The “A Diamond in the Rough” video series is returning for another season on TFLclassics.
The original series, which is available to watch on the TFLcar YouTube channel, followed the restoration of Roman Mica’s 1978 Lincoln Continental Mark V Diamond Jubilee Edition.
The car was owned by Roman’s father as a celebration of the success of his Czech restaurant in Chicago. Coincidentally, the Mark V was also a celebration of Ford’s 75th anniversary in the automobile industry. The luxury cruiser was handed down to Roman after his father’s passing. Unfortunately, the car was parked in storage for nine years in an outdoor lot and became a shadow of its former self.
Roman’s friend and classic car mechanic Ted Ax helped bring the old girl back to life and helped restore it. A task worth pursuing, not only for its sentimental value, but also because Ford only made 5,159 Diamond Jubilee Mark V cars in 1978 – which makes this a rare bird to find.
When new, the Lincoln cost $17,555, which equates to about $60,000 in 2015. At the time, it was the most expensive American car on sale. It came with every option available, including the big 460 cubic inch V-8.
The old Lincoln was brought back to life as a legitimate driver, but the work was far from done. There were still outstanding mechanical issues, and the body was still as it was when it was parked. Restoring the original Diamond Blue paint is going to take some work.
Check out the video below to see what’s coming up on the next season of A Diamond in the Rough, and please subscribe to TFLclassics on YouTube to watch the full season as the videos are posted.
