Ron Ketcham
01-23-2012, 10:44 PM
Of course to you younger ones, it may not be a "dream", but a "nightmare".
Looks like I am gaining ownership of a car I have wanted for 19 years.
It`s styling is "iffy" at best, it`s got some things that go broke in the night, it is not an exotic European machine.
But, it was one of the most advanced vehicles out of Detroit and the world at the time.
Ready?
Really, I have to be, for I know I am going to get some "stuff" over this one.
So, let me take you back to 1993, Jim Gines and "Rambo" from Ford Vehicle Ops called me when I lived in SoCal and asked if I could get away to Kingman, Az for a day or so to play with a new vehicle that Ford was getting ready to bring to market.
Of course, with us three, there would be some imbibing of beverages in the evening, which would of course lead to a complete loss of sanity.
Early morning and we were at the proving ground for Ford`s desert testing, road course, etc, hung over and all.
What did I see, two low coupes, one black, one silver, with a "Lincoln" badge on them!
These were the two test mules for the MarkVIII coupes.
The black one had a standard Ford automatic trans, the silver one---well, it had a 5 speed manual.
First thing I commented on was "you mean Ford is actually going to put a manual tranny in a Lincoln?"
Gines explained that "no, it`s a test mule, so we can push the motor, suspension, tires, frame, etc to the limits.".
They drove me around the road course in the black one, letting me get used to the track, corners, etc.
Then, on went the helmet, strapped in and off I went in the standard black Mark.
Nice, handled very nice, had a ball.
Rambo waved me in and put me in the silver one, with the manual tranny.
Sent me out for 3 or 4 laps, which were a blast! Then waved me in.
Shut it down, opened the hood and Gines and Rambo went under the hood for a very few minutes.
They then informed me to "be careful" as this was now a completely different car.
WOW! Were they right, they changes the ECM chip, some other chips and it went from 300hp to over 400hp.
What a blast, and I never forgot it. (sort of reminded me of my 427 Cobra, but with a subtle touch).
The term "drifting" was not really around back then, but with the super suspension, for the time, the tires, the power band of the 4.6 dual overhead, drifting was easy as running down the main straight.
I have wanted one since, but at the price they were then, and vs now, looks like I got a "brass hat" that started in Dearborn in late 97, the last of the MarkVIII`s.
Car has been well maintained, air suspension, coils, etc all in good shape, tires have 4,000 miles on them, no rust, interior is perfect, etc.
I may regret it, but then it is not going to be my daily driver, and it`s got a "hole in the roof", black with saddle tan leather.
Accumulator, what do you think?
Old man going to be 68 next month, ain`t it time I get one more I wanted? (we won`t talk about the 308, OK?")
Let the kids start the "what are you thinking" responses, for we old farts still have dreams of the past.
Grumpy
Looks like I am gaining ownership of a car I have wanted for 19 years.
It`s styling is "iffy" at best, it`s got some things that go broke in the night, it is not an exotic European machine.
But, it was one of the most advanced vehicles out of Detroit and the world at the time.
Ready?
Really, I have to be, for I know I am going to get some "stuff" over this one.
So, let me take you back to 1993, Jim Gines and "Rambo" from Ford Vehicle Ops called me when I lived in SoCal and asked if I could get away to Kingman, Az for a day or so to play with a new vehicle that Ford was getting ready to bring to market.
Of course, with us three, there would be some imbibing of beverages in the evening, which would of course lead to a complete loss of sanity.
Early morning and we were at the proving ground for Ford`s desert testing, road course, etc, hung over and all.
What did I see, two low coupes, one black, one silver, with a "Lincoln" badge on them!
These were the two test mules for the MarkVIII coupes.
The black one had a standard Ford automatic trans, the silver one---well, it had a 5 speed manual.
First thing I commented on was "you mean Ford is actually going to put a manual tranny in a Lincoln?"
Gines explained that "no, it`s a test mule, so we can push the motor, suspension, tires, frame, etc to the limits.".
They drove me around the road course in the black one, letting me get used to the track, corners, etc.
Then, on went the helmet, strapped in and off I went in the standard black Mark.
Nice, handled very nice, had a ball.
Rambo waved me in and put me in the silver one, with the manual tranny.
Sent me out for 3 or 4 laps, which were a blast! Then waved me in.
Shut it down, opened the hood and Gines and Rambo went under the hood for a very few minutes.
They then informed me to "be careful" as this was now a completely different car.
WOW! Were they right, they changes the ECM chip, some other chips and it went from 300hp to over 400hp.
What a blast, and I never forgot it. (sort of reminded me of my 427 Cobra, but with a subtle touch).
The term "drifting" was not really around back then, but with the super suspension, for the time, the tires, the power band of the 4.6 dual overhead, drifting was easy as running down the main straight.
I have wanted one since, but at the price they were then, and vs now, looks like I got a "brass hat" that started in Dearborn in late 97, the last of the MarkVIII`s.
Car has been well maintained, air suspension, coils, etc all in good shape, tires have 4,000 miles on them, no rust, interior is perfect, etc.
I may regret it, but then it is not going to be my daily driver, and it`s got a "hole in the roof", black with saddle tan leather.
Accumulator, what do you think?
Old man going to be 68 next month, ain`t it time I get one more I wanted? (we won`t talk about the 308, OK?")
Let the kids start the "what are you thinking" responses, for we old farts still have dreams of the past.
Grumpy