When faced with the task of road testing a 1995 Lincoln Mark VIII and drawing comparisons to a Mark II, a sense of mild panic arose. The world of professional car reviews, with their intricate instrumentation and jargon-filled reports, seemed daunting. Images of nitpicking letters to the editor from hyper-knowledgeable enthusiasts flashed through my mind – the kind of enthusiasts who could debate the minutiae of classic car production for hours.
Then, inspiration struck in the form of Tom McCahill, the legendary car tester from Mechanix Illustrated. “Uncle Tom,” as he was affectionately known, was a man who tested cars with a stopwatch, a lead foot, and the seat of his pants. His reviews were legendary for their colorful prose and no-nonsense opinions. He was the perfect role model for this endeavor – a return to a more visceral, experience-based approach to car reviewing, focusing on the feeling of the drive rather than just the numbers.
Alt text: Front three-quarter view of a 1995 Lincoln Mark VIII coupe in silver, parked on a paved surface, showcasing its sleek body lines and chrome wheels.
Armed with a digital stopwatch (a relic from a 1989 BMW test drive – the watch was indeed more appealing than the car itself!), the journey to Detroit to truly experience the Lincoln Mark VIII began. The initial impression upon settling into the Mark VIII was undeniably one of personal luxury. The cockpit enveloped the driver, instruments and controls intuitively placed and within easy reach. Moving into Detroit traffic, the agility of the car was immediately apparent. It responded instantly to commands – point, punch, and go. This wasn’t a vehicle that demanded a learning curve; it felt immediately familiar and comfortable. Detroit’s notoriously rough roads, a consequence of harsh winters, were rendered surprisingly smooth by the Mark VIII’s air suspension. This computer-controlled system absorbed potholes and uneven surfaces with ease, yet tightened up in corners, preventing excessive body roll and maintaining composure. In McCahill’s style, one might say the Mark VIII’s ride was “as smooth as a freshly paved highway on a summer day.”
Stepping into a Continental Mark II for comparison highlights the advancements in automotive technology. While the Mark II’s controls are generally accessible, the lower placement of heater and air conditioning adjustments necessitates taking your eyes off the road. The Mark II offers a soft ride, but cornering is a different story – body roll is significant. Aggressive cornering in a Mark II is ill-advised, unless you’re prepared to potentially lose an expensive wheel cover or two. Finding replacements for those, as McCahill might put it, is “as likely as finding hens’ teeth.” The Lincoln Mark VIII, in stark contrast, is remarkably quiet. Under acceleration, a pleasing, muted V-8 rumble is present, but at cruising speeds, the cabin is exceptionally serene. McCahill might describe the Mark VIII’s quietness as being “as hushed as a library on a Sunday morning.” For auditory entertainment, the Mark VIII boasts a premium JBL audio system, delivering a sound experience comparable to the Bose systems found in contemporary luxury competitors. The Mark II, while relatively quiet for a 1950s hardtop, struggles with wind noise at higher speeds due to vent windows and the absence of door pillars. Its Town and Country radio, after the vacuum tubes warm up, provides only AM reception.
Alt text: Interior view of a 1995 Lincoln Mark VIII, showcasing the leather seats, wood trim on the door panel, and the overall luxurious cabin design.
Seating comfort is another area of significant difference. The Mark II’s six-way power-adjustable seats are remarkably comfortable, proving their worth on numerous long journeys. The Mark VIII, however, seems to offer an almost overwhelming level of adjustability – perhaps 37-way power seats. They are undeniably comfortable and adaptable to a wide range of drivers. While the Mark VIII wasn’t subjected to an extended road trip in this test, the initial impression suggests they would remain comfortable even after many hours behind the wheel. McCahill might have likened the Mark VIII’s seating to “a first-class airline seat upholstered in butter-soft leather.”
Performance is where the Lincoln Mark VIII truly shines as a “hot rod Lincoln.” The engine is responsive and eager, providing ample power. Wheelspin is easily achievable from a standstill with traction control disengaged. Independent testing figures confirm the Mark VIII’s performance credentials – a 0 to 60 mph time of around 7 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 15.4 seconds with a trap speed of 95 mph. The Mark II, tested in 1956, achieved 0 to 60 mph in a respectable 11.5 seconds for its era. My own Mark II manages approximately 12 seconds to 60 mph with manual shifting, though it never sounds particularly enthusiastic when pushed hard. The Mark VIII, conversely, seems to relish being driven with spirit. It’s important to acknowledge the disparity in technology and design eras when comparing these two vehicles. The Mark II is a heavier car with less horsepower. While Ford officially remained silent on the Mark II’s horsepower figure at the time of its release, it was widely known to utilize the 1956 Lincoln engine, rated at 285 horsepower gross. Using today’s SAE net horsepower measurements, the Mark II likely produces around 200 horsepower. This pales in comparison to the Mark VIII’s 280 horsepower (although Ford insiders suggested dyno tests consistently showed closer to 300 horsepower, with the official figure kept lower for insurance purposes).
Performance is always relative. A 1956 Volkswagen Beetle took around 30 seconds to reach 60 mph, while a 1956 Corvette accomplished the same feat in approximately 7 seconds. The Mark II occupied the middle ground, leaning closer to the Corvette in terms of performance for its time. The performance landscape has shifted considerably. A 1995 Volkswagen Golf could reach 60 mph in under 10 seconds, and a contemporary Corvette LT-1 in under 6 seconds. The Mark VIII, at around 7 seconds, remains closer to the Corvette end of the spectrum in modern terms. In McCahill’s colorful vernacular, the ’95 Mark VIII is “as quick off the line as a startled cheetah.”
Alt text: Side profile of a dark-colored 1995 Lincoln Mark VIII, highlighting its long wheelbase, sloping roofline, and elegant coupe silhouette.
Were there any shortcomings in the Mark VIII? Initially, the interior design of the early Mark VIII models felt somewhat austere. Lincoln addressed this by incorporating rosewood trim to add warmth, but a slightly clinical feel remained. The interior door panels also felt somewhat less substantial than expected. In contrast, the Mark II’s interior exudes luxury through its meticulous detailing on the dashboard, side panels, and upholstery. The Mark II’s exterior styling, considered conservative for its time, featured significantly more chrome than the Mark VIII. The optional chrome wheels on the Mark VIII do enhance its exterior appeal. Adding a touch more chrome to the bumpers and perhaps whitewall tires would, in this reviewer’s opinion, elevate the Mark VIII’s styling to near perfection. The Mark VIII’s price point was highly competitive within the luxury coupe segment and, in 1995 dollars, represented a significant value compared to the original cost of the Mark II. The only real complaint about the Mark VIII? Having to return it to Ford. Until that realization set in, in the words of Tom McCahill, I was “as content as a clam at high tide.”
