Lincoln Continental Mark IV

The Continental Mark IV is a personal luxury car that was marketed by the Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company from the 1972 to 1976 model years. The third generation of the Mark series, the Mark IV grew in size over its Continental Mark III predecessor. As with the previous generation, the Mark IV saw little direct competition in the American marketplace, competing nearly exclusively against the Cadillac Eldorado (redesigned for 1971).

This article is about the car produced from 1972–1976. For the similarly named car produced in 1959, see Lincoln Continental § Third generation (1958–1960).
Main article: Lincoln Mark series
Mark IV
1975 Continental Mark IV
Overview
ManufacturerLincoln (Ford)
Production1971–1976
Model years1972–1976
AssemblyWixom Assembly, Wixom, Michigan
Body and chassis
Body style2-door coupe
LayoutFR layout
Powertrain
Engine460 cu in (7.5 L) Ford 385 V8
Transmission3-speed C6 automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase120.4 in (3,058 mm)
Length228.1 in (5,794 mm)
Width79.8 in (2,027 mm)
Height53.5 in (1,359 mm)
Curb weight5,264 lb (2,388 kg)
Chronology
PredecessorContinental Mark III
SuccessorContinental Mark V

As with the Mark III, the Mark IV shared its chassis with the Ford Thunderbird, with the Mark IV receiving its own bodywork below the windows. Hidden headlights made their return, along with a radiator-style grille, and a Continental spare tire trunklid. For 1976, the Designer Series option package was introduced; in what would become a tradition for the Mark series (and later Lincoln), the option consisted of specially coordinated exterior and interior trims developed between Lincoln and contemporary fashion designers.

Ford assembled the Continental Mark IV at its Wixom Assembly Plant (Wixom, Michigan) facility alongside the Ford Thunderbird and the Lincoln Continental. For 1977, the Mark IV underwent a substantial revision, becoming the Continental Mark V.

Design
1972 Continental Mark IV, showing pre-facelift grille and headlight doors open

With designers again using sharp-edged fenders, hidden headlamps, and a tall radiator-style grille, the Continental Mark IV retained the traditional "long-hood, short deck" coupe proportions of the Mark III along with its faux spare tire trunk lid, marketed as a"Continental" decklid. The spare tire was in fact stored immediately behind the rear seat.

The Mark IV and Ford Thunderbird were closely badge engineered variants of each other, with an increased parts commonality compared to their previous generations. The roofline, doors, and inner body panels were shared, with different outer body panels below the roofline. Unlike it's predecessor, the Mark III, the rear wheel openings of the Mark IV did not use fender skirts.

In 1973, the Mark IV received revised front bodywork, necessitated by the addition of 5 mph bumpers. For 1974, a 5 mph bumper was added to the rear body work, moving the taillights from the bumper into the rear bodywork.

All Mark IVs were equipped with a vinyl roof. The Mark IV introduced an rear side window, marketed as an opera window, to the Mark series — a feature that was featured on the Mark through the discontinuation of the Mark VI after 1983. For 1972, the opera window was an almost universally specified option, becoming standard for 1973.

Mechanical specification
1975 Lincoln Continental Mark IV "Lipstick and White Edition", an all-white option package with Lipstick Red interior details and carpeting.

All Mark IVs were equipped with the 460 cu in (7.5 L)-4V Ford 385 series V8 (with two valves per cylinder, "4V" is in reference to the four-venturi Autolite carburetor). Rated at 365 hp SAE gross (272 kW) in the Mark III, the 460 was carried over to the Mark IV. For 1972, rated output underwent a numeric decrease to 212 hp (158 kW) SAE net. In order to comply with changing EPA emissions regulations, Ford was required to decrease the compression ratio of the engine. The same year, American auto manufacturers adopted SAE net horsepower as its standard of measuring engine output, to better reflect real-world engine performance (as installed in vehicles). All examples of the Mark IV were equipped with a Ford C6 three-speed automatic transmission.

A feature retained from the Mark III was the "Sure-track" brakes.[1] Both front seats were power adjustable.[2]

Performance was not quite competitive with contemporary premium personal luxury cars. However, no other "personal luxury" models were six-passenger vehicles, except the Cadillac Eldorado.

Designer Series

For 1976, Lincoln-Mercury introduced optional appearance packages, marketed as the "Designer Series." in four variations, in consultation with notable fashion designers (Bill Blass, Cartier, Givenchy, and Pucci). Each package featured an individually coordinated exterior and interior color combination with specific trim and interior fabrics. The opera window was fitted with the signature of the corresponding designer, and the dash was fitted with a 22-karat gold-plated dashboard plaque, which could be engraved with the name of the original owner.

Similarly, for 2017, Lincoln introduced the Black Label appearance package with a coordinated interior package.

1976 Continental Mark IV Designer Series
Edition Exterior color/trim Vinyl roof trim/material Interior color/material
Bill Blass Dark blue (cream and gold pinstripng)

cream or body-color moldings

 Cream "Normande grain" Blue cloth or leather

(cream accents)

Cartier[3] Dove gray (red and white pinstriping)

body-color moldings

 Dove gray "Valino grain" Dove gray cloth or leather
Givenchy Aqua blue "diamond fire" (black & white pinstriping)

white or body-color moldings

 White "Normande grain" Aqua blue cloth or leather
Pucci Red "moondust finish" & silver (silver and red pinstriping)

silver or body-color moldings

 Silver "Normande grain" Dark red "majestic" cloth
  • 1976 Continental Mark IV Givenchy Designer Series
  • Front 3/4
    Front 3/4
  • Rear 3/4
    Rear 3/4
  • Interior
    Interior

Sales and pricing

A total of 278,599 Mark IV's were produced:

YearProductionPrice (USD)
197248,591$8,640 ($60,446 in 2022 dollars [4])
197369,437$8,984 ($59,224 in 2022 dollars [4])
197457,316$10,194 ($60,490 in 2022 dollars [4])
197547,145$11,082 ($60,269 in 2022 dollars [4])
197656,110$11,060 ($56,878 in 2022 dollars [4])

Specifications (1976 model)
US Metric vs. Mark III
Wheelbase 120.4 in 3058 mm +2.7%
Overall length 228.1 in 5791 mm +1.9%
Width 79.8 in 2027 mm +0.5%
Height 53.5 in 1359 mm +1.1%
Weight 5,264 lb 2,388 kg +11.1%
Engine Ford 385 series V8
Displacement 460 in3 7.5 L
Bore × stroke 4.36 × 3.85 in 111 × 98 mm
Power (SAE) 202 hp 148 kW @ 3800 rpm
Torque 356 lbf·ft 482 Nm @ 2200 rpm
Compression 8.0:1
Carburetor Motorcraft 4350
Transmission Ford C6 3-speed automatic

Notes
  1. "Directory Index: Lincoln/1973_Lincoln/1973_Lincoln_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  2. "Directory Index: Lincoln/1974_Lincoln/1974_Lincoln_Continental_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  3. "Directory Index: Lincoln/1976_Lincoln/1976_Lincoln_Continental_Mark_IV_Brochure". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  4. 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved May 28, 2023.

References
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