Let me tell you, the iPhone I use for most of my sightings is not a cold-weather appliance. At -20°C with some wind chill added, using the touch screen was especially painful. Don’t get me wrong, the phone worked impeccably – it’s just that I almost froze my fingers off trying to snap these pics of this good-looking pre-facelift Lincoln Mark VIII.

As my fingers got progressively more useless, it was time to head back into the car and let them warm up between the heated seat and my bottom end; otherwise typing this post would’ve been impossible and I would’ve had to dictate it. Hmm…

I first saw this mid-’90s Linc in the relative comfort of a parking garage. Unfortunately, it was not parked under the best lighting and the photos I got weren’t all post-worthy. So, when I saw it roll into this parking place (coincidentally the same where I saw the gold 520i E28), I had to brave the weather conditions and snap away.

I wonder what kind of gas mileage the 280-hp Modular 4.6-litre V8 gets in this cold. But of course, if you roll in a Lincoln here, fuel bills are the last thing on your mind. I’m also thinking how the air suspension is doing, but some of the cars advertised have had the setup converted into steel springs and it might also be the case here.

Looks-wise, I definitely prefer the cetacean Lincoln to its relatives, the MN12 Thunderbird and Cougar. There’s always been something about the Superbird Thunderbird’s design, especially around the C-pillar and rear wheelarches that doesn’t quite gel – but it’s definitely better than the Cougar that somehow appears to wear shoulder pads. But I’m not here to mock the two but praise the Linc; and its flowing personal luxury car lines just seem to lend it presence the others can’t reach.

Add a distinctively better interior and it’s head and shoulders above the rest.

The two-level cross-spoke wheels look great. Meanwhile, in the reflection I look elf-like.

In the rear, the Geordi-like tail light bar was heavily frosted over. The hump on the trunklid is of acquired taste, but bearable. Perhaps the heritage justifies it.

These Lincolns weren’t sold here new, so it’s a later private import. One possibility is it’s Swiss, as a large amount of US cars here are brought used from there.

In my opinion, the dark turquoise is the best colour for the Lincoln, well complimented by the chrome.