There’s something about a car that is so overzealous in its execution that you almost respect it more than if it didn’t try so hard. The Lincoln Continental Valentino Edition is such a car, hailing from the era in which neoclassical styling cues actually moved some consumers into the showroom for a closer look. The ornate qualities of this Continental have not aged well, but it seems Lincoln was trying awfully hard to recapture some of the magic that initially fueled its success. This Midnight Black over Burnished Pewter Clearcoat Metallic example has low miles and looks incredibly well preserved – find it here on craigslist for $12,500.
The bustle-back design is one that seemingly screams “Look at me – my old-school charm is undeniable!” – even as history marched forward in the middle 80s with short wheelbases, smaller engines, and scaled-back opulence. The hubcaps, two-tone paint, and the fake spare tire mount are not so much gaudy as they are desperate, but in that desperation is its charm. Lincoln so badly wanted to keep the fever of yesteryear going that, even while installing a digital gauge cluster, they still pretended the spare tire was accessible via a hump on the decklid. It’s astounding, really. Speaking of astounding, this Continental is in amazing condition, and the seller notes it belonged to a Lincoln club member and enthusiast.
Honestly, I’ve never spent time in one of these 80s luxury sedans, so the dash layout took me by surprise. It’s surprisingly modern inside, with a handsome and clean array of driver controls and functions. Really, looking at it from the outside, you wouldn’t expect to see a cabin layout like this. In fact, it was loaded up with technology ranging from the digital dash to an electronic suspension to four-wheel disc brakes. The Continental was loaded and even had front and rear sway bars. It seems to check a surprising number of boxes as it relates to driver-focused features and the usual comfort-focused options.
Of course, none of that spelled sales success, and the Continental didn’t push Lincoln to new heights of sales success. As we saw recently, even a BMW-sourced turbodiesel was added to the mix, which seemingly points to the Lincoln team trying any number of engineering and feature-driven innovations to make the Continental interesting enough to attract new customers. This one isn’t a diesel; however, it relies on a traditional 5.0-liter V8 rated at 140 horsepower. This Continental will never be the most valuable vehicle in your collection, but it may very well be the most interesting. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Jack M. for the find.
I love a black Lincoln!! I never owned or drove one but they are candy for my eyes 👀 just really nice cars! For me, it’s gotta be ⚫️ black. I just can’t picture people driving these cars wearing jeans and work boots, they always had people in dark suits cruising around in them. Important people with 💸…not me 😆
The bustleback began with the 1980 Cadillac Seville and this was basically Ford’s response. Chrysler also copied it with the 1981-83 Imperial.
Cadillac did this because the 1976-79 Seville did not win over Mercedes or BMW buyers like Cadillac had hoped but was impressive to older people, particularly older women, and it sold very well. So they figured the bustleback, which harkened back to their core buyers’ youth, would do even better in this space.
Unfortunately, sales declined pretty significantly from about 54,000 to 39,000. So I guess in hindsight, it seems like a perplexing decision, sure, but product development takes time, and Ford was just going in the direction of its competition.
If the miles are true this is a great find. Love the color comb. never seen one with cloth interior.
Worth every penny. The manager of the service bays i worked for in the early 90’s had such an 85 two tone blue. Every once in a while i took it to drive back prefered customers home.while their car was in the shop. Every time i stepped out i said wow
The seller does a good presentation. 1980s electronics give me the heebie jeebies though.
Lovely looking car. I’ve always loved this version of the Continental. Whatever the trim level and colour, it’s always been my favourite version of the Continental. My least favourite is the digital instrument display. Call me old-school, but I’ve always preferred a blend of digital and analogue display.
I drove a company car, Mercury Monarch at that time and I think this Lincoln was built off that subframe. I may be wrong, though. It was Lincoln’s way of getting into that smaller luxury market without building a whole new car. More bells and whistles, upgraded interior, upgraded grille configuration and the simulated Lincoln spare on the trunk lid. Cadillac tried the same deal taking the Chevy model and upgrading it (or trying to) make it a Cadillac. Cadillac’s famous moniker: ‘It’s A Cadillac!” was replaced for the Cimmaron…”It’s BY Cadillac!” I guess they didn’t have much confidence in it! It was most likely the ‘bean counters’ at GM that were responsible for that decision to build it… El cheapo!!
The Monarch was Mercury’s variant of the Ford Granada and Lincoln Versailles, the final evolution of the Falcon platform (in the US at least, while Aussies took it even further).
This generation of Continental was based on the Fox platform shared with the fourth-gen Mercury Marquis (if that’s what you meant to say?), and of course the Fairmont, third-gen Mustang, and many other models.
Which latter makes it perpetually puzzling to me that we haven’t seen many of these souped up into a “Hot Rod Lincoln” using relatively cheap and plentiful Mustang go-fast components.
Yes, this is a Fox body. So all the high performance 5.0 Mustang things should bolt right in! The “little” 1983-86 4th gen Mercury Marquis was built on it too. The 1979-82 big Marquis and 1983-2011 Grand Marquis were built on the Panther platform.
Ford got a little bit confusing during this era, probably because they expected to get rid of the big Panthers due to high fuel prices, which ultimately started to come down after 1981.
Commander Cody sez: “What a great idea!”
The air suspension was a nightmare on my used ’87.
Had a family friend who had one of these. The killer was the digital dash. Think he had it 3 or 4 years, but I hardly remember it having the dash in it, always broke and waiting for replacement parts that worked. As now my state requires a working dash for inspection think will pass.
I’d love to have a beater version of this for not a lot of money if it was mechanically sound, and wear a big hat while driving it.
Had a $2000 ’87. Bought it to drive to work. 100,000 plus miles, but body wise was mint, black with black leather. I was stone cold pimpin’ until the air suspension crapped out in January. Threw money at it for months, windows, catalytic converters, a/c, etc. Finally sold it to a guy who said he could fix it. A buddy of mine saw it sitting in the driveway of a boneyard, a couple months later. Still leaning.
I have the twin to the car in this article about to be auctioned by MECUM in their APR-2026 HOUSTON AUCTION (LOT 314).
It has about 79,300 miles on it. I think it will sell for $2K or $3K less than this fella is asking for his beautiful copy of this car.
Give it a look please.
The asking price of $12,500 is pretty hefty for a car without a strong following. It might be rare, but that doesn’t necessarily mean much. Low mileage cars from this era aren’t exactly hard to find, unless this is someone’s dream car there are similar cars available for significantly less money.
Steve R
Just in case someone is in the market for one of these,craigslist has an original owner 1987 Lincoln Continental GIVENCHY with just over 100,000 for asking price of $7,000 in Sierra Vista, Arizona. Exterior: 2-tone brown = Rose Quartz/Dark Taupe The ad says: Bought NEW at Selby Ford in Tucson AZ on May 4, 1987.
Personally I think it’s aged better as a classic than it did at the time. If Ford had been brave enough to make it a 4 door Mark VII it would’ve attracted a wider customer base while nobody put off by a more forward thinking aero look wouldn’t have just bought a Town Car anyway.