The Malaise-Era Lincoln Versailles Was a Quickly Patched Together Answer to the Cadillac Seville

[@the308capital]

This channel has it all....automotive history, weather reports and turtle fornication. What more do you need.

[@telequacker-9529]

Dream of turtlefornication...

[@sergiosolis4538]

"Turtle 🐢 fornication" 🤣🤣

[@neilgibbons2532]

You forgot the whiskey 🤣

[@anthonydaniels5910]

I’m sure they were married for many year, at least 80 😂

[@Jmike12345]

🐢🔥❤️

[@TofersCarTales]

I've been the proud owner of a '77 Versailles for about a year now and I have been really surprised at how good the car is, particularly considering its reputation. There are literally zero structural squeaks or rattles and the handling, braking and ride are surprisingly similar to a modern car. It is a shame Ford didn't make more effort into distinguishing it visually because it really is a much better car than the Granada it is based on.

[@palletwizard]

Good to see you Mr. Tofer

[@TofersCarTales]

@@palletwizard great to see you here as well! Wonderful channel.

[@ericvonha7694]

My '77 Deville will kick your azz! 😉

[@bretttimmons2653]

The 1979 model had a new more formal roofline that was totally different from the Ford or Mercury. But it was too little too late.

[@michaelwhite2823]

Oh I dawyour video. I guess you are here cross polinating

[@eddiethetruhead]

The only man who could get me to watch a review on a Lincoln Versailles. You’re friggin awesome Uncle Bill.😆👏 Keep ‘em comin.

[@jimbeam7160]

My thoughts exactly. Only Bill could make a video on this POS badge engineered, overpriced, Lincoln Versailles...seem entertaining. Bill starts out with a sick Dachshund linked to The Battle of Iwo Jima? We had a Merc Monarch, and as high school kids we liked it well enough. We knew nothing about cars, engineering, styling, etc. For the price of this so called Lincoln (really an embarrassment to history of Lincoln) we could have bought three Merc Monarchs. I really think Bill is wasting his life selling cars. He should be a frontman for a bigger format covering pop culture. Bill's a character without trying. His complaining and strained comparisons remind me of Woody Allen in Annie Hall.

[@patrickflohe7427]

Bill fricken rules, and that is all.

[@briankorner750]

I watch these videos and end up loving the car that we thought nothing of back in the day. Must be Bill's magic.

[@tylernewton7217]

Okay, who here would die to go back in time to go in the Busch Gardens Jungle Tour and have Bill be the host announcer? My hand is up!

[@curbozerboomer1773]

What a voice!...He reminds me of an old Seattle Disc Jockey from the 1960s, who had a truly God-like, mellifluous , deep baritone...he became the announcer of Airline flights at the big airport...when the dude would announce "now boarding", etc, his voice made you want to jump on that flight!

[@be5952]

@Tyler Newton--- Particularly given his current antipathy toward most animals---lol. Though it was fun to see his softer side this video, hearing how he has a dog he obviously cares for :)

[@tommyholden602]

Sign me up immediately....

[@patrickflohe7427]

Yes!!!!

[@alexsperring7545]

If it weren't for the unique car selection and interesting reviews, I would strap myself to the tracks right before departure so i wouldn't have to endure the constant sighing, ranting and airing of grievances regarding weather, birds chirping or whatever inane topics that pass through the mind of a person with the charm of a widowed Midwestern mailman. Thanks for asking though.

[@RADGarage]

My family was fortunate to rent one of these while vacationing in Honolulu in the late 70’s. I remember being a kid thinking we were billionaires. I haven’t seen one in the flesh for at least 25 years. Thanks Bill!

[@sdrape4964]

My mom & dad bought a 1978 Versailles back in late 1981. It was the first time they felt like they had "made it" (believe me, I've heard some of the stories from before that time...) About a year and a half later, they were forced to sell it because my mom found out that she was carrying child #4 (me) and we all wouldn't fit in the Lincoln. My mom insisted on getting the closest thing to the Lincoln they could get in station wagon form, so they bought a 1983 Colony Park LS in early 84 just before I entered the world.

[@MrMenefrego1]

Wow, a Lincoln AND two turtles gettin' it on!; good times! 👀 My father owned a new 1980 Lincoln, Versailles, that Versailles is one of the finest automobiles I've ever driven. Lincoln engineers had to take an average car, the Granada, and make it good enough primarily for older WWII vets who had been driving luxo-boats for decades, and they succeeded. And I still have my father's beautiful gold-on-gold 1980 Lincoln sitting in my garage here in The Netherlands, I only drive her in the summer months.

[@modiste]

The 1979 MSRP of $14,565 equates to $60,019 in 2023 dollars. I remember when these were first introduced - in the showroom, they had a Versailles parked next to a Mercury Monarch which really emphasized their similarities.

[@ValdezJu]

The Monarch had a better hood ornament!

[@billolsen4360]

That wasn't the best example of salesmanship! 😁

[@ericanderson1691]

My high school driver's Ed car in 77 was a brand new Mercury Monarch. I remember Gary Mills driving into a parking lot planter because he was using the hood ornament as a guide?

[@piggy310]

Does that include bidenflation?

[@FWDSUXARSE]

Badge engineering, not as bad as GM but Ford pulled the same shenanigans.

[@TheGenuineFer]

One thing I like about cars from this era is the chrome accents on the pedals.

[@johnmaki3046]

They got this from 1960s MoPars!

[@retroguy9494]

Yeppers. My 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood and 1984 Cadillac Coupe DeVille have the chrome accented pedals. My 1994 Fleetwood does not. They did away with them by the mid '90s. Must have been another cost saving measure!

[@solemandd67]

Yes. I hate driving cars with plain black pedals.

[@LiterallyCensoredDaily]

I make up for it by wearing chrome boots when I drive, but they're pretty heavy, so I get a lot of tickets.

[@stoneylonesome4062]

God Bless you, Bill. Never stop making videos.

[@klasseact6663]

A Granada that tripped on a Monarch and fell into Lincoln 😅

[@Rudenbehr]

I literally could listen to this guy all day talk about old american cars

[@EricWallwin]

Im 58 y/o. I remember in High School ... a lady that lived down the road had one of these.. I loved it as it was a dressed up Granada or I always thought a fancier Monarch.. anyway one day while playing in the front yard ... Here she comes down the road and her car was on fire..she pulled off the road and she got out and watched it implode .. it was the end .. she didnt get another one... I loved seeing this one you have ... I still loved them and would rather have this then the Seville.. I enjoy watching and listening to you so much !!! Thank you..

[@captlazer5509]

My dad had this new in late 1979. His Lincoln Versailles was in all black, it did have the factory remote garage door opener. Grey leather interior. It was the only one in town! He had a business and was on the road a lot. Must have put 40k miles in a year. It held up. Then as a teen I learned to drive on it. Yes, you can do a Rockford Files style J turn with it. The 302ci, 9 inch rear and all disk breaks makes driving actually fun for a stoggy mafia wanna be re-badged Grenada. The annoying buzzer door chime brought back memories. An honest and hilarious review. Thanks!

[@danielj1063]

An overly decked out Granada, the Versailles was adequate, too

[@marqushio2752]

My dad had one of these in the late 80's. I washed all that chrome so many times. At 10 years old, both me, and the car, I just thought it was the most beautiful thing ever. It even had a moonroof! Now I really wish I could find one. Nostalgia galore!

[@charlesmcginness7214]

The fancy Granada, as I called it when I was a child. Changing the roofline helped their appearance a lot.

[@johnmaki3046]

Maybe MAKING it a REAL LUXURY BUCKET would have helped too!

[@retroguy9494]

My neighbor across the street when I was a boy had a Granada. It was this awful green color. My family knew several people with money, many of them small business owners, lawyers and doctors. NONE of them would buy a Versailles. Or a Seville for that matter (well, ONE guy did). Most of them drove Cadillacs and a couple had Lincolns but ALWAYS the full sized ones. Mostly Fleetwoods, DeVilles and Continental Town Cars.

[@bobbbobb4663]

According to NADA, the Base MSRP for the 79 Versailles was $13,763 ($56,714 in 2023 dollars). The base MSRP for the 79 Seville was $16,224 ($66,855 in 2023 dollars). Here's the kicker for both: I own a 1979 240D with 4-speed manual, crank windows, and MB Tex upholstery. Entry-level model in the U.S. Sticker price was $16,500 ($67,993) and Mercedes sold every one.

[@sammolloy1]

They reek of quality but I think the wealthy of that day must have felt they didn’t deserve anything nice…

[@pcno2832]

I'm sure a ride in the 240D made a ride in either of the two American cars seem like a veal parmesan dinner made with Kraft Velveeta, but I still can't imagine putting up with a 240D. The acceleration would make me envious of the owners of diesel Oldmobiles. Solid fit and finish is nice, but it won't get you onto the interstate in time to avoid becoming a hood ornament on the next approaching Kenworth.

[@bobbbobb4663]

@@pcno2832 Patience is the key. Once up to speed, it will cruise at 80 all day

[@kipbrown1549]

@@bobbbobb4663 I can not wait 10 min. to get up to speed //////////////////////

[@phil1pd]

My grandmother had a 79 Versailles. The interior was very comfortable.

[@curtmac2005]

I have a 77 Versailles. I bought it from my elderly neighbor. They bought it in 77 with only 6,000 miles. They traveled in the car, and it now has 212ish thousand. Still runs like a brand new one.

[@socarboy]

Good video as always I can remember as a young 22 year old working a parts counter at NAPA and getting a call "I have a 1978 Lincoln "Ver-sail-eze" and I need..."

[@jessalmero4145]

These look better to me today than they did when new. My parents were going to buy one but I talked them out of it when I was a kid. There were probably some good incentives offered at the time. They ended up buying a Continental a few years later.

[@KP-zi6jx]

True! Back then these just looked like a glorified Granada, which came up way short relative to the Seville. Now that they seem stand alone w/no Granada's around as common, I appreciate them more.

[@johnmaki3046]

I guess they just DIDN'T LEARN! Lincolns, of the era, were just OVERWEIGHT Fords!

[@retroguy9494]

Your parents actually listened to you when you were a little kid when making a car buying decision? 🤔🤣

[@pbrandon4129]

These reviews are the best thing since Johnny Carson retired.

[@julianalterman7193]

I was a senior in college and my father bought a ‘77 Granada Ghia 4 door in Triple Jade Green I must admit with that 302 V8 that car drove really well Love the reviews Bill thanks 😊

[@ddoyle11]

My stepfather had one; a two tone brown with leather interior. It was so quiet, and floated along like a Lincoln should. GM might have done a better job of hiding the Seville’s Nova base. But despite its Granada base, it behaved like a small Town Car.

[@johnmaki3046]

It was a FAT Granada, though.

[@retroguy9494]

Really??? My uncle's mother in law had a '77 Mercury Monarch which is pretty much like this car. I had a 1979 Continental Town Car. I cannot see how the Versailles and the Town Car are even remotely comparable.

[@ddoyle11]

@@retroguy9494 Well, all I can say is that I rode in and drove both of these cars on a regular basis. I thought they did a good job in that respect. Personally, I would have tweaked a couple of design and styling things. The rear window should have been more upright and formal from the very first model. They did address this after a couple of years. Vertical tail lights would have been a better choice. And lastly, they should have had hideaway windshield wipers like the other Lincolns.

[@retroguy9494]

@@ddoyle11 I was talking more about the ride in particular as well as the overall style. The Versailles and Monarch didn't give anywhere NEAR the comfortable floaty 'glide' that the Continental Town Car did. The Continental got that from a combination of both the suspension as well as the long wheelbase. When I was a boy when these cars were new, my parents and grandparents generation had a saying. 'A Lincoln glides and a Cadillac floats.' Referring of course to the suspensions which gave each brand its own unique ride. As I recall, those generations said that the ride in both the Cadillac Seville and the Lincoln Versailles was nowhere near the soft, comfortable 'cloud like' ride of the regular full size models of those brands.

[@manfredspy]

My dream car when I was a teenager in Switzerland 😃

[@MDiStefano10]

I love this guy complying about life in general. He should have some type of comedy show. Love you man!!

[@nolarobert]

I believe Ford offered a C4 and a C6 automatic transmission. I've never heard of a C3 unless you were talking about C3PO. I remember seeing one of these Lincolns around my small town when I was a kid. I wondered why Lincoln decided to gussy up a Granada and make it so obvious. Now I find that I actually like the look of the Versailles because it reminds me of my youth. The power of nostalgia should never be denied.

[@MisterMikeTexas]

C3, was for 4 cylinder Pintos and Mustang II's I believe.

[@waggitnshaggit6592]

That’s a badass C-3PO watch yo

[@roger628]

No C6 in these. 302s had the C4, 351s had the FMX.

[@brentboswell1294]

The Ford C3 dates back to 1964...it was in the Mustang and Falcon originally. It was literally a two speed Ford-O-matic with a third gear added. The C4 is an updated version. In the 1980's, there was another newer version made called the C5 for Foxbody vehicles.The C6 was supposed to be for bigger engines than the 302, but I decoded the VIN on my friend's 1970 Mustang convertible, with a base 302 and 3.0 rear end, and found out that it was built with a C6 transmission. You couldn't spec it, the only options on the option sheet were the axle ratio and 3 speed manual, 4 speed manual, or automatic.

[@donreinke5863]

@@roger628 Not all. Ive seen both 351 Windsors and Modified with C-5s (heavier duty C-4) behind them

[@edwartvonfectonia4362]

That tortoise has a better game than me in my 20's.

[@k.givens788]

I had a two tone 1977 in 1988 and absolutely loved it. I also at the same time owned a 1976 4 door Granada. I currently own a 1979 Continental Town Car. I wouldn’t mind another Versailles.

[@ENDTIMEsVideoLibrary]

The Two Tone you showed was absolutely gorgeous.. That would have been my kinda Versailles! And, by the way, thanks for the Trauma, Bill.. I really could have gone my entire life without knowing that Turtles make a Doin It Sound!!!

[@bobjohnson1587]

Just the male. The female just lays there...

[@ENDTIMEsVideoLibrary]

@@bobjohnson1587 once again, still too much information!

[@mysticstarhf9265]

My parents bought a '78 Mercury Monarch and later sold it in 1986. It had the largest V8 option under the hood. As a kid, I loved riding in it and it looked great. But yes, like the Versailes, the Monarch was clearly badge swapped from the Granada. The Monarch is the car that sparked my interest that later resulted me in loving the Town Car, Crown Vic and Grand Marquis to this day...and I'm still driving these today.

[@RustyZipper]

I have an ‘11 CVPI, great car!

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

I don't see it sparking the Grand Marquis. Seems like a different design.

[@ohioalphornmusicalsawman2474]

I owned a '76 Monarch Ghia with the 351 Windsor as a daily driver back in the late 90's. Very strong runner and a sleeper, could smoke the rear tires, easy to work on and comfortable. 15 mpg on highway, but gas was cheap back then

[@retroguy9494]

You have a Town Car, a Crown Vic AND a Grand Marquis? And here I thought I was bad owning 4 Cadillacs! LOL Since downsizing all the cars and making most of them front wheel drive by the early '90s my uncle (who died last year at 95) always bought a Grand Marquis because it was still a full sized rear wheel drive car. When I spoke with his widow after he died, I asked her what kind of car they were driving since they stopped making the Grand Marquis like 12 years ago. She said they still had their last Grand Marquis and kept repairing it. This was a man who got a new car every 4 years or so.

[@jeffshadow2407]

My company had a 1978 Lincoln Versailles in our executive fleet. Our branch manager drove it for several months. It was a beautiful car then and still is. The recent ones that sold at Mecum went for crazy high dollars.

[@fscalamita7730]

Really ? How much?

[@johnmaki3046]

GREAT ALCOHOL available at Mecum, eh?

[@dzgaming1]

Lincoln and Cadillac always made excellent cars. No rattles, no weird noises, great braking, great handling for the size, great quality builds all around and the looks weren't so bad. My 91 brougham d elegance got to 280k with only oil changes but then the reverse stop working so I scrapped the car. Now the Triple Black 91 with every option goes for 50k or more with low miles. Best car I ever owned and I owned over 40+ cars.

[@deliriousgastronomy]

It's amusing for as much backlash as this car gets, its design cues really became the future face of the Town Car throughout the '80s.

[@garfield89dude32]

Yup, Ford used that steering wheel for years! Just from my recollection I was in a 1977 Cougar, a 1983 Econoline van and a 1978 F150 that all had that exact wheel. Curiously, our 1983 LTD Crown Victoria had a “fancy” four spoke wheel with no horn pad. You had to push the turn signal lever into the steering column to activate the horn. Bizarre times to say the least!

[@Dallas_K]

The 78 LTD had that wheel.

[@MarinCipollina]

Good luck finding that in a hurry when seconds matter.

[@be5952]

@@MarinCipollina Yes! I recall, even as a kid, that _push-the-blinker-inward-to-blow-the-horn_ design seemed positively horrible.

[@johnmaki3046]

I believe ALL "revered auto manufacturers" use the "perceived- quality" SCAM to CON those who are foolish enough to believe this!

[@LakeNipissing]

When the Granadas and Monarchs were on the road en masse in the 1980s, I never really liked them. But now I look at that silver 2 door Monarch at 13:55 in the video, and think dang, what a cool-looking sleeper that would be with a 5.0 Coyote dropped into it.

[@mitchellyardanoff4666]

Powernation did a sleeper Granada with a 347 stroker. Very stealthy. Complete with hubcaps and single exhaust with power cutouts.

[@crimsonstang]

Malaise-Era Americana is some of my favorite design. I may stand alone in that, but I really think they are quite beautiful.

[@pdennis93]

In the pilot episode of Knight Rider, there was a demo derby of "brand new cars", in reality, they were 2-3 year old cars. One of them was a tan over black 1980 Versailles. It crashed into a Comtron box van.

[@McVaio]

What a shame.

[@turnne]

My parents had one of these when I was kid. I remember loving it

[@randolfo1265]

It may be vinyl on the door panels but at least the door opener pull were metal in those days. Bill, after you described the mechanicals of this car, you got me wanting a resto-mod hot rod one of these!

[@FWDSUXARSE]

Drop either an FI 89-93 Mustang GT spec engine in it with GT40 heads and an E303 cam in it or if you have eff it money drop a coyote into it (if you want to keep it all Ford) otherwise just drop an LS 4.8 or 5.3 into it if you really want to make folks mad. 🤣

[@christiansloat]

I had a 77 with a 351 in high school that I got from my grandpa. Thanks for the video. Brings back some memories.

[@captbrakeset7630]

I remember when the Seville launched and how lots of ladies in my hometown swapped their Devilles, Electras, and 98s for this new, small Cadillac. Easier to park and get around town in, they said. The Sevilles had to outnumber the Versailles by 4 or 5 to 1. No idea if this was true, but the rumor was that the local Lincoln dealer, after seeing a few too many Marks and Continentals on the Cadillac dealer's used lot, tried to stimulate business by recruiting his wife and a few of her friends to take turns driving a Versailles around town.

[@ATLcentury334]

Say what you want about the Versailles, but I loved this car. I loved the Seville as well. The 1980 Seville was an immediate eye catcher. When Lincoln redesigned the roof, I liked it even better. The car even looked elegant in the then trendy two tone paint schemes. It would even look beautiful as a limousine. I’d love to have one today, black, but not with the awful red interior.

[@bigcrowfly]

It was a good idea-CHRYSLER FIFTH AVENUE- Lee Iacocca put a similar roof cap on the upscale version of the Volare' (LeBaron) and sold 100k+ a year for about 7 years.

[@JamesGalloway27]

i drive a fifthavenue and it is a wonderful, inexpensive car. solid drive, big car feel, heavy on the road, but if something happens to it i won't be so sad. however, it's currently mint and lived in museums until i bought it three years ago so i'll be miffed when something does happen

[@curbozerboomer1773]

@@JamesGalloway27 My parents owned a 5th Ave...good looking, but serious transmission hassles.

[@akshonclip]

The padded Continental Kit on the trunk with the fuel door smack dab in the middle was a nice touch. 😂

[@scottleyva8656]

Even with its faults, still better looking than cars today.

[@christopherlaflam6383]

And so much more interesting to look at

[@67tomcat]

"Air raid death buzzer" is hysterical! So is this car, but I remember these being fairly popular here in the Detroit area back in the day. But it's a rolling brothel.....

[@frankperroni6338]

Chrysler turned a Volare into a New Yorker 5th Avenue and sold countless gazillions of them, but Lincoln completely failed at turning a Granada into a Versailles. That's the most amazing thing to me.

[@waggitnshaggit6592]

Yep exactly those were nice also liked the 2 door LeBaron spin off too

[@Andyface79]

Price, price, price.

[@624radicalham]

The New Yorker was on the Diplomat platform. Not the Volare

[@frankperroni6338]

@@624radicalham Nope. M-body New Yorker/Diplomat/LeBaron were all derived from Volare/Aspen 112.7" wheelbase. They even share many common parts, even some sheetmetal.

[@Andyface79]

@@624radicalham No they were both f- bodies originally.

[@occa4503]

I like watching your channel. I'm a couple years older. In 79 our household had a 78 Town Car, 77 loaded Mercury wagon and a 78 Bronco for winter use. My dad had a business and right down the street from it was the Ford dealer where he bought them all. I remember being 12 or 13 and going there and sitting in this car when it came out and laughing at it. It was a Granada with leather. Now it's a classic. Thanks Bill.

[@christopherkraft1327]

Hey Bill, sorry for the heat there in Florida, here in California it's unusually cold & we've even gotten some snow!!! I like the Lincoln Versailles & I think that if Ford had come out with that roofline from the get go they would have been more distinguished from the Granada & would have sold better. I'm glad that you are keeping up on the coronavirus whiskey!!! You can't be to safe!!! Thanks for sharing this great video!!! 👍👍🙂 I didn't think that when I started watching this video that I'd see turtles doing the bone dance!!! 🙄

[@aleks1939]

My first car was a 1975 Ford Granada. Such a fun and easy car to work on. Might Dad taught me a lot about fixing up cars with that car, even changing out the radiator which took us only a few hours one Saturday afternoon.

[@eth39232]

According to the book "Lincoln Design Heritage," there was a proposal for a Panther platform Versailles (114 inch wheelbase) and a Fox platform Versailles that had boxier styling than the Fox platform Continental.

[@johnmaki3046]

At FORD, any cost cutting WORKED!

[@vettezeppelin]

Hey Bill- Gotta find a nice 76-79 Seville now to compare!

[@stephendavidbailey2743]

I notice extremely elaborate bushings on the spring/shock tower. They must have really tried to make this seem like a quiet luxury car. I liked it then and now.

[@cj32769]

They look like struts to me which would make it a fox body

[@stephendavidbailey2743]

@@cj32769 No. They are basically the same as on the Falcon, introduced in 1959. Also used on all Mustangs through 1973, Maverick, Granada, Monarch; and Versailles. It was not a McPherson strut like Fox bodies. The spring and shock were mounted above the upper control arm, rather than between the control arms. I am fairly sure that even this Lincoln had rear leaf springs.

[@discerningmind]

In the video as well as the comment section there's an emphasis on the Versailles being based on the Ford Granada, along with a glorification of the Cadillac Seville. As someone who lived through the time, with part of that time having been a valet at the best Hollywood restaurants, I'd like to point out something that's missing. That being, the Seville was often insulted or degraded for its Chevrolet Nova roots. And this was heard more often because there were more Seville's around than Versailles'. The difference between these two cars is that Cadillac had success in making it work. The first-generation Seville was truly a beautiful car inside and out, and another factor of its popularity was its image of being a low-key high-class car. Whereas the Versailles looked like glitz from as far away as one could see it. And its Granada roots were most apparent at the taillights, along with cheesy wheel covers glaring with too few wires in the wire section. Had Lincoln made upgrades in those two areas it would have just about erased all traces of the Granada. Noteworthy is that, during my time as a valet, I would park several Seville's every night, yet I don't recall a single Versailles ever having come into any of the restaurants I was working. Bill, if a speedometer is still working the cable can successfully lubricated. I haven't bought speedometer lube/oil in years, but it used to come in a small bottle with a special cone shaped nozzle to fit inside the cable from under the dashboard. From there gravity would allow the lube/oil to travel downward thus lubricating the entire cable without removal. I wanted to point out that according to the window sticker, your Versailles has a two-barrel carburetor. I thought they came with a four-barrel carburetor, but I noticed the window sticker stated, 2V. The only sound that I know of turtles making is when crunching on vegetation. Is someone goofing on us in that video?

[@LulaRoberts]

I enjoyed your video on this Lincoln as well as the history behind it. Yes it was rushed into production however, if the R & D was allowed to play around with different options to make the car a competitive, it would have caught on by the public and sold very well. I may some day buy one. Very rare these cars come up for auction. Great looking Lincoln 👌.

[@Kurt-x5l]

All these years later the style and design of this car is still sharp 👌

[@fooloco]

Lincoln throughout their history was known for having the first in many other vehicle lighting. I remember reading that the Mark VIII was the first factory model to have HID headlamps and a neon brake light on the rear decklid.

[@FWDSUXARSE]

Yes I believe that was 96 or 97 but my memory may be wrong. Also the FN10 platform for the Mark VIII was a derivative of the MN12 platform which was what the "Thundercougar" twins from 89-97 were built on.

[@johnmaki3046]

"Lighting" DOES NOT make a QUALITY VEHICLE, though!

[@gerardmills1389]

Mom had a 302 2bbl,76Granada Ghia, quite nice for what it was. White with burgundy Landeau top. Great car,trunk.luggage rack. Looking at the floorboard kick panels, you realized it was a Falcon platform. Good driving car which Mom paid 5600.00 new. Thanks Bill for the review. Enjoy all of them

[@MrSloika]

The Falcon was a good platform...for 1960. Ford was selling this pile of crap in 1977 and at premium prices.

[@jimmyaber5920]

I don't remember the paint process difference on these but when they came out, the paint was so much better than any factory paint other than some insanely expensive handcrafted vehicles. As far as Seville, it was just more lipstick on the pig it was based on. Seville's Olds engine with that early Bendix FI was not a reliable pwertrain.

[@petertornabeni602]

I’m happy you did this car. I remember it from when I was young. Had a 302. Was a 79’ - car had no power, seats were stuffed and you could see, ford tried with the interior. Could have done more with exterior but, the car worked. Not magical like the Seville - thank you Bill. Please keep’em coming..

[@romans8forging181]

My buddy in High School (1988,89) had a 4 door Granada with a straight 6 and a 4 spd!!! Yes a 4 speed from the factory. It was hilarious. Oh and it was this dark purplish maroon color with 5% tinted glass all around. Lol

[@donaldvincent]

I drove a 2 door Navy Blue1978 Ford Grenada in high school. it had a low power smog era 302 V-8 and all the options. It was a great car. As for the speedometer cable you do not need to replace it. Remove the speedometer and the core of the cable will just pull out. Wipe clean with mineral spirits. Apply a layer of axle grease and re-insert. you will need to twist it to get it in the final inch or so to align the square tip with the square hole on the other end. Back in the day they used "white lithium" grease on these cables and it is notorious for becoming a sticky goo after a few years. I used to fix these all the time years ago.

[@AES5967]

When bumpers were made to be bumped

[@joelyons3713]

Love the outside temperature gauge on the mirror, like my 83 Towncar I had for two years, loved that car. This one, the quality shows, the wipers are usually hidden beneath the hood cowl on any luxury car. Well said Bill.

[@BretWFL]

Was that really turtles or was that taken by a drone in the Villages? As a kid those cars were weird to me also. Love the channel. Think Fox4 needs to go to you daily about 7:15 for a weather update. LOL. I live up in the Cape. You're always spot on explaining our weather. Great work Bill. Appreciate the channel.

[@fob1xxl]

When I first saw the VERSAILLES, it was in Beverly Hills, and I thought what a nice looking Ford Granada. I owned 2 Seville's. A 1976 and a 1979. CADILLAC had it all over the Versailles. Ford succeeded beautifully with the MARK.

[@casepak]

Oh hell yeah Bill! True car porn at it's sleaziest! Thanks for not forgetting the "cars of the obscure"! All the best!

[@stanleymasterson1135]

True turtle porn as well... a package deal

[@retroguy9494]

@@stanleymasterson1135 Do turtles REALLY sound like that when they....well....you know! LOL

[@ThatMichaelTGuy]

Holy cow! The turtle clip was like looking in a mirror... But! Since I haven't left a laptop anywhere, I'm reasonably sure it's not me. Nice car Bill.

[@landyachtfan79]

I just can't help but think of how much more of a success the Versailles would have been had Lincoln-Mercury given it the '79's updated roof treatment right out of the box, as well as the dash from the Continental/Mark V instead of the one from the Granada/Monarch.

[@daviatorcustoms3168]

The thing is, the Caddys of the time were giant, heavy, outdated styled boats when the Seville hit the market and introduced the sheer look. The Ford products of all sizes had more of a sheer look than any GM products YEARS before GM introduced the sheer look. Ford didn't HAVE to come up with an entirely new platform to get the Versailles to market. Everything they were doing from Ford to Lincoln had this clean, elegant styling and even the Panther platform LTD, Grand Marquis and Continental introduced in 79 still had a bit of the protruded knife edge look to the tops of the front fenders when it arrived. In 79, the Versailles was within just a few inches in length and a couple inches in width and 4 inches shorter in wheelbase than the panther cars, and honestly, I'd pick this car over the Panther platform cars of that time and even the other Lincolns. It had the fresh front end styling of the Lincolns soon to come with rectangular headlamps unlike the concealed headlight doors of the other Lincolns (and was also similar to the Lincoln-esque VERY handsome Mercury Cougar front end of that time) All that being said, I do wish the earlier Versailles had this rear door and window treatment as it looked A LOT better and more suited to a Lincoln. If I were pushed to pick a choice for the Seville versus the Versailles as a favorite, I would say Seville the first couple years of the Versailles life cycle, but definitely the Versailles in 79-80.

[@paulie-Gualtieri.]

Good evening Bill, hope you've had a good week.

[@curiouscars9282]

Hello Paulie - not terrible, but far from optimal. Hope you're doing well.

[@TheCarFarm]

@@curiouscars9282 ....c'mon, Bill! If that wasn't an opportunity for a non sequitur infused personal rant, served on a platter, pre-heated, garnished, red wine on table and butlers on hand...I don't know what is!

[@RustyZipper]

@@TheCarFarm - you guys are here too🤷‍♂️ I rely on Bill to get me through a miserable weekend at work

[@TheCarFarm]

@@RustyZipper He is an inspiration.

[@MyHumanWreckage]

Sure, some may find this car tacky, but I just love this car!

[@jeffb6786]

Another great review, Bill! The mating turtles just took it to a whole new level too. It'll take me days to get that image outta my head. ha ha. Anyway, I can see your point about this car. I actually liked 'em when they first came on the scene, but then I was 13 in '79, so maybe I was just a weird kid going through puberty. I liked the Granada it was based on, so I guess seeing a fully loaded Granada just seemed like a good idea at the time. Probably another weird thing, I've noticed in the last few videos that the cars had what Chrysler called pedal dress-up (chrome trim around pedals) and I kinda miss that. My dad's '69 Camaro SS had it and so did mom's '72 Chrysler Town & Country. I always thought it was kinda cool, or rather classy. Not sure why a Camaro had it, but it did. Looking forward to the review of the Alliance. I almost talked my grandmother into one of those back in the day and I'm so glad I didn't. Keep the shiny side up and take care. Stay outta the damn heat!

[@ericdescarries4973]

Incredible! 661 comments? I own a 1977 Versailles 351 that I bought slightly used in 1978 (18,000 kilometers or so). I still have it, store it in winter but logged only 82,000 km since then! Parts are starting to dry up but everything works!

[@rick0e295]

Viewing this the day after my 7th birthday, so remember these well. The revised 79 roof really added to the overall classic style. Actually LOVE the VERSAILLES name! Rode in one once and thought it was great but preferred larger Town Car and Mark's. Seville never appealed to me! Interesting, formal roof is similar to that on the 83 through Chrysler Fifth Avenues which was also a rework of small LeBaron. Have had FLEETWOODS, Town Cars. Had 83 and 85 Fifth Avenues and loved them! These so called Malaise Era monuments to OTT excessive luxury are my cup of tea! Interior is similar to Fifth Avenues, but not as great as plush velvet tufted seats in Fifth Avenues! Iacoca apparently learned to upscale, too bad he down sized Fifth Avenues and Imperials to the Kcar platform! My personal philosophy is TOO MUCH is not ENOUGH! Overall Other than RWD FLEETWOODS, FORD definitely ran over Cadillac in 70s and has continued to do so until last 2011 Town Car! Currently have beautiful low mileage Town Car Signature Limited. Love it and will never let it go 🏆. But still not the old school Lincolns. Sorry your dog 🐕 had the shits,but then Cadillac hit the shots in the 80s with their engines! 😉 😜. Would love to see you do a post on 83-88 Fifth Avenues and comparison with Versailles!

[@johnmaki3046]

I always "love" the way car builders (foreign also!) try to "costume" plain ("commoner's") vehicles as "Total LUXURY" to those POMPOUS AND STUPID ENOUGH TO BUY THEM!

[@rick0e295]

@@johnmaki3046 What really gets me is that few auto companies still use names like Versailles, Ambassador , New Yorker, GRAND MARQUIS, Park Avenue, etc. These names like the cars were meant to motivate buyers to aspire to more upscale vehicles. To me, that was so much better than current trend using letters and numbers.

[@map3384]

My God every capo in New York drove one back in those times. I was just a freshman in high school in 79 but I was wowed by this vehicle. Back then bigger was better.

[@williammarik6159]

Great video Bill ! You are very entertaining ! My uncle owned a small construction business and drove one of these around like Frank Cannon! Big-ass cigar in his mouth while he delivered 2x4,s to his crew on various jobs ! Great car !

[@2W3X4YZ5]

I hope he drove better than Cannon, who wrecked a new MkIV every week.

[@davidbauer1485]

I was 12 and went with my Dad to pick up a Diamond Jubilee version of the early model Versailles. It was the showroom car/ demonstrator. They weren't selling that well so dad got the price down to where we could afford it, but it was still expensive. It was my mom's car to haul around her contract bridge playing ladies. I called it The Bridgemobile! Eventually I was handed down the car in college and drove it until 1993. As a kid I polished over that clear coat and the car always looked new. Great leather interior with buckets that held up well as I maintained it. The quadraphonic stereo rocked with Barry Manolo! It was caught in a hail storm and the aluminum hood held up well but eventually little spiral cracks appeared on the vinyl roof. The electronic ignition and funky carburetor started acting up after 15 years and Dad took it back and traded it in with around 75k on it. A great cruiser and I am still fond of the Versailles.

[@normalizedaudio2481]

Those old lights were so much better.

[@Jack_Stafford]

Yep, that steering wheel ! My 75 Mercury Montego had it, all Torrinos and Rancheros had it, my former 76 Mark IV had it (although with a leather rim). I was shocked to see it in this small Ford model though!

[@royale7620]

I personally love it! and the name sounds so exclusive too...more luxurious than the SeVille imo.

[@MarinCipollina]

It wasn't

[@royale7620]

@@MarinCipollina your opinion

[@be5952]

Very interesting details about the *new headlight technology* and the new, *better paint technology.* (And thanks so much for showing us the exterior lights turned on---always enjoy that moment.) The *inadequately 'shallow opening' trunk* reminds me very much of Jaguar XJ 3-Series trunks (may have been earlier generations too). Basically a hazardous trunk lid that could have been eliminated with a higher opening lid hinge design. I've never seen those *door handles* on a car this 'new', but they sure look ergonomically comfortable to use! Every time a car reviewer mentions *ashtrays* in any interior location with a familiar _"...they're now outdated because fewer people smoke..."_ mindset, I recall how we always used them as tiny garbage receptacles. That manufacturers have now all but eliminated them (back and front) there's no place to put a gum wrapper or other bits of detritus. So, I really miss 'ashtrays'.

[@paulhoffman778]

The line from " ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK" was good , I always, as a kid, thought this was a sharp car. 👌 to EARLY FOR AC/DC great group but not early morning agree.

[@one4uf]

Literally the GOAT of KZbin channels

[@palletwizard]

Not bad for a malaise. I would definitely drive that everywhere. I bet it gets decent gas mileage and you’d be the only one in your town with one!

[@MarinCipollina]

14 MPG was the EPA rating.. Not exactly great, my 1979 TRANS AM got similar mileage and it had a 6.6 liter V8 with a four barrel and WS6 package, along with a screaming fire eagle on the hood.

[@patrickflohe7427]

Really, Wiz? LOLOLOL BAHAHAHA No, it was a joke.

[@pathfinderdiscovery9395]

I drove a 76 4 door 302 2 barrel carb bucket seats an rally wheels for yrs , it was my first car an I put over 80,000 miles on it back then in 1984 is when I got for my car to drive to high school , drove it to 1988 an it never left me stranded

[@genebigs1749]

Great video! I actually liked the Ford Granada back then. It was a good looking medium priced car. A little more effort to differentiate this car from the Granada, and, as you say I think it would have been a whole new and better story for the Versailles. Thanks as always, Bill!

[@jimbeam7160]

If you can find a Granada, they make pretty cool restomods with the right tires and rims. You don't see Granadas...anywhere. With the right rims and stance, there's alot of malaise era cars that look half way presentable.....and you'll be the only one for thousands of miles who drives one.

[@robarchpdx]

Thanks Bill! This one was awesome... and the vehicle choice too! Thanks for not overlooking this one... it's worth it.

[@Rene67]

Thank you again, Mr. Bill! A very nice car, this Lincoln, allbeit a Ford Granada, never mind. You mentioned a 70 degrees outside temperature approximately. Here I the Netherlands we have to live with a mere 40 F, so I'd rather have the Napels temperature.

[@DSP1968]

What a nice example! You were trying to figure out who bought these -- in my observation at the time, it was often women who wanted a Lincoln that was easier to maneuver and park.

[@davewatts6724]

Using the “ fucking turtles” was brilliant, and a gimmick Ford should have tried too, and you are right Bill, it was just too much Granada, to be a Lincoln……

[@allegheny48]

Thanks for another interesting review. That Lincoln is in great shape for its 44 years. I've always considered the Lincoln Versailles a Granada in a tuxedo and the Mercury Monarch a Granada in a suit. All 3 were interesting cars for the time. I never had much luck with power antennas.

[@terribelbliss9646]

Hi Bill, You might want to try some tune-up in a bottle, it might shake loose the fuel gauge. You’re right it’s not a bad car, I do remember Ford taking a lot shit for its badge engineering but I think it was deliberate in a way because you certainly can tell it’s a Ford. Anyway thanks for sharing. 👍

[@MyChannel-ct6gr]

Parents bought a 77 (w/bucket seats & moon roof) in 1980. This was our family car, and was one of the cars I learned to drive with. For a season, I had to drive my father to work in the mornings going from West Seattle to South Lake Union via the viaduct and to and from home. The viaduct was empty (contra commute) on the bottom tier headed south on the way back home. I would bury the needle on our 77 every morning, using all 3 lanes navigate the s-turns in the middle and end of the viaduct. I always thought it was a beautiful car, and riving at night the vertical bar lights between the front and rear doors looked gorgeous bouncing off the windows of the buildings in downtown Seattle. Yes, we also played 8-trac tapes in it as well. I had no idea that it was a built out as you said. I do know that it was definitely as (3) speed: that was an absolute. Can't wait to tell my older brother about the 4-barrel carb and 9" read end. Thank you so much for posting this incredible video.

[@LearnAboutFlow]

Friend's grandfather had one of these and he was a state supreme court judge. His license plate was 2. Car was garbage though.

[@kirbyreynolds6565]

I really don’t care what Bill is reviewing anymore. He’s the reason I tune in.

[@DudleyGarrett]

Bill, was that passenger door replaced? The paint looks off.

[@RustyZipper]

Another person suggested that as well

[@edwardbughiuc100]

this guy is the best...we are in the middle of a heat wave in the mid 70's and it sucks the big one....meanwhile I am constantly and seeing snow outside my windows for the last 4 months and have to bundle up just to go take my garbage out