Ford’s Lincoln division made the fifth-generation Continental for a decade, from 1970 to 1979. It may be sacrilege for those of you who are a bit older than I am, if that’s even possible, but this is what I think of when I think of a Lincoln Continental. The seller has this beautiful 1977 Lincoln Continental Town Car listed here on eBay in one of my favorite cities in the country: Montgomery, Alabama. The current bid price is $13,701 but the reserve isn’t met yet.
Some of you know that I recently had a 1966 Lincoln Continental Coupe, which I miss dearly. But still, for some reason, this era of Lincoln Continental is burned in my brain as the pinnacle. I know, it’s a car from the 1970s. That’s the equivalent of asking for a public stoning for a person to admit that they like a car from the ’70s unless it’s an early-70s muscle car. This car is pretty amazing, though, as the seller says that it just turned over 18,000 miles. And that isn’t 118,000.
This is not a car for the timid driver or one with a small garage. I thought that my ’66 Lincoln was huge but this car is even bigger, at just over 19 feet in length and 5,200 pounds. This gentleman is the reason we live in a free country. He’s a military vet, who sadly has contracted cancer due to agent orange exposure. This is his wife’s last classic car, having sold her ’76 Cadillac and ’76 Buick last year, due to her health, and now it’s his turn to have health issues. My hat is off to you, sir, and thank you for your service to your country.
This car was originally from North Carolina and was then sold to a collector in Las Vegas. It appears that this is a very solid car and it’s still wearing its original factory paint, a beautiful two-tone. That leather interior, does it get any better than that? No, no it does not. The seats appear to be in perfect condition both front and rear. I’m not sure whether I’d rather drive this car or be driven in it while sitting in the back seat. The trunk looks great also, as a car with a mere 18,000 miles should look. One disclosure: the passenger side mirror remote adjustment isn’t currently working, otherwise, everything works right down to the clock.
The engine in this gorgeous machine is as clean as everything else is, it’s Ford’s 460-cu.in. OHV V8, which would have been factory-rated at 208 horsepower and 356 lb-ft of torque when new. The seller says that it has a new Holley carburetor with an electric choke, and it runs as it should now. Given the incredible condition of this car, this price isn’t surprising at all. What’s your guess on how much this beautifully-preserved luxury car will sell for?
My goodness what a beautiful car, not my favorite color yet who could argue it’s preservation? I had a 1977 that I sold in 1984 after only 9 months of ownership to buy the house that I still live in. so about 6 years ago I acquired a 1979 Towne Coupe to have that feeling back. If I still didn’t own it, I would be quite interested in this one.
Well done, Scotty.
I’m probably older than most on this post, but I do remember renting a 75 TownCar to drive my wife and 2 daughters from Texas to Durango Colo to visit Ft Lewis College. I was never much of a Lincoln fan until I drove this car…. absolutely loved it and plenty of room for everyone…. I wasn’t too crazy about the color periwinkle blue or something like that… but the ladies loved it, so what the heck… It was fun to drive and I really hated turning it back in to the car rental place. But with 2 girls in college, had to go back to my Hondas.
Already at 20K!!!!
I had the pleasure of driving a ‘77 Lincoln back in the day. I remember it vividly as a gorgeous car and the ride! I looked for a used one after a few years but couldn’t find one. I bought a ‘69 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham instead. Another great automobile.
This is a very beautiful car with hardly any miles on it!! It has been extremely well taken care of. I had a 1977 which was a very beautiful care also it was forest Green I also loved that car but I had to sale it for financial reasons. Always wish I had it back but a lot of water under the bridge since then. They ask if you think this car will bring what there asking to be real honest with you all. From the looks of this car and of course no pictures of underneath but from what I see it will bring what they are asking and then some.
My parents had a 1972. A little distributor recurve and carb tune really woke it up. Took it on a college field trip with four other adults and all our luggage in comfort and easily cruised and returned nearly 15 mpg.
My Dad had the same Town Car only in silver gray.
I remember borrowing it to take a friend and his wife out to a fancy restaurant to celebrate their wedding anniversary.
Talk about going in style!
Driving it was like driving a bus.
I did not realize it at the time that the big 460 had such limited horsepower.
Still, it would “float” down the highway.
Very nice car!
Back in the day, my Father always drove big Cadillacs. So I am very familiar with them. A friend of the family asked me to fetch their Lincoln out of the underground parking garage. I couldn’t believe how much larger the turning circle is on the Lincolns. Had to do numerous three point turns to get out of there.
My dad had a ’76 Town Coupe, that thing was huge but what a car. I would’ve preferred it over the four Coupe Devilles I use to own. This is a very nice one and wouldn’t mind owning it
I have a dark blue 79 collector series w/60 G miles They are the best in every way Love that yellow one
My mom had a 1978 Town Car. They downsided a little in ’78 with the 400 instead of the 460. Between my dad and I we’ve owned 32 Lincolns between the years of 1961 and 1995. Beautiful cars!!
I’m not afraid to admit that I love my land yachts from the 70s, Scotty.
Cadillacs from 1969 to 1976
Lincolns from 1966 to 1979
Imperials from 1964 to 1974
Of course there are quite a few 50s in there as well, but most of my favorites start in the 60s.
As far as I’m concerned, car production stopped in 1979. 80s and 90s were horrible IMO. It didn’t revive until around 2004.
My dad had a green one with a white interior. It was stolen from the Smith Haven mall in NY. Beautiful car.
Fun fact: Only the ’77s had both the Rolls Royce-style grill and the rear fender skirts (The ’78s-79s had open wheels). Also the ’77s were the last to have a unique dashboard; the ’78s-79s had a dashboard similar to the ones found in Ford/Mercury products.
I wish I could buy this remarkable survivor. I drove my Mother to her doctor in downtown Indianapolis in a family member’s back when these were new.
Never drove more spacious, comfortable car. It was like driving the interstate in one’s living room. Quite, smooth and powerful.
Sadly, in the world of today, I would fear leaving this baby unattended. I can see overly zealous ecology advocates vandalizing it for destroying the planet. That or taking up too much space in down sized parking spots.
Elegance, style and individuality are tragically absent from all of twenty first century transportation.
That is a dime piece. Nice find. I hope it finds a great and safe caretaker. Maybe a museum?
I’m guessing that I might be the oldest guy here. So I will tell you, I agree with you, the 1970s Lincoln Town Cars are my favorites too. While I’m not crazy about the color, but I love the car, and I think you got it for a good price. It has the factory polished aluminum wheels on it, they are worth $2,000 by themselves..Being in the excellent condition that it is, and it’s low mileage, you did very well. Here in Southern California, that’s at least a $20,000 Town Car. And that dashboard is one of the best found on an American car, ever. It’s in the same category as the 61-62 Chrysler Astrodome with Panelesent lighting. You have to love how the Town Car’s dash looks at night. Just gorgeous! And, I know you have never seen a larger ashtray than the Town Car’s. You can fit at least 3 pipes in there, if you happen to smoke pipes, if not you can start now lol. Not to mention there’s ashtrays, with lighters on the doors, all with lights in them. It’s a huge car, but it had to be. The 460 moves that car with ease. My parents had a 76 4 door Town Car, it was Dark Red Moondust Metallic, with matching half vinyl roof, with B piller coach lights, and red velour interior. My brother said it looked like a bordello, no one ever argued with him, but it was comfortable and luxurious. I put KYB gas shocks on all four corners, that made it handle much better. With it’s extremely long hood and long rear quarters, 6 bodies would fit in the fully carpeted, color matching trunk, making it a favorite Mafia staff car. There was no contest between the 70s Town Cars and the 70s Cadillacs. The Town Cars had tradional American luxury styling that was totally Lincoln. The Cadillacs were just big and boring. The Lincoln dash alone put the Cadillacs to shame. In 1990 my parents bought the all newly styled Town Car Signature Series option. A beautiful and much more technically advanced car. It had the 5.0 fuel injectioned, auto leveling with duel exhaust. It made Motor Trends Car of the year, you know. It was much smaller than the 76. It was dark blue metallic over light blue leather interior. I can talk Lincoln Town Cars all day. I say, you are definitely a lucky man to have your 77. You should enjoy it for many years to come. There was nothing like the full size Lincoln Town Cars from the 70s, and you have an excellent example. Hold on to it with both hands.
Just a few more comments. I love the way they sound. Ford’s 460 is an excellent big block engine. Strong powerful and very reliable. Then in the 90s they even got better when Ford added fuel injection. At one time I owned 8 cars and a motor home. They were all Fords 6 of them Lincolns, and they all had 460s in them, including the motor home. Great cars.
I liked the 87-89 Town Cars also. I had a 79 Town Car, and two Mark 5’s, 77 and 79.
I grew up in what must be the best town car ever! We had the same “banana cream“ exterior with the maroon vinyl top, and maroon velour interior… And it was a two door! My first mechanic memory is standing on that bumper, leaning over the long……..… Really long……… open hood and holding the butterfly down so that could start the car on winter mornings
I had a 71and a 78. They both sported a 460.
Awesome car and nice writeup. One car in my stash is a 76 Continental 4 door like this and the ride is incredible. Drive it and you know you’re in a serious car. Mine is about to turn 40k Mike’s but still in nice shape.
Tough to worm on though just because it’s so low and wide its a very loonngg reach over the grille or fenders to anything.
I hope this excellent example is further preserved as it has been.
Hello all, I am the seller of this 1977 Lincoln. I received a message from Scotty several days ago, commenting on it and wishing my wife and I the best. Today, Scotty told me about Barn Finds, and I cannot express my deepest appreciation, not only on the pictures, but the way he wrote the article! Absolutely priceless. All I can say, is THANK YOU SCOTTY, and only the best to you and your family. Curtis
I just want to thank all of you for your thoughts and comments. I promise, when I kick this cancer, I will find another, “better” than this one.I have overcome open heart surgery to stop my mitral valve from leaking, I survived cancer surgery, and I survived an 18 wheeler colliding with me in my Corvette on the interstate, where the driver of the was killed, and my car was totaled. My point, well I’ve never not made it before, and I will make it through this. How? I am NOT alone. Lastly, if there is someone you wanted to say something to, say it. If there is something you really want to do, DO IT! You are not dead and gone, until YOU ARE FORGOTTEN. Be safe, and keep your children safe, and the rest will come out in the wash. Peace to you.
The driver of the truck.
Curtis,
Best to you in your endeavors. You sound like a really determined man.
I just wanted to say a saying I heard years ago….. none of us really die as long as someone remembers you.
Thank you.
I had one of these, it got 8mpg didn’t matter if you were beating or babying it. 77 was the last year of the 460 in the Town Car not earth shattering it was also the final year of the thermometer style speedometer
Yes, I’ve always called it a thermometer speedometer. (thought I was the only one.) When people ask me how many miles to the gallon, my reply is, “I get more SMILES to the gallon.