Few brands have been as hit or miss as Lincoln, but the company knocked it out of the park when they unveiled the Mark X concept at the 2004 North American International Auto Show.
Oozing an intoxicating blend of excellence and nostalgia, the concept was a smashing success that generated some much needed buzz for the beleaguered brand, which recently suffered an embarrassing setback with the Blackwood.
Designed to recall the brand’s heyday, the concept was equipped with a polished aluminum egg-crate grille that was flanked by HID headlights and a classic hood ornament. Designers also gave the car simple, but elegant bodywork as well as polished aluminum door handles that popped out when pushed.
They were joined by 19-inch wheels and a “boat tail” rear end with LED taillights. While the latter are common today, Lincoln originally bragged the LEDs were able to “illuminate nearly 200 milliseconds faster than traditional bulbs.”
The real coup de grâce was the concept’s retractable hardtop, which featured a glass roof. This was pretty cool stuff back in the day and the roof could be lowered into the leather-lined trunk within 30 seconds.
The upscale styling continued inside the Lime Sorbet cabin, which featured white accents as well as polished aluminum flourishes. Other highlights include watch-like gauges and a 7-inch infotainment system, which appears to be of the ‘fake it until you make it’ variety as it shows the car is located near the 8th hole of the Pebble Beach Golf Links.
The concept was based on the ill-fated Ford Thunderbird and features a 3.9-liter V8 engine developing 280 hp (209 kW / 284 PS) and 286 lb-ft (387 Nm) of torque. It’s connected to a five-speed automatic transmission, which sends power to the rear wheels.
More: Lincoln Concept Models Including MK9 and Mark X Going up for Auction
While 20 years have passed since the concept originally debuted in Detroit, it’s slated to be auctioned by Mecum in March. There’s no auction estimate, but the car has traded hands multiple times in the past including sales for $101,750 and $129,250.
