30th May 2010, 06:53

Yeah, just a question on the Lincoln 2-doors, as I don't live in the states & am researching them online with a view to buying one in the future.

Am I correct in saying that the "Marks" have the opera window and the rounded "spare wheel" trunk lids with continental lettering following the curve, while there are also 2-door versions of the sedan (possibly on the longer wheelbase) that have a square rear window & a straight trunk lid with the sedan's rear lights, trim & bumper?

8th Jun 2010, 07:35

To the most recent commenter, you are correct. The car you are talking about is a Town Coupe. It is essentially a Town Car that has only two doors, they are kinda rare today, but they do exist. (By rare, I mean I don't see very many around here in southern Louisiana.)

25th Oct 2011, 21:36

Lincoln made 3 different models for 72:

Continental Mark IV - as described, these were long, low and lean 2 doors with 460 ci engines, and were the alternative to the Eldorado. The "Continental Kit" described in previous comments (humped trunk lid with lettering) was standard issue on this model. Mark IV's for 72 came in a few different designer packages I believe as well. One I know for sure was the "Cartier Edition" (I know, I owned one... sweet ride), but there may have been a "Bill Blass Edition" as well... but I could easily be mistaken. Also, the opera windows described were standard issue on the Mark IV as well. I know mine had some fancy lettering or design on them, and they lit up inside when a switch was flipped in the back seat.

Town Car - square / boxy four door version that would seat 8 comfortably (and could fit 10 more in the trunk on Drive-In night) and also came equipped with a 460 ci engine. The Continental kit was optional on this model (few had it), but I think opera windows were standard issue. Amazingly, I believe the hood is as long as the passenger compartment, which is as long as the trunk lid. Get a tape measure, check it out ;-)

Town Coupe - two door version of the Town Car, again equipped with a 460 ci engine with the same details and amenities as the larger Town Car. I owned a 1978 Town Coupe once, and if memory serves me, this model / year was the longest (over-all length) and heaviest curb weight standard production vehicle ever built. This thing was like the Queen Mary!! An amazing car, wish I would have kept both the 72 and the 78.

Hope this helps :-)

26th Oct 2011, 12:46

You are only half correct on the Marks for 72. There were no designer series yet (Bill Blass or Cartier); those didn't show up until 76. And the 72 was the only year that opera (oval windows in the c-panel) were actually an option. My midnight blue 72 Mark IV actually did NOT have opera windows from the factory. They did however have luxury group options with the 72's, but they were special color combinations, and the options that they had were nothing you couldn't get in a regular Mark IV.

26th Oct 2011, 15:45

The '78 Continental was a large car, however the longest production car would be the '76 Cadillac Fleetwood at 233 plus inches.

28th Oct 2011, 09:37

When brand new, these were real head turners. I had a friend in college, no less, that received a brand new 73, all silver. He traded in a nice 71 citrus 4 speed Z28 for it. I would have loved to have owned either. It was a beautiful car.

Another friend of mine, also in Delaware, bought the new Thunderbird version; a cranberry color with white vinyl top and white interior. And it too was very sharp. It wasn't a Mark IV, but was every bit as good looking in 73.

24th Feb 2015, 01:48

Google (for one example) how much environmental damage is done to create ONE Prius (also, gotta love those early brakes whose computer gets confused on bumpy roads - default is no brakes!). Please think again before making comments like these.

12th Jul 2015, 15:33

It is less wasteful to save a car from the scrapyard. Building new cars is energy intensive. This is a quality American made car and a collectible.

22nd Jul 2015, 03:59

It takes fewer resources to continue running a Lincoln from the 70s than to build a new Prius, not to mention no monthly payment, cheaper insurance, and far easier to service than a Prius, and with way more personality.

Also, believe it or not, the 460 was a pretty clean running engine for its time. My 800$ Mark IV passed emissions for the last time in the 90s with flying colors. People brag about saving SO much money on gas with their new cars, all the while making 300$+ monthly payments, and then have the gall to tell me my car costs too much on gas... oy vey!

22nd Jul 2015, 13:46

So the Prius guy making payments could likely pay for a car like yours in 2 months. That should easily cover gas. A lot of people buy these little cars and commute over an hour to work. Then have a ton of miles on them, which depreciates the car heavily at the next trade in. Being a slave to a car payment isn't fun.

1st Oct 2016, 17:42

I own 4 1976 Continental Mark IVs. They're once in a while cars. They are not daily drivers. I bought them because I love the way they look, and my husband and I enjoy working on them. They are rolling works of art, and they will never build cars like this again. Just like they don't build Duesenbergs any more. But it is sure nice and a lot of fun learning & looking at vintage and antique automobiles when a designer's mind and hand created the beautiful car of the past. Not a computer. The cars of the past put a huge smile on my face every time I see one. Take me to a time and place long past. Save all those beautiful cars from years ago. Restore them and love them.

9th Oct 2016, 16:36

Me too, I always have my eye out for a classic. I especially love the big cars from the 70s and 80s! Unfortunately they are getting few and far between. It is really sad to me that none of the American manufacturers produce a true full-size American car anymore. It is getting more and more seldom that you even see a large car from the 90s or early 2000s these days. I truly hate all the modern plastic cookie cutter cars. Where did Detroit ever go so wrong??

2nd Aug 2023, 19:16

I couldn't agree more... I love the Detroit steel gas guzzlers from the 70s!

I drive a 1968 Electra Coupe with a factory delete vinyl top with 40K miles and a 1973 MKIV with 53K miles.

The only parts that I have not been able to find in a good condition, un-cracked are the door panels from the armrests down...

Great cars...