1978 Lincoln Continental

1978 Lincoln Continental Mark V You have only to look at this car to appreciate its elegance. The styling and standard conveniences and comforts are obvious statements of the Mark V's eminence. They include such things as 18 oz. pile carpeting, a Cartier signed day/date timepiece, and generous and deep padded Twin Comfort Lounge seat with the driver's being six way power operated. From the 1978 brochure. For consignment, a 1978 Lincoln Continental Mark V with a title verified 95,197 actual miles. It has been owned by the same family since 1981 and had about 70,000 miles on it when purchased and has been garage kept ever since.  Exterior This stately ride begins with a coat of Cream paint, topped with a matching vinyl half roof accentuated by oval porthole windows in wide, sweeping C-pillars. Other stunning features of the Mark V include triple vent gills on the front fenders, rear quarter window, and covered headlights that flank a Rolls Royce-like grille. Regal lines continue on the back where a Continental kit shapes the decklid that is bookended with tasteful, vertical tail lights and mid panel reflectors. The shoulder line, accentuated by a pinstripe, and profile of the car suggest sharp right angles that do not veer from boxiness, while the slightly raised hood center exudes wind resisting grace. The 15-inch wheels are dressed with chrome wire covers wrapped in 75 series tires. Imperfections include dings on the wheel arch trim, blistering on a door and body, and paint chips on the body with surface rust showing through.  Interior The long doors are handsomely designed on the inside with cream leather panels, simulated wood trim, and carpeted lowers and both doors present with some patina. The well cushioned cream leather seats are technically separate buckets, but they present like a pair of adjoined Lazy Boys, accompanied by a pillow top back pad with front seats showing usage and the rear looking fresh. Stylized woodgrain adorns the gold steering wheel which has some early thumb buttons on the spokes while the instrument cluster keeps the quadrangular design with square gauges, including a Cartier clock, next to square vents, all framed in plastic wood. For your listening pleasure, an AM/FM/8-track radio is on board while thick golden carpet is at your feet. The headliner is in good shape and the trunk is lined with gray cloth panels and currently houses a window.  Drivetrain Under the long hood we have a 460ci V8, rated at 210 horsepower and topped by a 4-barrel carburetor. A C6 3-speed automatic transmission is behind it, sending power to the Ford 9 in back with 2.75 gears. The bay presents in original, driver quality condition  Undercarriage Driver quality here as well with typical surface rust and some on lower panels, as well as oil film on the transmission pan and oil pan. The exhaust comes together to form one pipe that holds a stock style muffler, exiting through a steel pipe behind the bumper. Four wheel power disc brake is at both ends as are coil springs with a 4 link in back.   Drive-Ability The car ran when it came to us but will now only run on starting fluid, so we were not able to take it any distance despite there being fuel in the tank. Functionally, the power antenna and power locks are not working and only a few of the passenger's power seat options work. Beyond that, all functions on board available to the driver operate as they should. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.            Add a little English Leather cologne to this car and we're transported to a time when we were sure this was the top of the food chain reserved for rich uncles, or at least those with enough brand loyalty to drive another after III, IV, and V. There are clubs and websites devoted solely to this generation of Lincolns with technical