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Hi everyone. Just before Christmas, I was on my way to work in my 1997 Lincoln Mark VIII (not LSC) and hit a patch of ice and hit a guardrail pretty much straight on in the front. Needless to say, the front end is damage, with both air-bags deployed. Overall, the car will only need new air-bags (if you want them), new front bumper (the current one is scratched up pretty well) two new headlights, a grill, two new tires, two new door handles, and pulling out the front end. Overall the car is drivable with a little work. The radiator was not punctured. Only the front end was pushed in and stopped at the radiator.
Let me fill in most of the details about the vehicle that I know. Feel free to email me with any questions or for some pictures. This was the first and only accident that this car has been in. I have approximately 176,000 miles (I bought it with about 83k), original transmission with no issues that I know of, a Diablo performance chip, and K&N air filter, converted from airbags to springs The car is black on black, but will need a new paint job as the clear coat is peeling off. I replaced all 4 speakers with new and also the OEM CD player for an aftermarket MP3 player. All original sound equipment was removed and sold when I went with the MP3 player. It has heated side mirrors, and an auto dimming review mirror. I replaced the air shocks with springs. The engine is pretty strong (I would even say very strong for the age and mileage) and it burns very little oil. I performed all the oil changes myself and I can only remember 2 times that I had to add a little oil between changes.
All problems with the vehicle listed next are just due to age, nothing but the front end was damaged in the accident (outside of the airbags). All glass on the Mark VIII is good with the exception of the front windshield which has a chip from a rock and the tinting will need to be replaced or just removed. The front driver's seat module will need to be replaced as well as the mechanism for the steering column. The blend door actuator will need to be replaced. I currently have to manually switch from heat to a/c when needed by reaching up under the left side of the glove box. The air controls still work, but the case surrounding the controls (not the front panel) has been broken when I tried to replace the blend door actuator and set the dash on the gear shift. The driver's seat is a little worn on the seat portion, but no tares. The center console needs some work as it has had the tabs on the bottom portion glued back on a couple of times. The keyless remotes do not work anymore. The last item I can think of that is wrong on the car is the gas cap release sometimes gets stuck and you have to use the manual lever in the trunk.
I don't have the time or space to fix this car up myself and hate to see it go. I have had the car for about 8 years and has never given me much trouble. I ended up buying a Lincoln LS based on the experience I had with the Mark VIII. The most I ever had to do on this car was to replace the air shocks with springs (typical for the age of the car) and about 3 coils.
I am looking for offers to buy the car as-is, for about $1500. Of course I will take competing bids as needed. I plan on listing this car on ebay by the end of this week. If I get no takers on the whole vehicle, I will part it out. I will post again if that happens.
