The 1991 Lincoln Mark VII 'SVO' Edition
(Prototype)
 
"This Page features a 'Hot Rod Lincoln' that never saw production.
I had the idea more than 25 years ago, and slowly worked to create this performance model, appearing as a Factory Option that many wanted to see from Lincoln.
20+ years, and a lot of hard work later, the car is complete.
I hope you enjoy these pics & facts about a car that never existed...until I built it!"
                                                                             - Michael Clive

Here is the first Mark VII SVO video from years ago.
This is the first video taken with the Noisy engine built by some dork named Scott Barlick, a total scam-artist that I eventually called law enforcement on just to get my engine shipped after a year of delays and excuses. Scott left head bolts loose, had the wrong rocker arms, and didn't machine the block or hone ANY cylinders for the 347 upgrade!  I had to completely rebuild this engine myself ... to say the least!

(Mark VII SVO with European amber Marchal driving lights)



....................
 

The following information contains Ford SVO & SVT Facts...
** Any text about the "Mark VII SVO" is fictitious by design, and denoted with **
(Although this unique car does exist...it was never built or conceived by any Ford / Lincoln / Mercury division or employee.)

SVO or Special Vehicle Operations, was Ford Motor Company's production team responsible for the 4 cylinder,
turbo charged SVO Mustang from 1984 - 1986.
SVO was later changed to SVT, or Special Vehicle Team; for the 1993 Mustang Cobra.
Ford's "SVO" parts catalogue continued until 2000.

Lincoln's Mark Series had been around since 1956.   It finally ended with the Mark VIII, in 1998. 

In 1984, the Lincoln Mark VII made it's debut with a fantastic reception. 
It was the first American automobile to feature something that is now common-place.  Composite plastic, aerodynamic headlights and Anti-lock brakes.

The Mark VII was built on Ford's "Fox body" platform that hosted nearly a dozen different Ford/Lincoln/Mercury models from '79 - '93.

 

**First conceived in 1986, the Mark VII SVO was created from the sporty Mark VII LSC and enhanced by Ford's SVO performance team. 
Due to many other projects and priorities, the SVO Mark VII wouldn't see realization for many years.

**Although, not specifically planned for production in this form, a carriage top Mark VII was what Lincoln donated for the prototype project and so represented a possible convertible option.

**Custom L.E.D. tail lighting, "SVO" & "5-Speed" emblems with a complete Black-Out scheme.
This Mark VII SVO model is easy to spot. 

- "A very limited edition called the Mark VII GTC was already in limited production and accepted for the High Performance model. I thought it was ugly. It took something away from the great Mark VII 'look'."
 

**Additionally, due to the fact that the Mark VII was to be discontinued at the end of '92, the Ford/Lincoln motor division did not see a point in producing the SVO model.

**The Mark VII SVO project was scrapped. 

  **Lincoln SVO LED Oil Pressure Gauge.

**
The Facts of Fiction...
(These are my own mods to the Mark VII)
SVO's performance enhancements for the Mark VII:

Exterior/Interior

* The SVO Mark VII was to be available only in Twilight Blue clear coat metallic paint with a non-chrome black-out scheme.

* The low profile hood scoop was reproduced from the 1982 Mustang GT series and was drawn in for the first draft.  It is non-functional.

* There are "SVO" and "5-speed" trunk emblems.  "Mark VII" and "Lincoln" emblems do not appear anywhere on the Mark VII SVO .

* The only Lincoln symbol can be seen on the trunk key cover.

* Deeper offset BBS-type aluminum wheels with 225/60/ZR16 radials. 
   Resembling the '90-'92 LSC factory wheels, these deeper off-set wheels helped to enhance the "Hot Rod" appearance.

* Ford performance bucket seats in heavy dark blue cloth and velour with manual thigh bolsters and power lumbar support.  Taken from the '87-'88 Turbo Coupe.

* In-dash LED Oil pressure gauge.  An oil pressure gauge was absent from all previous Mark VII models ('84-'92). Many owners questioned this omission in a performance car.

* Distinctive LED tail lights were uniquely created for this SVO Mark VII. 
(LED's are now growing in popularity with car manufacturers.  They have attention-getting brilliance over standard incandescent light bulbs for added safety as well as a modern look).
 

Engine

* 347 Stroker motor which includes a high lift X303 camshaft and Trick Flow intake with AFR 185 CNC ported heads. 

* Trick Flow "Track Heat" intake.

* '93 Mustang Cobra Mass-Airflow Fuel Injection system with enhanced EEC IV - X3Z computer. (Later replaced with the BBK Cold-Air Induction System #15575).
- No factory Mark VII (84-92) had Mass-Airflow injection, although it was standard on Mustang GT's from '89-up (CA. '88-up). 

* 70mm throttle body. 

* 75mm airflow meter/sensor.

* 24 lb. fuel injectors.  Used with the '93 Cobra X3Z ECM.

* 190 lph fuel pump.

* Aftermarket BBK Headers and 2 1/2" dual exhaust system with newly designed X-Pipe technology vs. the standard H-Pipe designs of the time.  The tail pipes were shown under the rear quarter panels similar to the Mustang LX. But they were black, unlike the bright stainless pipes used for the Mustang.  A note was made to have them blued like gun metal.  The prototype has black tailpipes.
 

Drive train/Suspension

* Coil spring fitment replaces AirSprings.  Suspension parts were taken from the '88 Turbo Coupe.

* Heavy Duty front and rear sway bars.  These were also taken from the '88 Turbo Coupe part supply.

* A-5 manual transmission from Astro Performance. This is a high alloy geared transmission rated at 650HP and 525 ft. lbs. of torque! 
No Mark VII's were produced with a manual transmission. All models from '84 - '92 used Ford's AOD (Automatic Over Drive) transmission.

* 3.73 rear end gears with Ford's Traction-loc differential and 4 wheel antilock disc brakes.  (The Mark VII was the first American car to offer anti-lock brakes in 1985 but the stopping distance didn't actually improve much).

**

The car, ideas and designs were conceived by Michael Clive aka Mike Kaminski.

The current location of this Mark VII SVO model is Las Vegas, Nevada, still owned by Michael.

The original car at the paint shop...

Here's the 1982 Mustang hood scoopI found in a junk yard...
Having sat in rain and harsh weather for so many years, the surface was nothing but an eroded mass of exposed fiberglass.  I had to repair it before sending to the Paint shop.



A broken tip had to be re-formed and repaired...










After filing, shaving and paint, the scoop fits the Mark VII hood descretely!