OK folks, hold on to your hats. Yes, this is a 1979 Lincoln Continental Town Car with only 1,725 miles. The original owner bought it and stored it in a Tennessee warehouse. Why? Not disclosed, but what is disclosed is the BIN price of $150,000 (yikes!) though there is a make an offer option too. That’s right, this Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina resident is available, here on eBay for that outsized price.
This Continental is the last of the fifth-generation (1970-1979) and is the first to use the “Town Car” moniker. It is notable for its size (233″ in length, 127″ wheelbase, and a 5,200 lb. curb weight) as full-size luxury cars started to go on both a weight and size reduction plan starting with Cadillac in 1977. The big shrink for Lincoln, however, was right around the corner with the introduction of the sixth-generation Continental in 1980. Lincoln enjoyed sound production output in ’79 with 189K copies overall, the second-highest output for the fifth-generation Continental. All told, however, Lincoln’s ’79 output was only half of Cadillac’s total volume for that year.
Whammer-jammer? You bet, anything that approaches this size and promotes such a bodacious luxury aura is deserving of that handle. What can one say about such a full-tilt disco-duck limo that is 42 years young and has only experienced 1,700 miles? It has obviously been stored well, and as the seller claims, “It is truly as you would have seen it on the showroom floor in 1979 with the original sales sticker having remained as applied by the dealer“. It has it all, a landau top, opera windows, fender skirts, lots of stainless trim and Barco-lounger, leather shod seats. The total tariff? $18,164 in 1979 dollars.
Lincoln provided a single powerplant for the ’79 Continental, a 159 net HP, 400 CI V8 engine, tethered to a three-speed automatic transmission. It sounds as if the seller has only driven this sedan a total of four miles and there is no reference to its operating capabilities. Assuming that the engine has been operated with some regularity over this Continental’s long slumber, it should function fine. That said, I have to believe that power will hardly be this car’s forte. I have a friend who back in the mid-’80s had a very similar 1977 model Continental that possessed a 460-4V engine. It was slouch with a unslakeable thirst for fuel. Of note is the A/C compressor, it’s a GM Frigidaire A6 component though GM sold Frigidaire the same year that this Town Car was assembled.
Inside is like a mobile living room, once again lending credence to that old saw that you can live in your car but can’t drive your house. As with so many of these Luxo-barge interiors, I’d be afraid of nodding off on a long, quiet, smooth, somnambulant cruise. Nevertheless, the white leather upholstery and maroon, plastic protected carpet, show like new. Of note is the Jimmy Carter era 85 MPH speedometer.
The seller states, ” I will not sell the Town Car sight unseen“. I don’t know where you stand, but for $150 large, I don’t think he’s going to sell it to anyone, period! This one’s a head-scratcher for me, how about you?
The owner should have put his money in the bank back in 1979 if he wanted it to grow. Been sipping a bit too much of the home brewed shine if he thinks this car is worth $150,000.
That’s some potent hooch!!!
I want some of the Maryjane he’s smoking. Damn be reasonable instead of a laughingstock.
Wow Thats a heck of a price ……
If it had the factory moon roof you might be able to see the alternate galaxy where it would be worth the asking price.
If there’s about $140,000 in small, unmarked bills in the trunk, I’m a buyer at $10K right now.
I can think of many other things I’d rather spend that kind of cash on.
Ummm sorry dude, ain’t gonna happen. Even at BJ on a Saturday night with LOTS of liquor served!
You all laugh at that ridiculous price, but mark my words, he’ll get his ask and more!
Ok, you can stop laughing now. Seriously, it’s not funny. Come on, you’ll pee your pants if you keep going. Rolling on the floor is a little over the top don’t you think? You better breathe in or you’ll pass out.
Priced to not sell.
Had a ride in one of these once. It was more like wafting than driving. All of the controls are approximate.
Like steering a freighter. Comfortable though.
“Ok, honey. I’ll sell the old Lincoln so you can park your Camry in the garage.”
“Honestly, honey, I have no idea why it hasn’t sold. I guess nobody else wants this big old Lincoln, either.”
Unusual to see a standard Town Car preserved like this. Most collectors preferred the Collectors’ Series. Go figure.
A friend in college borrowed his dad’s then new blue in blue velour Lincoln like this. That 460 pig sucked gas like Rosie O’Donnell at a buffet. But what comfort wallowing down Rt 322 outside PSU in Happy Valley. I will give him $9,500 for it. $150,000. Yeah for a 67 L71 Corvette in Marina Blue with Bright Blue leather.
And for those of you who wonder, NO, I’m not related to her in any way, shape, or form (and if I were, I’d never admit it!)
JO
I think they finally found Jimmy Hoffa’s car. Unfortunately, he was not in the trunk.
Poor sap. Sometimes, people sell cars with no knowledge or interest in cars, they simply do it to cut a fat hog. Such is the case here. This guy will never sell this Lincoln for $150K, period. He’ll never sell it for $100K. In fact, I don’t car if it didn’t have ANY miles on it! All I see is a 43 year old car that will need at least belts, hoses, maybe tires (flat spots from sitting?) and maybe even a tank flush in order to be drivable. IMHO, maybe $23K is all this is worth. And it’s NOT even the “Collector’s series”—THE one Lincoln buffs would want!
I’ll give him 8 grand, and he should see that’s a fair price
Does anyone remember a few years ago when someone on Craigslist had an ’89 Caprice with a Caddy steering wheel and bronze plaques all over the place for $2 million? This is like a milder version of that.
Understandably, the comments deal with the ask price. But as to the car itself, what an example of an era gone by. Huge, ornate, large but underpowered and thirsty engine, floaty ride, numb steering. But highly-equipped, comfortable, and quiet, it made for a great highway cruiser. Love the ala carte ordering system, almost fills the window sticker.
Great job Jim, I hope no one labels me “somnambulant.”
He priced it considering the rarity of the car. They only made one hundred eighty nine thousand of them that year. Geez us crimity!
The drivers seat looks like it has more than 1720 miles on it. Not sure it’s worth 150,000.00. Good luck waiting!
The seller must be a crack head. These old floaters are huge but the smaller newer Lincoln’s ride much better.
Auction ended looks like the people who can spend $150,000 on a car chose to get the Lamborghini instead
This is a sweet ride! Maybe not worth 150 large, but the listing does have “Make Offer” option. This brand spanking new 42-year-old car is too rare to be somebody’s daily driver, but would be a dream as a pristine, super luxurious touring car for four. I’d love to have it!
There must be something wrong with my computer. It showed the price of this Lincoln to be $150,000. It shows one too many zeroes. We know it was supposed to be $15,000.
I guess I need to go shopping for a new one. Bye!
My dad had a maroon 79. Velour interior. We would cruse around the small town of Suttons Bay, being leered at by our neighbors, while cranking the Darth Vadar theme from the 8 track. What a beast.
I dented the front fender getting out of the garage. That thing was so damn long! It was comfy though. Nothing like it on the road today.
I think 1/10th of the asking price is fair. Maybe his finger just tapped that 0 one time to many.
People offering 9 grand are an insult. Whether you like this car or not it is an extremely well preserved car. Certainly not worth asking price but I would think it would sell for at least $30-40k
I assume the original owner did not calculate the power to weight ratio of 159 horsepower pushing (RWD) a 5200 pound behemoth not counting the weight load of passengers. Nor did thar owner factor the escalating price of fuel, sharing a garage with mowers and a second vehicle and new car depreciation as soon as it was driven off the lot. So what can you do with a land yacht like this? Donate it to a Ford or Lincoln nonprofit car museum and take a charitable donation. Cut the price by $135,000 and sell it to a taxi cab company or limousine service or funeral home. The Lincoln is comfortable smooth riding luxury car and very roomy as a livery vehicle. A car collector might want it but not at that price.
Given that the ’79s were the last of the “full-sized” Lincolns before the downsizing of 1980, the original purchaser must have bought this car to preserve unused as an investment for the future, just as others had done with 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertibles, which were the last of the big ragtops. I will be surprised if it fetches the BIN price.
While I wasn’t turned on to this 4 door, I loved the two door version of this Lincoln. In reality , this very car is worth around 15 to 20 thousand . 👍
I use to work on these when they were new cars, they were very nice cars for the time
It is worth all of 20K. Not a penny more.
Friend with useless legs had one, he could put wheelchair in the big trunk, use locking leg braces and crutches to get into driver’s seat and drive with hand controls. But I usually drove. “The Big Ford ” was a great cruiser, and he found it much easier to get in and out of than my ’69 full sized Ford, let alone anything smaller.
Not worth 150K, but those of you suggesting less than 10K should show up with the money and see what the seller says. Don’t have the 10K? That’s what I thought.
Been going through the cushions on the couch all afternoon. Looks like I can’t scrape up enough to make it happen.
Are you sure there wasn’t a typo & put one too many 0s.🤪🤣
The “Sales Sticker” was not applied by the Dealer but by the people at the Wixom Assembly Plant prior to shipping the vehicle to the dealer!!! That is the Law.
Re-listed for $97K OBO…
It is still worth 20K. Nice car. But that is the market.
I’m one of the people on the advisory board at NADA value guides, and we are the people who help determine the prices. So I checked the NADA price guide, and the top price for a near perfect car is $20,000. Because this is a genuine “Unused” car that has never been “Prepped” by the new car delivery people at the original selling dealership [the prep labor includes things like removing all the plastic coverings], I would add $5,000 to the value, with a grand total of $25,000.
If it still had the FoMoCo Certificate of Origin paperwork indicating it was never officially sold, and a title never issued to the current owner, then that situation could add another 25% of the $20k, bringing a top value of $30,000. That situation would mean the original Lincoln dealership was still the legal owner of the car.
I’m sure the seller was fishing, and he landed a quick education in reality. If he’s relisted it for $97k, I’m guessing the person offering the car, is someone associated with settling the estate of the car’s owner. If it’s a law firm, they are charged with obtaining the “best reasonable” price possible, so they are notorious in starting with stupidly high values, and then lower the prices in segments until they get a bite.
It’s possible the people handling the estate have a written value appraisal for the car at $150k. If so, the price may end up dropping to the point where it’s better for tax purposes, for the estate to donate the car to a genuine car museum, and take the $150k value as the donated value.
@Bill… your comment makes perfect sense. Thank you for your comment 👍
I have a 75 Continental 4 door in the same white as this one, albeit with more miles. I’ve got 36000 on mine. The ride is incredible and I really feel like you have something when I drive it. It’s not great on gas, but that’s not why I bought it. I didn’t want the 1979 as I only wanted one with the 460. I didn’t want it for fuel economy but to relive the old days of what things were like. This car is obviously in fine condition, but I’m in agreement with some of the other commenters that 20 to 25K is where this should be.
I have many beautiful vehicles, including two 1970s Continentals… I was curious when I first saw the vehicle’s pictures and so I took the time to look at it. I agree with you gentlemen one hundred percent… 20 – 25K at the very most. Perhaps the seller is just very misinformed?!…
The price is rite!