1976 Continental Mark IV
Bill Blass Designer Edition

Classic elegance with a superb cut

BILL BLASS DESIGNER EDITION AT A GLANCE:

Years Available: Mark IV: 1976; Mark V: 1977-1979; continued in the Mark VI and Mark VII series
Introduction Date: October 3, 1975
Production: 3,213
Body Color Code: 3P - Brite Dark Blue Diamond Fire Metallic
Paint Stripe Code: Custom Cream and Gold
Vinyl Roof Code: LV - Cream Normande Grain Custom Landau Vinyl Roof
     Cream or Dark Blue Wide Bodyside Mouldings
Interior Trim Code: JB - Dark Blue Versailles Velour
     KB - Dark Blue Leather and Vinyl with Cream Cross Straps
Price: $2,000.00 with Velour, $1,500.00 with Leather

Fashion designer Bill Blass—always known for classic elegance, a superb cut, dash, and distinction—gave his creative touch to the 1976 Continental Mark IV Bill Blass Edition.

Bill Blass is one of the most internationally recognized American designers of his time. His fashion house was established in 1970, and almost overnight became a hit with influential people such as Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Brooke Astor. His timeless style set new standards for American designs of the time, and his sporty but sophisticated designs were matched only by his impeccable tailoring.

The Bill Blass Edition Mark IV was no exception: an exterior finish of deep, lustrous blue contrasts dramatically with the cream and gold pinstripe and cream-colored Landau vinyl roof (shown at left), a color pairing that was both sporty and sophisticated, appropriate for a night at the Opera as well as a sunny day at the beach.

Inside, plush Navy velour upholstery was available or buyers could choose dark blue leather and vinyl with striking cream-colored leather cross straps on the seats with matching buttons on seats and side panels. Additional touches included the Bill Blass signature on the opera window and on the 22-karat gold instrument panel plate, which reserved a space for the owner's name to be engraved.

Every bit as distinctive as a Bill Blass blazer, the special Mark IV stood out from all other automobiles. In a few years, this daring color scheme appeared on different makes and models of cars, but none of them wore it as well as this one, as they were mere copies of the original.