Vehicle Description
Hopefully someone will clue me in as to why the Lincoln Continental
Mark III hasn't caught on with collectors. Big engine,
leather-lined interior, classic proportions, and that American big
car ride, what's not to love? This 1970 Lincoln Continental Mark
III offers a great color combination and given all the power and
style built into it, how can it still be so affordable?
There's no mistaking a Continental from any angle: up front there's
the gothic grille and hidden headlights, from the side it has a
roofline that almost looks chopped, and from the back, well, the
"spare tire" has been a Continental trademark since Day One. And
dressing it in light blue only makes all those things more
effective. This is American land yachting at its finest. Original
paint means no surprises underneath and it is indeed well-kept;
aside from the usual signs of age it still looks expensive. The
doors fit well, probably because they aren't quite as giant as they
would get with the Mark IV and Mark V and ornamentation is kept to
a minimum, quite unusual for a luxury car maker in the early 1970s.
Classic styling elements like the vertical parking lights at the
leading edges of the fenders and the stainless strips running along
the tops of the fenders were Lincoln trademarks for years and
remain in excellent condition here. The chrome that is on the car,
including the heavy bumpers, shines up beautifully and the white
vinyl top is in very good shape.
Inside any Continental, you're treated to the finest that the era
had to offer. In 1970, that was plush blue leather bench seats and
room for six in a giant 2-door coupe. Familiar styling abounds
here, too (nobody can accuse Lincoln of forgetting tradition),
including squared-off gauges, tastefully applied wood appliques,
and all the power amenities. The driver gets most of the
interesting stuff, with the A/C controls to his left and the
AM/8-track stereo to his right, and there are power windows and
locks in the doors. The leather is original and in good condition
with light signs of age and wear but nothing serious, and the black
carpet keeps a sense of style inside, offering just the right
contrast. Door panels are in good shape, the headliner doesn't sag,
and if there's a perfect car for a road trip, this is it. The trunk
is cavernous and will-lined, including a cover for the spare
tire.
Lincoln's 460 cubic inch V8 purrs smoothly and pulls the big coupe
around with effortless ease thanks to big torque numbers. The
engine bay is quite stock and very, very clean, dominated by the
big A/C compressor that looks big enough for a 4-bedroom house, as
well as the original factory air cleaner. A 4-barrel carburetor
makes this luxury car feel smaller than it is and power steering
and brakes are probably mandatory on something this size. A sturdy
C6 3-speed automatic fees a 9-inch rear with 3.00 gears inside,
making this car just about silent on the highway save for some
light wind noise around the A-pillars, and the dual exhaust system
gives it just the right sound, neither too loud nor totally silent.
It's fairly original underneath, but obviously this car has lived
someplace warm and dry its whole life, and with 235/75/15 whitewall
radials it looks right.
Great looks, great colors, great power, and a great price, this
Continental Mark III just has to be the next big thing, right? Call
today!
