Lincoln Mark VIII Diamond 75th Anniversary, 1996
Lincoln Mark VIII
Lincoln Mark VIII•
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Chassis No.: ILNLM91V2TY639191
- Exterior: Cordovan Metallic
- Interior: Light Graphite
- 1 of less than 500 Diamond Anniversary Mark VIIIs produced
- 4.6L DOHC V-8 engine
- 4-speed automatic transmission
- Finished in Cordovan Metallic with the monochromatic exterior treatment and unique edition specific accent stripe
- Light Graphite interior with Cordovan piping and stitching
- Rear quarter window etched with Diamond Anniversary Logo
- Wood trimmed instrument panel
- Power seats
- Auto-dimming rear view mirror with compass
- Factory voice-activated cellular telephone
- Embroidered floor mats
- Power windows and moonroof
- JBL sound system with AM/FM/CD player
- High intensity discharge headlights
- Dual exhaust system
- Traction assist
- Chrome directional wheels
- Includes commemorative Diamond Edition accessories of an umbrella and Waterford crystal
- Odometer reads 83,907 miles
Henry Leland and his son, Wilfred, founded the Lincoln Motor Company in August 1917 and named it after the first president for whom Henry voted. While the aim was to produce exclusive luxury vehicles, World War I presented the Lelands with the opportunity of acquiring a $10 million contract, roughly $212,000,000 in 2022 dollars, from the U.S. government to oversee final assembly of Liberty V-12 aircraft engines. This contract gave the Lelands the financing they needed to launch the company, and by the end of the war, Lincoln had produced about 6,500 Liberty V-12 engines and employed about 6,000 workers.
On January 26, 1920, the company was reorganized as an automobile manufacturer and produced its first car on September 16, 1920, the Lincoln Model L. Despite this, pivoting from aircraft to motorcar manufacturer created production delays and, by 1922, the company was approaching bankruptcy. Placed in receivership, Henry Ford bought the Lincoln Motor Company for $8 million, about $130,000,000 in 2022 dollars. Interestingly, Ford’s was the only bid the courts received for the company, and the original bid was for $5 million. The courts called for the higher number, and Ford agreed.
Henry Ford’s son, Edsel, oversaw the new company and immediately went to work updating the styling of the Model L, offering customers the opportunity of having a coach-built body from Ford or any number of independent coachbuilders. The option provided a very posh image the brand needed badly and things slowly began turning around at Lincoln. With a rich and storied history, Lincoln has given luxury car buyers another option and provided competition to the likes of Cadillac, Imperial and Packard, to name just three. To celebrate the 75th anniversary, Lincoln produced Diamond Anniversary Edition Town Cars, Continentals and Mark VIIIs in 1996.
The Mark VIII was available only in Cordovan Metallic or Silver Frost Metallic, and it’s widely agreed fewer than 500 Diamond Anniversary Mark VIIIs were built. With a special Diamond logo etched into the rear quarter windows, branded floor mats and a Light Graphite leather interior with Cordovan stitching and piping, this 1996 Lincoln Mark VIII Diamond 75th Anniversary features a wood-trimmed dashboard and center stack, while a Cordovan embroidered Lincoln cross and swatch adorn the seatbacks, lending the special edition a subtle but noticeable difference from the standard Mark VIIIs.
Powered by the 4.6L DOHC V-8 engine and 4-speed automatic transmission, the Diamond Mark VIIIs were very well equipped with an auto-dimming rearview mirror and compass, voice-activated cellular telephone, a power-operated moonroof, the JBL AM/FM/CD stereo system, HID headlights and chrome directional wheels. And, like other Mark VIIIs, they were also fitted with power windows, power locks, power brakes, power steering and traction assist, among other features. The odometer on this one reads nearly 84,000 miles, and the car comes with the commemorative Diamond Edition umbrella and Waterford Crystal diamond display.
https://www.mecum.com/lots/521839/1996-lincoln-mark-viii-diamond-75th-anniversary/
