Vehicle Description
By the late 1950s, the American car style meant bigger was better,
and chrome was king. The 1958 Lincoln Continental MK III was the
epitome in this regard. The MK IIIs rode on a unitized
construction, 131-inch wheelbase and, with their Dagmar front
bumper, were 229 inches long. They were the largest production
autos of that era, weighing in at 5,300 pounds. Power was supplied
by Lincoln's 430ci V8 engine producing 375hp with the 4-barrel
carburetor. The fuel mileage was single-digit (9 mpg) in 1958, and,
consequently, by 1960 the engine had been fitted with a 2-barrel
carburetor, producing 315hp for a 12 mpg rating. This convertible
version, one of 3,048 built in 1958, has a unique top with a
breezeway rear window. The top is lowered with a series of motors
and switches until it completely disappears beneath a rear hard
tonneau cover. This vehicle was put through a complete, extensive
restoration process taking several years and has been brought back
to showroom condition. The unibody was brought to the bare metal
and powder-coated. The unibody was completely disassembled, with
all undercarriage components brought to the bare metal and
powder-coated. The body was fared and repainted in its original
Starmist White by an award-winning artisan. The original engine was
rebuilt, balanced and refinished with a new stainless-steel
exhaust. A new top with the correct Continental C-pillar insignia
was installed, as well as Bridge of Weir leather upholstery in the
car's original pattern and color. This Lincoln is loaded with all
accessories of the time, including power brakes and steering, as
well as air conditioning.
