Faults:

Front spindle bearing.

Transmission slippage.

General Comments:

This car was the top of the line as far as ride, comfort and styling for the era.

It was silver with a silver vinyl top and a burgundy corduroy interior. Interior seating was comparable to sitting on a sofa in your living room, and the acceleration for a 5000 lb. car was impressive.

I had a guest visiting from Austria, and I had to drive him to Stamford CT. When we got onto the New England Thruway - his comments were that the car was the size of a small house with the acceleration of a jetliner on takeoff.

At one time we were able to seat 8 adults comfortably in the car on a short trip.

Faults:

A/C clutch was bad when I bought it.

Window switches are a bit loose.

Other than that, everything looks good.

General Comments:

I wasn't particularly looking for a Mark IV, but this car was too good to pass up. White with black top and white leather.

This car is unlike any other when it comes to style and design. On the highway it's just as quiet as my Lexus LS400 I recently sold. Power is just enough to get it going, and it feels fine on the highway with enough left to pass other cars.

AS a vehicle it makes no sense at all. For such a huge car, the interior is a bit small, and trunk space is not the biggest either, but who cares?

I also own a Mark VII and owned a Mark VIII at some point. Driving this car is just such a breeze. I enjoy being the only one on the road in such a unique car. Sadly, most people drive cars that all look the same and have no character, but their loss is my gain.

Faults:

When I bought the car, the brakes were rusted from lack of use (the car had been in storage the last nine years) and needed a full overhaul, including master cylinder.

The transmission oil pan seal leaked and was replaced.

The vehicle also needed fresh shocks.

Other than these repairs and a full fluid flush, the car was in excellent condition mechanically.

General Comments:

I've wanted a Mark IV ever since I was a child and saw these magnificent vehicles cruising the streets of New York.

A few months ago, I located a '72 in our area and decided to take the plunge and purchase it. The car was in outstanding cosmetic condition, with a professional repaint and new vinyl top, and the mileage was very low for the model year.

This car just glides silently along the highway at high speeds and is a joy to drive. Yes, the steering has too much play and the brakes are not up to modern standards, but there is simply no vehicle today that can give the experience of driving a Mark IV.

What impresses me most about the vehicle is the fit-and-finish; the panels gaps are tight and uniform, the interior is made of very high-quality materials, and the whole car exudes quality and care of assembly.

I've been a long-time Cadillac fan and own a '72 Eldorado Convertible, but I have to admit that the Mark IV's fit-and-finish is superior to that of the Cadi. This fact and the styling is probably why the Mark IV and V consistently outsold Cadillac's "personal car" throughout most of the '70's.