Questionable styling aside, this 1958 Lincoln Continental Mark III, as barn found, is a pretty scary-looking hulk. With the Lincoln Continental in its first year of “Joker” styling, it’s just that more ominous looking as it emerges from its dusty twenty-year slumber. Well, it’s a natural draw so let’s give it the once over. This Lincoln is located in Valdosta, Georgia and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $1,025, reserve not yet met.
Newly restyled for 1958, the Lincoln lineup paraded four different Continental body styles including two different four-door hardtops, a two-door hardtop, and a convertible. Other models included the Premiere and Capri. Riding on a 131-inch wheelbase, the 1958 Lincoln was the largest sedan ever built by the Ford Motor Company. With approximately 12K copies assembled in ’58, the production numbers remained fairly constant through 1960 for this third-generation Continental. The radically refined ’61 Continental redesign would send the sales numbers off in an entirely new direction.
You have to wonder how a car of this size just sort of disappears for twenty years. What were the circumstances? Did its owner pass and his/her descendants didn’t know what to do with it? Or maybe it just quit running and the owner put it away for another day. Or perhaps it was a recent acquisition and the new caretaker bit off a bit more than he could chew. Whatever the case, this Lincoln is cosmetically worn-out looking, though the massive expanse of sheet metal appears to be mostly solid and straight. There is some surface rust present and the seller mentions that the rocker panels are fighting corrosion. The extensive display of trim is still attached but the chrome looks tired. Conclusion? The body appears to be in pretty fair shape though it would be nice to get a view of the underside.
The mileage is listed as 10,000,000 which is pretty impressive for a Lincoln, or any other Marque for that matter…I’m certain that it’s a misprint and the listing should read 100,000. Regardless of the true mileage, this Continental is non-operational. And even with 375 gross HP emanating from a 430 CI “MEL” V8 engine, this 5,300 lb. sedan will hardly qualify as a hot-rod Lincoln. From what can be seen, the engine looks original and intact but probably hasn’t spun a revolution in many moons.
Inside is Lector Hannibal approved. Cosseted in rich fabrics and materials, Lincoln passengers, back in the day, rode in one of the most comfortable, feature-laden auto interiors know to mankind at the time. Today, it’s likely a repository for mice, wasps, and other creatures who wish to live in Lincoln comfort – oh well, there goes the neighborhood. BTW, note the “Breezeway” rear window, a Lincoln and Mercury trademark. It would have better served this old Continental if it had been left in the fully raised position.
As forlorn as this Mark III is, it still qualifies as a whammer-jammer, it is a truly huge, and at one-time, opulent automobile. As stated at the outset, the styling is certainly subjective, but it’s a look that gets permanently seared in one’s memory, it’s hard to forget. Here’s to hoping that this Continental Mark III finds redemption and rides again, wouldn’t you agree?
Hmmm, will probably end up as a parts donor for one with a less solid body. At any rate, it would take DEEP pockets to bring this one back to anything resembling its glory days! GLWTA!! :-)
This car never had any glory days. It was butt ugly when new, but so were all ‘58s, except maybe Studebaker.
For what it would take to restore this car you could buy yourself a much more desirable Continental MkII
The Lincoln would be a nice donor for some nice couches
What a sad case this poor car has become. It would be nice to see it cleaned up and running, new upholstery, wiring for windows and lights gone through, but likely it will never get there as prices for these luxury cars are well below restoration cost. The tow bar makes me think it might have been pulled behind a motor home at some point.
God bless America
My thoughts too, can you imagine the RV you would need to tow that thing?
It’s bigger than an RV!
Used the tow bar because the car either stopped running, had bad brakes, or an owner bought it in a non-running condition, but never even got around to taking the tow bar off the car!
Stylists run amok…
A face only a mother could love… uuuuuuggglly!
That applies even more to the ’59 Cadillac missile launcher.
Get a look at the dog peeing on the wheel. My feelings exactly
Hey! Before we park this car for an undetermined amount of time it will be a great idea to lower the rear window and the two back passenger windows. That way any critter can easily find a way inside. Also blowing rain will be able to destroy whatever the critter’s miss.
Forget the reserve, whatever the winning bid is the guy should take it. This car is only good for parts, and how many people would be restoring another one and needing parts ?
I think its a gorgeous design, but I’m a little faint of heart I guess. this thing has “no way” written all over it.
I agree as I like the wild design. But no telling how rusty that unibody is underneath from being stored over dirt
One of Lincolns most unusual year models. They were experimenting heavily, with these huge unibody cars. They vibrated so badly engineers added weights hidden in all four corners of the bumpers to compensate. Truly bizarre car.
Like the auto manufacturers are experimenting now, with the hulky SUV’s (The Mark III’s of the 2020’s).
Very sad!
Beautiful car but as one of the writers said “deep pockets” for sure. I can’t see this being a 1 or 2 year project either. I’m thinking you want this thing close to perfect be ready for a like 3-7 year project. None the less is a beautiful part of automobile history and one I see one of these cars I just want to go back in time and see one roll off the assembly or see it in a showroom
“Barn Find Beauty?”
Nope.
Having a 57 Chevy as my first car, I was shocked to recently learn how far advanced the 57-58 Lincoln ‘s were. It was a unibody frame and more like a car of the 60’s. It’s a shame this is in such bad shape but I’d power wash it and see how bad it is and if the motor turns before I’d write it off. I’m guessing the rear window stuck down which is maybe why it was parked?
What, no pictures of the underside???
Looks much like the T Birds of the same vintage. Very square.
This vehicle resembles the design mules that Packard proposed for their 1957 models. I believe that the inside ‘joke’ at Lincoln was you couldn’t get anywhere with Lincoln unless you came from Packard. Packard’s designers and engineers must of found jobs there and brought their ideas with them. That Mk III was the top of Lincoln’s range in pedigree and price. Lincoln used the same body with trim differences on all of the better selling and lower priced Premier models. The 1958 Thunderbird certainly fit into Lincoln’s same styling ideas. The entire car industry in 1958 was over styled; think 1958 Buick or the finned fantasies from Chrysler. Current Toyota and Lexus designs are extremely overstyled and yet people buy them. The same was true in 1958. I guess their is no accounting for taste.
And a unibody to boot. The famous boatinental.
Dave….. people buy them because they have no choice. Everything looks the same. Can’t tell a Chevy from a Kia.
To be fair, I’m my opinion if one were to go back in time 60 years and take a ride down the street a 56 Chevy could be confused with a Pontiac, or a Buick. A 56 Ford could be confused with a Merc, a Plymouth or a Dodge. I still have to look closely at car shows sometimes to tell the model. Not to mention the badge platform sharing of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Seems To me like cars have always looked the similar to their competition.
I think that unfortunately that car is best laid to rest at the crusher, who knows what damage that tow bar did.
Jeez Louise, with what I’ve seen here before I don’t get why everyone feels this will be a money pit and not worth the time and effort. Not to concourse condition, but this doesn’t seem that far gone. What am I missing (except for flipping purposes.)
Unless there are serious issues underneath the biggest expense might be the interior depending on what you can do yourself. This could be a neat family garage project to get back on the road for touring.
The architecture of both commercial and some residential buildings in this same period of time, termed GOOGI by historians, is not very popular today for some of the same reasons you all dislike this car.
Apologies, it’s spelled Googie.
pretty rough, not the model to maintain one’s interest thru the rest0 (mod).
The 1st and 2nd gens were tops.
The “Kennedy-mobile” (4th gen),
but 3rd? not 4 me…interesting tho~
I love these things !! I want to do it up in bright white with a dark red interior, put my son into a chauffeur’s uniform and have him drive me around to “events” in it. Might have go with air bag suspension to give it the right “stance”. Dave at Kindigit Design would love this !!
We have one 1958 in good shape for auction on Barn Finds. It has been garaged for 10 years in my father in laws garage. Take a peak, a true beauty!
Bakyardhero……..
I can tell the difference between a ’56 Chevy and a ’56 Pontiac, Buick, etc. They did have similarities, but, details that were different enough to separate them from each other. This ’58 Lincoln looks nothing like a ’58 Ford. IMO, earlier cars were distinctive enough to tell the difference. Go look at a 2020 Chevrolet Impala. Look at the taillights. Then look at a 2020 Kia. Same frigging taillights.
The old days you could distinguish a car from afar. Now you have to get right up on it, look for the emblem or script to see what it is.
Couldn’t agree more. Not only could you tell the difference by appearance but you could tell from the sound of the exhaust. Even the sounds of the starters were unique especially a Mopar.
@Angel,
I’m certainly not implying that you or anyone else with a big interest in 50’s vintage cars would have a hard time telling them apart. What I’m saying is that someone like myself with a fleeting interest in that vintage can. Lincoln, Cadillac, T-Bird, Corvette’s, Studebaker, Packard etc are all distinguished, but I sometimes have to look at the emblems to tell a Pontiac from an Old’s, or a Plymouth from a Dodge. Anything 60’s and up I am far more knowledgeable, particularly 70’s and 80’s. As for modern cars all looking the same, well they do if you have no interest in them. We buy a new car every few years in my house and I can spot the difference between a Kia, Hyundais, Buick, Chevy, Toyota etc from a hundred yards out with one eye closed.
I’ll bet there were some old timers back 60 years ago saying “Chevy, Ford, Buick, what’s the difference, they all look the same!”
As we speak some youngster ( under 49?) thinks it’s perfect for a 12 valve, in the end he will get 18-20 mpg and have plenty pf room with a fold out couch for a back seat. Oh gee i just saw the tow bar for the back of your camper. Yikes
Nice stinkin’ Lincoln, BF.
Take it to the car wash on the way home. Paint it flat black high build primer, and tune it up for the car shows.
Easy project IMHO, and instant rat rod.
Good price for a complete car too. And it’s a roller with the whole drivetrain so it’s a keeper for sure.
Bob
I love the look of these. Once owned a 60.
menacing lookin ‘thing’… kinda reminds me of a movie i saw… :O
Eva Marie Saint drove a white Mark III convertible in ‘North by Northwest’.
There were at least three horror movies starring a car that looked like this one, The Duel with Dennis Weaver, and The Car and The Car 2. Hokey but fun if you like horror films.
This car looks like it’s inhabited by a full graveyard of ghosts. I don’t think the haunt will ever be removed from it.
If you want a 58 Lincoln — buy this cheap and keep lookin for a better one to restore.
Kurt……
It’s been awhile since I’ve seen “Duel” with Dennis Weaver, but I don’t remember a Lincoln of any year in the movie. Dennis drives a Plymouth Valient or some such POS.
“The Car” with James Brolin is a modified Lincoln, but certainly not a ’58.
Have not had the pleasure to see “The Car 2”. Didn’t know they made a sequel.
You’re right, the opponent was a semi tractor in the Duel. The Car 2 was a cheesy sci-fi sequel. I have too much time on my hands.