1976 was, in my opinion, Peak Brougham. It was the last year for the truly large premium sedans, the Cadillac Fleetwood, De Ville, Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight and Buick Electra. Over at Chrysler you had Royal Monacos, Gran Furys, New Yorker Broughams and even the wood-paneled Town & Country station wagon. And over at Ford, there were myriad examples of big luxury cars to fill your requirements: LTD, Marquis, Country Squire, Colony Park, and Continental sedans and coupes. At at the very top, the finest, the Continental Mark IV.
1972 Mark IV owned by fellow LCOC member Humberto Garcia.
1976 was the final year for the Mark IV, which first appeared in Autumn 1971 as a ’72 model. My grandfather ordered one in triple dark green, to replace his triple dark green 1969 Mark III.
In my opinion, the 1972 was the prettiest with its small, integrated front and rear bumpers. In 1973, the Mark IV, along with most other Detroit rolling stock, got the new 5-mph front bumpers due to new federal regulations. In 1974, a larger rear bumper was added to match the front.
But I love all the Mark IVs. And the later ones got plusher and plusher. New wheel options, more colors, more interior options, a moonroof, and perhaps coolest of all, the Luxury Groups. The first Luxury Group was introduced on the 1973 Mark IV. Dubbed the Silver Luxury Group, it came in (you guessed it) Silver metallic, with a matching top and cranberry interior in luxury cloth or leather. If cranberry was not your preferred interior trim, silver leather could also be specified. It was a nice package, and generated a lot of interest. And so it was that the Luxury Groups would return-and then some!
In 1974 the Silver Luxury Group returned, along with a new Gold Luxury Group. But Lincoln was just getting started!
In 1975 even more Luxury Groups were available. Newly added were the Saddle and White Luxury Group, Blue Diamond Luxury Group, and, your author’s favorite, the Lipstick and White Luxury Group.
Is that not a spectacular interior or what? How could you be in a bad mood, driving something as awesome as this? If you didn’t want quite that much red, the exterior was available in white as well, and a Landau roof was optional in place of the full vinyl top.
This beautiful example is owned by members of the LCOC Lake Shore Region. I caught it at our trip to Racine, Wisconsin last summer. More on that event at a future date! Naturally, this red Mark IV is not the main focus of today’s article. But I just had to include it, it’s so amazing! There was such choice for color and appearance options back then.
But 1976 had the widest variety of color, trim and appearance options for the Continental Mark IV. On top of all the previous Luxury Groups, the Designer Editions made their debut-Cartier, Givenchy, Pucci and Bill Blass. On a premium personal luxury coupe like the Mark IV, it was the perfect idea. Various Designer Lincolns would appear for the next twenty-seven years, finally ending with the 2003 Town Car Cartier. But those are not the focus of today’s article.
Back to the ‘standard’ Luxury Group Marks of 1976, which were anything but plain! They may not have had designer nameplates on their opera windows, but they were just as nice, and in some cases nicer-and with a lower option group price to boot.
1976 Light Jade/Dark Jade Mark IV owned by my friend April Chadwick.
Probably my favorite is the Jade Luxury Group, simply because the 1970s Ford jade metallic paint is just about my favorite color ever. Other Luxury Groups available in 1976 included Blue Diamond, Saddle/White, Lipstick/White, Gold/Cream, Red/Rosé, Jade/White, and Dark Jade/Light Jade. Such choice! But perhaps the least common Mark IV luxury group is the subject of today’s post, owned by fellow LCOC Lake Shore region member, Bill Fletcher.
I first saw the car at a club meet at the famous Frank Lloyd Wright-designed S.C. Johnson Tower in Racine, Wisconsin last summer. I’d never seen this Luxury Group Mark in person before, so I took plenty of pictures. More recently, I asked Bill to tell the car’s story for this article. Here is the car’s history, in Bill’s own words:
“I blame Ann Zarzycki, the Lake Shore News Letter Editor for the acquisition 🙂 One night in the spring of 2016 I had to take a friend to the emergency room (all turned out well) and returned home about 4:00 in the morning. Not able to fall asleep I sat down at the computer and started reading my email. She had just sent it out that evening. In this issue was an ad for the car.”
“The picture in the ad was from the internet and not the actual car and it showed a color combination that I had never seen before. I didn’t think that was possible being as the MK IV has been my favorite Lincoln since High School and I have been associated with the LCOC for more than 30 years now.”
“I began researching the “Desert Sand Luxury Group” and was not able to find much. All the pictures I could find where of the same two or three cars but I was able to confirm that it was an actual package offered by the factory.”
What a sweetie ! .
The grilles on the front corner lamps remind me of my decades gone 1965 Lincoln .
This color combination is really, really nice .
Forget your Mercedes, this is luxury .
-Nate
Interesting seeing the Silver Shadow with it’s own interesting two tone treatment in the background. Rolls Royce of course was famous for doing unique paint schemes for it’s clients. That Lincoln was able to offer so many unique combinations on their cheaper mass produced offerings is a testament to how much care was being showed the customer.
In their last years of independence before bankruptcy and Chinese exile in 2005, the Rover 75 was offered with 17 different combinations of two tone paints. It is thought that some combos were never ordered and it didn’t save them. Some thought it a cheap gambit toward nostalgic patriotism. I think not all brilliant ideas succeed.
Tom,
Now you know where Cadillac got the inspiration for their “last big one” ’78 Eldorado Custom Biarritz Classic paint scheme! The choice of options and décor in these cars was just amazing. Colors, upholstery, sew patterns, vinyl roof types, wheels, all were available at the beck and call of the customer. Happy days!
Thanks again Tom for the great article.
Bill,
Nice car!!!
Thanks Glenn
While I favour the 72 Mark IVs with the more elegant and restrained bumper treatment, this Desert Sand 76 is a gorgeous automobile indeed. Undoubtedly Mr. Fletcher will derive many years of motoring pleasure from it. Many thanks for the pics and write-up, Tom.
I like how the 76 looks a lot better. The 72 doesn’t doesn’t look right with the elegant restrained bumpers.
Lincoln did the federally mandated bumpers better than most. I don’t believe they detract from the design at all on the Mk IV but you are the first person I have ever heard say they like them better. Even as someone that has had a couple with the big bumpers I prefer the 72. I can never decide if I prefer them more with or without the grill guard though.
Just bought a 25,000 mile Desert Sand 1976 Lincoln almost new
Wow runs and drives perfect but the wife does not want me to keep it
May have to sell soon, I will enjoy while I can
My ex wife used to tell me to sell whatever vehicles I truly enjoyed too .
I don’t miss her, neither does our son nor her endless parade of boy friends and husbands .
-Nate
Great story and very similar to mine. i saw the car and literally looked away cuz
Great story! I drove by one for sale 15 years ago. Had to discipline myself to look away and keep moving cuz it was so awesome that I knew I’d end up buying it if I stopped and looked. Got home and within an hour my phone started ringing with friends who saw it and knew I liked big cars. After the 4th call, i got in my 73 XR7 and went over to look at it. Within the next hour, I became the proud owner of a 76 Mk4 here in the great state of Mn. Bought it in fantastic shape from a collector for 2500 bucks and about 30 hrs of window restorations to his house. Had it for 15 years and probably til the end of my days. I’ve yet to see one same as mine. Bright diamondfire gold body, cream landau style top, wide chrome side mouldings with the embossed cream insert, cream interior with gold accents, and the dish rims. EVERYONE digs this car and it shows every single time I’ve had it out. She’s now a responsive 390 hp, high winding monster but still 100% stock in appearance except for the motor and bay which I insanely detailed with painted and/or polished om parts. Whenever i start it, come to a stop, or take off, it’s nothing but looks of surprise, smiles, and thumbs up. There’s just nothing cooler than a hot rod Lincoln!
I’ve had a 76 DESERT SAND for 10 years now. I know there wasn’t many built an whoever ordered mine had some money bc mine has an 1150. 8 trac and anyone know how much my moon roof was. I’ve not seen one with this optional 8 trac and none with the moon roof. The 2 together probably costed half as much as total base DESERT SAND. it was the last car Elvis bought. In Colorado. And. True to fashion. He gave it to his Colorado dr.