Bye, Bye, Blackwood

[DaKat]

Lincoln couldn't make a go of the Blackwood (http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caranddriver/dai/2002/june/20020625_dai_lincoln.xml)

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Lincoln's Luxury Pickup Bites the Dust

The Lincoln Blackwood pickup truck will go out of production later this summer, Reuters reported.

It was announced earlier that the Blackwood, which cost nearly $53,000, would likely not survive the model year, but now it's official.

"The way we've evaluated the program at this point, it doesn't makes sense for us to go forward with it," Reuters said, quoting Jeremy Barnes, a spokesman for Ford's Lincoln division.

It was one of the shortest runs for a mass market vehicle in the history of the modern auto assembly line, the story said. Ford said it hoped to sell up to 10,000 Blackwoods a year when the vehicle went on sale last November. But Barnes said only about 900 were expected to have sold through the end of this month.

[Nick]

I for one like the Blackwood. It has great styling and luxury if not all the functionality of a real pick up truck. Lincoln would have had a success if they offered 4WD or AWD and they made the bed cover a no cost option or just a cost option. The Cadillac Ugly Ute aka EXT is selling well even at a bloated $50k. Is it me or is there an infectious case of the uglies spreading around in the Cadillac camp? I'm sorry to see the Blackwood go but I'm more sad to see the Conitnental bow out. Maybe Ford coulda revitalized the Continental if the Firestone ordeal didn't drain them...

[pro-five-oh]

I like it too...but it does look a little dull next to the new Navigators on the lot. It seems like Ford really didn't plan the Blackwood very well, why make it when you are about to change the Navigator???

I have yet to see one on the road. That really bothers me.

[mark007]

there was one in front of amc30 here on the south side last weekend and everyone was gauking over it. saying it was a fake navigator so someone had to inform em real quik. it was claen as hell though.

[Bill Murray]

Evening Folks:

There are two of us on www.f150online.com (http://www.f150online.com) that own Blackwoods and you may wish to visit that site in the Blackwood forum to get some input.

As soon as I get some time, I willpost here also some of my thoughts/experiences with the ride.
Bill

[91lsc]

"up to $15500 off" at Island L/M in last sundays paper.

[Bill Murray]

It seems to be over.
According to Automotive News, production ended the third week of August.
I am trying to get someone in the Lincoln Division to give me the final combined build numbers of 2001-2002-2003 vehicles.
Still looks to be about 4000 in total.
The dealer where I leased mine has gotten real cute and is putting on "Gold Packages" which replace a lot of the emblems with gold plated ones. Also has put on some wheel and tire packages and is asking 5K more from which I assume he will still discount 12-15K and still make money.
Bill

[Bluegrass]

Last weekend I saw an add in the paper from a dealer that has a 2002 for 13000 off, any takers? It is the dealer in Gettysburg, Pa

[pro-five-oh]

A local LM dealer has resorted to "Buy a Blackwood and get a FREE Cougar." I now dislike that dealer a lot. :rolleyes:

Last time I heard this was when (I heard this secondhand, I wasn't born yet) a Pontiac dealer advertised "Buy an RV, get a FREE Astre."

The Blackwood may be kind of like an RV, but the Cougar sure as hell isn't an Astre.

[Weez]

Giving away Astres and Cougars? Now THAT'S something. I do find it funny that Lincoln would be giving away a Cougar with the Blackwood, since they are both cancelled. How about them giving away an Escort with the purchase of a Continental? Those two are on their way out also. My family owned the Cadillac dealership in my hometown. As a kid (too young to drink - legally anyway), I remember a promo where the dealership was giving away a bottle of champagne with just a test-drive of the all-new '86 Seville. My uncle ordered cases and cases of the booze, because certainly EVERYONE would want to drive such an exciting new car - "It's hard to tell how big this is going to be!" he claimed with sheer excitement. Needless to say, even a free jug of Aste Spumante wasn't enough to get anyone to come in and test drive a brand-new expensive price of crap, so everyone in my family was drinking that stuff almost DAILY though 1990 - when the supply finally ran out. To this day, I blame my family's alcoholism on Cadillac's poor marketing and design of the '86 Seville.

[ October 08, 2002: Message edited by: Weez ]

[pro-five-oh]

I shouldn't be laughing at alcoholism, but DAMN that is funny! :D

Yes, the 1986 Seville was pretty dull. At least the bustleback Seville looked great sitting in your driveway when the motor blew up.

Buy a 1986 Seville get a 1986 Cimarron! ;)

[Weez]

The last Cadillac I owned was a 1985 Seville. It was a "Commemorative Edition", and mine one of the last to roll off the assembly line in that bodystyle. It was Commodore Blue, with a very dashing looking cabriolet roof (in white canvas), and yards upon yards of white leather inside. I also had an '84 Eldorado convertible, but the original aluminum 4.1 engine had already gone sour, so there was actually an Oldsmobile 5.0 under the hood (which was a perfect choice). The only trouble with the swap was the "Fuel Data Center" display (since it was useless without the 4.1 engine), so I replaced it with the shiny gray plastic "plug" that says "Cadillac" (in script). The DIESEL engine Cadillacs did not use the Fuel Data Center, but rather just had the hole covered up with that "Cadillac" plug. So, it was a perfect match. I wish I kept that car, actually, it was red with the red leather interior, and a white convertible roof.

[CDFalvey]

I really didn't ever understand the REAL purpose of the Blackwood. It had such a pretty stainless steel bed that I would have felt guilty putting anything back there. Also, what's up with the pinstriping all the way down the side of the bed? Personally, I think it would have done a little better if it cost a bunch less and was a little more usefull to the guy who wants a truck that is nicer than a Lariat. Am I all wrong here or what? Chris

[Leadfoot]

Oh, come ON! Stainless steel without scratches practically SCREAMS "poseur"!

Any pickup that doesn't have a dent or two screams "WANNA-BE".

Yes, pure street-use vehicles that never "work" (zipping around for the thrill is NOT work!)are kewl in their own way, but people who buy Pickups without planning to carry a load, or 4WD's that they're afraid to scratch the paint on tree branches are POSEURS.

Pure and simple.

You want to buy a $50,000 truck, go for it. You want to come into the bush with that same truck? Kewl! You're worried about some cottonwood scratches? Go home, little man.

[MotorCityMadMan]

Leadfoot, I'm a poseur and proud of it. :D

There's no shame in my game. I bought my Blackwood for the looks. I'm not going to take it off-road or haul a load of manure in it. I also bought my Dodge Viper mainly for looks. Well that plus it is fast as heck. I do drag race that though, but I have bought a lot of mods for it just for the poseur looks. I guess this little man will just have to go home. :D

Blackwood, either you love it or you hate it. I like the quote in my signature though. It says: Lincoln Blackwood: "You don't explain it......it explains you."

[ July 31, 2003: Message edited by: MotorCityMadMan ]

[94 LSC]

Hey MotorCityMadMan, have you upgraded your brakes yet? I'm looking for a set of Viper front calipers for my Road runner!

Pickups are good for hauling car parts around too. They aren't only for off road.