This 1976 Lincoln Continental Mark IV, recently sold on eBay, is from the years of half vinyl roofs, crushed velour, opera windows, wire wheel covers, and disappearing headlights. But all that luxury wasn’t enough for Lincoln. This ’76 Mark IV is a classy Cartier Edition Continental in Ascot Gray.
Ford’s luxury marque introduced its Designer Series that same year. The series included not only the French jeweler Cartier but also such fashion icons as Bill Blass, Italy’s Emilio Pucci, and France’s Hubert de Givenchy.
Jewelry and apparel from these designers were expensive for the average American. But adding their name to a car proved relatively affordable and popular. More than a quarter of ’76 Mark IVs were designer editions.
A Cartier Lincoln Continental in Creamy Grey
Lincoln described the ’76 Cartier Continental’s paint as “a creamy grey—the color of freshwater pearls.” The owner of this one chose a grey velour interior. Lincoln also offered a leather and vinyl combination.
The automaker applied the golden Cartier signature on the opera windows and the Continental’s 22-karat gold-plated dashboard plate. The buyer’s name was also engraved on that plate.
This Cartier Continental, with 117,000 on the clock, still sports its vintage California blue license plate. It had an easy life. The bodywork and original paint are in good condition. The sun hasn’t toasted the half vinyl roof. The windshield is unblemished, and the dash is not cracked. The air conditioning works, as do the important headlamp doors. Unfortunately, the period cloth interior has some stains.
A Column of Pillars
The name “colonnade” is sometimes applied to cars of this era, but it technically refers to “midsized” (but huge) GM cars of this period. The name refers to a row of pillars, and the designs included a “B” pillar so the cars could pass rollover regulations. But the main thing is that these 1970s have an over-the-top baroque design.
The 1970s Designer Car Trend
Ford was hardly the only automaker to cash in on the designer trend. Fashion designers have added style and prestige to cars throughout the decades. Here are a few more:
1972 Pierre Cardin AMC Javelin SST. “There are few designers in the same league as Frenchman Pierre Cardin,” the ad said. “Only Pierre Cardin can make upholstery look so elegant, door panels so classy, and a headliner so chic.” Buyers had four color options: Trans Am Red, Stardust Silver, Snow White, and Wild Plum.
Pierre Cardin interior of the 1972 AMC Javelin
1974 Oleg Cassini AMC Matador Brougham. The man who designed the famous pillbox hat for Jackie Kennedy put his mark on AMC’s new two-door coupe. The $299 option added unique white, copper, and black options. The interior was in black knit nylon, and the steering wheel was black with copper accents. In addition, AMC used special 24-ounce black carpeting for the floors.
The ’74 Cassini Matador
2014 Ford Mustang Unleashed Collection. Ford tapped five top fashion designers from around the world for the Mustang Unleashed collection—and a limited-edition line of t-shirts. The designers took inspiration from the Mustang and its sense of power, adventure, and freedom.
Designer Mustang t-shirts
There was also a Fiat 500 Gucci, a Jaguar XE by Stella McCartney, an Ermenegildo Zegna Maserati Quattroporte, a Hermès Bugatti Veyron, a Victoria Beckham Range Rover Evoque, and a Versace Lamborghini Murcielago LP640.
The designer names don’t confer a huge value today, but they provide a unique talking point. The cars remain mostly stock, and they’re not performance editions with custom mechanical features.
Shop now for Continental Mark IV parts
So parts for the 1976 Lincoln Continental Mark IV are widely available. However, some of those plush interior fabrics will take some creativity to reproduce.
