With Dearborn Fast Approaching the Brink
In what must have been an “uh-oh” moment for Lincoln planners, Town Car sales were flat for 1998 despite heavy surgery that replaced dated boxiness with a massive rounded form. The dual-exhaust V-8 returned with 220 bhp for the top-line Cartier and a $500 Signature Touring Package. Traction control, leather upholstery, and a 40/20/40 split front bench seat were all newly standard. Lincoln and Jaguar were now corporate cousins. At least the restyle trimmed a helpful three inches from overall length and some 200 pounds from heft. Engine retuning added 10 horses to the Executive and midlevel Signature models.
The hardtop got the same treatment for 1973 to become the Town Coupe. The revamped big-car line for ’75 exchanged pure “hardtop styling” for “opera window” rooflines with fixed B-posts and heavily padded vinyl coverings. There was little new for ’74. Heavier bumpers sprouted at the rear to match the beefier front units adopted the previous year per federal mandate, and the Mark added a brace of Luxury Group interior/exterior options.
Briggs built most of the Zephyr. Prices were attractive at around $1300, and performance was at least decent. Edsel laughingly told Tjaarda that Briggs might as well build the whole thing, as the Zephyr assembly line was only 40 feet long! Ford only installed the drivetrain, added front sheetmetal, and saw to trimming and painting. Designated Model H, the Zephyr bowed as a two- and four-door sedan on a 122-inch wheelbase. Top speed was over 87 mph, and a 4.33:1 rear axle, chosen for low-end acceleration over all-out speed, made for 0-50 mph in 10.8 seconds and 30-50 mph in six seconds flat.
This left a notchback coupe and a four-door sport sedan (with throwback “suicide” rear doors) in each series, plus a Cosmopolitan convertible. These were limited-edition coupes with custom interiors and padded canvas tops offered in lieu of a true pillarless hardtop to answer Cadillac’s 1949 Coupe de Ville. There were also two newcomers for 1950: the $2721 Lido and $3406 Cosmo Capri. All 1950 Lincolns sported a restyled dashboard by chief designer Tom Hibbard.
