The sheetmetal wars ended in 1979 when Cadillac acquiesced and gave Lincoln the crown as the longest car in America. If you were a person of substantial means at the end of the decade, this 1979 Mark V was your vehicle of choice. The gothic, angular styling of the Mark V has aged well, and there's simply no ignoring this massive piece of Americana. With chiseled good looks, it looks longer and sleeker than the Mark IV that preceded it, and if a car that's nearly 19 feet long can look sporty, this might be it, thanks to great proportions. This is one of those cars that has always been an object of admiration, and as such it has been gently preserved by just two owners who always treated it like something special. The factory-issued code 5R Dark Cordovan Metallic paint has spent the past three decades under the shelter of a garage and getting regular wax treatments to preserve the shine. Were cars in 1979 perfect? No, and this car is a great example of the factory's imperfect perfection, providing a template for future restorers and that wonderfully soft gloss that only comes from well-maintained factory paint. The matching padded landau roof is in excellent condition, and while this is definitely a product of the '70s, chrome is quite restrained and in excellent condition. The matching burgundy velour interior proved to be notoriously difficult to photograph, but it remains in excellent condition with no rips or tears in the fabric and only very minor wear on the driver's door panel where perhaps someone's elbow has polished the armrest. Acres of faux burled walnut, brushed stainless gauges that were modeled after a Cartier clock, and plus carpets were state-of-the-art luxury in 1979. There's also an AM/FM stereo radio that still sounds pretty good, plus plenty of power accessories like A/C, power windows and locks, cruise control, and a tilt wheel. With plenty of stretch-out room in the back seat, this is the ultimate road-trip vehicle, with that incredibly plush ride, more than adequate power, and a cabin that seals up so tightly that the wind outside is but a whisper. And with that massive trunk, bring all the luggage you want, this big girl will carry it all. The only engine option in 1979 was a 402 cubic inch V8 which delivers smooth, unobtrusive torque exactly the way you'd expect. Never designed to be fast, it is definitely effortless in everything it does, and quietly goes about its business without drawing attention to itself. The engine bay is quite original, from the silver air cleaner to the complete array of factory-installed decals on all the various parts, so it has obviously been well-maintained. The 3-speed automatic slips through the gears almost imperceptibly, and 2.73 gears mean that it just loafs along on the highway. The undercarriage is spotless, and nothing covers miles of highway like a big American luxury car from the '70s, and this one wears handsome alloys with 235/75/15 whitewall radials for the finishing touch. These are on many collectors' watch lists for future collectables, and the most valuable ones will be the low-mileage examples like this. Call today! This vehicle is located in our Charlotte showroom. For more information, please call (704) 598-2130 or toll free (866) 542-8392.
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