My dad bought a 1976 Lincoln Continental Mark IV as a leftover. With hidden headlights and power everything, it was something that checked all the boxes for this kid, although I bet what truly impressed me was the process of visiting several car dealerships and checking out cars in the showroom.
1976 Lincoln Continental Mark IV
Fast forward to the early 1990s, and I was having a conversation with my friend Jim Campisano (of “Muscle Car Campy” fame). He was a pre-teen when the original 1972 Mark IV debuted, and that was his favorite of the generation due to the design’s purity, i.e. the fact that federalized bumpers (front for 1972, rear for 1973) had yet to be implemented. Me? I preferred the taillights on the 1974-76s, and I also liked the more prominent parking lights that were implemented for 1973 when the federalized front bumper was phased in. In fact, the 1972 Mark IV looks like it has an overbite. As I did not grow up to bear witness to the transition from nice tidy bumpers to a slab of chrome hung onto both ends, perhaps that explains why federalized bumpers tend not to bother me.
Admittedly, the memory is still there. I continue to lean into the ’76, but I have a complete understanding that the Mark IV (and all others) lost their purity starting in 1973.
1973 Mark IV rear
1976 Mark IV rear
So, when I showed my coworker Luke Lamendola (a representative of Generation Z and emcee extraordinaire of The Collector Car Network) a picture of the above 1972 Lincoln Continental Mark IV (a car I saw at the DMV in Los Angeles five years ago), he said, “I like it, but the front is a bit unusual for my taste.”
I then showed Luke a Mark IV with the federalized bumper. “Much better looking,” he replied.
Even with that nasty, heavy bumper? “Yeah — looks more gangsta.”
1972 Mark IV — not gangsta enough?
It is interesting to see how Luke’s comment somewhat echoes my original sentiment from when I was around his age. I would have thought being several generations removed from when these cars debuted would have enthusiasts settle with the most pure example (read: 1972), but maybe not. Regardless, it’s hard to not be touched by the lipstick red and white vinyl top (not to mention the Cragars) of this particular example though, looking through the PaintRef.com palette, it doesn’t appear to be a stock color. Too bad!
