For over 100 years, Lincoln has produced some of the most elegant and luxurious American cars. But just as every legendary rock band has its Chinese Democracy, Lincoln has had its share of flops. Some were over-engineered disasters, others were uninspired attempts to chase trends, and a few were just downright ugly.
While the brand has certainly delivered icons like the Continental and the Town Car, it has also stumbled—hard—at times. So, with our deepest apologies, here are 10 of the worst Lincolns ever made, ranked in chronological order.
1. 1958 Lincoln Continental Mark III – An Oversized Disaster
The late ‘50s were a time of excess in American automotive design, and Lincoln took that philosophy to the extreme with the 1958 Continental Mark III. With its outward-canted headlights, dished fenders, and awkward proportions, it was hideous even by the already outrageous standards of the era.
But the ugly sheet metal was only part of the problem. Unlike the hand-built Mark II it replaced, the Mark III was built alongside the much cheaper Lincoln Capri and Premiere, cheapening the brand in the process. Poor quality control and an economic downturn sealed its fate—Lincoln lost millions, hemorrhaged market share, and nearly went under until the far more refined 1961 Continental saved the company from oblivion.
2. 1977 Lincoln Continental – The Last of the Rolling Dinosaurs
By the late ‘70s, the American luxury car was at a crossroads. Cadillac had wisely downsized its lineup in response to rising fuel prices, but Lincoln resisted change. The 1977 Lincoln Continental was a 19.5-foot, 4,500-pound dinosaur that guzzled gas at a laughable 13 MPG.
Lincoln tried to spin this as a selling point, framing it as the last “true” luxury car that hadn’t been downsized. The public didn’t buy it—literally. The Continental was outsold by its Cadillac rivals nearly 3 to 1, and by the time the second gas crisis hit in 1979, it was clear Lincoln had been left behind.
3. 1977 Lincoln Continental Mark V – A Titanic Mistake
While the 1968 Mark III was a game-changer for Lincoln, by 1977, the Mark V had become a bloated parody of itself. Ford stretched the aging platform beyond 19 feet, slathered on an obscene amount of chrome, and offered “Designer Editions”—meaning you paid a premium for special paint and upholstery from brands like Cartier and Bill Blass.
Even with an energy crisis gripping the nation, Lincoln proudly advertised that they had cut 400 pounds from the previous generation. The final result? A still-massive car powered by an inefficient 6.6-liter V8 that nobody needed anymore. Yes, it outsold the Cadillac Eldorado, but history has not been kind to this chrome-laden barge.
4. 1977.5 Lincoln Versailles – A Granada in a Tuxedo
Cadillac had a runaway hit with its 1976 Seville, so Lincoln rushed to compete. Enter the Versailles, a thinly disguised Ford Granada with a fake spare tire hump on the trunk and a price tag four times higher than its humble origins justified.
Lincoln assumed buyers wouldn’t notice that, underneath the vinyl roof and deep-pile carpet, they were essentially paying luxury prices for a Ford. They were wrong. Sales tanked, and the Versailles became one of Lincoln’s most embarrassing missteps.
5. 1982 Lincoln Continental – The Malaise Era at Its Worst
Still reeling from the failure of the Versailles, Lincoln took another stab at a “downsized” Continental in 1982. Built on the Fox platform, the new Continental looked awkward, drove poorly, and featured a bustle-back trunk that somehow managed to be even uglier than Cadillac’s Seville.
The base V8 took a sluggish 12.2 seconds to hit 60 MPH, and if you dared to opt for the even weaker V6, you’d be waiting a torturous 15.4 seconds. The 1982 Continental was neither luxurious nor enjoyable to drive—it was just another forgettable product of the Malaise Era.
6. 1995 Lincoln Continental – A Focus Group Disaster
By the mid-‘90s, Lincoln had completely lost its way. The 1995 Continental was a car designed by focus groups, resulting in something so bland it made a Buick look edgy.
The one bright spot was its 32-valve V8, but even that couldn’t save it from its uninspired design, poor build quality, and complete lack of personality. Lincoln bragged about how consumer feedback shaped the car, but based on its dreadful sales figures, even the people in the focus groups didn’t want one.
7. 2002 Lincoln Blackwood – A Pickup No One Wanted
The Blackwood is proof that what looks great at an auto show doesn’t always translate into sales. It was supposed to be a luxury pickup, but Lincoln misunderstood the assignment.
Instead of a functional bed, it had a carpeted, aluminum-trimmed cargo area with hydraulic Dutch doors—which meant you couldn’t actually haul anything. Lincoln hoped to sell 10,000 per year. It lasted one model year, with only 3,356 buyers willing to take the plunge.
8. 2006 Lincoln Mark LT – The Blackwood’s Even More Pointless Successor
After the Blackwood flopped, Lincoln tried again with the Mark LT, essentially a Ford F-150 with a fancy grille. Unlike its predecessor, it at least functioned as a truck, but that was also its biggest problem—it was too similar to a well-optioned F-150 Platinum, which cost less.
Buyers saw through the marketing gimmick, and sales were underwhelming. Ford pulled the plug after two model years, replacing it with a fully loaded Platinum trim of the F-150. That truck went on to be a best-seller, proving Lincoln should have just let Ford handle the pickups.
9. 2007 Lincoln MKX – Forgettable in Every Way
2007 was not a great year for Lincoln. The MKX crossover had a name no one could remember (was it Mark X or MKX?), styling inspired by an electric razor, and a cheap interior covered in chintzy silver-painted plastic.
Despite being built on a decent Mazda-based platform, it was heavy, slow, and uninspiring. And to make things worse, Lincoln priced it against BMW and Mercedes SUVs, assuming people would cross-shop a Ford Edge in a tuxedo with a luxury European crossover. Spoiler: They didn’t.
10. 2007 Lincoln Navigator – A Chrome-Clad Embarrassment
The 2007 Navigator was a styling disaster. Lincoln tried to channel its 1940s heritage, but the result was a gaudy mess of oversized chrome. Inside, the cheap plastic dashboard looked like it belonged in a rental car.
To make things worse, Cadillac had just released a vastly improved Escalade, making the Navigator look even more outdated. Lincoln launched this disaster right before gas prices skyrocketed, and sales plummeted. The Navigator has never fully recovered, while the Escalade continues to dominate.
A Legacy of Highs and Lows
For every timeless Continental or legendary Town Car, Lincoln has made some real missteps. Whether it was bad timing, poor engineering, or just plain ugly design, these ten models serve as a reminder that even the most prestigious brands aren’t immune to failure.
One thing’s for sure—when Lincoln gets it right, it really gets it right. But when it stumbles? Well, let’s just say we won’t be seeing another Blackwood anytime soon.
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