The sleek Mark VIII of 1993 through 1998 marked the final chapter of the Lincoln Mark story, one that began all the way back in 1939.

1997 Lincoln Mark VIII LSC

It’s worth mentioning that the final edition of the Lincoln Mark series, the Mark VIII, wasn’t a Continental. While the Continental theme had begun in 1939, the label was dropped in 1986 as the Lincoln Continental Mark VII became simply the Lincoln Mark VII, and that naming convention was continued when the Mark VIII was introduced for 1993.

And like many previous members of the series, the Mark VIII shared its basic package with its corporate sibling the Ford Thunderbird, this time around on Dearborn’s newly minted MN12 platform. The Lincoln was assembled at Ford’s Wixom, Michigan plant  just outside Detroit, while the Thunderbirds were produced in Lorain, Ohio.

However, the Mark VIII boasted a number of platform-exclusive features, including its exterior sheet metal—notably sleek and slippery for its time—and a 4.6-liter, 32-valve modular V8 with 280 hp in base tune. As with previous Marks, the engine was mounted longitudinally and drove the rear wheels, but now the chassis boasted independent suspension on all four wheels. Built on a 113-inch wheelbase, this Mark was also five inches longer and four inches wider than the previous version.

1993 Lincoln Mark VIII cabin

As expected in a personal-luxury coupe of the premium class, the Mark VIII’s cabin was decked out with every convenience item, with the controls tightly nestled around the driver in fighter-cockpit fashion. Standard features included a 140-mph speedometer, electronic climate control, and an electronic driver information center. In 1995 the instrument panel was given a minor facelift with a larger radio bay and simulated wood trim.

1995 Lincoln Mark VIII 

At midseason of ’95, the LSC (Luxury Sport Coupe) became available, offering slightly more horsepower from the DOHC V8, a taller rear axle ratio, and a monochromatic exterior theme. A minor refresh for 1997 brought a new grille and rear end treatment with a less prominent deck lid bump, a signature Mark feature beginning with the 1956 Mark II (a Continental but not a Lincoln, officially). Otherwise, the Mark VIII’s styling and features remained relatively stable throughout the six-year production run.

Sales of the Mark VIII were never too brisk: not quite 31,000 in 1993 and then slipping to fewer than 15,000 in 1998, but the media gave the sporty Lincoln a warm reception. Public television’s MotorWeek  tested a number of Mark VIIIs, calling the 1993 model “a fabulous car,” but with the ’97 version, host John Davis voiced doubts about the Mark VIII’s future, observing that premium SUVs were already pushing luxury coupes out of the market. MotorWeek was proven right, as 1998 would mark the final year for the Mark VIII, and the last coupe Lincoln ever produced.

1998 Lincoln Mark VIII