If you were a portly TV detective named Frank Cannon in the 1970′s you only drove one kind of car. A Lincoln Mark Series. Maybe you had no choice due to your large gullet or maybe you just wanted the best Personal Luxury Car money could buy. In 1971 When the Mark III was replaced by the longer and larger Mark IV. Mr Cannon followed suit and purchased a shiny new 71 Silver Mark IV to haul around his crime fighting blubber. All new for 1971 the Lincoln Continental Mark IV was indeed a rolling living room. Stuffed with either crushed velour or enough leather to make a cow cry. It was the typical American Luxury Car of the 1970′s. Huge engine, bad handling, horrible fuel mileage and a hood you could land a helicopter on. Lincoln stuck with the hidden headlights and tall Rolls Royce type grille that made the Mark III popular with TV detectives and pimps of the day. The roof was graced with an Opera Window. The lavish interior featured huge front seats with split armrests but the back seat was small and cave like. Powered by the whopping 460 V8 it was rated at 365 horsepower in 1971. 
By 1974 due to power robbing emissions restrictions your massive Mark IV could only put out 212 horsepower. Still they sold well till the last year 1976. By 1973 you could get a moon roof. Special Editions were made. With names like Givenchy, Bill Blass or Cartier you had one special road barge to cruise around in. 1974 would be the first year for the ugly 5mph bumpers front and rear. The Mark IV never made any excuses for its excess. The ride was pillow like and it cornered like a pound of soft butter. Options were few and everything was full power. 
Even the trunk could be opened with a glove box mounted button. Detective Cannon shouldn’t have to strain himself opening a trunk. Prices in 1971 started at $8640.00. By 1976 your basic Mark IV would cost you $11,060. What makes the Mark IV the Best Luxury Car Of All Time? Simply stated the word “No”. No road feel. No road noise. No way you can pass a gas station without stoping. No stress having to be bothered rooling up windows or moving seat. No apologies for being a huge floundering leather lined hulk of a luxury car with on other mission but to make you comfy, take up a large amount of space and gobble as much fuel as possible. For all those reasons the Lincoln Mark IV is the Best Luxury Car Of All Time.
Watch This 1973 Lincoln TV Commercial..How The Lincolns Ride sooooo Great
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