1978 Lincoln Versailles Test Drive

Introduced during 1977 to great hoopla, the smaller Versailles four-door sedan failed to meet sales expectations. Intended as a rival to Cadillac’s Seville, the $12,529 Versailles (by comparison, a Continental sedan cost $10,166) was actually an offshoot of the Ford Granada, albeit with a passel of lavish features. Borrowing traditional Lincoln touches, a simulated spare tire was integrated into the decklid and the grille resembled that of the Continental. A fully padded vinyl roof had a frenched back window. Initial models had carried a 351 cubic inch V8 engine, but a 302 V8 became standard fare for 1978.