Welcome to the Hooniverse Obscure Muscle Car Garage, a regular feature which aims to expand the definition of what a muscle car is, and to see if a Modern Luxury Car can ever be classified as a Muscle Car… With this series, I have tried to convince you that a Luxury Car can and should be classified as an Obscure Muscle Car, and for the most part, you have agreed with me. Notable examples include the Imperial from 1969 to 1973, the Lincoln Mark VII LSC, and the Chrysler 300-H From 1970. Well, here is a much later model from the Lincoln Division of the Ford Motor Company that shared much of its DNA with the Jaguar S-Type of the same time period, including a stonking Jaguar V-8. Let’s find out if it’s worthy of entry into the Obscure Muscle Car Garage… For our purposes, I am going to concentrate on the 2003 thru 2006 Lincoln LS V-8 models because of the extensive rejuvenation the model went through with more than 500 components and systems that were redesigned from the original model year 2000 models, including a more powerful Jaguar AJ-V8 powerplant producing 280HP, and 286 lb/ft of torque (up from 252HP, and 267 lb/ft of torque), delivered through a 5-Speed 5E55S Automatic. Car and driver tested this version in 2003, and it recorded 0-60 times of 6.7 seconds, with quarter mile times of 15.1 seconds, both substantial improvements from the older models. Top speed was recorded at 132 MPH, which was electronically limited. Unfortunately, the V-8 models were never offered with the 5-speed manual that you could get with the V-6 version. It was reported that the Getrag gearbox could not handle the torque produced by the Jaguar derived V-8 engine, and was a lost opportunity in my opinion. However, the Automatic was equipped with a manumatic feature, allowing the driver to upshift or downshift at will. Car & Driver reported that the transmission produced crisp shifts when in this mode. Another feature of the LS during this time period ws the optional Sport Suspension, which was against everything that Lincoln stood for up till now. This package had stiffer dampers, larger anti-roll bars, and 235/50VR-17 Michelin Pilot HX Performance tires, all of which produced almost 0.84 g during spirited driving, though the car did lean quite a bit during these maneuvers. One interesting feature of the LS is the steering provided by ZF, which had great feedback according to contemporary road tests. With class competitive performance, international detailing on both the interior and exterior, and a more compact design than any Lincoln in years, you woud think that the LS would have been flying out of the showrooms, and you would be wrong. From a peak of more than 50,000 deliveries during the 2000 model year, sales steadily fell, with a little more than 33,500 sold for 2003, just over 27,000 for 2004, 19,000 for 2005, and less than 9,000 for its final year. You could split these totals between V-6 and V-8 models. Pricing was also a problem for this international sized Lincoln. When Car & Driver tested a 2003 LS with the V-8 and the Sport Suspension Package, the MSRP was over $47,000 with options including navigation. This was Mercedes-Benz and BMW territory at the time, though Ford rebates would give the buyer some breathing room. Looking at Kelly Blue Book, these cars can now be had for around $4,000 from a Private Party, or about 10% of the original MSRP. Comparable models from the three German luxury brands will cost more, but so what… This Lincoln is really a bargain… OK, so let’s review the stats. This car packs 280HP under the hood, and weighs in at almost 4,000 pounds, which makes the sprint to 60 in under seven seconds impressive (well, almost impressive…) for the period. So, is this Lincoln a true Obscure Muscle Car in sedan clothing, or is it something else altogether? Remember, it is rear-wheel drive, packs a Jaguar derived V-8, but it also comes equipped with a power robbing 5-speed automatic… Decide whether or not to include this baby Lincoln within the Garage, and tell me how you like this series of postings within the comments… Please Note: All Images are screen grabs from around the web. If you want credit for any image, please let me know in the comments section. Thank You! [poll id=”224″]