The original Continentals had arrived 40 years prior in 1939, so for 1979, Lincoln released a car for one model season specifically called the Collectors Series. That statement represents the example here, which shows an odometer reading of just 59 miles following delivery and cared for since day one. Destined to be very special cars and carrying a majority of the Lincoln Continental Mark V options as standard equipment, they were trimmed like no other and production is stated at 6,262 units total. Though the era of big engines was closing, factory specifications noted a base 4,757-lb. curb weight for these 230” cars (the longest two-door coupes Ford ever marketed), and the 6.6L 400 CI Lincoln V-8 engine was the featured powerplant. This is backed with a C6 Select-Shift automatic transmission and the car came equipped with power steering and 4-wheel power disc brakes. For the Collectors Series, just two colors were offered, Blue Metallic or white, as seen here. Highlighted by the exclusive gold-tone grille ribbing and other unique ornamentation, this car came with the optional powered glass moonroof as part of its color-matched Landau roof design. Inside is Midnight Blue Kasmin II cloth upholstery with power driver controls and passenger-side recliner. Other equipment included the standard air conditioning, AM/FM stereo with Quadrasonic 8-track player, power windows with the Headlamp Convenience Group’s powered vent windows, jewel-like instrumentation, Cruise Control including the Speed minder, tinted glass, tilt steering column, and special interior appliques. The outside trim consisted of covered headlamps, Collector Series script trim inserted into the Landau roof material in place of Mark V standard opera windows, color-matched bumper guards and inserts, and a special hood ornament. Finally, standard were the premium design turbine-style wheels, also exclusively color-coded, and Michelin radial tires. As shown, the original window sticker is still affixed, displaying a base cost in 1979 of over $21,000, and optional equipment that added even more. A fitting end to the Mark V era (replaced the following year), this massive finale haloed the 1970s marque luxury cars.
