1979 Continental Mark V - The Pinnacle of American Luxury

Late 70s American cars get a lot of hate, but as Joe Ligo goes for a drive, he finds plenty to like about this 1979 Lincoln Continental Mark V Bill Blass Designer Edition.

[chrisallen]

We will never have such beauty and comfort in cars again. When you drove this you knew it was special and many people gasped when they saw it! I would love to have one for everyday.

[ATLcentury]

Remember these cars well, my grandfather was a Ford exec. from the 50’s thru the 70’s. He always had a new Lincoln lease every year. I always loved riding in whatever Lincoln he had. My favorite was the Continental with suicide doors, those were magic to me. The first time I flew, he drove my parents and I to the airport, picking us up in his brown, 71’, Mark III. It was always a treat when he was driving.

[JSAFIXIT]

Those cars are extremely comfortable, they just float over road imperfections.

[nightowl]

I was a college kid back in the mid 90's and my roommate had one that was all original(8-track and all). We called it the "Time Machine" Such a smooth ride, you barely felt the road.

[chrislemaster]

My brother has one just like this with 53, 000 actual miles he paid 2500.00 3 years ago and it is in perfect condition.

[bb]

I graduated HS in 79 & just loved the personal luxury cars, still have my dad's 73 Grand Prix. The MK V & the last of the big Eldorado's were the pinnacle. My head may say no but my heart say's yes, yes, yes! That was a truly special time to grow up in America, thank you for a great retrospective.

[Exotic]

I truly loved the video. My first car was a 1973 Mark iV, which cost me $900 in July 1984. I was basically pennyless at the time. But owning and driving this made me feel rich!

[richrare]

My secretary drove this car....the white and blue Mark V. One winter we had a terrible sleet and snow storm during the day. She was afraid to drive ( her boy friend picked her up) so she allowed me to drive
her beautiful Mark V home and park it in my garage. The only draw back was I lived close to work and had to leave my old Bonneville at work ( no problem). 30+ years later I still remember how that car rode and drove ... It was heaven and I was in heaven. It fit perfectly in my garage ( I had my doubts) and I dreamed to one day own one....didn't get one but drove 3 beautiful Cadillacs but they never measured up to that Mark V. That Bill Bass Mark made me feel rich.

[mindstage]

Absolutely love your reviewing style, eloquence, and the subject cars you choose. I worked for a Ford-Mercury-Lincoln dealer in the 70s, and drove many of these amazing cars. One salesman put it best: "The Mark V is the only car you can drive for 100 miles, and feel better when you get there than when you left." He was so right.

[GoldenUniverse]

The undisputed masterpiece of American luxury cars. It's not only a personal luxury car, but it's a personal statement.

It ages so beautifully, and now I realize how much better and more beautiful it is than the competition.

[AndrewHgs]

What a stunning car! American car design of the 70's needs to be reappraised, it really is as unique as the renown 50's and 60's cars too, as the decade was the last of this kind of showy excess. A great short film on the history of these luxury cars.

[StrangeDuck]

my parents had the diamond jubilee version with a 460, dad repainted it gold metal flake and had a new vinyl top put on. Beautiful car.

[SedanChevy]

You're the best, Joe. Thank you for giving these classics the respect they deserve.

[pennsyltuckyden]

You always felt like someone special when you rode in one of these beauties.

[zacksstuff]

Absolutely amazing car. I'd love to own one but I don't think it would fit in my garage.

[masismasis]

The car from the 1971 movie "The French Connection", first time i ever saw a Lincoln Continental, absolute beauty, elegance and class, i wish i lived in the United States in those times, thank you very much...

[kclark]

I currently own a 73 Mark IV. My daughter loves it and always asks when we're going to take it out. It's like riding on your sofa. My favorite thing is to make a turn, Watch the hood emblem go first and wait for me to follow. I got it because my uncle had one brand new and my family had a 74 T-bird. So these things just bring back my childhood, even down to the smell. Love it!

[guyvanarsdall]

To me, the Mark V Continentals are as beautiful today as when they first arrived in showrooms over 40 years ago. And I've always thought the Bill Blass edition shone brightest of all. Thank you so much for doing this video and having a fine example of this gorgeous car, the likes of which we shall never see again.

[digitalfutur]

That blue and white Bill Blass edition is gorgeous. And as long as you don't mind 0-60 mph in the 14 second range, no road feel in the steering wheel, and cornering capability equal to a pickup, it's the epitome of late 1970s luxury cars.

[RogueBurn]

My brother had one back in the day, bought it as a demo unit. Man when he used to come to NY from CT to visit all the kids in my neighborhood would be jealous of me. What a ride.