After scouring the internet for the unique limited run vehicle, Robb Lockie scored his 2002 Lincoln Blackwood through an eBay posting for an incredible deal.
Intended to combine the utility of vehicles like the Navigator or an F-150 with the comforts of a sedan, the Lincoln Blackwood is identifiable by its enclosed cargo area that鈥檚 inlaid with aluminum stripes.
Although the Blackwood came with only one trim level, it was equipped with items such as a sunroof, premium sound system, multi-zone automatic climate control and a telematics system.
After scouring the internet for the unique limited run vehicle, Robb Lockie scored his 2002 Lincoln Blackwood through an eBay posting for an incredible deal.
Brampton-based Robb Lockie is the IT director for Spire Group Limited, a cold-storage company that鈥檚 based in North York. Beyond commuting to work, he racks up a lot of kilometres driving to see his parents in Peterborough, going to his Ontario summer home and making frequent pre-pandemic trips to his place in Orlando, Fla.
While Lockie also drives a 2003 Jaguar XKR, 1990 Lincoln Mark VII and 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel Summit to help get him around, it鈥檚 his 2002 Lincoln Blackwood that he loves the most. Sold briefly in the United States and Mexico only, it has been billed as the world鈥檚 strangest and least-practical pickup. Not only is its cargo capacity limited because of a non-removable motorized cover, but its truck bed is lined with carpeting. He tells us why he loves his vehicle.
FIRST PERSON:
鈥淚 did my research, and it was too good a deal,鈥 said Lockie, who bought the Blackwood on eBay for $16,000 (U.S.) in October. He found others with similar mileage, but they were selling for between $30,000 and $40,000. 鈥淚 just gave the seller what he was asking for and had it shipped up from Richmond, Va. I鈥檇 never seen or touched a Blackwood until it was dropped off at my mechanic鈥檚 to be safety checked. It was just so different, and I like the wood siding on the back of it. It was one of those things I just wanted.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very rare vehicle. Only 3,356 were produced and they were never sold in Canada that I鈥檓 aware of. It鈥檚 a truck with a carpeted trunk as opposed to a box in the back. It was ahead of its time. They built it at the time the Navigator came out for those who wanted a high-end luxury vehicle. But it didn鈥檛 sell.
鈥淲hen I got it, it needed detailing but there was nothing mechanically wrong with it. There are a few minor things. The shipping company lost the keys and the fob. There’s a piece of moulding on the passenger side, just behind the rear door, that鈥檚 fallen off. It鈥檚 quite common. Everybody I鈥檝e contacted have told me the same story, that it鈥檚 the first thing to go. It鈥檚 funny, I went online to look at pictures of them 鈥 the ones on sale 鈥 and I did notice a lot of them had that piece missing.鈥
鈥淚 haven’t used it as a pickup truck, nor do I intend to use it as that. I consider it a big truck that drives like a truck but with a trunk I can put stuff in,鈥 Lockie said. 鈥淚 was thinking of flying to Orlando at the end of April, but I would just feel safer driving. I鈥檓 going to do the drive over two days. I鈥檓 taking the Blackwood because it鈥檚 more comfortable, which is nice especially on a long trip. I鈥檓 going to have new wiper blades put on it and do an oil change.鈥
A CLOSER LOOK
Luxury details鈥淚t鈥檚 all colony leather, the same leather that鈥檚 in my Jaguar,鈥 said Lockie. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a true luxury vehicle. Not like today鈥檚 luxury vehicle with sensors and all that stuff, but it has everything you could put on a car in 2002. There鈥檚 a CD changer built into the console, a sunroof, power windows, power locks and very good quality seats. The heated and air-conditioned front seats is done with air, so when you turn them on, you get air blowing through the seats for both cooling and heating. And it鈥檚 very comfortable to drive.鈥
A distinctive look鈥淚t is a very unique pickup truck. When they built the concept vehicle and they took it to shows, people loved it. But, when they put it into the market, people said the back end is a box that鈥檚 not very useful,鈥 Lockie said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 lined with stainless steel, and it鈥檚 all carpeted, and you can鈥檛 use it to carry stuff. It was designed to carry a set of golf clubs and that sort of thing. So, it was kind of an offbeat pickup truck that wasn鈥檛 usable as a pickup truck.鈥
The smooth drive鈥淚 was surprised that I had to use the cruise control because if I didn鈥檛, I would be speeding a lot. I was driving on Highway 407, and I was flying. I was doing 140 kilometres per hour, and I didn鈥檛 feel it at all. I thought I was doing 100. I would have thought you鈥檇 feel (the speed) more in a pickup truck,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 plan to drive it in the summer to work and as my daily driver. I鈥檒l take it to Florida, and I鈥檒l put miles on it. I鈥檒l keep it well maintained 鈥 although I鈥檓 still looking for that one piece of missing moulding.鈥
Fuel economy (city/highway) 21.4/15.7 litres per 100 km
Cargo volume 750.4 litres
Price Priced at $51,785 (U.S.) in 2002.
This article was edited for space and clarity. To be featured in Why I Love My Vehicle?, email us at wheels@thestar.ca. Ren茅e S. Suen is a Toronto-based lifestyle writer and photographer. Follow her on Twitter: @rssuen.
