Lincoln Turbo Diesel

[elchivito]

Apparently back in 84 Ford bought a bunch of BMW diesel motors and put them in Lincoln Mark VIIs. I had no idea. Not that I keep track of Lincolns...

1984 Lincoln Mark VII Turbo Diesel -- Very Rare

[elchivito]

Is the MK VII a Panther platform car or was that only the Town Car?

[Dee8go]

I never heard of that before. Is that for real?!

[JB3]

I owned one of those, an 84. It was a pretty impressive car. Better fuel economy and ride, AND faster than a 300D, but lower build quality, and not as well designed for use.

The trunk was annoying, the spare was sort of right there on the floor in the way of everything.

Air ride was amazing though, and the car had a complete digital dash

[rs899]

Yup, it's for real. I drove one about 10 years ago. Couldn't get past the Lincoln-ness of it, though the BMW bits were fine. Sorta wish I had bought a BMW 524TD when I had the chance, but then when they break....

[JB3]

even now I still can't get over what a difference a working air ride system is in comfort though.

To buy mine, I had to drive about 50 miles of dirt roads to a random farm in nebraska. My 300D could barely do 40, it was rattled to pieces on that road, but when I came to pick up the lincoln, I was flying at over 70 on the same road.

The PO had told me that he blew a tire, and didn't even realize till it damaged the fender.

Was a blast though, 30+ mpg at 70mph, and all kinds of power.

I sold it for the reason listed above, when the break, hard to find parts, hard to fix, and not as bulletproof construction as the OM617.

[loepke72]

Mark VII is a Fox body (like the Mustang), not the Panther like the Town Cars. Also, I understand there were diesel Escorts and Tempos about the same time.

[jplinville]

Originally Posted by Dee8go

I never heard of that before. Is that for real?!

It's real. A friend of mine in the Lincoln MK VII club I belong to owns three of them.

I saw one locally not too long ago on CL...someone got to it before I did.

[jplinville]

Originally Posted by dropnosky

I owned one of those, an 84. It was a pretty impressive car. Better fuel economy and ride, AND faster than a 300D, but lower build quality, and not as well designed for use.

The trunk was annoying, the spare was sort of right there on the floor in the way of everything.

Air ride was amazing though, and the car had a complete digital dash

My 92 came with the donut and it is mounted on the left, in the wheel well.

[rs899]

Also, I understand there were diesel Escorts and Tempos

Yes, there were. Mazda diesel engines. I took a look at one of those years ago, but it had head issues. Again, if you need parts where you gonna go?

[kerry]

That same BMW diesel was installed in Vixen motorhomes--a way more intriguing vehicle than the Lincoln. Vixen owners seek out the Lincoln's for spare sparts/engines.

http://stannerair.hypermart.net/Vixenhome.htm

[SwampYankee]

I see them pop up from time to time. Good power and quiet for a diesel. I think what doomed them is the unfortunate timing of being on the market the same time as the GM's.

[Pooka]

Road and Track did a road test of the BMW 5 series with this engine and as an aside did a mini-mini test on a Lincoln using the same engine.

I think they got 32 mpg at 55 mph. I do remember they were impressed with the air-ride.

The Escorts did use a Mazda diesel. 0-60 was 24.0 seconds.

[retmil46]

Yep, they had one pop up on autotrader about a year or so ago, out in CA. I had a thread asking about it as well, either here or over in DD.

Saw one of the diesel Tempos pop up also, about 4 years ago, out in the Midwest.