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The Library
Written/published information about the Mark VIII, Lincoln-Mercury, and Ford. The contents are not scanned in here, but photos are provided for identification purposes. A lot of the information found in this webspace was found in these.
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Mark VIII Sales Brochures
These are the brochures were given out by the dealer to prospective buyers. Each one includes tons of full color, high-quality photographs. Specifications and listings of standard and optional equipment are included as well. All Mark VIII versions also contain paint chips. Effectively, sales brochures are an advertisement for the car. Each one has 25-40 pages, including foldouts. These are North American versions, used both in the US and in Canada. Canadian versions differ only by using the metric system for specifications. More of these were produced during the year than cars sold, so finding and collecting them is easy.
1993 1994 1995
1996 1997 1998
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Dealer Albums
There are two basic types of dealer albums. One is the Data Book, which is usually an enormous 3-ring binder, divided into sections for each car. L-M dealers are sent (or purchase) one of these each year. They are filled with information used to help salesmen, and as such contain comparison information, changes made to the car, option packages, descriptions of key features, leasing/warranty information, marketing strategy, and other information. Dealers could add or remove information from these as the year goes on. The other dealer album is the Color/Upholstery album. These are almost always oversized, and were used by dealers to show potential customers the colors and interior options available on each model. High-quality paint chips are used, and usually real sections of interior fabrics are included. Both of these dealer albums are difficult to find, as they were produced in low quantities, and are often thrown out by dealers at the end of each year. Data books are even more difficult to find complete, since sections often get added late in the year (Hot Sheets), and other sections can be lost or removed entirely. As a footnote, L-M Data Books are called Product Portfolios. Starting in 1997, data books were available in both print and electronic formats
Data Albums
1993-1995
1996-1998
Color and Upholstery Albums
1994
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Lincoln-Mercury Accessories Catalog
Offered alongside sales brochures, Lincoln-Mercury dealers offered a small catalog of dealer-installed accessories. These were not specific to any model, and as such include options not available on Mark VIIIs. Each catalog is usually in full color, with representative photographs.
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Ford Press Kits
Each year, Ford would send out press kits to the media (print, TV, and radio) overviewing the features of every car in Ford's lineup. The same was done during major auto shows. Press kits often include slides of select cars, large glossy pictures accompanied by a description for each model, and in some cases a CD-ROM with presentations and videos.
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Lincoln Full Lineup Sales Literature
Each year Lincoln would produce a small (approx. 10-14 pages) sales brochure with information on each car in that model year's lineup. They usually feature two-page spreads of each model, with a brief description of each car and its major features. These usually use pictures and information already contained in the model-specific sales brochures. These are common and as such are inexpensive and easy to locate.
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Lincoln Mark VIII Special Model Folders
These are special folders released as a supplement of sorts to the regular Mark VIII sales brochures. These are usually only four pages in length, and contain information specific to the model they represent. These folders are considerably more rare than the regular brochures.
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Other Literature
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