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The moral of the Versailles story; if it ain’t Baroque, don’t fix it.

@cadillacguy1890

2 жыл бұрын

@Scott Prendergast thanks!

I have one of these in Wedgewood blue. It's a '77. It was my mother's car. It has 49k miles on it and a CB for peak 70's feel.

@kevincostello3856

3 жыл бұрын

Sir with all respect would you care to sell that car sometime.If so PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU

@shugahcaine4137

2 жыл бұрын

That's really cool. Does it run well?

@willc5512

Жыл бұрын

I have the same color same yr. 72k miles. Could it be the same car?

I worked as mechanic at a Lincoln Mercury dealership in those days. I can tell you the Versailles was just a dressed up Ford Granada with ALL the same problems the Granadas had. Damn I got tired of replacing those ridiculous plastic window tracks under warranty!

@rogerchurch3804

2 жыл бұрын

u know thats exactly what i thought alotta years wow they take a basic frame and body style they already had and add a bunch on to junk o to it they call it luxury edition lol!

@klovor

2 жыл бұрын

worked for the crown vic

@tomtransport

2 жыл бұрын

I managed a Lincoln Mercury, Mercedes dealership service Dept. 1975 to 1999. I had a company car but I bought my wife (right out of the showroom) a 1979 Mercury Monarch 2 door with the Ghia Trim fully loaded with AC/PS/PB/ Cruse Control/AM FM Stereo/ etc. etc. Black vinyl half roof, Silver then black again below the Ghia Molding. Great car that we wound up giving to son for college then his first job. Still running strong at over 185,000 miles when it got totaled while parked. Goodbye Monarch. The Lincoln Versailles was a joke on the well to do, Yeah it was a bit more fancy but a Monarch/Granada disguised as a luxury car. Did not fool many. We leased a few to executives that their Co. paid for. We did not sell many outright that I recall, our clientele were too smart.

@newtonlee7849

Жыл бұрын

Junk at its highest form. like putting on lipstick& glossing up a pig

@retroguy9494

Жыл бұрын

Well, you would know more than me because you worked on them and I was only in grammar/middle school at the time. But MY understanding was that it was more a dressed up (and overpriced) Mercury Monarch than a Ford Granada. Having known people who had both, I think it at least LOOKED more like the Mercury. But not knowing anyone who shelled out the price for a 'small Lincoln' when they could have had the full sized Continental Town Car, I was only comparing based on pictures.

The problem with the Versailles is that it was sold in Lincoln-Mercury dealers right alongside of the Monarch. They shared the same dash design and it was obvious that the Lincoln was just an upgraded Monarch. The Monarch could be optioned to a nearly similar level of Luxury for much less money, and customers didn't see the value of going for the far more expensive Lincoln. By contrast, while the Seville shared many mechanical parts with other GM cars, the dash was unique and pure Cadillac, and the exterior was also totally unique. In fact, a better comparison with the Versailles is the later Cadillac Cimerron, which was a barely disguised Chevrolet, with a similar dash and exterior design. Like the Versailles, customers rejected it as not a "true" Cadillac. Lincoln should have given the Versailles a unique dash and interior and better differentiated the exterior from the Grenada/Monarch. Instead they relied on options and the Lincoln name to succeed. It was a strategy bound to fail, and it did.

@LulaRoberts

4 жыл бұрын

@Bigwerm Windy City your right.

@califdad4

4 жыл бұрын

a Salesman at our Local Lincoln Mercury dealer told me that they never parked one of these anywhere near a Monarch on the lot , especially before the new Roof line came out. When they first came out dealers were dealing on these, I remember seeing one dealer about 2 hours away was advertising 2 Versailles for about $19,999. GM gave the 76-79 Seville its own body, ford didn't have the money at the time to do this. Had they redone the tail lights like what the Mark V did the following year and hidden headlights they might have been able to pull it off, but the Granada/Monarch had a very noticeable side design doors and windows and you just couldn't hide it

@willc5512

Жыл бұрын

It produced a nice classic for me. 😃.

When I was a kid my father owned a Mercury Monarch, Canadian model of this vintage. No air, but nicely equipped. Our neighbor got a brand new Versailles and I remember riding in it. It was vastly more plush than our Monarch. It was beautifully finished too. Thankyou for this video, excellent job!

@kennethsouthard6042

2 жыл бұрын

But for the price your neighbor paid, your dad could have had 2 Monarchs. Probably both with A/C.

@2006gtobob

2 жыл бұрын

@@kennethsouthard6042 HA!!

@retroguy9494

Жыл бұрын

My uncles mother in law bought a brand new 1977 Mercury Monarch. WITH air! LOL While the Versailles was definitely more 'plush' inside, I found it, even as a kid at the time, to be nothing more than a fancy dressed up Monarch. My aunt always thought that to pay the price of a Cadillac Seville or Lincoln Versailles when they were such 'small' cars when you could have a full size Fleetwood, Deville, Continental Mark or Town Car for a bit less was not only a waste of money, but 'ridiculous.' LOL

@willc5512

Жыл бұрын

@@retroguy9494 Now with gas at $5 the Versailles does what I need it to do!

@retroguy9494

Жыл бұрын

@@willc5512 I hear ya dude. I wish my mechanic could get my '94 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham running right. Because I can get 27 MPG on that compared to the 14/15 MPG I get on my Escalade. Plus I have to run premium in the Escalade.

I inherited my mother's '77 (or '78?) Diamond Jubilee, silver blue metallic. Great interior, clear coat paint and grabbing disc breaks. Quadraphonic stero! Wire caps. Horrible detuned 302, electronic ignition and drive train. Padded roof and aluminum hood survived a huge hail storm, until years later when spiral cracks appeared on the roof. Drove it cross country. Took it from 50K to about 90K. All those rear ends found their way to low riders as the Versailles were junked.

Those who berate the Versailles as a Granada with pearls obviously never drove or rode in one. My stepfather had a 1977 model with the two-tone brown and caramel color scheme, vinyl roof and leather interior. It truly was a smaller Town Car; same build quality, heavy, sound deadening doors, thick carpeting, smooth ride, and every electronic option available at the time. The engine purred, and there wasn't a squeak or rattle to be found. Yes, it shared the frame of the Granada, but the Seville shared the frame of a Nova, and the Mustang the frame of the Falcon. That's how car makers provide options to consumers while managing to keep prices within acceptable ranges. Chrysler tried separating the Imperial from sharing its other platforms, and that didn't last long at all. Compared to cars these days with plastic body panels, bumpers and Darth Vader grilles, the Versailles was a beauty.

@fdhicks69

4 жыл бұрын

Agreed. It was more car than people thought. Sound insulation, suspension, options/interior appointments and in the last two years, the ASC roof engineering/ design finally made a difference.

@judethaddaeus9742

3 жыл бұрын

I dunno... Bob Mayer in Miami tested the ‘78 Versailles new and found it rode and drove nothing like the big Lincolns and suffered numerous interior squeaks and rattles. kzread.info/dash/bejne/anaZk7Numse3hZM.html

Beginning in 1975 I was a NAISE (now known as ASE) and Ford certified technician working at what was at that time Goodro Ford in Denver located at the corner of Evans Ave. and Colorado Blvd. As such I was what was referred to in the Ford dealerships as a driveability technician. I was one of a very few, very first factory trained technicians certified to work on the EEC I system and the variable venturi carburetors. As nostalgic as some folks like to view these old vehicles, if I may add some insight. The Versailles were a highly equipped and furnished Granada. Basically a Ford with a high school education. However, back then there were some glaring short comings. As a driveability technician my focus was on engine performance and related issues. The EEC I (electronic engine control) was the very first attempt by Ford to incorporate electronic controls of the engine functions such as fuel, and ignition control. This system had no self test ability so all diagnosis had to be done by what was called pin-point testing with DVOM (digital volt ohm meter). Likewise the usage of a new technology of a variable venturi carb was utilized. Having said that there were a number of ongoing issues and problems. Some of which was a continuous need for maintenance and repair. The VV carb had only at most about a 20K mile life span before requiring overhaul. If the VV carb was overhauled by someone other than the factory trained tech it would never be right again. And even many of the factory trained technicians never did aquire the skill to properly service and overhaul the VV carb. Many times the fix was to install a conventional Motorcraft 2150 2bbl. carb. Inherent problems related to fuel destroying the venturi control diaphragm and the stepper motor constantly sticking and faulty fuel contaminated TP sensor (throttle position sensor) causing over-fueling resulting in the catalytic converter to basically becoming a tiny blast furnace causing it to want to set the carpeting of the backseat floor to want to become on the verge of catching fire and causing a smell to permanently permeate the interior. Not to mention the fact that Ford warned the driver to not let the car sit and run in spots that could potentially set things on the ground on fire, such as dry grass and the like. And being my location being in Denver the EEC I system had no real ability to compensate for altitude. The ignition system would quite often fail leaving the driver stranded on the side of the road. Primarily due to the ignition module not handling the heat of operation. Plus sticking EGR (exhaust gas re-circulation) valves causing stalling any time the throttle was in the idle position. The engine was grossly under-powered, even when it was running correctly (which was rare). Having said all that I will say this, I loved the Versailles. Especially when uncle Henry was footing the bill. Many times people would ask me "do you like the Versailles?" and my response would be a resounding "YES!", as they never stopped paying my bills. Then I would get asked "are they good cars?" and my response would be "I don't know because the only Versialles I ever see are always broke". AHH yes what terrific memories.(-;

@TofersCarTales

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing! Always fascinating to hear from those that were on the "front lines" of the emergence of early engine management systems and gulp... variable venturi carbs. I've had my run ins with a few of them lol

@lencac7952

4 жыл бұрын

@@TofersCarTales No problem, as sharing that brought back some now fond memories. Back in those days there was only 5 or maybe 6 Ford trained EEC and VV carb technicians in the whole state of Colorado. Back then I took the liberty of making a couple VV carb specific tools to aid in the set-up and adjustments. Plus I took it upon myself to do a couple unauthorized modifications to the VV carb that would help extend its life cycle and driveability a little bit. So for a couple of years when those things were still running around on the streets I became very proficient at overhauling the VV carb. To the point where almost all the other dealers in Denver would bring me their customer's VV carbs for me to overhaul. Sometimes they would just bring me the whole car. Unlike many other techs I loved working on them because being a flat-rate technician I could make some decent money working on them. If memory serves me correctly I think it paid 3.6 hr. labor time in the warranty manual to overhaul a VV. I could do one in about an hour. And one of the nice things was that when it was set-up properly on the bench and installed there would be virtually no other adjustments needed. So yeah that was good stuff. I was young and full of myself being the only tech willing to work on those things with virtually 100% certainty of the job being successful. So you're welcome. I enjoyed the trip down memory lane.

@davidbauer1485

4 жыл бұрын

Dad bought the used Diamond Jubilee edition from the Dealer in Greeley Colorado. Awesome interior, quadraphonic tape deck, clear coat, disk breaks and wire wheels. Mom used it for years as here "Bridgemobile." I used it in the early nineties and took it from 50 to about 80K miles. It was underpowered, the detuned 302 had way too much junk hung on it. Took it cross country no problem as it rode great. Dad absolutely hated the electronic ignition and drive train. Ironic the rear end and breaks are so sought after for low riders today. As a youngster my job was too keep it clean. It still had new car smell when I drove it in 1990. I am an expert at cleaning those wire wheel hubcaps. Eventually I had cold weather problems with the throttle sticking open. Then a large hail storm hit but the car seemed to do well, aluminum hood and all. But a year later little round cracks appeared all over the top. At that point Dad traded it off. He said he saw it on the road a year later with a new white top and dish wheels. Guess that silver blue top material was unavailable ... if it was the same car. Once I took the back seat out and found a perfectly opened but empty pack of Pal Mal cigarettes.

@realmaindrianpace

4 жыл бұрын

Believe it or not, and few do, We bought a 1979 LTD wagon brand new in Phoenix with the 351W and the 2VV carb. We had it until 1989 and around 120,000 miles, and had not a single problem with the carburetor. That was in the days before caustic, oxygenated fuels which doubtless helped. We did, however, go through several ignition modules, with the parts store modules lasting no longer than the OEM modules. The sort-of fix was to have an extra in the rear storage compartment, along with a nut driver to put it on if need be - which happened a time or two. Aside from that, it was my favorite family car as a kid, it had good power and was a very nice car to drive.

@adamtrombino106

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you sir for telling the truth about the VV carbs and EEC 1 system. I did several std carb and ignition conversions back in the day on both the 351 and 302s on several different Ford models. We mostly used the tried and true Ford stand alone electronic ignition system and non feedback Autolite carb. After that, you had a great running reliable Ford again. And yeah, I remember the need for a B.O.B, volt/ohm meter and countless pages of diagnostic tree charts to try and make EEC1, 2 and 3 systems work ( as well as some ECC IVs) ALL of those late 70s, early 80s computer systems were just not ready yet, from every US car maker. Chrysler's system from 81-89 actually worked the best on carbureted engines, but you needed their diagnostic machines to 'talk to it' and even after 13yrs, they still insisted on putting a delicate computer on top of a hot engine... GM's C3 system was really bad early on, but they had the first handheld plug in diagnostic scan tool that a tech could take on a test drive, in the industry, that we all take advantage of today. By the mid 80s, that system worked fairly well, but as you said, 1 had better know how to set up a feedback Q-Jet correctly, or it'll never pass the emissions tests. I like trying to tell young techs about those days, and watching their faces drop. lol

After being a loyal Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury buyer for all of his adult life, my father, a decorated WWII Vet of the Greatest Generation, slowly drove his, now tired, 1977 Lincoln Mark V into the L & M. dealership in Rockford, Illinois to buy an exciting new 1980 Lincoln, Versailles! Pop never bought anything the first year of the offer, as he said, "They have to work the bugs out of the darn thing first!" lol. He was correct though, look at the production problems and quality control nightmares of the 'Big Three' back in the day. He had ordered it with all of the latest bells and whistles, except the computerized electronic dashboard option, he thought that was just too much. (so did I) He took delivery of his truly beautiful gold on gold leather '80 Lincoln, Versailles. I asked him how this Lincoln compared to his '66 Lincoln, Continental, or his '72 Lincoln, Mark IV, or any of his previous Lincolns for that matter? He frowned, looked me in the eye, and said, "J.D., sometimes we are forced to accept limitations in life, this son, is one of those times."

@darinscottthomas6236

2 жыл бұрын

What a Beautiful story. Thanks for sharing that.

@MisterMikeTexas

Жыл бұрын

I would have kept that 66 Lincoln! That generation was unique and stood out from Cadillac.

@MrMenefrego1

Жыл бұрын

@@MisterMikeTexas That would have been difficult to do, my brother was hit by a drunk driver and killed, and the 66 Lincoln was totaled.

I owned a 1979 Cartier Edition, Wedgewood Blue interior, Dark Blue exterior, Darker Blue Vinyl roof with Moon Roof, bucket seats, automatic on the floor and a clock that actually worked. What a ride ! One of the best riding vehicles I have ever owned. It might have been built on a Granada/Monarch platform, but it was all Lincoln. I would buy another one, if I could find one that did not have the velour interior. They are really rare right now, but reasonably priced in the $12-15,000 range.

@fdhicks69

4 жыл бұрын

Not a lot survived one reason being the narrow 9” rear end that is considered desirable for leaf spring Camaros among others.

Nearly ten minutes in and still haven't seen the Versailles yet? Had to go back to make sure I clicked on the right video ; )

@TofersCarTales

4 жыл бұрын

The history portion did run a bit long. One of those things where I'm so focused on the production details I don't notice "the big picture" until the video is already uploaded. 😑

@jamesslick4790

3 жыл бұрын

I didn't mind, Beyond just reviewing a car, It's worthwhile to know the context of where it came from and why it was made.

Wow, sitting here watching this and I suddenly see 2 of my old bosses pop onto the screen, Cab Calloway and Illinois Jacquet sitting in the tenor saxophone chair of Cab's band. And the Nicholas Brothers were simply incredible. Excellent video presentation. I owned a new Lincoln Town Car Signature Series in 1987 and had completely forgotten about the Versailles until I just now saw this video. Even when the car was brand new, I just envisioned it sitting on the back row of a used car lot, just seemed a bit tawdry to me. Years ago I remember my hot rodder friend scouring junk yards for the rear axle assemblies from these cars to use on '38 Chevy's he was building, I think they used an 8.8 or 9in ring assembly plus disk brakes. But I could never buy a car whose name was this hard to spell, Versailles is a bit past my learning curve. Thanks for putting up such a high quality production.

@TofersCarTales

4 жыл бұрын

Incredible to hear you personally had the pleasure of knowing these legendary entertainers. Thanks for sharing and glad you enjoyed!

Very well made as usual!! I do agree that the Formal Roofline should have been offered at the very beginning. That really made it stand apart from the other models that was it's basis. As a kid I loved the original Seville and still would like to own one today!

There is no mistaking a pure Tofer production. I will add this to my KZread Lincoln folder. I’m gonna rewatch this again to get the full experience undistracted. This kinda quality deserves my undivided attention. Best regards 🤩

The 1982 Lincoln Continental based on the Ford Fairmont "Fox" platform is this car's spiritual successor. I think Ford was afraid to use Versailles again because of its failed history.

I once spotted a 1976 Mercury Monarch Ghia in P.A. that was in showroom condition. It had every conceivable option, but the two standouts that I liked the most were the 351 (5.8 Liter) V-8 and all wheel disc brakes. It was the nicest car of that type I had ever seen. It was not as flamboyant as the Lincoln Versailles.

I've owned both a 76 Granada and 77 Versailles and they were both good cars. But the Versailles was more than just a fancy Granada, with the 4 wheel disc brakes, larger engine and plush interior it was amazing. I bought it in 1990 and regret selling it. The only real downside was the narrow rear doors and short rear legroom.

Lincoln's , Timeless and Speechless! A beautiful car that says , you have arrived!!!

My parents neighbors had one. They also had a Mercury Monarch. I always thought the Lincoln looked like the Mercury with a aftermarket body kit. I rode in the Lincoln a lot and even rode on a three hour trip to lake cottage our families rented for a Memorial Day weekend. Very comfortable and it had a much better air conditioner than my father's BMW Bavaria. My mother had a OPEL 1900 wagon with a four speed that left both the Mercury and the Lincoln in the dust in a drag race.

@paulpeterson4311

2 жыл бұрын

Anything had better AC than BMW or Benz back then!! Hahaha!!

The first 2 years hardly looked any different from the Granada and Monarch. The 1979 and 1980 got the facelift the car needed, making it look more luxurious and like a Lincoln. The Seville had a more German-like upscale look, while the Lincoln seemed to look more practical.

@fdhicks69

4 жыл бұрын

The ‘79 and ‘80 used a subcontractor for the roof line mods. They designed it and modified a ‘78 showed it to Ford and sold it. ASC was the organization’s name I believe and they did OEM sunroof and convertible work.

@judethaddaeus9742

3 жыл бұрын

fdhicks69 I believe they also did the work of turning the 1981 LeBaron into a Fifth Avenue by pulling the same roofline trick.

@judethaddaeus9742

3 жыл бұрын

The Seville had a much sportier wheel-to-body relationship, while the Versailles was proportioned like a shrunken large car.

Am I the only one who finds the intro music incredibly catchy?

@GeeEm1313

3 ай бұрын

Ya.

It wasn't a "Malaise" if you were there to enjoy it. That Era is so special to me....Embrace it....Don't Hate on it.

I once owned a 1977 Ford Granada Ghia w/ 302 V8, Beautiful car, I wish they would produce it again, Ford might sell more than they think. Proud owner of a 2007 Lincoln Town Car now

I'd totally forgotten about this model and this video brought back the memory of this car and the bad reception by many long time Lincoln buyers in my family, mainly my grandparents and their siblings.

The biggest problem was the price. I believe it was FoMoCo's 1st mass produced car of the 70s to be base sticker priced above $10k. And it just didn't look different enough from a Monarch or Granada. no matter how much fluff was added. Caddy designers did a great job disguising the Nova platform for the Seville. Plus that car had a much more powerful Olds 350 with an electronic fuel injection system that actually worked. Ford's VV carb and EEC 1 computer system threw all the expected Ford reliability right out the window. Plus these cars were 6-700lbs heavier than their Granada siblings, and premature rear spring sag was another issue.

The Seville was and is still one of my favorites. A classic from the first second.

This was absolutely Flawless! Your work is phenomenal. I’ll never understand why it didn’t take off more. If I could get my hands on one today. For whatever reason my father stuck to the Continental & then Town Car. Thank you & enjoyed it immensely.

I think the passage of time has shown that this wasn't a bad car but we can't rewind history. It was quite elegant towards its end.

Interesting and informative. Well done.

Lincoln should bring back the Versailles as an MKZ replacement, especially that Ford has got rid of all of their cars , save the Mustang, from their lineup

@eblackadder3

3 жыл бұрын

Slapping the Versailles name on a contemporary Lincoln would not make it one.

@carlm8821

2 жыл бұрын

Nah, if Lincoln were to revive the Versailles name, they would just slap it onto a small x-over or suv. Hence, look what Ford just did with the Maverick name… not to mention how they want to force us into believing a Mustang can ACTUALLY be an electric x-over!

@AbronHawkins

2 жыл бұрын

@@carlm8821 you're right. Can you imagine that name on a jazzed up Ford Maverick compact truck to be sold in Lincoln dealers????

@carlm8821

2 жыл бұрын

@@AbronHawkins And as sacrilegious as it was for many to put the name on a Ford Granada it would be just as bad today! You make a great point.

I tell you! I learn so much from your documentaries! So much amazing information that I never would have known otherwise. Absolutely fascinating. I was born in 1980 and my grandmother had the 1980 Lincoln Versailles. From pictures, it was a beautiful car!!

The first years it looked like a Granada with a Rolls Royce Grill & a Continental Kit, it may have taken off if they introduced it with the more formal roof line, Oh well!

@viciouspoodle5543

3 жыл бұрын

American Sunroof did the new roofline for Ford on the Versailles. How sad is that?

I'm 40 and have never seen one on the road. More educated on Lincoln vehicles. Thanks for posting.

@robk9685

2 жыл бұрын

You did see one. You just thought it was a Granada with some some junk glued onto it from the AutoZone customization crap aisle.

Lee Ioughtachoke ya was one astute and shrewd businessman. He had ideas and a way to execute them. Rare even then. The only thing that put a "dent" in his reputation was the Chrysler Dodge odometer scam in the mid to late 80s. I remember we had purchased a red Dodge Ram shortbed pickup (beautiful truck) and about a year in we get a letter stating that we owned one of the vehicles which had in fact had the odometers disconnected (or never connected from factory) that the sales people had driven around for awhile. Never saw a dime from that. We kept that truck for 18 years and sold it to a teen who is still driving it today!

Your videos are always high quality and high effort, and they are always very enjoyable and pleasant. Thank you!

I saw one of these bad boys within the past ten years and it was still going.

Henry Ford was really not a engineer but a accountant. Edsel Ford was genius; a good engineer and designer. Leyland and Wills where the masterminds behind Ford's success.

Had the Versaiiles started with the '79 roofline, it would have sold much better. Lacking only EFI, it was from an engineering and technology standpoint pretty much on par with Seville. Good suspension, good quality, disc brakes all around , quite luxurious for a compact. I think Ford should have stuck the 302 FI V8 in it and tried giving the 351 EFI for a boost or least started with a 4 bbl V8 instead of a 2 bbl. The car was pretty bulletproof for a '70s product

In Australia we had the Fairlane Marquis and the LTD Town Car as Ford’s baroque armada. My family had the Marquis with the 351 which was strangled by the dreaded pollution controls known as ADR 27A despite electronic ignition. The crushed velour and electric front seats were quite the attraction along with deep cut piled carpet.

Had a 79 Granada Ghia coupe in pearl grey inside and out...Nice leather buckets and smooth driving style. Never too reliable with the straight 6.Seville much more developed.

Loved it very nicely done Can you do one on the 80’s Chrysler 5th Avenue sometime?

@TofersCarTales

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! The 5th Avenue is definitely on my list!

@alain0323

4 жыл бұрын

About the Chrysler Imperial?

@pcno2832

3 жыл бұрын

@@alain0323 Yes! I've always had a fascination with the 1990 Imperial because it had the same legroom as the huge 1973 (more than the slightly shortened '74) in a much, much smaller package. The K cars and their spawn got plenty of ribbing for their boxy styling, but they were the most space efficient American sedans ever made.

@davem4143

2 жыл бұрын

Yessss I agree!!

When Road Test Magazine first reviewed this car, the article's headline read, "Versailles: Louis XIV would not be pleased..." 😉

14:25 Ford's decision to jam the catalytic converter into the transmission tunnel, versus GM's placement of it right where the passenger's feet normally go (in the Seville as well as most of their RWD offerings), probably made the Versailles a more comfortable car than the Seville, despite its standard interior and exterior measurements being smaller. But GM did a much better job of disguising the Nova platform underneath its new "international sized" luxury car; the Granada sheet metal made it hard to take the Versailles seriously.

Your videos are more than about a car, you capture the essense of the zeitgeist. I grew up in the 70's and 80's and man you make something that pulls at my heart. I love cars, but I don't know what it is... your imagery, editing, sound... kills me every time. There's some production talent beyond automobile enthusiast. Keep 'em coming.

@TofersCarTales

2 жыл бұрын

Appreciate the kind words. I do try to do something a little different than just talk about a car that everyone else has likely already covered.

Some people were surprised when I said that Lincoln and Cadillac were created by the same person; I might be one of the few people who knew that part of history surrounding these two brands.

I’m rather neutral on certain elements of the Baroque period in cars, but strongly admire the vision. To take a theme or time period from history, and craft it into a vehicular design language is rather special. Which in turn was stylishly translated through promotional material and advertising. It’s not something seen much anymore - certainly not as boldly, and is one reason why cars today are mostly forgettable. The designs are literally uninspired by comparison. Defined mostly by an overarching push towards a kind of generic futurism.

@shugahcaine4137

2 жыл бұрын

Wow, that's one fancy description of a pimpmobile 💃🕺 Well not so much a description as a diatribe. Well not so much a diatribe as an opinion. Yeah that's the ticket, an opinion, it's an opinion. A fancy opinion. Yeah, that was my point to start with.

Another very well edited and narrated video Tofer. How you are able to find and piece together old sales literature is amazing.

@TofersCarTales

4 жыл бұрын

eBay has been my best friend. It's not easy finding decent quality scans online. But I've also learned some great photo editing skills. If the images don't look perfect when viewed on my 65" TV, I go back and edit again. It's worth the effort for you all.

A car that epitomized superficial luxury over the quality & bullet proof engineering of the foreign luxury competitors. The buyers ( those that likely weren't familiar with foreign makes) could only be fooled for just a few more years. Nice history of this absolutely unremarkable car.

You are a master of culture, Mr. Tofer. As always, a fantastic presentation!

One thing I love about automotive advertising of this era is how many words are used to say so little. "Every engine is hand-matched to its transmission". "Rich Dorchester cloth upholstery". "Double cardan coupling". LOL!

My maternal grandparents always drove Lincolns. They believed the “wrong kind” of people drove Cadillacs. Anyway, for a brief, shining moment in time, in the 60s, Lincoln produced cars which were beautiful. Not just beautiful for their time but today, 50+ years later, they remain desirable and iconic. Then, Lincoln devolved into opera windows, crushed velour, vinyl roofs and vulgarity. Today, no one, especially those under 70, aspire to own a Lincoln. I remember a scene from a John Waters’ movie in which the movie star was shocked to see a Lincoln Town Car pull up to drive her to the airport. She refused to get in the Lincoln declaring, “What am I, a crack dealer?!”

The Seville had an advantage over the Versailles as it was developed from the rather dumpy Nova, with all new sheet metal. The Maverick had already been taken uptown with the Granada/Monarch series cars. With more limited resources, Ford was hard pressed to make a dramatic upgrade from those models to Versailles. The result was a car sold at L-M dealers that was not much different than the Monarch, at twice the price.

I absolutely thoroughly enjoyed this video. Your editing skills are incredibly professional. Very very fun to watch. I imagine today, I dont think the Versailles would command much money today.

I,ll never forgot the one my uncle had, it was the most gadget filled car I had seen at the time and it was beautiful.

Tofer as usual great work here. Neighbor had one of these in like turquoise color and beautiful. Car was so quiet that I remember. Little Lincolns!!!

Those are rare finds. Lincoln should have stretched the Grenada platform 6" in overall length and it would have been a much better design. It was too small unlike the Seville.

@paulpeterson4311

2 жыл бұрын

The whole point was to offer a SMALLER Lincoln. The Seville was a whopping 3" longer.

KZread has recently promoted this older video more frequently. For those that find the pacing too slow... I am sorry. This was a phase where I was really trying to understand what people want. I had read many complaints from my earlier efforts related to overly flashy visuals. This effort was an attempt to focus the video editing skills I had learned into something more resembling a proper documentary. I probably went too far. Regardless, good or bad... I learn from your honest feedback and I do appreciate it. Please do also understand this is a side hobby. I am in no way a professional video editor, script writer or voice over person. True story, my day job involves dental appliances.

I owned one of these Granda Lincolns and at only 60K miles the transmission went. When you looked at the leather wrapped dash and glove box padding it did not line up it was wavy in some areas and actually looked like they went over the Granada trim. I was a huge fan of the styling. But disappointed with the under powered car.

Amazing, beautifully done video.

How you not have more subscribers these videos are amazing

Good job! The Versailles tanked because Ford failed to provide enough upmarket visual cues to justify its premium price. It looked like a Granada with a bump on the trunk. Same story inside with similar dash, seats, etc. The Granada in Ghia trim was every bit as elegant, visually, and way cheaper.

@Pisti846

4 жыл бұрын

The Interior was taken from the Mercury Grand Monarch Ghia.

Its such a shame ...its like they ran out of time, money and creativity by the time the design team decided to do with the rear end styling of the -Granada- Versailles 🤦 Imo that blunder alone all but guaranteed the underwhelming response and sales.

I’d love to see you do the three generations of Lincoln Towncar. Last the old world luxury car that America had the pleasure of experiencing.

The Versailles was one of my favorite cars back then. It may not have been the sales champion the Seville was, but it allowed people to have a Lincoln that wasn't 22' long, but just as luxurious. And congratulations to you for making what has to be the most beautiful video about this car! This was beyond informative; it was downright entertaining! 🏆! 🐰

One of ur best yet 👍

I remember my Grandparents liked it but could not afford the price. Super expensive car at the time. They called it the Versails !

Wow, thanks KZread for waiting 2 weeks of notifying me of this video. Glad I am seeing it now though, you music choices are always great!

I think the Versailles simply looked far too much like a gussied up, but rather stodgy Granada/Monarch to command much market consideration. Even the more upright roofline that came later looked like a bolt-on. Conversely, the Cadillac Seville of the period looked absolutely nothing like a Chevy Nova, and was indeed quite handsome. Consequently it was viewed as its own car, if not completely a Cadillac. This really speaks to how important general perception is, even if the product itself has great merit.

The Versailles should have been a hit. My first car was a '77 Granada and it was a tank. I almost bought a '78 Versailles after my Granada's frame needed repair. Instead bought an '84 Grand Marquis...

@michaeldickens7493

3 жыл бұрын

Theses cars were not tanks a 76 lincoln town car was a literal tank

Many American cars were "baroque" repeatedly throughout the 70s. That is one reason people switched to imports.

Very informative and informational video. I liked the effort put into this video. The graphics and editing are really good. I liked the story behind the car too.

My dear sir, you out-did yourself, this is the best yet and I'm amazed and the absolute quality of production you put into these. I love this channel, it deserves great success and is among the best on YT. Pure class & sophistication in content. You always give a little something different and extra to enjoy too, and you even managed to slip in a few messages of hope for us throughout the video, that, we all really need right now. God Bless.

@TofersCarTales

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for these incredibly kind words.

An amazing, eloquent and mostly calming presentation! Not to mention the level of expertise it took to make this video.

@TofersCarTales

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

My Parents had a Monarch and then dad gave to my brother. And got one if these. Shocking cuz he always had BIG Lincolns and Caddys

I worked at Fiesta Ford in Indio Ca. and was the first one there sent to school on the VV2700 carb If you set them up exactly right they didn’t come back. Being in the desert you had to also make sure the air cleaner gasket was good and filter and regular Tune ups as we called then we’re done. I liked that carb because we were paid well for rebuilding them. The early computer systems on all makes and models had problems. and were a nightmare at times because of limited diagnostic capabilities of the systems.

The Verailles was sold at the same time as th Ford Granada and the Mercury Monarch, It had a larger passenger compartment and a much larger price. The problem was it looked like one of those custom made limosenes that were a 4 door sedan that was stretched near the rear seat. The Versailes looked a bit like a "stretrch limo". The man who was driving it looked like he was making believe he was a chauffer.

This is such a great review of Lincoln!

Thank you for the 24-minute smile.

For me, nothing beats the Lincoln Navigator.....as the most powerful and opulent American fullsize luxury SUV: late 1990s(1999): -NAVIGATOR...............5.4L V8 300HP -Escalade(1st gen)......5.7L V8 255hp -Grand Cherokee..........5.9L V8 245hp -GMC Suburban...........7.4L V8 290hp -Chevrolet Suburban...7.4L V8 290hp -Ford Expedition.........5.4L V8 260hp -Dodge Durango..........5.9L V8 250hp -Toyota Sequioa..........4.7L V8 240hp And yet........even until today, the Lincoln Navigator still leads: 2020s-present: -NAVIGATOR...Twin-Turbo V6 500HP -Escalade......................6.4L V8 435hp -Grand Cherokee..........5.7L V8 390hp -Yukon XL......................6.4LV8 435hp -Suburban.....................6.4L V8 435hp -Durango.......................5.7L V8 380hp -Sequioa.......................5.7L V8 386hp -Armada........................5.6L V8 390hp -QX80............................5.6L V8 400hp

Another great one!!!!

They could put all of the technology and features into the car that they wanted. But at the end of the day, it's a really nice Granada/Monarch. The steering wheel was the same as on my 1977 Ford F-150 XLT.

Whoa...great production! Music is great. Writing ! Nice job!

It is very hard to find one of these today because most were cannibalized for the parts, like the rear disc brake differntial, when they were fairly new.

Back in the day, people who had to foot the bill for that baroque architecture often ended up brrrr-oke.

You need more zoom on the materials. You lose a lot of umph by having them virtually unconsumable.

Wish they still made some cars this horrible yet magnificent. Lux in the 70's compared to now is so opposite

@TofersCarTales

4 жыл бұрын

Definitely was a completely different world, for better or worse.

What the Lincoln Versailles become best known for was as a parts car goldmine in the wrecking yards back in the 80's&90's....the disc-brake rearends were a cheap upgrade for a Fox-body Mustang or any street-rod buildup.

I almost forgot to watch this today.

Very good information! Thank you for upload!

If when Lincoln replaces the mkz, I hope Lincoln bring back the Versailles name plate and have this car go after the Mercedes A class, the BMW 2 serious and the Audi A3

Excellent video. Thank you so much!

Great job on this video. This beauty is almost forgotten.

Beautifully-done documentary.

Wish I could find one in good original condition.

@davem4143

2 жыл бұрын

Agree!!

The Lincoln Versailles may not have been a huge seller, but I still want one. I could replace the old 302ci V8 with one from the Ford Mustang. An over 400hp Lincoln Versailles? Works for me.

Well done as always. Loved the info in Star Wars "crawl" style and the Close Encounters material. Must have taken a lot of work to match the beats of the dance to the different music - nice!

@TofersCarTales

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much Andy! Glad you enjoyed it and hope you guys are doing well. Happy almost father's day! :)

A family friend had one, I think 76 or 77 and it was turquoise with the turquoise leather interior.

Nice. Great job as always. Throughly enjoyed.

This guy is terrific. I love it down to his knowledge and production. Great KZread channel!