This 1979 Lincoln Continental was literally pulled from a barn recently, where it had been residing since 1991. It’s located in Ursa, Illinois and is up for auction here on eBay, where a lot of early bids have pushed it to $799 and there’s no reserve.
As you can see, there’s a little wear “around the edges”. The seller states that only 197 cars were built in this Diamond Blue Moondust Metallic color with every option available. They purchased the car from the owner’s son, where it had been in barn storage. After changing out the battery and fluids, as well as a gas line, the car is said to run and stop well, although it’s only been driven short distances so far. For some reason, the original rear bumper was removed (could it have had an aftermarket “continental kit” fitted? Naw…) and new mounting brackets will be needed to reinstall the original bumper.
I’m not sure how common the sunroofs were on this series, but it is a nice feature to have. I like the Midnight Blue vinyl against the paint as well. This is a great example of what I call a “land yacht,” a uniquely American phenomenon of a huge car, able to just eat up highway miles while having some of the softest rides known to man. Just don’t pay any attention to the gas gauge or expect it to corner well!
The car even has the original 8-track tape player with AM/FM, a CB radio and no less than a Cartier quartz electronic calendar clock! Although the mileage shows as 15,821, the seller (and I) believe it to be 115,821 miles. It’s refreshing to see honesty in a seller.
From what I can tell, this is the original 400 cubic inch V-8. I think this would be a perfectly usable classic, especially while the current $2/gallon gas continues to welcome drivers. Any takers for this classic that had a list price of around $18,000 in 1979?
They may have taken the bumper off so that it would fit in the barn!?
I worked at a Lincoln and Mercury dealer back when this size of car was new. All I can remember is they rode so well. It felt so smooth and quiet. Nice car for it’s time.
The bumper was probably removed after the duct tape patches were yanked and the non-rusty bits fell off. Seems like there was a LOT of duct tape being used to repair notoriously paper-thin bumpers back then.
You’ve apparently never had to remove or better yet, reinstall one of the “paper-thin” bumpers from one of these battlewagons. Try lifting it by yourself and get back to me.
I remember when I was a kid my buddies folks owned one of these, a ’78, I thought back seat seemed cavernous, I thought they must have been rich to drive such a car, my Dad was driving a ’64 Pontiac at the time. given the choice Is sooner have that Pontiac now!!!!
i see what might make a nice daily driver. check it for rust, make sure it is safe, then run it until something major breaks. nice find.
I have heard the 400 is overtaxed in these and gives up after 100k, while the 460 goes 250-300k easily.
The 400 is a stroked 351 cleavland , one of fords best !
I’ve had a few lincolns my favorite being the 76 continental coupe this is a nice one for the money. I’m pretty sure that they all had Cartier clocks though.
I have a 1979 lincoln continental town car that i got out of a storage auction. Car has 5000 original miles on it. Looks like brand new!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OnfKzF3ACGU
I wish i had known about this car when it was available , i would have been a serious bidder on it for sure !!