Vehicle Description
Lincoln Continental was first developed in 1939 as Edsel Ford's
one-off personal vehicle. The car was an elegant convertible with a
long hood covering a big V-12 with long front fenders and a short
trunk. The externally-mounted and covered spare tire made its first
appearance here before becoming the Continental series' trademark.
The design was allegedly sketched out in an hour by Eugene Gregorie
working from the blueprints of the Lincoln Zephyr. But when the
1961 Continental was introduced, the automotive trade press was
stunned. The car's look was a dramatic departure from the styling
of the 1960 Lincoln - in fact, it was a complete break from the
fins, fat chrome trim, and dog-legged windshields that were so
characteristic of all cars of the prior five years. It did show
some hints of fine cars of the past. The Continental Mark II
influence could be seen in the mesh grille, the wraparound
taillight design, and the rise in beltline just ahead of the rear
wheel cutout. More than just a pretty face, the 1961 Continental
influenced design for later models like. This includes the 1963
Pontiac Grand Prix, the 1963 Buick Riviera, and the 1964 Chrysler
Imperial. The design turned out to be absolutely brilliant, with
clean, uncluttered lines, perfect proportions, and no extraneous
decoration. That such a masterpiece ever made it past the
committees, politics, and egos then battling for position at Ford
was tantamount to a miracle. The new design was a little smaller
with the overall length dropping to 212.4 inches from 227 and the
wheelbase being reduced from 131 to 123 inches. The rear doors were
hung from the rear and opened from the front. This "suicide door"
style was to become the best-known feature of 1960s Lincolns. The
model was available in two options: four-door sedan and four-door
convertible. The Lincoln Continental convertible here h was
manufactured at the Wixom, Michigan assembly plant - where Lincolns
are still made today. It originally sold for $6,713 and weighed
over 5,000 pounds. The car was powered by a big 430 cubic inch V-8
and traveled down the highways of 1961 in a stately fashion,
transporting its occupants in luxury and quiet. This great example
is powered by it's original drivetrain and all the creature
comforts work as they should. Finished in the desirable
Presidential Black with matching interior and top this fabulous
land yacht is ready to take you where ever you want to go in style
and comfort.
