The Car Corral

Barn find

John Abrams’ 1972 Lincoln Continental Mark V

By Rolando Zapata
Posted 9/5/19

I met up with John Abrams at the recent 12th Annual Reunion MY Ride Car Show in Montgomery NY. John Abrams is a local insurance agent, who specializes in classic cars insurance, John Abrams & …

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The Car Corral

Barn find

John Abrams’ 1972 Lincoln Continental Mark V

Posted

I met up with John Abrams at the recent 12th Annual Reunion MY Ride Car Show in Montgomery NY. John Abrams is a local insurance agent, who specializes in classic cars insurance, John Abrams & Associates Insurance Agency in Newburgh. John is one of the top Hagerty Insurance agents in the state. John sponsors many car shows throughout the Hudson Valley, mostly for charitable events. John is also an avid car enthusiast. He explained that he had a love for cars his whole life, as far as he could remember. He still has his miniature car collection since he was a child, he never stopped collecting them.

John’s car at the MY Ride Car Show was a 1972 Lincoln Continental Mark V. John told me that he had just found the car in May of this year. He explained that a friend told him about the 72 Mark V located in Hyde Park NY. John, who’s dad owned a 72 Lincoln Mark V when John was a kid was excited to look at it. John told me that when he first saw the Mark V it had about an inch of dirt on it. The car had only 33,000 original miles on it.

It sat in the same spot for 33 years on its original tires. John saw a gem in the rough and purchased the car for $3000. He attempted to put air in the tires, to his surprise the tires held the air. The car had its original wheel covers in the trunk along with a trunk full of 8 track tapes. John advised that once he got the car home, he was surprised to find all the original paperwork still in the car.

The car was purchased by the original owner in May 24, 1972 from McCormack Lincoln Mercury in Poughkeepsie NY. The car was loaded with options, including a sunroof. It sold back then for the hefty price of $10,394.37. The car was last registered in 1978. John was able to do some research on his car and found out that there were four previous owners. He learned that the first owner put 24,000 miles on the car and that the 2nd and 3rd owners put on a combined mileage of 8,000 miles, as indicated through service records in the car.

John ordered a Marti Report for his car which gave him his car’s options and specifications. John said that 48,591 Lincoln Continental Mark V were built in 1972, of which only 3079 came with a sunroof like his.

John invested $4629 to restore the Mark V. He took the car over to his friends at Tom’s Repair Shop in New Paltz NY. John said everything with rubber, or a gasket was replaced, as well as all the oils. John buffed out the exterior of the car and to his surprise shined up great, no rust. The interior was in great shape and just needed to be wiped clean. In the end, John now has one of the finest original 1972 Lincoln Continental Mark V in the state and maybe the country, valued at over $20,000, not bad for a “Barn Find”.

Questions & Answers
Hometown: New Paltz
Favorite music to cruise with: Eagles and Oldies
Best moment with your car: When it started up, after all the work was done. Knowing that it was the first time on the road since 1978

Worst moment with your car: Writing the check restoring it
Your Dream car: 1974 Super Duty Trans Am
Favorite person to cruise with: My kids.