Home » Iacocca’s Comfy Cruisers: 1974 Lincoln Mark IV vs 1991 Chrysler LeBaron

Iacocca’s Comfy Cruisers: 1974 Lincoln Mark IV vs 1991 Chrysler LeBaron

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Good morning! For this Two-Door Tuesday edition of Shitbox Showdown, we have two seemingly-unrelated cars that have one thing in common: Lido. And I don’t mean Boz Scaggs’s musical protagonist. But we’ll get to those in a minute; first let’s circle back to yesterday’s wagons:

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So a busted V8 beats a rattle-canned runner. And thanks to the commenter who told us the Focus used to be a delivery vehicle for a Mexican restaurant, although as others pointed out, the yellow is wrong if that’s the case. Maybe the hardware store was out of white paint, or something.

Now: Former Ford and later Chrysler boss Lido A. “Lee” Iacocca needs no introduction. He was an industry giant, with a keen sense of the market, and his instincts were rarely wrong. He is best remembered, of course, for the Mustang and the minivan, but as any minor-league ball player will tell you, two home runs do not a career make. Today, we’re going to take a look at a couple of good solid base hits, one from his years at Ford, and one from his tenure at Chrysler, and see which one you prefer. Here they are.

1974 Lincoln Continental Mark IV – $1,500

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Engine/drivetrain: 460 cubic inch OHV V8, 3 speed automatic, RWD

Location: Atlanta, GA

Odometer reading: 53,000 miles

Runs/drives? Yep… but…

Hot on the heels of the Mustang’s success as a “secretary’s car,” Iacocca directed Ford’s designers to create a car for their bosses. The Continental Mark III was created as a successor to the Mark II from ten years earlier, sold only as a two-door, to compete with Cadillac’s Eldorado. The idea worked well enough that Lincoln continued on with the Mark IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII.

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This car, the Mark IV, wasn’t the biggest (that was its successor) or the most powerful (that was its predecessor) of the line, but at nineteen feet long and seven and a half feet wide, it cut quite an imposing figure on the road. Power came from a 460 cubic inch V8 with a four-barrel carburetor. Even though it’s pre-catalytic-convertor, this engine in the Mark IV puts out only 212 horsepower. It’s not a fast car. But in 1974, if you were driving a brand new Lincoln, you were never in a hurry. They were all waiting for you.

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Inside, the big Lincoln is soft and inviting; when this car was built, luxury meant comfort and quality, not gadgets and bric-a-brac. (Okay, fine; a little bric-a-brac too.) It’s not in perfect shape, but it does look mighty comfy.

Sadly, there is one area where this car isn’t quite so nice:

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I don’t know what it did to piss off a tree, but it lost a fight with a falling branch. That one won’t buff out, and it’s not really a valuable enough car to make it worth fixing. The seller says it runs fine, but it’s being sold as a parts car just because of the body damage. I imagine that if you want, you could employ the BFH method and get it to the point where the trunk lid would at least close properly, and just drive it like that.

1991 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible – $2,500

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Engine/drivetrain: 3.0 liter SOHC V6, 4 speed automatic, FWD

Location: Portland, OR

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Odometer reading: 76,000 miles

Runs/drives? “Amazing,” according to the ad

After getting fired by Ford, Iacocca landed at Chrysler, where he gutted and rewired the company from the inside out, got a government loan to get Chrysler back on its feet, and introduced a whole new kind of car for Chrysler: the K-car. The strategy worked brilliantly, but Iacocca soon recognized one problem – the K-car was sturdy, no-nonsense, and about as interesting as watching paint dry. To make it more exciting, in 1982, he employed a trick well-known to bar owners and B-movie producers everywhere: he took its top off.

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It had been six long years since any American automaker had offered a convertible, and the imports that were available were all pretty old designs, like the Mercedes R107. Buyers gobbled up the new Chrysler LeBaron and Dodge 400 convertibles. Chalk another one up for Lee. A second generation of LeBaron convertible followed, and three generations of Sebring convertibles followed that.

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This second-generation LeBaron convertible has a scant 76,000 miles on its odometer. The ad claims it was “granny-owned” and “garage kept,” but from the dust, it looks like Granny didn’t get out much. I have a feeling this car sat for a while. It’s being sold by a dealership, and they claim the photos are pre-detailing; if it were me, I’d have waited to take photos until it was clean, but what do I know?

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This LeBaron is powered by a Mitsubishi-built 3 liter V6 and a four-speed “Ultradrive” automatic transmission. The Ultradrive was troublesome in its early days, largely due to improper maintenance, so let’s hope Granny’s mechanic knew what they were doing. With the low mileage, there shouldn’t be too much damage done by deferred maintenance, but a good thorough check is a good idea.

Well, there you have it. Two lesser success stories from an industry titan, one with some damage, and the other in need of getting some cobwebs blown out. Which one is your style?

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(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)

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Stacheface
Stacheface
2 years ago

I’ll take the 460 and drive line for $1,500

SirRaoulDuke
SirRaoulDuke
2 years ago

A low mile, running ragtop for F it money? Easy call there.

Duke of Kent
Duke of Kent
2 years ago

“Former Ford and later Chrysler boss Lido A. “Lee” Iacocca needs no introduction.”

Maybe he /does/ need an introduction because I had no idea that was his first name.
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That color on the Lincoln is very ugly, but I suppose it’s very period-correct for a ’70s car.

I sometimes wonder why the odometer reading is even included for old cars with 5-digit odometers (I assume that’s the case for the Lincoln; there’s no photo of the dash). It seems like useless information when you can’t tell if (or how many times) it’s rolled over. That said, I am surprised to see that the LeBaron has a 6-digit odometer! That’s… optimistic for what was designed as a somewhat disposable car.

Geoff Buchholz
Geoff Buchholz
2 years ago

Even though the LeBaron’s rear badging looks j-u-s-t slightly lower than when new, suggesting a possible rear-end incident in its past, I’m saying “Merry Chrysler.”

Jack Trade
Jack Trade
2 years ago

And most of them never even see the top down.

Outside of this rarefied group here, these days I see way more convertibles driving around with their tops up, even on the nicest of days.

Hell, it’s getting uncommon to see people even putting their windows down while on the road.

It always makes me happy to see some retiree bopping around with their top down…gives me hope that I too can still enjoy good motoring as it’s supposed to be even in my golden years.

Freelivin1327
Freelivin1327
2 years ago
Reply to  Jack Trade

Yeah, I noticed that too…I love having windows open even in light rain or cold (Just not when freezing- that’s where having a beater w/ a heater comes in- which I’ve had a lot of those!) Also not way too hot (Although it didn’t matter before, current car is 1st one ever w/ A/C that actually works! ????????

Freelivin1327
Freelivin1327
2 years ago
Reply to  Freelivin1327

[Don’t know why there’s 8 question marks at the end]
????????

Evan McMasters
Evan McMasters
2 years ago

As much as I hate those lebarons, my wife had one and those are the most comfortable cars seats I’ve ever been in. When shopping for replacement cars we were always amazed at how good the lebaron seats felt when we got back in her POS.

Jeff Gillio
Jeff Gillio
2 years ago

It would be the Lincoln hands down but for the damage. I have seen a LeBaron convertible post accident. It was not a pretty sight, unless you like tacos a lot. There is no way I would drive one after seeing that, so for me these two are a no go.

Michael Beranek
Michael Beranek
2 years ago

If the LeBaron was white, I’d change my name from Kitty to Karen and trade in my MG.

Faik Akir
Faik Akir
2 years ago

Working car without body damage AND a convertible? I’ll take the Lebron.

MaximillianMeen
MaximillianMeen
2 years ago

The LeBaron is by far the most logical choice.

So Lincoln it is. The Mark IV has always been my favorite Continental and my second favorite Lincoln after the mid-sixties suicide-doored ragtop Continental.

Just grab Gordo’s slide hammer and torch and coerce the trunk into a usable shape.

Jack Trade
Jack Trade
2 years ago

Question for the knowledgeable: could the Lincoln’s damage be fixed enough/cheaply so the trunk more or less closes and there are no safety issues (these were body-on-frame, right, not unibody)?

It might end up all lumpy and scarred, but if it were drivable, seems like it’d be a fun weekend cruiser for trips around town. “Yeah that’s right…it’s the same size as your Navigator! It’s just laid out all horizontally!”

Boxing Pistons
Boxing Pistons
2 years ago
Reply to  Jack Trade

No expert by any means, but that Lincoln looks like a PAIN to set right. The rear deck is screwed up, as well as the quarter panel and trunk. That is major surgery, even on a body-on-frame affair. Being the curious type, I did look around this morning to see if anybody sells reproduction body panels for these, and didn’t see any. There weren’t many whole cars for sale, salvage or otherwise, either. Even breaking out the persuader to just get the thing to close and halfway seal would be tough. As much as it pains me to say it, the Lincoln is listed appropriately as a parts car, unless money/time is no object..

Jack Trade
Jack Trade
2 years ago
Reply to  Boxing Pistons

That’s kinda what I was afraid of. You convinced me, LeBaron it is today.

I just want to be able to cruise around without worrying “Are those rain clouds? Trunk still smells terrible from that last downpour…”

MaximillianMeen
MaximillianMeen
2 years ago
Reply to  Boxing Pistons

I think you are ignoring the therapeutic value of bashing the hell out of American steel with a big-ass hammer. A lot of us have unresolved issues that such therapy would help. After today’s election results, there will likely be even more.

“Serenity now!!!”
“Serenity now!!!”
“Serenity now!!!”

Mike Smith
Mike Smith
2 years ago

$1500 is worth it for the 460 and C6, let alone everything else you’d get along with it. And this car looks in (otherwise) good enough shape that it probably would be worth fixing that fender. Plus, I think y’all must not have experienced the true awfulness that was the K car platform firsthand to think the LeBaron would be a nice driver. Granted the V6 convertible LeBaron might be the best possible variant of K car, but that’s an awful low bar. It’s the Lincoln Mark for me, thanks.

Manwich Sandwich
Manwich Sandwich
2 years ago
Reply to  Mike Smith

I’ve driven some K cars including a Plymouth Reliant with the 2.2L/automatic and a V6 Lebaron… I would rate even the 4 cyl/automatic Reliant as being way better to drive than the crappy carb’d land yachts from the 1970s.

And while K cars fell apart way faster than their Japanese contemporaries, they were no worse on average compared to the domestic stuff from the 1970s… which I also have some direct experience with.

Donald Petersen
Donald Petersen
2 years ago

I really hate doing bodywork.

But I love opera windows!

I really hate LeBarons.

But I love convertibles!

I like big blocks, but this is an asthmatic 460 from its worst period. Oh, but it’s now smog exempt! Hmm… now how much do I really hate LeBarons?

Hmm. Okay. I guess I’ll get out my body hammers.

Boxing Pistons
Boxing Pistons
2 years ago

Just based on appearances, that grandma story tracks. That LeBaron looks exactly like something that was sitting in grandma’s garage for the last 15 years pulling shelf duty after a concerned son/daughter finally took away the keys. It even has the scuffs on the bumpers from low-speed “Days of Thunder” style racin’.

Steve Gray
Steve Gray
2 years ago
Reply to  Boxing Pistons

If you check out the photos on Craigslist, you’ll find an aftermarket AM-FM-CD head unit that suggests Grandma was a rocker – and I don’t mean the chair. No, this was owned by someone who wanted to hear their tunes, and I don’t that that was Granny.

ToyotaTaxPayer
ToyotaTaxPayer
2 years ago

Neither but I guess the barge. Too many memories of our LeBaron falling apart. Driving down the interstate and having the mounting screws for the sunroof latch fall out was an experience. Had to hold the glass in until we could stop and find the damn things.

Boxing Pistons
Boxing Pistons
2 years ago

I second Mark’s comment on washing the darn thing before listing! It costs VERY little to put your best foot forward with even a half-assed wash/vacuuming.

Jack Trade
Jack Trade
2 years ago
Reply to  Boxing Pistons

It’s also wearing GM wheel covers, which is minor-league annoying to me (but does fit with the car’s likely provenance).

Stephen Walter Gossin
Stephen Walter Gossin
2 years ago
Reply to  Jack Trade

Excellent eagle-eye call-out.

Boxing Pistons
Boxing Pistons
2 years ago
Reply to  Jack Trade

Good catch – off of a Pontiac, correct?

Jack Trade
Jack Trade
2 years ago
Reply to  Boxing Pistons

Oh I’m sure.

But in my mind for some reason, I’m totally seeing a white early ’90s Cutlass. Or now a mid-’90s Lumina. You know, something classy.

Beasy Mist
Beasy Mist
2 years ago
Reply to  Jack Trade

They scream late Corsica to me.

Arrest-me Red
Arrest-me Red
2 years ago

I voted for the Lincoln. Sure it has damage but it was a emotional choice for me. That is fixable and will be a nice cruiser, it is not buy and flip car you just want it.

Lack of a title is not a problem in my state as anything over 10 years old just needs a bill of sale. Or the Vermont loop hole if you are not that lucky.

Boxing Pistons
Boxing Pistons
2 years ago

I have been hankering for one of these land yachts, lately, but cannot vote for this particular Lincoln. There is significant body work to be done, even if you find the parts. If you were really into these, knew a body man, and had some time on your hands, maybe. Not me. I guess I’ll spend my time replacing aged-out items on the LeBaron as needed and getting a tan.

Flyingstitch
Flyingstitch
2 years ago

As for the Mark IV, that has to be the lowest-effort dash ever slapped into a luxury car.

I can’t find interior dimensions, but I’ll bet they’re not as far off from the LeBaron as you might think.

JDE
JDE
2 years ago

it is the better of the optioned lebaron’s with the v6, the top is in surprisingly goo shape as there are no stains from water in a state that literally drops water seemingly daily. I would want that over the luxo barge.

Boulevard_Yachtsman
Boulevard_Yachtsman
2 years ago

It was the Lincoln for me until I saw that tree damage – it’s either parts or maybe a derby car at this point. I also wouldn’t want to deal with that missing title – even the junkyards around here won’t take a vehicle without one. Meanwhile, I’m sure the old LeBaron will need some bugs worked out, but would likely make a solid drop-top driver overall.

Shop-Teacher
Shop-Teacher
2 years ago

I have absolutely zero interest in owning a Lebaron convertible. Break out the BFH and the rattle-cans, and gimme dat Lincoln. Maybe I’ll make me a Lincoln Ranchero out of it, and haul my scooters around in supreme comfort and style.

JDE
JDE
2 years ago
Reply to  Shop-Teacher

after stripping it of parts to sell on EBAY it might make and ok demo derby car, too bad too, it was very clean until the tree hit it.

Red Devil GT 5.0
Red Devil GT 5.0
2 years ago

I like 70’s Ford luxo-barges, but this one isn’t desirable enough to warrant a quarter panel replacement. I don’t really like LeBarons either, my dad had a GTS Turbo hatch back when I was a kid and it was a electronic nightmare.

LeBaron because lesser of two evils.

CatMan
CatMan
2 years ago

I usually always vote for the rolling living rooms in these contests, but not when a tree comes crashing on the house. So LeBaron by default though I really dislike those things.

Drew
Drew
2 years ago

I feel like this is an easy one. I’m not gonna fix that trunk, so it’s gotta be the LeBaron. If the gal in that Cake song will trade her MG for a white Chrysler LeBaron, I can’t turn up my nose at a black one.

Buzz
Buzz
2 years ago
Reply to  Drew

Every LeBaron for sale should come with a short skirt and a loooooooong jacket

Data
Data
2 years ago
Reply to  Buzz

Great, now I have the theme song to Chuck stuck in my head.

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