Lincoln Continental Mark VII

The Continental Mark VII, later shortened to just Mark VII, is a rear wheel drive luxury coupe that was produced by Lincoln. Introduced in August 1983 for the 1984 model year, the Continental Mark VII shared its platform with the Ford Thunderbird, Mercury Cougar, and Lincoln Continental (the Ford Fox platform from the code name of the first program using the platform). The Fox platform was originally introduced for the 1978 Ford Fairmont and Mercury Zephyr. The same platform was also utilized as the base for the 1982 - 1987 Lincoln Continental sedan - the Mark VII's four-door companion. Like its predecessor the Lincoln Continental Mark VI, the Mark VII was manufactured at the Wixom Assembly Plant in Wixom, Michigan through 1992. It was replaced by the Lincoln Mark VIII in 1993.

The Mark VII held a lengthy standard equipment list, including an onboard trip computer / message center and digital instruments (on all except the LSC models after 1986). Mark VII's also came with full air suspension at all four wheels. The 1985 LSC was the first American vehicle with electronic 4-channel anti-lock brakes (6 months before the Corvette). Mark VII also had the distinction of being the first American vehicle since 1940 with composite headlights and it was the first of the Lincoln Mark models to have exposed headlights since 1968, and the introduction of the Lincoln Continental Mark III coupe.

Lincoln Mark VIII

The Lincoln Mark VIII is a large, rear-wheel drive grand touring luxury coupe that was built by Lincoln from 1993 to 1998. It was the successor of the Lincoln Continental Mark VII. The Mark VIII was built at Lincoln's Wixom, Michigan Wixom Assembly Plant and was based on the Ford FN platform, a relative of the Ford MN12 platform which underpinned the 1989–1997 Ford Thunderbird and Mercury Cougar.

As the demand for large two-door luxury coupes declined in the late 1990s, the Mark VIII was discontinued after the 1998 model year without a direct replacement; its role in the Lincoln lineup would be largely taken over by the V8-powered version of the Lincoln LS (which would also supersede the Lincoln Continental). As of 2015, the Mark VIII is currently the last of the Lincoln Mark series.

Development

Development of the Mark VIII (FN-10) began in 1984, with a projected 1990 release. Design work began in 1986 and was orientated towards evolutionary changes. By 1987, Lincoln designers began to place more emphasis on interior design, as ordered by then Ford design director Dave Rees. In the autumn of 1988, FN-10 development was pushed and went through several revisions. This was done to further develop a more precise product to accommodate the use of a DOHC modular engine, using the upcoming MN12 platform due to be launched in December 1988.

Lincoln Mark series

The (Lincoln) Continental Mark series is a series of personal luxury cars that were marketed by the Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company under various nameplates, including the short-lived Continental Division. The Mark Series was marketed from 1956 to 1960 and from 1968 to 1998, always serving as the flagship of Ford Motor Company in North America.

Initially existing as the product line of the Continental Division, the Mark became part of Lincoln in 1958; from that point, while marketed and sold by Lincoln, the line remained badged as a Continental for many years. To fully eliminate any confusion, the Mark series adopted the Lincoln badge in 1986.

While sharing underpinnings with other Ford Motor Company vehicles, Mark-series cars were distinguished by their own interior and exterior trim along with separate exterior panels. With the exception of the 1958-1960 Continental Mark III-V and the 1980-1983 Continental Mark VI, the Marks were all sold in the form of the original 1939-1948 Continental, as a two-door personal luxury coupe.