One could argue that this is one of the best automotive history channels on the interwebs. I enjoy your choices in topics. 👍

@Wildstar40

Ай бұрын

I agree. I have been watching this channel for some time and I learn something new every time.

@jimkalfakis9893

Ай бұрын

I agree, 100%. Every other channels focus on muscle cars. Here, we get the vehicles that everyone bought. Plus, we get a little history of the manufacturers. When America was great.

@randyfitz8310

Ай бұрын

Always interesting and informative, Adam’s content is superb and well researched - he personally knows many in the industry as we have been introduced in his interviews; these videos are a joy!

@jasonfrodoman1316

Ай бұрын

Whats an interweb?

@M_IkeLeBlanc

Ай бұрын

Agree 100%!!! Adam needs to do a background video on himself.

Wes Dahlberg died 11/1/23 at age 106(!) Please do more interviews, so that their stories live on forever.

@Wargasm54

Ай бұрын

@ericruud9328yeah, he lived to be 106 😂

@zootdanielsjazzsinger-clar7540

Ай бұрын

Thanx for the information about the death date of Wes Dahlberg. I wrote several articles for classic cars magazines about cars designed by Wes Dahlberg and was astonished he was still alive. He was a great designer, and the founder of the design department of the German Ford division.

Wow... Lincoln did dodge a design bullet thanks to Bunkie. I didn't realize how horrific the proposed alternate was.

@markbehr88

Ай бұрын

Bunkie got a raw deal from HF2 and Iacocca.

@user-pr8zn6iw5t

Ай бұрын

Perhaps, in addition to thanking the great designers, we need to thank the upper level managers that prevented lousy designs. Who should have cancelled the Aztec project?

@markbehr88

Ай бұрын

@@user-pr8zn6iw5t Although Breaking Bad wouldn’t be the same! 👍

That proposal is an instant Super Fly pimpmobile🤩

@wildward93

Ай бұрын

It's all in the grill. You either have a Rolls-Royce or you don't. 😂

@mpetersen6

Ай бұрын

I saw a fairly new vehicle the other day. I cannot remember the make. But it had a badge on it that said PIMP Edition.

@markbehr88

Ай бұрын

Thank god Bordinat was not allowed to get his way! See what I did there? 😀👍

@edgarbeat2851

Ай бұрын

​@wildward93 If one has a Rolls - Royce complex. That being said a saw two Chrysler 300s wearing Bently badges.

@markbehr88

Ай бұрын

@@edgarbeat2851 Or a less complex RR!

I had a 1973 Lincoln Mark IV Continental 460 4V. It was an Awesome Car.

@jamesmcinnis208

Ай бұрын

LOL

@markman7

Ай бұрын

It probably had a 40 gallon gas tank too.

69 Mark III was one of the most beautiful cars ever built.

@vladtheimpala5532

Ай бұрын

The Mark III is a very beautiful car. I do prefer the Mark IV but I think I’m in the minority there. The 1956 and 57 Continental Mark II has them both beat though. It was one of the most beautiful and well built American cars ever produced. It was competitive with Rolls Royce and Bentley. Even though they were extremely expensive (almost $10,000, equivalent to about $100,000 today) Ford lost money on each one they sold. They were loaded with features that were options *(if they were even available)* on most luxury cars but standard equipment on the Mark II. The only option was Air Conditioning which raised the price by almost $600.

@glenw-xm5zf

Ай бұрын

True but the IV's were ugly as sin, and the 460 should have been tooled for about 270 hp. 208 was too soft for a 4900 lb car

@vladtheimpala5532

Ай бұрын

@@glenw-xm5zf Right 🙄 the III was beautiful but the IV which looks almost the same except a little more rounded was ugly as sin. Brilliant comment Poindexter.

The final design of the Mark IV was absolutely fantastic. Definitely, the correct choice was made. These cars are wonderful and they float the driver down the road as if floating on a cloud!

@anthonyjackson280

Ай бұрын

just don't expect it to make the corner with any alacrity....

The 1972 Mark IV that came out was the right choice. Its a beautiful design and one of the best Ford ever did. I was hoping for more insight into the porthole window. I seem to recall that had a story too.

@RareClassicCars

Ай бұрын

It was a rejected design cue for Mercurys and Thunderbirds

@marko7843

Ай бұрын

... and it was actually an option the first year.

@user-de3wh5th1y

Ай бұрын

@@marko7843 It was, there is photo of a dark Blue one without, the car looks great both ways

The 72 mark IV is my favorite car. Memories!

Mark IV always make me think of the TV show Cannon. The early Mark IV without the 5 mph bumpers are beautiful. Those 5 mph bumpers just didn't look right on them.

@dmandman9

Ай бұрын

I actually liked the 5mph bumpers on most of the Ford-Lincoln-Mercury products. But I think it’s because those are the cars that were produced in my formative years.

@V8_screw_electric_cars

Ай бұрын

Cannon was driving this thing really hard as if it was Corvette.

@steveosgood9182

Ай бұрын

funny and true. I watch reruns of Cannon on MeTV. I was laughing at that fat guy chasing people, then I realized I am his weight now as he was then. Old age..it's not for faint of heart.

@marko7843

Ай бұрын

​@@V8_screw_electric_carsWhich is why the hubcaps were always coming off! LOL

@DesiluTrek

Ай бұрын

Yes ... Watch him tool around in his big floaty boat, then win a very brief, hilarious fight! kzread.info/dash/bejne/c6Cb1NWYmqW8ksY.html

I agree with your comments on the first year Mark IV. Once the big bumpers kicked in the car looked like it was designed by Peterbuilt. First year designs just have all the original intent.

@laserwizard2

Ай бұрын

Reminds me of what happened to the 1973 Gran Torino compared to the smaller looking 1972. Those bumpers were useless and ruined cars for years.

@jerrywesterfield5636

Ай бұрын

When lawyers design cars...

I bought a two year old Mark IV for $5500 in 1975. It was, and is to this day, the most elegant and stunningly beautiful car I've ever owned. It was ice blue and it was a showstopper that turned heads wherever we drove it. On the downside, it was heavy and even though the monster V-8 really kicked ass, the suspension and brakes were not built to last. Maintenance was high, especially high because my wife had a heavy right foot. Later, I bought a 1976 model, but it lacked the look of perfection of the 1973 model.

A friend of my father’s still drives his father’s Mark III. Beautiful car. Still looks brand new.

My grandparents had the light blue Cartier Mark. I got to ride solo cross country in the back seat when I was 8 years old.

I loved my 73 Mark IV!

The quality of the Mark III was far superior to the Mark IV and V. The Mark III interior with real walnut, diamond patterned leather seats and gorgeous instrument panel was first class. The Mark IV showed cost cutting measures. Interesting how the slab sided Mark V handily outsold the Mark IV.

@kenk7451

Ай бұрын

I owned a '70 MK III and a '72 MK IV. There was absolutely NO comparison in the quality of materials, as well as build quality. The MK IV was a beautiful design, but it was really a piece of cr@p. I think it also cheapened the brand to share the platform with the Thunderbird '72-'76. I owned one of them too, a '75. Even worse quality. Yeah I bought it because it was beautiful, but an even worse piece of cr@p!

@viciouspoodle5543

Ай бұрын

@@kenk7451 But the Mark II was also based on the 67 Thunderbird chassis (the 4 door model). I had a 1975 Mark IV and it was the worst mechanical piece of junk. Everything went wrong with that car! And it went through ignition modules what seemed to be every month!

@williamdixon1992

Ай бұрын

I own and drive a beautiful Mark V. I have no complaints.

@splittheseam0019

Ай бұрын

… 1969(68) thru 1971 Mark III’s had superbly styled exterior/interior’s that were pace setting for 1968 - 1971 Detroit era luxury cars…Mark III’s “ Rolls -Royce” themed front end styling was mimicked by the Detroit Cadillac “after market” trade vendors for decades… The “ retro classic “ front end styling of the 1974 - 75 Imperial which was nicely done seemingly appeared to have been cued / based on Mark III front end… …1972 thru 1976 Mark IV’s were better styled and trimmed than the 1971 thru 76 Eldo’s and had much nicer interior detailing / trim than those post 1970 Eldo’s… …Mark V’s had striking “retro classic “ exterior styling but were much more like a “Ford LTD” inside from dash to seating with interiors that were de-contented in very noticeable ways from 1972 - 1976 Mark IV’s ( no movable rear side windows / back seat lights & controls / back seat center armrest ) ….the Jubilee Mark V’s had the interior all Mark V’s could have / should have had… …1968 -1971 Mark III ‘s were / are / remain the bench mark Conti’s…

@ricksand6477

Ай бұрын

Absolutely! The interior on the IV was simulated luxury, The III was genuine, especially when it came to materials. The IV shared the intermediate Ford body with the Torino and apparently the same cost-driven, downmarket interior materials. You really have to appreciate Wes Dahlberg's design all that much more when you consider the restraints he had to produce such a beautiful car. The Mark III was the successor to the Mark II of the mid-1950's and I believe Ford put a lot of extra effort into the III because of the high quality of the Mark II which had preceded it. That, as well as to set the Mark III apart from the Thunderbird upon which it was based to justify the much higher price of the Lincoln. By the time they were ready to introduce the Mark IV in 1972 the success they had achieved in the market led them to give in to the increasing cost pressures of the day and take a lot of cost out of the interior. Subsequent sales proved it to be a safe decision. @@kenk7451

As a senior in high school in ‘69-‘70, my close friends mom had a top of the line Mark III. She used to let him use it. That was without a doubt, the nicest riding car I was ever in. It was the same burgundy/black combo like the one shown here. I wish I could find one now.

10:41 1981 Imperial headlights!!

@ingvarhallstrom2306

Ай бұрын

I came here to write that comment! Was it the influx of Ford people to Chrysler in the late seventies?

@craigster1234

Ай бұрын

@@ingvarhallstrom2306 And I was about to write exactly what you wrote!

@user-yt9id8zq3g

Ай бұрын

my thought too.

Everyone likes to pick on Bunkie for his time at Ford. Personally, I loved the designs he gave the "green-light" to. I also loved the Ford squared-off "three-box" era of the late 70s- through the 80s.The 1977 Mark V is my all-time favorite.

I definitely concur that Adam has one of the best classic car enthusiast KZread channels. I know I am always in for a treat whenever he posts new videos. While enjoying the interviews with high profile icons from the industry and automotive history lessons, I always feel among friends who love cars as much as I do. Please, keep the videos coming, Adam. You are a great commentator and extremely so knowledgeable. I would love to meet you someday. I know it would be a fascinating conversation for sure. I have unfortunately lost all of my car-crazy friends who have all passed on at young ages years ago. No one I have met in the past 23 years since, is as attuned to the automobile hobbyist passion like you and my lost friends were. I am sure you collect everything "automobilia" just like me - scale models, literature, etc. Thank you for your great history lessons and interviews.

What makes Adam's channel so fantastic is that no only does he own vehicles like he covers but he has revived a period of automotive history that idiots over at Curbside Disasters has mocked for years. Great channel, Adam.

Hard to beat the Mark III. Peak performance and build quality and style. Those were the best Marks ever!!

@keeganandersson4281

Ай бұрын

Mark II was even better imo

@SteveRoman66

Ай бұрын

Huh? Mark 3 had horrible reliability and build quality. I can't list all the problems that would occur in the first 2 years, so please google it. By 1971, Ford fixed most of their errors. Today, I think people have fixed those problems by now. Just don't buy a 69-70 survivor unless you want lawn art.

@roberthooven8665

8 күн бұрын

...and a whopping 8 MPG

As a 1972 owner myself, I am glad the alternate design was chosen instead of Bordinat's one. Thanks for the video and the many others👍

Thank you for your hard work. 🙂 Your posting are always so very informative!

The production Mark IV was a winner. It was just gorgeous. I had a 76 Mark IV.

I like the Wes Dahlberg. I wish they would have used the rear window treatment Bourdenay (sp?) version. It would be interesting to see what and how the Mark V came into being. Your videos are the best in the business.

I love the Mark IV from 72. Luckily my dad was a car guy so i convinced him to buy me a 72 when i was age 14! Light yellow with white top and leather with brown dash, carpets etc. started my love for the brand. LOVED that car even though i wasn't legal to drive. We lived in rural Georgia so... I've had 9 lincolns since. I so want to find one of these now (72). Have a 96 town car that i drive more than my Rover. Brought back memories.

@tompastian3447

Ай бұрын

Wow, you convinced your dad to buy you a 72 Mark 4? That is rare. You must have been in a wealthy family, and I hope you took good care of that car. I like you taste in cars too. I went to a home once to make a delivery; the lady of the house had a beautiful black approx. 65 or so Tbird in the driveway. She told me she wanted to give it to her son, but he wanted a Firebird.

@SteveRoman66

Ай бұрын

...and I thought my dad was king when he gave me $400 to buy my first car...a rotted out 77 Mustang...but it was a 302 Cobra II with 138hp ! (Actually it was pretty fun car.)

The Dahlberg design. Even with the edition of the 5MPH bumpers I think it still looks good.

I’ve never been a fan of the Mark IV and neither was my mother who bought a brand new triple black ‘70 Mark III. When her Mark turned nine, she traded it in on triple black Mark V. She never cared for that car and regretted turning in her Mark III. She went in a completely different direction and bought Mercedes SL in 1985 which surprised me. I said, why did you buy a two seat convertible when you don’t even like the sun. Her answer was I can keep the roof on which she did for the next 20 years she kept that car. 😄

Love these design-development videos -- absolutely priceless historical information! Fantastic!

I owned one new and had it for 5 years. Loved the car. Great on road trips,

Some of the nicest riding cars on the road.

@kevincostello3856

Ай бұрын

Yes they are, although I don't have an MK IV, I have a 73 T-Bird which is a MK IV without the Jewelry and Roll Royce grill. From what I've read both were built off of the same assembly line.

@waynejohnson1304

Ай бұрын

@@kevincostello3856 I rode in a 1976 Thunderbird on a 70-mile trip. I was fascinated by the ride. At 65-70 MPH it was incredible but, I would think it would be a handful at speeds over 80. That's okay with me though.

@kevincostello3856

Ай бұрын

@@waynejohnson1304 Yeah the ride is just butter smooth and quiet, now over 80 she can get " floaty" I've had her up to 85 once , front end starts wandering a little, that was enough for me. I like 70s land yachts. Malaise Era yes I know but I grew up with these big beautiful boats. Now my 78 Town Car is actually tight around 80-90mph, that surprised me a little. Thank you Sir.

@waynejohnson1304

Ай бұрын

@@kevincostello3856 You are welcome. I own and drive a 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood in the Summer months. It's also a great riding car but, it's not meant for high speed driving either. :)

@SteveRoman66

Ай бұрын

I was just a little kid in the 70's but I remember the new Fords of the 70's rattled, squeaked, rusted and broke down a lot. However, the design, comfort and ride are much better than cars today. For some odd reason, people today think every car has to be sporty with hard suspensions and ugly utility pickup trucks is luxury....its not.

Bunkie was right on this one. The 1972 version was probably the prettiest of all the Marks

I owned a '72 Mark IV from 1975 to 2010. It was garaged most of the time due to horrific gas mileage. It was quite a time capsule when I sold it in 2010. The collector who bought it was thrilled with the condition of the car.

The internal politics of FoMoCo made Game of Thrones look like child’s play.

@user-kr1bi3bt8c

Ай бұрын

Hahahahaha! You're so right! Take Game of Thrones and mix in some Dynasty, Falcon Crest, As the World Turns and some Dallas - and you would STILL not have all the internal drama that "Fix Or Repair Daily" had internally!!!!

@adp5R3x

Ай бұрын

as opposed to , say , GMs' "Rule by Committee" ?

@dznr723

Ай бұрын

Politics at FoMoCo were a 'blood sport'. GM was not as bad.

@gabrielmejia6027

Ай бұрын

@@dznr723I’m sure Bunkie knew no better bc he was brainwashed the GM way

@gabrielmejia6027

Ай бұрын

Most of the politics came from Hank the deuce and probably Lido as well.

The first front end looks like a Cadillac and the second an 81 Imperial.Wheel arches are a blast from the past.Mike the Greek

@lvsqcsl

Ай бұрын

Exactly. I think it is the slanted back headlights that makes it look like the 1981-83 Imperial; even with a hint of "bustle-back."

Adam, you can see the Bordinat design in ALL the Ford Fox and Panther platforms with one single panel: The lowest part of the rear fender behind the rear wheel. ALL of them have this panel! From the Ford Squaremont to the Mustangs to the Lincoln you show at 5:18. This angled, slightly tucked up panel is very apparent on every Thunderbird and Cougar in the '80's, and on many Lincolns as well. Look at Ford Fairmonts then later LTD's, and Mustangs, and Cougars. All have this Bordinat panel...

@ingvarhallstrom2306

Ай бұрын

Yeah, I see it now. It's a trick to reduce visual heft. The cheapo version much used by the Italian is painting the sill and front and rear valances in a contrasting color, mostly black. Like people wouldn't figure out the car isn't actually that slim, it's just painted that way?

@Flies2FLL

Ай бұрын

@@ingvarhallstrom2306 Thanx!

I always loved those years of Mark IV's. Thanks Adam!

The Mark III exuded luxury with its real walnut accents, diamond-patterned leather seats, and exquisite instrument panel-a true class act. However, the Mark IV took a step back with noticeable cost-cutting measures. Despite this, the Mark V's success, with its distinctive slab-sided design, proves that in the world of automotive allure, sometimes the unexpected steals the show.

The proposal looks like a video game knockoff version of a classic Mark. That being said, I do generally like Gene Bordinat's designs. I think those boxy Panthers, and the mark vi coupe in particular, are really handsome designs that managed to not look like GM clones during the malaise era.

They nailed it! I remember these models and they were striking.!

Mark VI and Mark VII were amazing!!

My dad bought a Mark V and let me take dates out in it. I was always amused because the front was so massive, it was like driving an I International Harvester.

@fposmith

Ай бұрын

I'm sure if you had to take a very long trip, that "Combine" would have been very much appreciated !

@tomkrisel4493

Ай бұрын

I currently have a 78 Mark V. I tell people that you don't drive it, you aim it with the hood ornament.

The 69 mark III is still the best design of all the mark series lincolns, It is not a giant land yacht but still a full size car and the appointments you could get just made the car a great luxury machine.

The Gene Bordanet version of the Mark IV proposal looks more like the first generation Eldorado, heavy and boxy. Wes Dalberg’s version was beautiful, especially the 1972. The semblance of harmony was all there. Made Frank Cannon proud!

@dmandman9

Ай бұрын

That was my first thought as well. It was obviously trying to mimic the Eldorado. Glad they didn’t go with it.

SUPERB video. Highly informative in detail & it’s great that you name names & their contributions. Adam you always top yourself. Indeed, it would be great to see a video on your background & automotive career. By far one of the best automobile channels on-line.

That red 1969 Mark III is so beautiful! Thanks again Adam for keeping the interest in cars....I sincerely doubt anyone will be doing this for the 2010 - 2030 automobiles! Lol

Adam, you are quite correct in preferring the design of the Mark IV. It's an exquisitely refined update from the busy Mark III design. I've got to give Bunkie Knudsen credit for demanding this version. Those other clay models are an abomination with their superfluous flowing wheel arches and their horrid rear ends. Even their squarish Cadillac Lego-look front end is abysmal. Bunkie, this makes up for that beak you put on the front of the 1970/71 Thinderbird! JJS

My father in law had a beautiful 1969 Mark III in dark green. It was a stunning automobile, perhaps the most beautiful car I have ever seen. My wife and I eventually restored it, but sold it years later due to space limitations….. a piece of art….

I was never a fan of the Mark IV styling, but loved the styling of both the Mark III and the Mark V, especially the designer editions of the V 😍

The Dahlberg proposal, of course! 🖖🙏

This was great, thank you. I remember these cars and rode in many. My favorite is the '74 Mark IV. When new, the Mark IV's were exciting and stylish. They were huge, luxurious and expensive. Even the floor to roof red velour seemed just right......

Ahhh, the Bunkie Beak. Learned about his influence from your channel. It’s a design feature I don’t care for, but it was so prolific….across companies he was with, and the copy cats that had to compete. People must have loved it, back in the day, as the beaks sold cars.

@tompastian3447

Ай бұрын

I like the beak on the T bird. Also like the big Birds that had no beak. I'd love to have one of each.

@tomkrisel4493

Ай бұрын

Probably increased business for body shops.

I remember as a kid , the Continental Mk4 was such an elegant and distinctive car that exuded status and prestige.

LOVE your Video's, I grew up in the Late 60's the Muscle car era. So these video's bring back so many Great memoires. Don, CA. 3-24-2024.

I addition to my last comment, in all candidness believe the clay models and fibreglass renditions of the early design of the Mark IV all look way too heavy and cartoon-like versions of the 1968 through 1971 Mark III. The one shown from the front three quarter view with exposed headlamps and unsculpted sides w/ fender flares looks identical to a 1969-1970 Oldsmobile Delta 88 coupe. The best design has to be the greatest production version by far. Always been in love with that car! Not one line would I change on it. The early production run without the Oval opera window look so cool without the gimmicky oval window. I remember as a kid of 13, begging and begging my Father & Mother to buy a Continental Mark IV in '72. My pleas fell on deaf ears. He bought a '73 Mercury Monterrey Custom Sedan instead, much to my disappointment.

Wow, thank you for another intriguing history lesson. I actually like this proposal a lot 11:11. Maybe the belt line could be brought down a little to make the car look slimmer like the Eldorado, but I do like this by quite a lot. Look at how the dramatic line blends into the tail fin, wow. That line could've been carried on by the top of the bumper to be wrapped around to the back. Dang.

Always loved the Lincoln Mark III and Mark IV since they came out when I was a kid.

The final version of the vehicle. Ever since I was a kid, I have been wild about the 72 Mark IV and the 71 and 72 Cougar. I want to own a 72 Mark IV one day. or a 72 two door imperial crown, or a.....

@edwardlazich1140

Ай бұрын

the Cougar had a Bunkie grill

Great Story, I love the gold one you have in the video. Iaccoca was the man of Detroit. 😊

I had a 73 Mark 4, it was a good driving car. I loved it

Remember back in the day the tv show "Cannon" which was somewhat popular the main character drove a MKIV Continental . So the car did get some exposure every week probably helped the sales a little bit I imagine. I owned a 1969 MKIII. It was such a good car.

I believe the same disagreement happened between Bordinat and Elwood Engel with the design of the 1961 Continental. Bordinat was the designer of the 1958-60 Conti, and he wanted a mere update for the 1961 model. Fortunately Engel's brand new design prevailed and we got that beautiful "suicide door" Lincolns of 1961-69

@ricksand6477

Ай бұрын

Bordinat did not become head of Ford Design until later. 1961 Continental by Engel was designed under George Walker with heavy influence from William Clay Ford. That gorgeous Continental was originally proposed as a Thunderbird. They slapped on an extra set of doors and made it a Lincoln Continental. The suicide doors were to make it easier to get into the shorter entry into the back seat. Bob McNamara, then President of Ford insisted on the smaller overall dimensions since the huge, ugly predecessor had been such a sales disaster. McNamara actually wanted to close the Lincoln division because it was such a money loser! The 1961 Continental was done under a very restrictive budget as a result and turned things around for Lincoln. You're right, they are beautiful!

i think the designer of the old movie "the car" looked at a few of those clay models as inspiration.

An Absolutely Beautiful Car was the '69, Adam, but the '72 was Terrific, as well. Cheers fm Damo😊👏

Fantastic video. This is my favorite car ever. Great grandparents bought a brand new 72 white, black top, and moondust leather in Buffalo, NY.

That hood on the actual production version is freakin' ginormous! I wouldn't want to be driving around in tight areas with one of these land yachts. What's under the hood in these cars? Surely, they didn't actually need all that space, right.

@JohnWebb-zn6yh

Ай бұрын

Yes, they did need all that space under that hood. There was hardly room to put a hand in anywhere under that hood.

@HFX1955

Ай бұрын

You would want to be careful that aircraft carrier flight operations didn't start occurring on it.

@martinschranner3495

Ай бұрын

I live in Germany and I am afraid to take country roads and pass through small towns with my '72 Mark IV. 😀 And yes, between the radiator and the Rolls Royce grill I have empty space for a single appartement.

@SteveRoman66

Ай бұрын

I think today's SUV's and Trucks have many more obstructed views, since they are much higher off the ground, dark tinted windows, high rear seats, huge side mirrors, etc. I actually feel better parking my 70 Chrysler than my 2020 Lincoln.

The one that ended up as the Mark IV was the best one. Simply beautiful. But my favorite Mark will always be the Mark VII

The Dahlberg design was a superior design indeed. Although I preferred the 69-71 Mark III, was one of the best American cars of the time, except for the 56-57 Mark II!!! Thanks for the video.

This topic comes up on the AACA forum now and then...The '72 Mark IV is a truly fantastic looking car, maybe the best looking personal luxury vehicle of that year. I've grown to like the '72 even more than the Mark III series, which I like a lot. Many (or even most)people on the forum agree with me. The '73 and later look nice, but the '72 is stellar.

A gallon of regular gasoline would have cost 36 cents in 1972, the equivalent of $2.53 a gallon today. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) put an embargo on foreign oil imports between 1973 and 1974, which tripled the price of gasoline, to $1.19, by 1980. the equivalent of $4.12 in 2022 dollars.

@lvsqcsl

Ай бұрын

In 1981, it was $1.30 per gallon when I started driving. That is the most expensive it got until recently.

Another engaging narrative with terrific period pictures... appreciate your hard work. Thank you

As usual a fantastic video. I'm missing a video about the last gen B-body GM cars (whale Caprice, Roadmaster, Fleetwood) I and my dad had owned 5 ones over the yesrs. They're great daily drivers....apart from the rusty outher shell..😊 especially the LT1 is just pure ❤. Thanks a lot for your documentaries.

I like the first proposal. The later one seems to be harkening back to 30s fenders, and also reminds me of the movie The Car. I will now say something that will shock many folks: I have owned multiple LSCs both VII and VIII, but my FAVORITE 2 door Lincoln is a VI - make mine black with dark red interior. To me just the classiest car. Maybe I'm a mobster at heart :)

I keep seeing a '92-'98 Cadillac Seville in the background and I hope to see a video about those one of these days (unless there's already been one I've missed). My folks had two when those were new and I was learning to drive, (a '92 4.9 SLS and a '93 Northstar STS), great-looking cars and great to either drive or to ride in. (And I say this as someone who knows about and has needed to use the Northstar water pump socket. I know, the starter's in the engine valley, etc.; the last time I had to care where a starter was, was 22 years ago helping fix my sister's bought-for-$600 in ~2001 '87 N-body Iron Duke/TH125 Grand Am coupe.)

Adam, this report on the design of the Lincoln Mark IV is outstanding. Thank you.

The final model was perfect 👍

As far as I know there had never been anything like that oval opera window on the Mark IV. Rarely is there anything completely new like that.

@ricksand6477

Ай бұрын

Unless you factor in the Ford heritage of the 1955 to 1957 Thunderbird porthole top?

Another GREAT video Adam. 👍

Another deep background story of design drama & history!

Hi from Sydney , Australia. The Eugene Bordinat mk4 concept was PURE UGLINESS, terrible, I would never have bought one. However, being the owner of a 1972 Ford Homebush, Sydney built right hand drive completely knocked down MK4 kit/pack, the Des Wahlberg car is beautiful, graceful & elegant, to me they are everything that the 1971 to 1978 Eldorado should have been. The MK4 looks ever bit a GM type design, it looks like the natural progression from the 1970 Eldorado look at the body side contours, curve to the door glass, even the wheel arch shape, the 1972 MK4's are PURELY STUNNING. I've always hated the 1977 MK5 with its slab sides , hateful side gills in cheap plastic , and the cheap glass fibre nose cone , nasty . MK4 pure class.

I always thought that the 72 MkIV was a gorgeous car! The Bordinat version not only was ugly, but those fender scallops(?) looked like over-exaggerated MkIII fenders, and, at least in my mind, looked a lot like the 66 Duesenberg revival attempt. Knudsen picked the right design!

Listen, I ripped everything out of there except the rocker panels.

@siddiqahmad5193

Ай бұрын

C'mon Irv, what the heII is that...

@vonbuzz9009

Ай бұрын

The movie ,,, the French Connection ,,, the mob was transporting coke or heroin in the rocker pannels ,they had to cut them open , find the dope and then rebuild the whole car so the mob guys didnt know that it was found....

The Mark 3 was a beautiful car.

The 72 Mark IV is a masterpiece. Bunkie Knudsen is my hero. I love what he did at Pontiac, and I love what he did at FoMoCo. Automobiles politics is rough!! Pontiac used to print a 1-800 number in their brochures for customer comments and suggestions. I remember calling them in 1997/98 and lecturing this poor Customer Service Rep on what I thought Bunkie would do regarding some now forgotten design. To my surprise, she knew who Bunkie was. Alas, they didn’t take my suggestion, and shortly thereafter, Pontiac was discontinued. Coincidence??? Hmmm …

The production version was definitely best! My Grandfather switched from Cadillac to Lincoln with the introduction of the Mark III and had a new Mark every couple of years thereafter.

I grew up during this era and had more than a passing interest in cars. Read a lot of the contemporary magazines. Your videos really highlight a lot of details about vehicles from the eras you cover that have other been, or will be forgotten. The clay model Knudsen liked was a work of art as far as I’m concerned.

MKIII was a clean looking design.

QUESTE ERANO VERE AUTOMOBILI ! UN SALUTO DALLA REPUBBLIKA VENETA! VENETO FROM VENICE !

The models look like the Batmobile. I actually like them. They may be intrusive, but they are truly great works of art.

Fascinating story! Thank you for the research

@charlescherry1733

Ай бұрын

1972 Mark IV one of my favorite looking cars from when it came out and I was 11 years old - very glad Knudsen picked alternate proposal!!! And thank you very much for mentioning the book - I’m going to order it tonight!

Hi Adam, very nice car and very accurate video! Some people do not remember the 1959-1957 Lincoln Continental Mark II, they where "hand built", they cost so much they did not sell to well and Ford lost money an every car. Last but not least, in 1936-1942, Lincoln offered the Zephyr series of cars. They could be had as a 3 passenger coupe, that was very personal luxury. Please respond. Dave...

I miss the 1965 Lincoin with the back doors that opened backwards. I wish I could find one, I would buy it quick.

Great content. Keep it coming! A triple black Mark III has been on my wish list forever!

That 69 was and is a classic.

The rejected proposal almost looks like one of those "neoclassic" cars like a Zimmer or Clénet. In fact, the front-end styling looks a lot like the Zimmer Quicksilver.

The design is amazing! I find the side marker lights look a bit "After thought" in how the are executed.

Amazing how S-13473 front looks familiar to the Imperial during Iacocca's time at Chrysler

Both the Mark IV and Thunderbird from 1972-76 were beautiful designs.

8:36 YIKES! Dhalberg all the way. The mark IV Its my favourite Lincoln design. Cannon approved.