An Idaho member who tracks them down discovers that there are two extremely rare models unknown to most collectors.
By (uncredited)
Originally published in the January/February 1996 issue of Continental Comments (Issue # 207).
During the 1979 model year, Lincoln-Mercury Division heavily advertised the fact that the Town Car/Town Coupe and the Mark series body styles were going to be different next year. The top of the line Collector’s Series Mark Vs, Town Cars, and Town Coupes were referred to in Lincoln-Mercury Division news releases as “special limited production models being built to mark the final year of these traditional full-sized luxury cars”. It does seem like an unusual marketing tactic, but even when the ‘79 Lincolns were new, the buying public was reminded not only of their high resale value, but also of the collectability of the soon to be discontinued models.
According to then Ford Motor Company Vice President and Lincoln General Manager, Walter J. Oben, during the 1979 model year, collectors were buying every new Mark V the factory could produce.
Contemporary factory literature and brochures identify two 1979 Collector Series Mark Vs—one in white, the other in midnight blue. The ‘79 Collector Series Mark Vs were dressed much like the previous year’s Diamond Jubilee models, except that the Collector’s Series Mark Vs, “Collector’s Series” insignia replaced the opera windows.
The midnight blue and white Collector’s Series Mark V’s were introduced at the start of the 1979 model year. Pictures and descriptions of them are included in the factory brochures.
It will come as a surprise to most of us, that in March, 1979 two additional limited edition Collector’s Series Mark Vs were offered, one in silver and the other in Diamond Jubilee blue (light blue). Diamond Jubilee blue is the same Diamond Jubilee blue that was used on the 1978 Mark V Diamond Jubilee model. The only place we know of that you can find any reference to the silver and the Diamond Jubilee blue Collector’s Series Mark V is in the 1979 Dealer’s Color and Upholstery Book as a March, 1979 “glue in” supplement. Bob Bowen, St. Maries, Idaho, has ‘79 Collector’s Edition MarkVs in blue, silver and white. Grant and Joan Milne, Lucerne, Colorado own a silver Collector’s Series Mark V. To date, Bob has located only one 1979 Diamond Jubilee blue Collector’s series Mark V, and it has been wrecked.
In a letter dated August 1, 1984 to a collector in Colorado, Lincoln-Mercury gave the following production figures for the 1979 Collector’s Series Mark Vs.
Midnight Blue: 3,900
White: 2,040
Silver: 125
Diamond Jubilee Blue: 197
Total: 6,262
If any of our members know of any other Diamond Jubilee blue or silver 1979 Collector’s Series Mark Vs out there, please write and let us know about them.
Thanks to Bob Bowen for the information, photographs, and a copy of the supplement to the 1979 Dealer’s Color and Upholstery Book explaining about the additional Collector’s Edition Mark Vs.