The Lincoln Mark VII, a Lincoln Like No Other
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Volume 19 Issue 9 September 1, 2019 The Lincoln Mark VII, a Lincoln like no other... The Mark VII was not fully appreciated by traditional Lincoln buyers For this month’s feature article, we opened up the archives and pulled out a delightful story about the Lincoln Mark VII, written by Tim Howley for the July-August 2001 issue of Continen- tal Comments. In my opinion, the Mark VIIs were undervalued by consumers when they first ap- peared in showrooms as new cars and have been continued to be undervalued by Lincoln collec- tors today. Perhaps it was because the Mark VII was such a sea change from the previous Marks. Welcome to the In no way did they resemble the Marks of the past, and this must have turned off potential buyers of what was a very fine car. Lincolns are and have always been unique cars. They have to be Northstar News, the driven for a while to be fully appreciated. That has applied to the Lincolns of yore as much as the monthly publication of new Lincolns of today. The Mark VII was a very fine car and it did win me over to the brand. the Northstar Region Enjoy the story, another fine one by our esteemed Tim Howley. The last time we devoted an issue to the Continental Mark VII was Continental Comments of the Lincoln and #153, Third Quarter, 1983. This was at the time of the car's introduction as a 1984 model in late Continental Owners 1983. At the time, the late Walt Rhea was President of LCOC. Walt felt that such a radically Club. We value your changed Mark would be of great interest to members. It was not. We received a great amount of criticism for devoting nearly the entire issue to a new car. opinions and appreciate At the time, we felt that within a few years the Mark VII would score a big hit with Lincoln your input concerning collectors. It never did. Even though Mark VIIs have been eligible for judging in LCOC for seven this newsletter and the years now, you will seldom see more than one or two entered at our national meets. The largest turnout of Mark VIIs was three at the 1996 Eastern National Meet in Asheville, North Carolina. operation of the club. None were entered at the 2001 Western National Meet in Las Vegas. This is your club. The reasons could be several. Sales never achieved anywhere near the factory's projections. (Continued on page 4) This Issue Contains Feature Story 1 Directors Message 3 Club Information Page 4 Northstar Monthly Board Meeting Minutes 5 Editors Message 2 North Star Events 15 Trivia 2 NORTHSTAR NEWS Trivia from the Editors Message September 2019 Internet display in one location at one time. Only a few Gentle readers…. August has simply flown hundred of these fine, expensive custom made by. There is, but one-third of 2019 left. Hope- automobiles were made from the early 1920s fully, September and October will be the best, through 1937. You just didn’t go into a show- with mild, dry weather and some very good room and buy a Duesenberg, you ordered the days that we can take out our beloved classics chassis; which cost anywhere from about for a drive. $10,000 to about $15,000, then you selected a I made the journey to body from the Hickory Corners for the coachbuilders catalog; annual Lincoln Homecom- which at some time in the ing. It was a delightful future were eventually mar- experience for those who ried and you were the very attended. It was sponsored proud owned of a true lux- this year by the Road Race ury automobile. The Great Lincoln Register folks, and Depression of the 1930s did it was a very nice event. in the luxury car business, Gerald R. Ford I was blessed to have and the mighty Dusenberg 38th US President my brother-in-law, Harvey went out of business. Lin- Burski, his wife, Judy, and A good, honorable man coln might have suffered their son, Paul Burski, the same fate, if not for the Gerald Rudolph accompany me on the jour- Zephyr model; which pro- ney to the Lincoln Home- Ford, the 38th President vided a modicum of luxury, coming bash. They have of the United States, was V12 power at a price which been LCOC members for a was affordable. born Leslie Lynch King, number of years and are We met a lot of great Jr., the son of Leslie car people. Early on, they people at Hickory Corners Lynch King and Doro- developed an interest for this year and by and large, thy Ayer Gardner King, Corvettes; which has con- had a very good time. Those on July 14, 1913, in tinued on through their who didn’t attend missed Omaha, Nebraska. His life. They are quick to real- out on a great time. ize that there are many Lincoln arranged to parents separated two Sweet Olga is explaining to “Mike the other makes and models in have a display of their most weeks after his birth the car world that have Barber” how she wants him to cut her popular models at Hickory and his mother took him come and gone through the dad’s hair. “Could you please cut it a Corners. I got to spend to Grand Rapids, Michi- years. They are truly inter- little longer, especially on the top.” some quality time with a gan to live with her par- ested in learning about the And it would be nicer if it was all new Aviator, and I do have brands that helped intro- ents. On February 1, white, instead of gray. Olga never to say that it is one very fine 1916, approximately two duce America to the motor- automobile. Recent news ing world and that have needs a haircut, just a little trimming years after her divorce reports reveal that Lincoln passed by the wayside. And up of her legs and paws. She always was final, Dorothy King may completely abandon of all places, the Gilmore wants to look her best. their fine sedans (MKZ and married Gerald R. Ford, complex is a great place to the Continental) in favor of a Grand Rapids paint see the many fine automobiles that were signifi- their upgraded line of SUVs. The Aviator is a salesman. The Fords be- cant in developing today's car culture as we very powerful SUV, boasting some 400 horse- gan calling her son Ge- know it today. power, same as the Continental, many options, rald R. Ford, Jr., al- We spent considerable time at Hickory and a price in the $70K range. Coming, later though his name was Corners going through the various on-site mu- on, is a package for the Aviator; which includes seums, including the Gilmore display; the not legally changed un- electric motors and batteries, which push the Model A museum; The Pierce Arrow display; til December 3, 1935. He horsepower up to about 500. It should be unbe- The Classic Car Club of America museum; the lievably quick, and fully capable of going from had known since he was Cadillac museum/showroom; and the very fine point A to point B in record times. I urge you to thirteen years old that Lincoln museum. It is very hard not to be over- check out the new Aviator at a nearby Lincoln Gerald Ford, Sr., was whelmed by the sheer size of the Gilmore com- dealer soon. The folks at Lincoln of Blooming- not his biological father, plex. There is just so very much there to see. It ton will help you order one to fully meet your but it was not until 1930 truly is visual overload at its best. needs. Stop by soon and check out this fine car. when Leslie King made The Gilmore was featuring an exhibit of Till next month, David and the very Sweet about 20 Duesenberg’s in their main building. an unexpected stop in Olga, the Samoyed. This is quite probably an all time first to have (Continued on page 3) so very many of these magnificent machines on 2 NORTHSTAR NEWS (Continued from page 2) Grand Rapids that he had Directors Message by Bob Johnson September 2019 a chance meeting with this Where is the summer go? It went to Kalamazoo Michi- biological father. The fu- gan, August 5 thru 13 while we were at the sixth annual Lin- ture president grew up in coln Homecoming. The weather for the whole week was made a close-knit family which to order, just terrific. Now it is time for both the State Fair and included three younger children going back to school. We really know what time of half-brothers, Thomas, the year it is when we are having an abundance of wipe toma- Richard, and James. toes. It is BLT time at our house, the best sandwich ever. We are so spoiled that we will only eat BLT’s when we have our Ford attended South garden tomatoes, store bought tomatoes just don’t have the High School in Grand Rap- right flavor. The big family garden is now down to just two ids, where he excelled scho- tomato plants. lastically and athletically, This coming weekend is our Sunday Brunch at Dangerfield’s restaurant in Shakopee; The being named to the honor turn out should be our highest of the year as it has the best Buffet spread in the whole Twin city society and the "All-City" area.