At $10,000, Is This 1998 Lincoln Mark VIII LSC A Candy Deal?

With its low miles and unicorn standing, immediately’s Good Value or No Cube Mark VIII will stand out in any crowd. Let’s have a look at if its worth is one thing that will “take a village” to recover from

After I was a child, I learn a e book a few group of older children who pooled their cash collectively to purchase a build-it-yourself observe automotive after which took that automotive racing. I recall that the automotive was a Panhard, and there was numerous drama over prices and competitiveness, however ultimately, teamwork prevailed. I want I may bear in mind extra concerning the e book, and even its title, as a result of seventh-grade me actually loved it.

After all, an alternative choice to constructing a race automotive is to purchase a turn-key automotive that has already been outfitted for observe tomfoolery, similar to the 2001 Porsche Boxster S we checked out final Friday. That automotive had been stripped to its naked bones after which armed with a 3.6-liter mill from a 911 Carrera for added oomph. A $28,900 price ticket and the added promise of free delivery to a brand new house, wherever which may be, appeared to enchantment to lots of you. That manifested within the feedback, and the 53% Good Value win garnered by the Boxster.

We must always all rapidly pop over to the Lincoln web site for a second and have a look at the lineup. What do we now have right here? Small SUV. Barely bigger SUV. Mid-sized SUV. Whoa, a big SUV? Who noticed that coming? All of them appear to be very good, and Lincoln has completed an excellent job of making a unified model picture throughout its vary. The issue, although, with sustaining such a cohesive household look is that it is damn-near inconceivable to inform one mannequin from one other apart from their dimension. And worse, it is exhausting to care.

That wasn’t all the time the case at Lincoln. At one time the corporate constructed vehicles and vans that stood out. Bear in mind the Blackwood luxurious pickup? Positive, that was a crazy-stupid misstep, and it most likely induced dad or mum Ford to query what was occurring over at its luxurious model. However, boy, did it take guts to convey that silly truck to market.

Lincoln additionally as soon as constructed spectacular and aspirational coupes and sedans. It wasn’t Lincoln that gave up on these; it was the market that did. This 1998 Lincoln Mark VIII LSC is without doubt one of the final of these grand gestures to a dying market, and it represents the ultimate two-door something Lincoln has constructed up to now.

The Mark VIII debuted in 1993 and carried by way of the 1998 mannequin 12 months earlier than metaphorically being taken behind the shed. The massive coupe shared a lot of its underpinnings with the up to date Ford Thunderbird and Mercury Cougar. Befitting a Lincoln, nevertheless, it provided options non-existent in both of these vehicles, reminiscent of air suspension and an out there quad-cam version of the modular V8. The Lincoln additionally provided extra voluptuous physique strains than both of the lower-tier vehicles, in addition to extra normal equipment.

This one, from the mannequin’s remaining 12 months of manufacturing, is claimed to be in wonderful situation, having been in the identical household since its inception and boasting a mere 47,978 miles on the odometer. It options unbiased suspension throughout, ABS disc brakes on all 4 corners, and improbable coupe styling that — in contrast to the Lincolns of immediately — will stand out in that hypothetical crowd.

That coupe physique virtually went racing too. Following Ford’s announcement of the Thunderbird’s discontinuation in 1997, NASCAR Workforce 37 proprietor Michael Kranefuss determined to shift the workforce to the equally formed Lincoln. A automotive was constructed and examined, however Ford scrapped the complete challenge, as executives there did not need Lincoln to be related to racing. As an alternative, Ford persuaded NASCAR to approve a two-door Ford Taurus physique pores and skin, though no such automotive was ever provided to the general public, thereby negating the complete “inventory automotive” picture.

For the road, nevertheless, this Lincoln has the products. Being an LSC (Luxurious Sport Coupe) imbues it with twin exhaust for its 4.6-liter four-cam V8. That bumps the output to 290 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. A 4R70W four-speed computerized sits behind that, and feeds a limited-slip rear finish re-geared for acceleration.

Different adjustments embody de-chroming the grille, taillight encompass, and facet trim, whereas the inside options perforated leather-based seating. That every one seems to be in nice situation on this Mark VIII, with no evident put on and tear on the skin or indicators of extreme use within the cabin. The one draw back of it being a coupe is the trade-off required for rear seat entry. Regardless of the lengthy doorways, the again bench continues to be a little bit of a battle to achieve, and for front-seat passengers, the doorways’ size means tight parking areas could be a problem. Getting previous that one demerit, there’s lots to love with this massive coupe.

Naturally, we’ll have to guage whether or not or not there’s something to love concerning the automotive’s asking worth. That is $10,000, which can get a brand new proprietor a clear title together with a really clear automotive. Sure, it’s a totally different sort of Lincoln from a distinct time when such issues had been on a regular basis, however how does it play within the current day and age? Lincoln, in spite of everything, and the market as a complete, gave up on vehicles like this a long time in the past.

What do you assume? Is that this Mark VIII an almost-new traditional, and therefore value its $10,000 asking worth? Or do you assume its days are lengthy up to now and its worth must mirror that?

You resolve!

Boston, Massachusetts, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.

H/T to Whatsupdohc for the hookup!

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