Lincoln Continental Mark VII

Infobox Automobile


name = Lincoln Mark VII
manufacturer = Lincoln
parent_company = Ford Motor Company
production = 1984–1992
body_style = 2-door coupe
engine = 5.0L 225 hp V8
transmission = 4-speed automatic
wheelbase = Auto in|108.5|0
length = Auto in|202.8|0
width = Auto in|70.9|0
height = Auto in|54.2|0
layout = FR layout
successor =Lincoln Mark VIII
platform = Ford Fox platform
class = Personal luxury car
assembly = Wixom, Michigan, USA

"See Lincoln Mark for a complete overview of the Lincoln Mark Series."

The Continental Mark VII, later shortened to just Mark VII, was a rear wheel drive luxury coupe from Lincoln. Introduced for the 1984 model year, the Continental Mark VII shared its platform with the Ford Thunderbird, Mercury Cougar, and Lincoln Continental (the Ford Fox platform from the code name of the first program using the platform. The Fox platform was originally introduced for the 1978 Ford Fairmont and Mercury Zephyr. The same platform was also utilized as the base for the 1982 - 1987 Lincoln Continental sedan - the Mark VII's four-door companion. Like it's predecessor the Lincoln Continental Mark VI, the Mark VII was manufactured at the Wixom Assembly Plant in Wixom, Michigan through 1992. It was replaced by the Lincoln Mark VIII in 1993.

The Mark VII held a lengthy standard equipment list, including an onboard trip computer / message center and digital instruments (on all except the LSC models after 1986). Mark VII's also came with full air suspension at all four wheels. It was the first American vehicle with electronic 4-channel anti-lock brakes (6 months before the Corvette). Mark VII also had the distinction of being the first American vehicle with composite headlights.

Trim Levels

There were 4 trim levels to start with: Base, Versace Designer, Bill Blass Designer, and LSC. The Versace had unique stitched seats, the Bill Blass had pillow top seats with the initials "BB" etched in the backrest. By 1988, only the Bill Blass and LSC remained.

The LSC was a performance oriented model, designed to compete against European luxury coupes like the BMW 630/635CSi and the Mercedes-Benz 500/560SEC. It had a stiffer suspension, dual exhaust, sport leather seats, a higher output engine (until 1988 when all came with the Convert|225|hp|kW|0|abbr=on 302 from the Mustang GT) and sport styled convert|15|in|mm|sing=on rims. Base Mark VIIs and the designer series had wire rims and even an optional geometric rim. In 1988, 16 in (406 mm) turbine rims appeared on the LSC. For 1990, 16 inch rims based on the BBS RA Series appeared on the LSC. In 1991, the wheels became standard on both the Bill Blass and the LSC as the LSC suspension was standardized across the board. The LSC also had analog gauges (1986 onward) with a speedometer, tachometer, fuel level gauge, coolant temperature gauge, and separate trip and regular odometers. The Bill Blass model continued with digital instruments - just a speedometer, fuel level gauge, and trip odometer. All Mark VII's featured a power deck-lid release (through an interior mounted button) and electric pull-down, in which the trunk lid was partially lowered by hand, and then automatically pulled down about an inch by a motor mounted inside the trunk latch. Also standard on all Mark VII's was an automatic dimming high-beam module. This worked via a sensor located adjacent to the rear-view mirror, and sensitivity could be adjusted by a dial located on the dashboard. Of notable mention is the Mark VII GTC, a Lincoln-Mercury dealer-sold car built by Cars & Concepts with monorchromatic paint, a body kit, and available performance upgrades. A select few were sent to Jack Roush Performance for suspension enhancements and optional 5.8L and T5 manual transmission conversions. The Comtech Mark VII, with a CRT touch screen, may only have existed in prototype form.

Trim Levels by year:
* 1984-1987 Continental Mark VII (Base)
* 1984-1985 Versace Designer Edition
* 1984-1992 Bill Blass Designer Edition
* 1984-1992 LSC (Luxury Sport Coupe)
* 1990-1992 LSC SE (Monochromatic paint and trim, Midnight Black, Garnet Red Metallic, Electric Current Red Metallic and Titanium Metallic)

Engines

The engine choices were a 5.0 L V8 and an ultra-rare (200-500 made) 2.4 L Straight-6 diesel. The diesel was a BMW design with a turbocharger. Rumors have it that a 5-speed manual transmission was bolted to at least 1 of these diesels. It was available on all trim levels until the engine was dropped after 1985.

Engine options:
* 2.4 L I6, 115 hp (86 kW) Diesel (1984-1985) w/ ZF 4 Speed AutomaticSeveral variations of the 5.0L V8
* 140 hp (104 kW) CFI (1984-1985) w/ AOD 4 Speed Automatic
* 180 hp (134 kW) CFI (1985 LSC) w/ AOD 4 Speed Automatic
*, (112 kW) 250 ft·lbf SEFI (1986-1987) w/ AOD 4 Speed Automatic
* 200 hp (149 kW) SEFI (1986-1987 LSC) w/ AOD 4 Speed Automatic
* 225 hp (168 kW) 300 lbf.ft (407 Nm) SEFI (1988 - 1992 ALL) w/ AOD 4 Speed Automatic

Mark VII National Club

* [http://www.thelincolnmarkviiclub.org: Mark VII Club]

External links

* [http://www.lincolnsonline.com lincolnsonline.com: A very informative forum with helpful members.]
* [http://www.FordvsChevy.com fordvschevy.com: A good source of Mark VII information.]
* [http://www.thelincolnmarkviiclub.org: thelincolnmarkviiclub.org Another very informative forum with helpful members.]
* [http://www.westcoastlincolns.net: www.westcoastlincolns.net: Community for West Coast Lincoln owners.]

Awards

The Mark VII "LSC" was on "Car and Driver" magazine's Ten Best list for 1986.

Lincoln Mark Series

Lincoln Mark Series

In Pop Culture

In the television series "Dallas", Jenna Wade (Priscilla Presley) drove a gold Mark VII. In the last few episodes, J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) drove a silver Mark VII. His character's father, Jock Ewing (Jim Davis) drove a silver 1977 Lincoln Continental Mark V.

Timothy Dalton drives a Lincoln Mark VII while in Key West, in the 1989 James Bond film "License to Kill".

On the television series "Knots Landing", Karen Mackenzie (Michele Lee) drove a Mark VII in the middle years of the series. She was the owner of 'Knots Landing Motors'. Although never mentioned directly, it is presumably a Ford franchise as new Ford vehicles are featured in the showroom's background.

In King of New York, Actor Larry Fishburn drove a 1988 Black LSC