Although luxury trucks like the Ford F-150 Limited and Ram 1500 Limited seem to be the norm now, there was a time when luxury trucks didn’t exist. Simply put, the automakers didn’t see the point in mixing premium features with something that was supposed to be a work vehicle. But all that changed with the introduction of the Lincoln Blackwood pickup. A hilariously bad truck that was discontinued after one model year.
Why did the Lincoln Blackwood fail?
The Lincoln Blackwood lacked capability and practicality, two things truck buyers want from their vehicles. This Lincoln pickup could not come equipped with four-wheel drive, and the Blackwood had no usable cargo capacity.
Then there is the price. In 2002, the Lincoln Blackwood had a starting MSRP of over $50,000. Adjusted for inflation in 2023, that’s almost $85k. So for over $80,000 he got a usable bedless truck with no 4WD and seating for only four passengers. It seems clear that the Blackwood was a Lincoln truck destined for failure.
To make matters worse, Lincoln struggled to produce any significant number of Blackwood trucks. Lincoln only produced 3,356 units during its truck’s production run, which only lasted 15 months.
To put things in perspective, Lincoln had planned to sell about 18,000 units over several years.
Maybe the Blackwood was built too soon
Although luxury pickup trucks are quite popular today, back in the days of the Lincoln Blackwood, they didn’t really exist. The Blackwood was based on the Ford F-150, but Lincoln intended to make it more upscale. Even the side panels of the bed were meant to emulate wood.
That’s not the only strange design choice about this Lincoln pickup. The bed was covered with a permanently mounted canvas cover. It is electrically operated and provides a waterproof trunk. That feature makes the Blackwood look almost like a Town Car, but with a pickup bed.
Unfortunately, if you wish to use the bed, it is covered with a mat with aluminum clad sides. That means the Blackwood probably shouldn’t be hauling dirty items. It is more suitable for carrying golf clubs to the course.
What is the most luxurious truck in 2023?
According to car and driverPerhaps the most luxurious truck in 2023 is the GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate. You’re probably familiar with GMC’s Denali brand, but Ultimate takes it to the next level. It also starts at around $85,000, which means that in 2023, it’s the same kind of price that the Lincoln Blackwood was in 2002.
So clearly some people are willing to shell out that kind of money for a luxury truck. The big difference is that trucks like the F-150 Limited and Sierra 1500 Denali are actually usable. These vehicles have traditional beds, are 4×4 and can transport. Those are all the things the Blackwood was missing.
The failure of the Blackwood did not stop Lincoln from exploring trucks in the future. In 2005, Lincoln once again borrowed the F-150 to build the Mark LT. The Mark LT was another flop for the brand, lasting only one generation in the US.