Back when I lived in Bryn Mawr, PA, a Silver Blue Lincoln Mark VII sat on a driveway about three blocks from my house. The sporty LSC version attracts most of the attention with these cars—it has previously attracted mine. However, this post is about the “base” coupe.
“The most completely equipped car sold in America”
Lincoln dropped the Continental sub-marque name from the Mark series in 1986. That was probably the biggest news in the Mark VII’s third year, but there were other enhancements and changes. The standard V8 gained 10 bhp, while the LSC got a 60 bhp bump. Lincoln added the newly required high-mount rear stop lamp, and both anti-lock brakes and keyless entry became standard across the line. Inside, power front seat recliners and the Premium Sound System were newly standard. The Versace Designer Series was no more, but the Bill Blass Designer Series continued.
The base Mark’s only available powertrain was a Windsor 150 bhp 4.9 liter/302 ci V8 with fuel injection mated with a four-speed automatic with overdrive. 0-60 came in about 10.5 seconds in a car with a curb weight approaching 3,700 pounds. Fuel economy was respectable: 18 city/26 highway by the day’s standards (16/24 by 2025 measures). With a 22.1-gallon gas tank, a Mark VII owner could expect a range of 400 to 435 miles with a 10% fuel reserve.
The Mark VII’s base price was $22,399 for 1986—approximately $65,900 in today’s dollars, or about what a 2025 Lincoln Aviator Reserve mid-size SUV goes for. Standard exterior and mechanical equipment included flush-mounted aerodynamic halogen headlamps, tinted glass on all windows, a power antenna, power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering, an Electronic Air Suspension with automatic level control, and P215/75R15 white sidewall tires (a size still readily available) on 15-inch cast-aluminum road wheels. Inside, every Mark VII included fingertip speed control, interval windshield wipers with speed controls, Electronic Automatic Climate Control, cloth six-way power seats, and an AM/FM stereo cassette radio with four speakers.
Options & Production Numbers
The well-equipped Mark VII offered relatively few options for 1986. Items buyers could choose included a power glass moonroof ($1,319), a Traction-Lok differential ($165), strange-looking geometric cast-aluminum wheels ($298), wire-spoke aluminum wheels ($693), and leather seating surfaces ($551).
1986 was a solid year for Lincoln’s big coupe. Sales increased by 9% over the previous year, and Car and Driver chose the LSC variant as one of their 10Best. All of this happened while sales of the newly downsized Buick Riviera, Cadillac Eldorado, and Oldsmobile Toronado collapsed.
The View From 2025
Mark VIIs do attract collector interest, and there is model-specific club support along with the bigger Lincoln car clubs. According to Hagerty’s valuation tools, all the money for a 1986 Mark VII in #1/Concours condition is $35,900, with a far more normal #3/Good condition version going for $9,200. These Marks are often available in the Hemmings Motor News classifieds, on eBay Motors, and on Bring a Trailer, and they sometimes show up at in-person auctions. As I update this post in April 2025, a Dark Shadow Blue Clearcoat Metallic 1988 Mark VII Bill Blass Edition with shadow blue leather seats and 53,000 miles is for sale on Hemmings, asking $33,000.
Make mine the extra-cost ($268) Flemish Blue Glamour Clearcoat Metallic, please. What a name!
Other Lincolns I have written about include the 1980 Continental Mark VI coupe, the 1984 Continental Mark VII LSC coupe, and the 1987 Lincoln Continental sedan.
Last updated April 2025.
Eighties Cars 
This is the car I always wanted these cars are now becoming collectors.
I like these, too. It’s hard to believe that Lincoln made such a sharp turn from the 1980-1983 Mark VI, even if they were showing the Concept 90 in 1982.
Thank you for your comment.