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Premium sporty/performance car; Built in USA
  • 2-door coupe
  • longitudinal front-engine/rear-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $1,100 – $1,700*


1990 Lincoln Mark VII


1990 Lincoln Mark VII


1992 Lincoln Mark VII


1990 Lincoln Mark VII interior


1990 Lincoln Mark VII interior

Pros:
  • Acceleration
  • Antilock brakes
  • Handling
  • Quietness
Cons:
  • Cargo room
  • Fuel economy
  • Rear-seat entry/exit
  • Rear-seat room
  • Ride (except 1990 Bill Blass)

All told, a Mark VII can still be a good alternative to the front-wheel drive Cadillac Eldorado, the Acura Legend Coupe, or the Lexus SC 300.

Overview

Introduced in 1984, Lincoln’s stylish rear-wheel drive luxury coupe got a revised grille and a driver-side airbag for ’90. Antilock braking had been standard since 1986. Two five-passenger models went on sale: a sporty LSC touring coupe and a luxurious Bill Blass Designer series. Both continued to use a 5.0-liter V8 engine, making 225 horsepower, hooked to a 4-speed overdrive automatic transmission. Both models included a self-leveling suspension, automatic climate control, remote decklid release and power decklid pull-down, and 6-way power front seats. A power glass moonroof was optional.

Yearly Updates

1991 Mark VII
For 1991, the Bill Blass Designer edition adopted the LSC’s firmer handling suspension, quick-ratio steering and larger tires.
1992 Mark VII
Except for minor trim changes, nothing was new for Lincoln’s luxury coupe. A completely new Mark VIII was expected for ’93.

Engines

longitudinal front-engine/rear-wheel drive

Mark VII coupes held an overhead-valve 5.0-liter V8 engine, rated at 225 horsepower. The only transmission was a 4-speed automatic.

ohv V8
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 5.0/302
Engine HP 225
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 300
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
4-speed automatic

 17/24

 15.2

Road Test

The brawny V8 engine and 4-speed automatic furnish strong acceleration during takeoffs, plus brisk passing response on the highway. On the other hand, you have to endure an unfortunate tendency toward tardy downshifts from the automatic transmission. Gas mileage is fine on the highway, but gets more dismal around town: in the 15-17 mpg neighborhood.

Lincoln’s coupes loaf along quietly at cruising speeds. Road manners are modern and competent. With its handling suspension, the LSC coupe corners flatly and promises a stable highway ride. Unfortunately, when rolling over bumps, that suspension also transmits some impact harshness to the occupants. The soft suspension and smaller tires on a 1990 Bill Blass edition might suit some drivers better. Ordinary braking causes the front end to dip down noticeably, and the pedal tends to feel spongy.

Interiors are roomy enough. Front bucket seats are well-shaped and supportive, with ample space for each occupant. Power seat controls consist of separate buttons, shaped like the seat cushion and backrest. Leg space in the rear is ample for adults, but head room is minimal. Trunk space is small for a car of this size.

Ratings

Model Tested: 1990 Lincoln Mark VII LSC

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 8
80%
Fuel Economy - 2
20%
Ride Quality - 5
50%
Steering/Handling - 5
50%
Quietness - 6
60%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 6
60%
Room/Comfort Front - 5
50%
Room/Comfort Rear - 2
20%
Cargo Room - 2
20%

Other

Value - 4
40%

Total: 45

Specifications

2-door coupe
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
108.5 202.8 70.9 54.2
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
14.2 21.0 5
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
37.8 37.1 42.0 36.9
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 1992 Mark VII 2-door coupe

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Front Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Rear Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision 112
Injury 83
Theft 439

Trouble Spots

Dashboard lights
Description: The fuel “distance to empty” reading may be erratic or quit working due to a problem with the circuit board. (1990-92)
Engine temperature
Description: Defective temperature senders cause the gauge to read low or be erratic. (1990-92)
Hard starting
Description: In cold weather, the accelerator pedal is hard to depress because ice forms in the throttle-valve cable to the transmission. (1992)
Audio system
Description: Whining noises in the radio speakers are caused by the fuel pump in the gas tank. An electronic-noise filter must be installed on the fuel pump. (1990-92)
Paint/body
Description: The clearcoat paint tends to crack and flake off, especially on the hood and roof. (1990-92)

Recall History

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on July 20, 2014.
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