1998 Lincoln Mark VIII Collectors Edition With Low Miles Is Worth $44,900

Vanguard Motors has a habit of showing off the shiniest American classics you've ever seen. But the Mark VIII stands out among the Firebirds, Mustangs, and vintage trucks. It's not shaped like a classic car or a modern one, for that matter, but there might be a growing market for these things.

The unit with very low miles was put up for sale about three weeks ago, and we were shocked to see it had found a new home. While the price isn't listed anymore, we do know that it was offered for $44,900. So somebody must have always wanted a perfect Mark VIII for their collection.

This 2-door is a dinosaur, the last full-sized, rear-wheel-drive American luxury land yacht. It was supposed to be comfortable for long trips, but that's not what customers wanted, and sales stopped in 1998. Cadillac also had the last Eldorado coupe at the time, and these monstrosities are largely forgotten because of the arrival of SUVs.

However, there are a few things that make the Mark VIII special, starting with the engine. Under the hood is a 4.6-liter all-aluminum 32-valve V8. It was quite specific to this car at first, but Ford did put it in the Mustang Cobra, which was quite popular because of the decent horsepower numbers it made. While it's considerably heavier, the Lincoln will still accelerate relatively quickly.

This car is in fantastic shape, having only done 3,500 miles. Essentially, it's a time capsule from that era with no underbody rust and a working air suspension system. Sometimes, it malfunctions, and owners install regular springs. The immaculate Cordovan Metallic Paint finish is matched with 16-inch chrome wheels and a two-tone tan leather interior. The cabin is amazingly evocative of that era, with dark walnut wood trim and lots of large buttons everywhere.