1983 Lincoln Continental Mark VI

The Lincoln Continental Mark VI was the fifth generation of the Mark series and was in production from 1980 through 1983. It was the company's flagship model and position above the Lincoln Town Car with body styles of coupe and sedan.

The rear-wheel-drive Mark VI used body-on-frame construction with its platform based on the Ford Panther and shared with the Lincoln Town Car and other full-size Ford vehicles of the 1980s. The Mark VI was the only version of the Panther platform that was built on two different wheelbases. The two-door coupe used a 114.4-inch platform while the sedan was slightly larger at 117.4-inches. The standard engine was a 302 cubic inch V8 with overhead valves, five main bearings, throttle-body electronic fuel injection, hydraulic valve lifters, and delivering 130 horsepower at 3,200 RPM and 240 lb-ft of torque. This was the first Ford V8 to employ fuel injection. An optional electronically-controlled two-barrel carbureted version was available as optional equipment. A four-speed automatic transmission was standard. Disc brakes were in the front and power-assisted drums were at the rear. Steering was by a power-assisted recirculating ball.

Styling remained similar to its predecessor, with the addition of a four-door body style with a similar roofline as the Lincoln Town Car but with oval opera windows. The previous hardtop roofline of the two-door was replaced with a fixed B-pillar with framed door glass. The coupe was six inches shorter in its wheelbase and 14 inches in its overall length than its predecessor. Weight was reduced by 700 pounds. The full viny roof had a limousine-style back window. The halogen headlamps were concealed behind larger closed doors and flanked a Rolls-Royce style grille. Four-door body styles had center-pillar coach lamps. 'Touring lights' were optional equipment and mounted low-power lights on the hidden-headlamp doors. When the headlight switch was in the parking light position, the touring lights became functional. Parking lights were integrated with the front turn signals. The all-electronic stereo search radio was all-new and standard equipment. The larger, 71 ampere-hour battery was also standard.

The Continental Mark VI was offered with Designer Editions and Signature Series. The Signature Series was endowed with nearly every available option as standard equipment. Exterior colors were either burgundy or silver, and the interiors were red leather or velour upholstery. Among the list of amenities including a digital instrument cluster with a fully electronically controlled EEC III engine with a 4-speed AOD, special seat sew pattern, gold and Macaser Ebony wood treatments, and a rechargeable glove box flashlight. A leather-bound tool kit could be found in the trunk.

The Bill Blass Designer Series was finished with a choice of two dual-shade color combinations. The Midnight Black upper and lower exterior treatment was complemented with a Light French vanilla center and a black Cambria cloth carriage roof. The Light French Vanilla upper and lower color scheme had a Midnight Black middle with a Light French Vanilla Bayville textured vinyl carriage roof. The interiors included a choice of French Vanilla cloth or leather seat inserts, with French Vanilla leather bolsters in Signature series sew style. Additional features included Vanilla and Black bodyside accent stripes, vanilla or black decklid accent stripe with the Bill Blass log, and Midnight Black bodyside moldings. The Bill Blass logo could also be found on the instrument panel and the rear roof pillar. Bill Blass editions were devoid of rocker panel moldings, rode on wide-spoke aluminum wheels, and the interior had a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The Pucci Designer Series was available on two and four-door body styles, was devoid of opera windows, and wore a Blue Flannel Mist exterior, with carriage roof in dark blue Cambria cloth. The interiors had leather seat trim or Academy Blue cloth. Emilio Pucci script was on the rear door quarter window, and the Pucci logo in tape was on the fender and decklid. The rear roof pillar had a Mark 'star'. The interior had a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and turbine-spoke aluminum wheels were at all four corners. There were wide bright bodyside moldings with Midnight Blue vinyl insert, sild sparkle decklid pinstripe, and silver sparkle bodyside accent stripes.

The Givenchy Designer Series did not return for 1983, and neither did the four-door specialty roof. The four-door carriage roof was a new option, along with an anti-theft alarm system, locking wire wheel covers, and a three-channel garage door opener.

The Mark VI Coupe had a base price of $20,450 and the sedan was priced at $20,940. The sedan was more popular with 18,113 units built compared to 12,743 of the coupe.

by Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2021