a production car. Options include silver/blue tinted glass power moonroof with sliding shade, color matched aluminum "turbine" wheels, color matched body trim, quarter windows that lower and raise before side windows, "Opera Lamps" on the side pillars accenting the oval opera window (looks great at night) and a simulated diamond chip over the letter "I" of "Diamond Jubilee" in the glass of the opera windows. Other premium options included digital "miles to empty" readout, tilt steering wheel, remote trunk release and auto lamp/auto dimming headlights. According to the production numbers, only 1511 Diamond Jubilees were built with the huge "Astro-Roof" power glass moonroof, which was the most expensive option at an additional $1,027. Of those 1511 built it's anybody's guess how many are still on the road, especially in this condition. Here's a page dedicated to the 1978 "Blue Moondust" Diamond Jubilee:

http://automotivemileposts.com/mark51978diamondjubilee.html

This page lists the options and corresponding pricing of the huge list of luxury features:

http://automotivemileposts.com/mark51978optionalequipment.html

Wikipedia page briefly detailing the history and interesting facts about the 1978 Diamond Jubilee:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Continental_Mark_V#1978_.22Diamond_Jubilee_Edition.22

Mechanical: The previous owner bought the Lincoln in 1980 and obsessively maintained it, anything that needed attention has always been addressed; he replaced, refurbished and rebuilt almost everything. I thought I knew these cars; compared to him I was in Lincoln grade school. I don't use the word "restored" because people use the word differently, especially in reference to 70's era luxury cruisers. I would personally call this a restored car considering its present condition and the extensive mechanical and cosmetic restoration the car has had over time. He rebuilt the engine; it did not require a rebuild, he just loved the car and figured that at 99k and 30+ years it was due for a rebuild, the engine now has under 10k on it. The engine compartment was repainted and detailed when the engine was out. Over the last five years the car got a full exhaust system from the engine back including resonator (it's nice and quiet), new disc brake pads all around as well as front rotors, new alternator, new front end parts including ball joints, bushings and front and rear shocks as well as a set of new tires. The a/c has not been retrofitted to modern freon, compressor turns on and system blows cool but could use a charge of R12 if available or a retrofit to modern freon. All the amenities work, the AM/FM stereo and power antenna, the cruise control, the windows (small power vent and main) are quick, power seats work in all directions and the headlight doors open and close properly. The power moonroof and sliding shade work perfectly, no leaks in car washes or heavy rain. The engine starts easily even after sitting for weeks and the garage floor is always dry when I pull the car out. She cruises nicely on the highway, shifts smoothly, four wheel discs stop the car quickly, she idles evenly and the suspension is silky smooth over the roughest roads. The Mark V's are unique in that they have the cushy, luxurious ride yet still handle well for their size. When I drive my friend's '77 Coupe Deville I'm amazed at the difference, curves that the Lincoln takes in stride require slowing down in the Caddy. On the highway she'll get 13-15 MPG, pretty good for a 70's luxury cruiser. The directional/brake/turn signal/headlights/brights work properly, as well as the wipers and horn.

Cosmetics: The interior is overall in excellent condition. The Texas sun had begun to dry the top of the back seat where it meets the rear deck and the seams were opening up. The front and rear seats were reupholstered and repadded with the correct NOS material, "Wedgewood Blue Luxury Broadlace". The material and padding on the door panels and rear panels were redone at the same time. The dash display, padded dashboard, headliner and visors are in excellent condition. About twelve years ago the Lincoln got a high quality, perfectly color matched paint job and new vinyl and padding on the roof and trunk lid as well, using the correct "Diamond Blue" color and grain. He was so meticulous he had the body shop re-do the pinstriping after the car was painted. It didn't look right to him so he checked the factory specs and photos; the length and style on the fenders and hood were wrong (it's extra fancy on the Jubilee model). The stripes are painted on with two separate colors, they are now factory-correct. The Lincoln got the "Ziebart" rustproofing treatment when new, you can see the fill button in the shot of the door jamb. Every classic car I've had that got the Ziebart treatment has been totally rust free, including ones from the Northeast. The undercarriage is perfectly clean, it literally looks like new. The carpet was replaced when the car was painted in the correct color and pile. The Lincoln has never had any kind of body repair and the chrome and trim work are in great shape as seen in the photos. I've had several Mark V's and this by far gets the most attention, she's breathtaking in person. At cruise nights I get endless questions and requests for photos, she's always the only Mark V. I had over a hundred photos documenting the restoration work done over the years on my old Dell laptop which had a hard drive failure. They were really cool to look through, especially the shots of the engine being rebuilt and the car being sanded down and painted. The Lincoln has spent most of its life in Texas; I've never taken it out in the winter, it's been in New York just over two years. This car is one of those classics that's obviously always been a "Garage Queen". 

I'm selling the Lincoln due to financial circumstances as you can see from the lack of a reserve price. I'm a big fan of the Mark V's and the Diamond Jubilee is the finest example of this stylish, incredibly well built car. This Mark V is easily the best driving classic car I've owned. When the windows and moonroof are closed it's whisper quiet inside; many times I've looked down to see I'm doing 85-90 and had no idea I was going that fast. She holds the road perfectly on the highway, no drifting, no rattles or noises from anywhere. I got pulled over once for doing 78 in a 55 (again, thinking I was around the speed limit because she's so quiet), the Officer actually let me go with a warning because he liked the car!

I reserve the right to end the auction early as the Mark V is for sale locally and I'm open to reasonable buy it now offers as well. I can assist with shipping in the USA or internationally if necessary, cost of shipping to paid by buyer. I can recommend a good door to door auto shipper if you need one.
  Once again, this is a NO RESERVE auction, good luck!

Rare classic Lincoln which is as much a pleasure to drive as she is to look at. Any questions feel free to email or call 914-224-3230

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Ed Welburn leaves a lasting legacy at GM design

Sat, Apr 9 2016

General Motors design chief Ed Welburn retired July 1, and the soft-spoken stylist is leaving a lasting legacy at the automaker and on the industry. He became the first African American to lead design at a carmaker when he took over GM's top spot in 2003. Just six people have overseen the company's design, and Welburn followed in the footsteps of icons like Harley Earl and Bill Mitchell. When Welburn was given expanded global oversight in 2005, it wasn't ceremonial. He helped unite the company's sprawling design empire, and today is in charge of 2,500 people who have a hand in designing GM cars. "He nurtured a creative, inclusive, and customer-focused culture among our designers that has strengthened our global brands," Mary Barra, GM chairman and CEO, said in a statement." Welburn took the helm when GM and the industry were shaking off a general styling malaise that pervaded the 1980s and 1990s. During his 13 years in charge, he took risks, produced a wide range of styles for everything from hybrids to sports cars to big trucks, and leaves GM design in a better place. Welburn's replacement, Michael Simcoe from GM's international design unit, has big shoes to fill. News & Analysis News: Tesla attracted more than 325,000 preorders of the Model 3 in about a week. Analysis: If anything, the Model 3 is more popular than many expected. Elon Musk tweeted that surprising figure on Thursday, and he said just five percent ordered the maximum number of two. That seems to indicate actual owners rather than speculators are fueling the demand. With a starting price of $35,000 before incentives and an electric range of 215 miles, the Model 3 is the Tesla that's attainable for a lot of people. Clearly, that notion is resonating. News: Lincoln has drawn 40,000 hand-raisers for the Continental. Analysis: Okay, that's not a Tesla figure, but it's still an encouraging sign for Lincoln that one of its most famous and historic names still resonates in 2016. It also demonstrates using a real, albeit slightly dusty name, was the right call for the MKS replacement. "No other Lincoln vehicle has generated this much interest in this little time," Lincoln president Kumar Galhotra said in New York last month. The concept that debuted a year ago put Lincoln back on the map, and the production version remains true to that promise. It will stand out on the road when it arrives this fall, and ultimately, that kind of style will determine Lincoln's future.

Landau yachts: The history of Lincoln's Designer Series

Sun, Feb 6 2022

The Lincoln Designer Series was introduced in 1976, at the end of the imposing Mark IV Continental generation. Four big-name fashion designers of the era – all-American country clubber Bill Blass, psychedelic Italian pattern-maestro Emilio Pucci, venerable French jewelry-maker Cartier, and a la mode French fashionista Hubert de Givenchy – were asked to slather their elegance on LincolnÂ’s personal luxury coupe. This experiment was a wild success. According to documents uncovered in the Lincoln archives – with the incomparable guidance of official brand historian Ted Ryan – the Designer series “accounted for more than 27% of Mark IV sales” shortly after its introduction. It was such a runaway hit, that it continued on throughout the even larger Mark V generation (incidentally, the longest coupe ever produced by Ford Motor Company), and didnÂ’t really peter out on these big two-doors until the early 1990s.   But the true history of the series well predates the era of opera windows, crushed velour and wire wheel covers. “If you take a step back even further, when Ford purchased Lincoln in 1922, Edsel Ford was put in charge of the company. But more than that, he helped establish the first design studio at Ford,” said Ryan. The basic Model T didnÂ’t take much design. Lincoln was different. Edsel is famed for his quote. “Father wanted to make the most popular car, I wanted to make the best.” The specific genesis of the Designer Series, however, came along as a result of a long-term personal connection with the marqueÂ’s first chairman. “Edsel Ford had a relationship with Cartier, and correspondence going throughout the 1920s and '30s,” Ryan said. “His personal cards and stationery were always ordered from Cartier.” This enduring link wasnÂ’t formalized until the late 1960s. “I found in product development files, in 1967, that Ford had gone to Cartier for a special 1970 Cartier Continental coupe,” Ryan said. According to internal documents, this package would include unique interior leather/cloth/vinyl surfaces and trim, modified dials, and a Cartier jewelry box, as well as golden plating on the steering wheel ornament, dial face ornaments, keys, C-pillar ornaments, door monograms, and dashboard plaque. “Think of that. A car that never was, that could have been,” Ryan said, wistfully. Some Cartier magic did get glossed on Lincolns in the late 1960s.

Lincoln MKC prototype spied out testing

Wed, 20 Mar 2013

As was the case with the Lincoln MKZ, it appears that Lincoln isn't wasting any time getting its newest model transformed from concept to production form. We just saw the MKC Concept earlier this year at the Detroit Auto Show, and based on these spy shots, it looks like the final touches are being put in place for the 2014 Lincoln MKC crossover.
Sharing its platform with the Ford Escape, we can definitely see some similarities between these two compact crossovers when it comes to the roofline and daylight opening, but through the heavy camouflage, Lincoln's signature split-wing grille can easily be seen and it looks like the concept's taillights will also make it to reality. On the disappointing side, it looks like the integrated exhaust outlets are being ditched for some round outlets, and we can't tell if the production version will keep the Audi-like clamshell rear liftgate.