1976 Lincoln Continental - Mark IV

After the Second World War, Ford’s premium brand, Lincoln, offered exclusively full-size cars in its range. The model name had been ‘Continental’ since 1958. Alongside this, from 1969 onwards, there was the ‘Continental Mark Series’ – a range with a somewhat confusing nomenclature – comprising technically related but stylistically distinct and high-priced coupés. The fourth Lincoln Continental series, introduced in 1961 and tracing its origins to an award-winning design by Elwood Engel, was produced until 1969; over the years, the car underwent numerous stylistic changes. In 1970, the fifth generation of the Lincoln Continental was launched, which in turn was produced for ten years. The Lincoln Continental range built from 1970 to 1979 is usually regarded as the fifth generation, though it is sometimes also considered the third. The way it is counted depends on whether one regards the Continentals built from 1940 to 1948 and the Continental Mark II (1956–1957) as part of this model family, or whether one considers the Continental series to have begun only with the Continental Mark III of 1958. Unlike the Continentals of previous generations, which had monocoque bodies, the fifth-generation Continental featured a separate chassis with a body mounted on top. From 1970 to 1976, a 7.6-litre (460 cui) big-block engine was the only engine option for the Lincoln. It was offered in just a single power rating for each model year. The Lincoln Continental Mark IV offered here was produced in July 1975 as a 1976 model and delivered to Philadelphia. The vehicle registration document reveals that this imposing coupé was probably imported into Switzerland very early on – or even as a new car – and presumably underwent its first MOT in 1977/78; this would explain the incorrectly registered type certificate for the Continental Mark V (from 1977). This elegant Lincoln, with its 216 hp 7.6-litre V8 engine, automatic gearbox, power steering, air conditioning, electric seat adjustment and electric windows, was ordered in ‘Lipstick Red’ with an optional Landau vinyl roof and white leather with red accent stripes. The history of the Continental is unknown until it was acquired in 2019 by an enthusiast in the Canton of Zurich, who sold it to the current owner in 2025 – with just under 1'000 km more on the clock – due to his advancing age. The Lincoln has recently undergone extensive restoration and is consequently in good to very good condition; the engine and gearbox are in perfect working order, the bodywork is in very good condition and the well-maintained, original, interior suggests that the 78'900 km shown on the odometer corresponds to the actual mileage. The last veteran MOT took place in August 2026.