- Seller: David B (Contact)
- Location: Hartford, Connecticut
- Mileage: 45,000 Shown
- Chassis #: 9Y89A885596
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 460 cui 4-BBL V8
- Transmission: C6 Automatic
Despite being unpopular with some car magazine writers at the time, the new Lincoln Mark III was a success with the buying public, selling more in its first year than Cadillac sold in Eldorados. Lincoln needed a top-line personal luxury car, and the 1969 Lincoln Mark III was it. This beautiful example is located in Hartford, Connecticut with an asking price of $28,000, and it can be found listed here as a Barn Finds Classified!
Like him or not, the legacy of Lido Anthony Iacocca is one of the most interesting and important since the early beginnings of the automobile. His gut instinct is the reason we have this gorgeous example of luxury travel, as seen here in this Royal Maroon example that’s said to have 45,000 original miles. As Mr. Iacocca used to say, “If you can find a better car, buy it.” This may be the nicest one around.
Yes, it was Lee Iacocca’s idea to use what some thought was an antiquated faux spare tire bump on the rear of the car, and also the Rolls-Royce-like grille. A lot of critics thought that would be an instant failure, but buyers loved both features enough to spend over $6,700 in 1969 dollars (around $60,000 today) to buy one of the 30,858 examples sold at the end of 1968 and in 1969 for the 1969 model year. Iacocca thought that an even more luxurious car than the already posh Thunderbird could take up some slack at the Wixom, Michigan plant at the same time as adding an uber-luxury model to Lincoln’s lineup. He was right on both counts. Big shocker. Although based on the Thunderbird, the Mark III doesn’t share any body panels.
The Mark III was made for the 1969 model year until the end of 1971. The optional red “leather with vinyl” seats look like this car just rolled off the lawn at Pebble Beach, both front and rear, which is what most of the rest of the car looks like. Even the underside looks solid, despite some light surface corrosion being visible. The seller says the owner of this car bought it from the original owner in 1994, and you can see that it’s been kept in outstanding condition over the last 30+ years.
The knife-and-fork (as in, you could eat off of it) engine compartment houses a monstrous member of Ford’s 385 series of V8s (3.85-inch stroke) 460-cu.in. OHV V8 that was factory-rated at 365 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque! Unlike the Eldorado, the Mark III sent that power through a C6 three-speed automatic to the rear wheels rather than the front wheels (insert angels singing here). The only thing to investigate is the AC system, which was converted to R-134a and appears to be leaking a bit. That’s a very common problem when converting from an R-12 system. If you’re a “person who wants the most authoritatively styled, individually decisive motorcar of this generation,” this Mark III is for you. Please check out the photos on Barn Finds Classifieds!
Great write-up, Scotty.
Wow, what a peach!
And I agree, there can’t be too many like this left.
Wish I had the money and space….
GLWTS.
Absolutely stunning!! Great color on it too. These Mark III Lincolns have beautiful lines. And that 460 will pull this along with sincere authority. Scotty I forgot about that Lee Iacocca line!! It was a great line, and when he said it, he certainly meant it. I just watched that 1982 Chrysler corp Commercial, he was some convincing spokesman. Best wishes to the buyer and seller on a stunning Lincoln!!!
Good write-up SG. When these were introduced, I was a pre-teen, which means I should have had no interest in luxury cars. However I remember thinking how the Mark III was a clean, sharply-styled, attractive car. And that it was fairly interesting. I still find it to be an attractive car. This looks like a good example.
Drove my aunt’s ’74.
If that didn’t make you feel like a million bucks, nothing could.
She had mark 4…nice.
Specifically, the car magazines derisively called it an “imitation of classic cars that have long gone”. Ironically, it is now a classic. And who wouldn’t love that plush interior compared to what’s offered today, or just the overall styling? IMHO the Mark 3, with that 460 unencumbered by emissions garbage, is the best of the Lincolns that would come along through the 80s.
I had a 69 Mark lll also. It was white with black leather interior. Same wheel cover but I had the third eye on the leftside vent area. It work well when I had the brights on and a car coming towards me turn it off and back on again after the car passed. It was in perfect shape . But didn’t have it for more than 3 month. Two people in a Ford Torino rear ended me. They got out took off the plates and ran away. Typical s*** that happens in the Bronx back in the day. I would grab this Lincoln since its less than 2 hours from me. And if i had disposable income i would be driving this Mark home!!! Only issue i see besides the AC is the headlamp doors. That was always an issue since it works on vacuum and if a hose is cracked it would leak air and slowly the doors would open. Fun job to fix!😂 The Mark lll was fast on the hiway. Never had a problem moving out passing Vettes or surprise a Porsche owner! 😂 can’t believe the mileage on it. Wow 45,000 and its not 145,000. Well good luck to the next owner and enjoy it!! 🇺🇸🐻
I’m sure its 145k hahaha. I had a mark 5 and had the same headlight issues. It took me hours upon hours to find the leak and replaced the lines with rubber and that worked. I had the AC overhauled in 01 brand new everything with R12 cost me 1600.00$ and I thought that was ridiculous, but I wanted everything functional, mine even had a sunroof 41″. I’m looking to buy a 3 now.
I’ve been shopping these for the last 2 or 3 months and this one is clean, but definitely not cleanest currently on the internet 1 of the most expensive though. 15 to 20k will get you an excellent example 2 of the cars I’m looking at come with the mileage paperwork, not just mileage claims which I absolutely hate, if the seller doesn’t know just don’t mention it or say TMU that’s a big claim on any classic without the proof. I owned a mark 5 for 20 years. I think the 3 is the best looking mark, can’t wait to get one. GLWTS
The addition of that beautiful mid sixties Lincoln Star on the grill looks great! Should have been there to begin with…
Wasn’t the Lincoln star developed for the Continental Mark II? I believe that original version was a hugely expensive casting.
Yes, Lincoln Star first appeared on the 56 and 57 Continental Mark ll. It was discontinued after the 1967 Lincoln model year.
The headlight doors stay closed. That’s rare. Great car!
Only for a few minutes .. wink, wink ..
Thank you, it is a great car despite the usual minor leak in the headlight vacuum.
Asking WAY too much. These sleds don’t bring that !
I’m sold on the 45K miles claim, underside and interior is so clean.
At 14 I went on a road trip from LA to Sacramento with my best friend and his parents. “Us boys” were already close to 6′ tall, but we had so much room in that back seat! Their Mark III was identical to this one in every way. We floated up CA in pure luxury and that has to be the very best road trip ever in a back seat! These cars were the ultimate highway cruisers! If I already didn’t have 4 cars for 2 people, I would jump on this! GLWA!!
My neighbor had another example pretty much exactly like this one, and when I turned sixteen, he bravely let me drive it, alone.
It was genuinely opulent, with its beautiful leathers and Cartier clock (his didn’t work). The hood seemed to be in a distant county, with the four pointed star way out there on the distant hood, so that you could realize that yes, that thing out there is the front of my car!
Outward visibility was appalling, but it looked great. I thing the automotive press hated it, because it was so utterly conventional.
Beam axle at the rear, front-only disc brakes, and ponderous handling, at a time when Mercedes was offering four wheel discs, fully independent suspension at all four wheels, and a much more “connected” driving experience.
The Mark III did offer the industry’s first anti-lock brakes, but other than that, not much in the way of cutting edge technology.
Seller has a Make Offer option.
good looking body style.
Nice write-up, Scotty. Beautiful car. Seems like Ford products have more a/c problems than other brands. I spent thousands on a/c repairs in the several years I owned a ’93 Explorer and it still never worked. Didn’t you once have a Lincoln like this or a similar model?
Thanks, folks. I agree, this looks like a gem. I usually mention Hagerty’s valuation as a general reference but I neglected to do that on this one. They list a #2 excellent-condition car as being worth $27,700.
Big John, I had a 1966 Lincoln Continental Coupe and regret every single day since I sold it. It’s the one car I should have kept forever.
Thats a beautiful Lincoln Scotty!!! I know I’ve seen you post it before, but what a nice car, the 2 door hardtop is a beautiful design.
Hi everyone,
I’m representing this car for the seller. It is a beautiful example, it does have some minor foibles, but you have to be right on top of the car to see them.
As Gale H mentioned, the price is negotiable.
Runs and drives just as it should .. like a land yacht .. LOL
Thanks for the great write up Scotty!
SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!!!
I absolutely love Lincolns in general but the Mark III is towards the top of the list.
What a gem.