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27-680: The Lincoln Versailles is a mid-size luxury car that was marketed by Lincoln from the 1977 to 1980 model years. The first Lincoln introduced outside of the full-size segment, the Versailles is a rebranded version of the Ford Granada and Mercury Monarch . Replacing the Mercury Grand Monarch Ghia , the model line was introduced as a competitor to the Cadillac Seville . Deriving its nameplate from

54-604: A vehicle size class which originated in the United States and is used for cars larger than compact cars and smaller than full-size cars . "Large family car" is a UK term and a part of the D-segment in the European car classification. Mid-size cars are manufactured in a variety of body styles, including sedans , coupes , station wagons , hatchbacks , and convertibles . Compact executive cars can also fall under

81-470: A simulated road test. The Versailles featured "matched and balanced" driveline elements, low-friction lower ball joints, double isolated shocks, reinforced chassis areas, sound insulation, and balanced forged 14-inch aluminum wheels with Michelin whitewall X-radials. Bodywork received the first clear-coat paint on a regular production car.” The Versailles shared its powertrain with the Monarch upon which it

108-566: The Cadillac Seville was introduced in May 1975. Developed by GM (in only 16 months) in response to both the fuel crises and in effort to match European luxury sedans, the Seville sourced its V8 engine from Oldsmobile and its chassis underpinnings from the Chevrolet Nova . The smallest Cadillac in 40 years, the Seville broke a long-running industry precedent, as the near-compact model Cadillac

135-662: The Ford LTD II and the Plymouth Fury . A comparison test by Popular Science of four intermediate sedans (the 1976 AMC Matador, Chevrolet Malibu , Ford Torino, and Dodge Coronet ) predicted that these will be the "big cars of the future." By 1978, General Motors made its intermediate models smaller. New "official" size designations in the U.S. were introduced by the EPA , which defined market segments by passenger and cargo space. Formerly mid-sized cars that were built on

162-685: The French palace outside Paris , the Lincoln Versailles was offered solely as a four-door sedan; it is the final vehicle developed from the chassis architecture of the American Ford Falcon . From 1977 to 1980, Ford produced the Lincoln Versailles alongside the Granada and Monarch at Wayne Stamping & Assembly ( Wayne, Michigan ) and Mahwah Assembly ( Mahwah, New Jersey ). In total, 50,156 examples were produced. During

189-640: The GM X-body compacts, the Granada/Monarch were developed to replace the Ford Maverick/Mercury Comet. With little over than a year until its product launch, the Versailles was relegated to become a variant of a production vehicle, sharing a large degree of its body panels with its Mercury counterpart. To further streamline development, the Versailles adopted the design features of the highest-trim Mercury Grand Monarch Ghia (which

216-473: The Lincoln Versailles fared poorly, outsold by the Cadillac by a three to one margin in its 1977 debut year. Following its update for the 1979 model year, sales of the Versailles would more than double, though remaining far behind its Cadillac counterpart. In its entire production run, Lincoln would sell 50,156 examples of the Versailles. By comparison, Cadillac would outsell that total in both 1978 and 1979,

243-459: The Monarch and Granada, including the entire roofline. Several design elements were revised, giving the Versailles an appearance closer in line to the Continental and Mark V, including a "Continental spare" decklid (with LINCOLN lettering) and model-specific taillamps; the Versailles (the first Lincoln with exposed headlamps since 1969) introduced rectangular headlamps to the brand. For 1979,

270-515: The chronology of the Mark series with Mark III, the company held onto the name, keeping it for the 1977 Lincoln Versailles. During the mid-1970s, the Lincoln division of Ford sought to expand its model range for multiple reasons. Though sales of large luxury cars would ultimately recover in the aftermath of the 1973 oil crisis , in the United States, the rise of imported cars also led to transition in

297-403: The four-door Ford Maverick/Mercury Comet. Marketed as a compact car, the Versailles is closer in size to the mid-size segment of today, in terms of exterior footprint. According to Lincoln advertising, a quality-control regimen was used at the factory. According to the marketing, final assembly included dynamometer testing of the engine/transmission, a water spray test to pinpoint body leaks, and

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324-525: The full-size cars of a decade or so ago ... best sellers include Ford Torino , Chevrolet Chevelle , AMC Matador , Plymouth Satellite ..." The domestic manufacturers began changing the definition of "medium" as they developed new models for an evolving market place. A turning point occurred in the late 1970s, when rising fuel costs and government fuel economy regulations caused all car classes to shrink, and in many cases to blur. Automakers moved previously "full-size" nameplates to smaller platforms such as

351-488: The larger Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Continental. Along with power-operated leather-trim seats and steering wheel, power steering and windows, the Versailles included features such as a digital LCD clock, dual map lights, lighted passenger vanity mirror, rear-seat map pockets, and plush carpeting with soundproofing. The Versailles shares its wheelbase with the Ford Granada/Mercury Monarch and

378-533: The last two years of the first-generation Seville. Lincoln would temporarily revert to an all-full-size lineup for 1981 before introducing a downsized, Fox -based Continental for 1982.       Sold exclusively in China.        The Lincoln Mark LT was exclusively sold in Mexico after the 2008 model year. Mid-size car Mid-size —also known as intermediate —is

405-668: The luxury-vehicle segment. While competing with Cadillac, Imperial, and Lincoln in terms of price, the West German BMW 3.0Si and Mercedes-Benz 350SE/450SE and the British Jaguar XJ offered American luxury car customers a far different vehicle than produced by Ford, GM, or Chrysler. In 1973, the Lincoln Mark I Ghia concept car was developed by Ghia, derived from the Ford Granada Mk I . For 1976,

432-613: The mid-1950s, a Ford Versailles was manufactured by Simca in France, derived from the Ford Vedette . In 1966, during the development of what would become the Continental Mark III , Ford researched the suitability of multiple nameplates for the model line with potential consumers. The Versailles name placed third (after Mark VI and LeMarque) among a large group of nameplates. Though Ford ultimately sought to restart

459-522: The mid-size category. The automobile that defined this size in the United States was the Rambler Six that was introduced in 1956, although it was called a "compact" car at that time. Much smaller than any standard contemporary full-size cars, it was called a compact to distinguish it from the small imported cars that were being introduced into the marketplace. By the early 1960s, the car

486-593: The mid-size market for decades. Mid-size cars were the most popular category of cars sold in the United States, with 27.4 percent during the first half of 2012, ahead of crossovers at 19 percent. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Fuel Economy Regulations for 1977 and Later Model Year (dated July 1996) includes definitions for classes of automobiles. Based on the combined passenger and cargo volume, mid-size cars are defined as having an interior volume index of 110–119 cu ft (3.1–3.4 m ). American Specialty Cars The company

513-414: The mid-size market segment as the line of cars themselves kept increasing in size. By 1965, these GM "A platform" mid-size models matched the size of 1955 full-size cars. During the 1970s, the intermediate class in the U.S. was generally defined as vehicles with wheelbases between 112 inches (2,845 mm) and 118 inches (2,997 mm). Once again, the cars grew and by 1974 they were "about as large as

540-424: The model line received a revised roofline, distinct from the Granada/Monarch. Developed by American Sunroof Company , a fiberglass cap on the rear roof and reshaped rear doors gave the model line a notchback appearance (a vinyl landau roof was now standard). Essentially taking over the role of the Mercury Grand Monarch Ghia , the Lincoln Versailles inherited many standard interior features, including many seen in

567-679: The same platform, like the AMC Matador sedan, had a combined passenger and cargo volume of 130 cubic feet (3.68 m ), and were now considered "full-size" automobiles. Cars that defined the mid-size market in the 1980s and 1990s included the Chrysler K-Cars ( Dodge Aries and Plymouth Reliant ), the Ford Taurus , and the Toyota Camry , which was upsized into the midsize class in 1991. The Taurus and Camry came to define

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594-487: Was based, with a V8 engine as a sole choice. Initially, the Versailles was powered by the 351 cubic-inch V8, phased out in favor of the 302 cubic-inch V8. The three-speed C4 automatic transmission was the only transmission available. The rear differential used in the Versailles was Ford 9-inch with rear disc brakes , replacing the drums used on the Granada and the Monarch. In comparison to the Cadillac Seville,

621-561: Was discontinued for 1977). In line with the Seville, the Versailles was the most expensive Lincoln sedan at $ 11,500 ($ 57,822 in 2023 dollars ); Lincoln-Mercury priced the model line $ 2000 under the Seville, keeping the model line below the Continental Mark V in price. The first Lincoln manufactured outside of Wixom Assembly since 1957, the Versailles was produced alongside the Mercury Monarch and Ford Granada. The model

648-724: Was founded by Heinz Prechter in Los Angeles, California as the American Sunroof Company in 1965. The company soon expanded its operations into Detroit by 1967. The company first supplied OEM services for the Ford Motor Company 's 1968 Mercury Cougar XR-7 . In the industry, ASC became well known for converting standard coupe automobiles into convertibles on an OEM basis. The company also engineers convertible tops for automakers to build themselves. Other original-equipment firsts for ASC include

675-400: Was its most expensive (non-limousine) sedan. Coinciding with the launch of the Seville, Ford began development of a Lincoln-branded competitor to the model line, tasked with bringing the model line to market for the 1977 model year. Adopting the Lincoln Versailles name, Ford used the body architecture of the Ford Granada/Mercury Monarch compact sedans, introduced for 1975. Sized closely against

702-475: Was notable for being the first production vehicle to be sold with clearcoat paint and halogen headlights in North America. The Lincoln Versailles marked the first time since 1960 that Lincoln offered two sedan lines. Nearly three feet shorter than the Continental, the model line was offered only as a four-door sedan. Offered only as a four-door sedan, the Versailles shared many visible body panels with

729-513: Was renamed the Rambler Classic and while it retained its basic dimensions, it was now competing with an array of new "intermediate" models from General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler. The introduction of the 1962 Ford Fairlane was viewed by consumers as too close to the compact Falcon in size and performance as well as too close to the full-sized Ford models in price. It was the introduction of General Motors " senior compacts " that grew

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