Vehicle Description
If untouched, original cars are your thing, this low-ownership 1969
Lincoln Continental Mark III should get your attention. With a
survivor presentation inside and out, only 68,944 actual miles on
the clock, and original mechanicals that have that silky smoothness
that only the factory knew how to install, it's an incredible
hardtop coupe that delivers luxury and style like few other cars
can.
Aside from some touch-up paint here and there through the years,
this 68K-original-mile Lincoln practically defines the word
"survivor." The Code M White (Lincoln marketers were by far the
laziest when it came to naming their colors) was factory-applied
over some laser-straight original sheetmetal, and despite a few
signs of use and age acquired through the years, it still looks
spectacular in person today. The combination of the bright paint
and black vinyl roof is a striking contrast, giving the big luxury
cruiser a sporty flair that easily masks its size. Check out that
contrast line that runs from nose to tail, paralleling the fenders,
the traditional Continental tire hump on the trunk, and the
gothic-looking grille, all of which defined American luxury for a
generation. The folding headlamps, which were new on the Mark III,
work just as they should, and all the chrome is bright and clear
with only a minor patina. Despite it's 52 years on the road, this
Lincoln looks a lot younger, with a dialed-in, top driver-grade
presentation that's bound to look great for years to come.
Amazing!
Black leather makes the interior a very luxurious and upscale
place. Diamond-tufted seats show a nice patina and a few comfort
marks, with the driver's bolster understandably showing the most
wear, but the leather itself remains supple and smooth in the rest
of the car, without any further cracking that seems inevitable on
older luxury cars. Perhaps it was the quality of the original
materials, but this car looks maybe 10 years old, not 50+, and the
largely untouched back seat has to be seen to be believed. Both the
door panels and dashboard are similarly well preserved, where the
woodgrain applique has survived intact, and the original steering
matches it perfectly as the anchor of the cabin. The carpets are
original, so they show some age, and the headliner above is all
original and amazingly still taut. This coupe is also loaded with
every luxury and convenience item Lincoln could come up with,
including factory A/C, power windows, power seat, power door locks,
and a tilt wheel just to name a few. Out back, the massive trunk is
all-original and has obviously put some work in through the years,
but with some fresh carpets it would look as good as new.
Power for the Mark III came from Ford's biggest V8, a 460 cubic
inch monster making a stout 365 horsepower thanks to a four-barrel
carburetor and H-pipe dual exhaust. This one starts and runs easily
with just the turn of the key, and idles with a muscular hum that
suggests great power waiting in reserve. The engine bay is all
stock, with Ford Blue paint on the block and valve covers, and
snorkeled original air cleaner, and all the hoses and other soft
parts are supple and undamaged. It's backed by Ford's
indestructible C6 3-speed automatic transmission, which delivers
luxuriously smooth shifts that are always unobtrusive, and with
tall gears in the 9-inch rear, it cruises at highway speeds with
barely a murmur from the dual exhaust system. Underneath it's
all-original and surprisingly clean considering its age, and the
stock set-up means there aren't surprises to be worried about.
American Racing Halibrand-style wheels with spinners look fantastic
on tis coupe, although the original turbine wheel covers also come
with the sale if the next owner wants to go back to stock. The
stance is just about perfect, with rubber meeting the road via a
set of Toyo performance radials at each corner.
Survivors simply don't get much nicer than this, and few restored
cars can duplicate the feel of an unmolested, original vehicle.
With a gorgeous color combination and astounding preservation from
reportedly just 3 owners (2 in the same family), this one is
special. Call today!
