For Sale: 1983 Lincoln Continental in Morgantown, Pennsylvania

1983 Lincoln Continental Givenchy Designer Series Sedan

Designer edition Lincolns were introduced in 1976 and survived all the way to 2003. But in the days when People Magazine was a must read and "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" must watch TV, the designer series provided an extra air of wealth to normal Lincolns. Givenchy, Bill Blass, Gucci, and Cartier got into the act and cobranded with Ford to offer the luxury Designer Series.

For consignment, a 1983 Lincoln Continental Givenchy Designer Series sedan with 8,168 miles on the odometer but a mileage exemption on the title, but one look inside and out tells us those miles are the real deal. "In 1983, there were five Designer Editions: the Cartier, available on the Town Car; the Gucci and Bill Blass versions on the Mark VI; and the Givenchy and Valentino editions on the bustle back Continental." Hagerty.com

Exterior
That bustle backed design also graced Cadillac Sevilles at the same time, but it's particularly striking on this special edition which puts a Midnight Black shroud over Platinum Mist Silver and allows that rear section and C-pillar to really shine. The Continental kit is understated and becomes part of the slope, flanked by columnal vertical tail lights that accentuate the angle. Continental heritage is maintained up front with a prominent central grille bookended by square sealed beams and sizable amber markers. 15-inch wheels wear wire wheel covers and white walled Michelins. Up close, the blue, red, and gray stripe that delineates the two tones becomes obvious. The paint and trim are excellent on the car with imperfections noted as a chip on the hood, a few on the roof, and some slight bubbling on a door edge.

Interior
Here's where Hubert's hand really shows, beginning on the luxurious door panels that greet you with robust gray materials including velour, simulated burlwood, and a band of carpet more plush than anything in your house, and all four doors present cleanly. Givenchy's archival garments used ribbon to create embellishment and romantic styling, so it's no surprise to find them wrapped around the edges of all the Radcliffe charcoal gray seats, beginning with the gray velour buckets up front, each of which get their own control panel. Ribbons decorate the rear as well, with button accents also in black. A gray leather wrapped steering wheel fronts a digital dash that begins a panel of dressy black that continues the width of the dash, framed in burlwood, and over a center stack that maintains a piano black motif and houses the AM/FM/Cassette radio and A/C panel, black knobs and levers included. The carpet is astoundingly plush, akin to what you would find in a Rolls Royce, and you'll find it lining the trunk including the trunk lid! The headliner is standard foam back felt, some of which is loosening up on the visors.

Drivetrain
In '83 no one was thinking about dressing up engine bays and it was long before decorative plastic shrouds were used, so Mr. Givenchy will have to settle for the standard look, which presents cleanly here. It's a 302ci V8, fuel injected and rated at 130 horsepower. It's backed by an AOD 4-speed automatic transmission that routes the drive back to the rear Ford 7.5" axle.

Undercarriage
Clean conditions prevail underneath where power disc brakes are equipped on all four wheels. A single exhaust routes burnt fuel rearward and through its original muffler while suspension consists of coil spring front and rear with a 4 link in back.

Drive-Ability
Luxury from 1983 still translates to luxury by today's standards. In fact, some people would say it was better from a comfort perspective! We experience that lulling comfort as we float this Lincoln around the test loop where it performs well and while 130 horsepower won't win you any races, it certainly creates enough momentum and a good bit of quiet while doing so. We note the power antenna is not working and the trunk struts are starting to give up the ghost. All other functions on this well preserved Continental function as intended. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.

It's not clear how many Givenchy editions were produced in 1983, but a Marti Report would fix that issue, and the number of low mileage, surviving examples is likely super low, making this a rare relic of 80's excess in all its deep carpeted beauty!

1MRBP97F9DY615959

1-USA
M-Lincoln
R-Passenger Car
B-Manual Belts
P97-Continental Givenchy Sedan
F-5.0 Liter CFI 130hp V8
9-Check Digit
D-1983
Y-Wixom, MI Assy Plant
615959-Sequential Unit Number

Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person. There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee is not included in the advertised price. All prices are before state, city and county tax, tag, title and license fees. Out of state buyers are responsible for all state, county, city taxes and fees, as well as title/registration fees in the state that the vehicle will be registered. Classic Auto Mall is not responsible for errors and omissions. Please verify listings with dealer. Vehicles may require VIN verification and/or safety and emissions inspections to transfer ownership and register the vehicle in the declared state of residence. Please check with your local DMV office to ensure compliance with your states titling and registration process.

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