Auction Pick of the Week: 1979 Continental Mark V Bill Blass Edition
The era of massive personal luxury coupes was coming to an end in the late 1970s. A couple of fuel crises made smaller more economical cars very appealing, and most manufacturers downsized their full-size offerings. But Lincoln was not most manufacturers.
Ahead of the 1977 Continental Mark V release, Lincoln proudly announced that “Our standard cars are full-sized in every sense of the term as are our luxury offerings.”
At over 19 feet long and the largest iteration of the Continental, the Mark V made good on Lincoln’s promise. If you need a car that’s as big as a whale or can seat about 20, check out our auction pick of the week, this 1979 Continental Mark V Bill Blass Edition offered with no reserve.
The Mark V was arguably the apex of the ’70s personal luxury coupe craze. Unleaded fuel and crude smog controls ended the golden era of performance, so manufacturers pivoted to very large, plush cruisers.
This giant slab of American steel is powered by an equally giant 400cid V-8 backed by a three-speed C-6 automatic transmission. With an 8:1 compression ratio, the V-8 only put out 179 hp, but the engine’s 329 lb-ft of torque made for effortless boulevard cruising.
As a continuation of its predecessor’s Designer Series, the Mark V offered four exclusive editions designed by either Bill Blass, Cartier, Givenchy, or Pucci. Each special edition embodied the style of its designer namesake through the use of exclusive paint schemes and interior appointments.
Our feature car is a well-preserved Bill Blass edition with just over 5000 miles on the clock. Exclusive exterior flourishes include a blue-over-white two-tone paint job, gold pinstriping, and Blass monogramming on the white vinyl carriage top and the rear decklid. The interior is finished in plush white leather with midnight blue accent straps, piping, and components.
The car has a few minor imperfections, including minor paint chips in the driver-side rear quarter panel and driver’s door. There is also a minor dent in the driver- and passenger-side rear quarter panels. But the car is mechanically sound. Recent maintenance includes new Hankook Kinergy ST tires in 2022, and an oil and filter change performed in April 2023 at 5,008 miles. The cosigner reports that the air conditioning is fully functional—perfect for summer trips to the local ice cream shop.
Regardless of how much this Mark V sells for, the price-per-inch will be unmatched. Get your bids in on this beautiful boat now. The auction ends on Tuesday, June 6th at 4:30 p.m. EDT.
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