- Seller: Robert D (Contact)
- Location: Dayton, Ohio
- Mileage: 15,778 Shown
- Chassis #: 8Y81A856619
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 460cui V8
- Transmission: Automatic
There’s just something incredibly special about finding a low-mileage survivor car, especially when it’s being sold by its original owner. That’s the case with this 1978 Lincoln Continental Town Coupe. The seller ordered the car new in 1977 so that they could have it optioned the way they wanted through their business as a company car. Around 1985, they had it transferred to just their name for personal use. Over the past 48 years, they’ve driven it just 15k miles. When it’s not on the road, it’s been parked in a climate-controlled garage. Everything is said to work, and the car runs and drives as a 15k-mile car should. They’ve come to the decision that it’s finally time to find a new home for it with someone who will continue to preserve and enjoy it, so they are offering it here as a Barn Finds Auction!
It’s hard to believe that this car is nearing 50 years old. In part because these cars don’t seem that old, but mostly because of just how nice the car is. We don’t see any significant blemishes on the paint or any body damage. The interior is as plush as a brand-new overstuffed couch and looks just as comfortable. If you’ve been hunting for a 1970s luxury time capsule, this is the find you’ve been looking for!
The seller optioned this Lincoln with a Burgundy interior to match the Burgundy paint. It’s a lot of red, but it looks great. Interestingly, they opted for cloth rather than leather, but the velour is super comfortable and won’t cause you to sweat or get overly hot. The car is also equipped with power windows, locks, and seats, a Cartier clock, AM/FM 8-track stereo, cruise control, air conditioning, and alloy wheels.
For 1978, Lincoln offered two engine options, the 400 cui and the 460 cui V8. The seller optioned it with the more powerful 460 V8, which was rated at 210 horsepower. Remember, power ratings shifted from gross to net, and emission regulations were taking a significant toll on power output. Thankfully, this engine still puts out a healthy amount of torque and can move this big luxury coupe down the road effortlessly. Throughout its life, the seller has kept the car in good working order, so it was always ready for a comfortable cruise around town.
This Continental Town Coupe was one of the last truly massive Lincolns. Even modern luxury vehicles struggle to match the smoothness and elegance of one of these. This example could be one of the nicest and lowest-mileage examples left on the road. The fact that it is being offered by it’s original owner makes it an even more interesting and special find. You can take a closer look at it in the gallery below or view the high-resolution professional photos here. So, if you’d love to sail the open roads in this Lincoln, be sure to bid. And leave any questions you might have in the comment section below.
Bid On This Auction
Garyduncan bid $12,000.00 2025-09-05 10:13:53
Steve bid $5,000.00 2025-09-05 09:52:30
chieftbird bid $1,000.00 2025-09-04 09:29:40
Last of the real land barges.
Absolutely beautiful. Very well preserved. Beautiful color combination too. I go for the velour over the leather too. And they even got the 460 in it. You can Absolutely tell it was stored carefully in a climate controlled garage. Just beautiful.
Unbelievable, this is the 3rd one I’ve seen for sale or in an auction in the past few days, Red, blue and black. All in excellent condition. I love big coupe’s and I cannot lie..,
I’m with everyone else, this is an outstanding Lincoln. Beautiful and in great condition. What a treat it would be to point it down the interstate (preferably one not jam-packed with semis), set the cruise, and relax.
Trivia: the license plates date to the mid 90’s, but they do have a valid sticker. $13,620 equates to about $73,000 today.
I know this beast will never be a stoplight 🚦 burner. But I’d love to throw on a quiet dual exhaust w 3.31 trac-lok ⚙️ out back. Hot Rod Lincoln. What a beautiful automobile. 460 is icing on the cake. Who doesn’t love the big powerhouse coupes.
Hi Stan,
Love the idea of duel exhaust. These and Cadillacs used to have them standard. Wonder why they got rid of it?
Doesn’t duel exhaust add hp? Better exit flow, especially with few curves in the pipe.
Simple Catastropic Converters, 77 was the beginning of them and engineers were just trying to figure out to meet the new emissions standards.
Right on Angel. And this Lincoln sure is a beauty.. wow.
I’ve owned countless 77 and 78 Town Cars and Marks. I refer to them as sleeper cars. Meaning I developed stretch marks on my face from yawning. These cars are so smooth and quiet they have you fighting sleep.
Owned a gray one, such a pleasure to drive on the highway, like sitting in someone’s living room. That being said, every time I passed a gas station the wheel pulled to the right.
I was going to bid. But it says you have topay $9 a month to be a bidder? Am I missing something?
That’s right. It helps eliminate bidders who are not actually serious about buying.
In other words, Kevin, you have to be a Barn Finds member in order to bid on a Barn Finds auction
I had the LTD version of this land yacht, same year. It was super-smooth and had a ton of torque. We pulled our boat with it. I’m super impressed by the condition of this Lincoln!
Great looking Lincoln in its red livery. Back when fabric interior still spelled l-u-x-u-r-y. I too would love to roll down the road in this.
Gorgeous car! I wish this had come up a year ago when I bought my current ride; I’d have jumped on this like stink on a monkey!
OMG 😲. It’s like a family reunion. I had a 78 Town Coupe. One of my all time favorites. This is beyond belief. I’ll be back after a doctor’s appointment. My blood pressure will be astronomical. LOVE that Lincoln.
This car represents everything that a Lincoln should be! Look at it Ford CEO’s. This was Lincoln luxury and prestige! Now you ‘assemble’’ vehicles for the Lincoln SUV Company. Lincoln has lost its way. Lincoln is irrelevant now. Sales are terrible. Lincoln will most likely going to disappear soon.
@Dave Brown
I fear you are right, Dave. As well as Chrysler, unless Stalantis gets it act together.
Any 2 door car is a coupe but this magnificent land yacht is a coupe’ and pronounced “coo-pay” as per Lincoln ads back then.
If I was buying one of these, I would want the sedan. The door of the coup is just too long to be able to open and close with any car parked even marginally close. I always thought that if you want a 2 door Lincoln, then you should buy the Mark IV.
Otherwise, I have to agree that this is a beautiful car. You probably would never be able to find another one as nice and as original.
Just beautiful. Great color combo. As an all red car, my wife would be all over this one. I better not let her see this.
To ChiTownJeff: I totally agree! I always preferred the four doors!!! But this would be just a bit TOO big of a “barge” for me — and THIRSTY on the gasoline! What outstanding condition!!! I, too, much prefer velour over leather. The trunk is like new — the whole presentation is fabulous for something of this age!!! Only one caveat: unless the pictures lie, or I am looking at them wrongly, those arm-rest ashtray covers look just a bit “worn” — out of character with the rest of this car. Did someone SMOKE in this vehicle earlier in its life? — that would be an automatic deal-killer for me, that is if I wanted Lincoln’s GRANDE COUPE with the 460. I am more inclined toward the 1988-’89 Lincoln Town Car in this condition, velour seats, never smoked-in — and they only came with four doors. Yes, I know that it is much smaller than this; but I CARE about little “details” such as 20+ miles per gallon and fuel-injection. The 5.0 can’t get out of its own way sometimes, admittedly; but the 460 is too much for me! Besides, the 1988 comes with a cassette-player, not an 8-track.
never been smoked in
Why would the high bidder outbid himself by 4K 1 minute after he outbid someone by 3K?
Guess he REALLY wants it!
I guess we’d have to ask HIM that…
@Rick W
Rick, where are you? This is your car, the one for you.
You are worrying me somewhat, you’re rarely on here anymore. I hope you’re ok. How’s your health?
@Angel I don’t know what’s up. EARLY this morning I left a short post, waiting until it went through with standard *minutes to correct * then left for a Doctors appointment. I came back later and it was GONE. Let’s see how this works. OBVIOUSLY I’m Lovin THIS Lincoln. And you too!
Yes! I actually “see” you in the driver seat.
To me this was pretty much the last Lincoln. A couple of later ones out of the 90s or 00s are “ok” but this is what a Lincoln is all about.
Im not very knowledgeable on Lincoln so I guess I should study up. Thought I was knowledgeable in Cadillac until ya’ll boys here showed me I had a lot to learn but I’m learnin’.
What I need in my garage (if I had a garage) is a 1973 Imperial LeBaron, 1976 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham and a 1978 Lincoln Continental.
Then I could die happy.
@Angel 👋 Did you see the BARN FIND 76 New Yorker (successor of Imperial )? Yes, this was the last generation of the Lincoln LAND YACHTS, but my former 89 Town Car Signature Series was a great car in the Lincoln tradition and my current 2007 Signature Limited is the last gasp of traditional Lincoln luxury. I’d love to add this one to my garage, but it’s already beyond my reach. Don’t even talk about dieing! I’ve already down to a few friends! It’s bedtime, so nighty night 🌙 😴. I’ll check here tomorrow to see if someone has made a Bon Marche.
Great to hear from you, Rick W.
Hi, Rick W.! I would LOVE to own a 1988 or 1989 Lincoln Town Car, Signature Edition, in “mint” condition, with low mileage, never-used ash trays and lighters, and lush velour seats! — in short, in the condition of this one (although I am not certain of this Lincoln’s smoking history — would love to see the INsides of those lighter/ash tray compartments!). That 5.0 V-8 is a bit under-powered, but in 1988-’89 form, it gets better than 20 m.p.g.; whereas THIS beast probably tips the scales at 12-13 m.p.g.! I also prefer a car that fits into a real-life garage, and one you actually can PARK somewhere!
Lincoln, what a luxury car should be. I have a low mileage 09 Town Car in my garage, next to my 03 Grand Marquis. I’d love to put this one next to them, but have run out of room. Absolutely beautiful and no leather to stick to. Love the velour seats.
I left a comment yesterday, it was posted immediately (instead of the usual long delay), I edited a couple of typos, and pressed “save”, and the corrections were dutifully made to my text; then, some time later, my comment vanished and has not returned. When I tried to re-do it and re-post it, I received “forbidden 403”. I even then tried to post just one sentence, and got “forbidden 403”. This is discouraging…😪
I left a comment yesterday, it was posted immediately (instead of the usual long delay), I edited a couple of typos, and pressed “save”, and the corrections were dutifully made to my text; then, some time later, my comment vanished and has not returned. When I tried to re-do it and re-post it, I received “forbidden 403”. I even then tried to post just one sentence, and got “forbidden 403”. This is discouraging…😪 THIS comment also has posted quickly: I hope it is still here later…
My grandma had a car like this one! As a kid, I remember how comfortable it was!
And now your last message posted twice. Dont you just LOVE technology?
I love these old boats.I saw one that had a,big dent in the top of the trunk lid. (No way to repair it) I thought about swapping in a higher (numerically) gear to say a 3.5 or a 3.73. Lifting the car about 2 inches or so. Installing a little larger All Terrain tire and perform a UTE conversion to the trunk area. Complete with a tail gate. I know, I think outside the universe. And if you want to bann me from the discussion on this vehicle I understand. But the trunk is just too large not to take advantage of. (Unless to fill it up with a very large fuel tank,so that you don’t have to stop every other day for fuel.) OK, I will leave now.
I like to say why fly when you can drive a Lincoln. These stately coupes were true interstate cars.My dad had a 78 coupe like this one Canary yellow on yellow and he put 15 inch Cragars on it. These cars could take you across America with ease.l love this Lincoln and I’d buy it. Beautiful car.
I have a maroon leather accessory kit that would be great for this car. It was for my dad’s town car. It contained tools and other accessories for travel. A couple of small items missing, otherwise, it is in excellent condition with 95% or the original contents. I am willing to give it away to an OWNER of a maroon Lincoln from that era.
I do not want to destroy it or toss it out. I am too much of a car guy, but it needs to be re-paired with a maroon Lincoln.
That’s very good of you Dirk! Another Barnfinder helping out the clan!