Lincoln redesigned the Continental in 1961, dropping the over-the-top styling that had defined the 1958-60 editions. They were more conservative in appearance but lacked none of the creature comforts that would also appeal to Cadillac and Imperial people. The seller implies that this dusty ’61 convertible once belonged to long-time entertainer Bob Hope, but the best we could come up with is that Hope may have ridden in it on occasion. Either way, this may be a solid automobile that’s been sitting for a time and needs some updates. Located in Saratoga, California, this Continental is available here on craigslist where the seller is taking offers. He/she hopes to get back the $65,000 he paid for the car a few years ago. “Thanks for the memories” to barn finder to T.J. for bringing this tip out way!
Many folks may not know this, but Lincoln was in trouble financially in the late 1950s. It didn’t help that Ford had just lost a bundle on the ill-fated Edsel. The car line was in danger of being shelved, so the redesign of 1961 may have been something of a Hail Mary. And it worked as the brand still lives on today. Sales more than doubled to 25,000 copies from 1960 to 1961 and the numbers would continue to grow after that.
The seller says he bought this Continental convertible from “Bob Hope’s Friends Foundation” a few years ago. Sometimes celebrity ownership adds value to cars, but not always. Proof is usually required to substantiate claims like this. The seller provides some old photos of Hope being driven around in a Royal Red Lincoln that looks like this car, but that doesn’t mean that Bob ever owned it. This article from Los Altos Town Crier in 2003 talks about a time when Bob and his wife had paraded about in such a car about five years before Bob’s passing at 100 years of age.
We’re told this luxurious car runs and drives but needs some work and the seller advises interested parties should contact him/her regarding what it needs. The top is good, the interior is fair (with stuff piled all around inside), and the paint is showing some flaws. It doesn’t look like the car has been driven anywhere lately and the seller needs to get it gone. But is a car worth $65,000 that Bob Hope may or may not have owned that needs work? Only the right kind of buyer will know the answer to that.
Wow drove one just like this in the summer of 71. My father bought two and the red one got the work done. I drove it working out the bugs and fixed minor issues. What a cruiser and the 430 would move that 3 tons of car with no issues. Could get the top down at a fresh red light and that was a sight. Did I mention that car used the largest 14″ tire of the time maybe ever. Service station I worked at was thrilled to sell me a set of hoops that fit that car and get them out of his inventory. Yes they were Shell label tires.
Very nice Lincoln but who spends $65K then parks it in the yard and piles up a bunch of crap on the seats?
aaaa – efffing — mennn
Maybe it’s Bob Hope’s crap, too.
This doof.
It must have been an interesting but strange time in the Lincoln design and styling studios in about 1958, as the 1961 styling proposals were being worked on and revealed. “You are proposing we go from this, to that?” I can imagine some who were still on-board with the overstyled, in-your-face styling from all the manufacturers in the late 1950’s, while others suspected it was time for a clean break. Which, in hindsight, was exactly what was needed. This straightforward, elegant, slab-sided look was a winner, honored then and now, and which to me still looks good today.
“Hope” they’re not holding their breath for that 65K!
Unfortunately, there are going to be a lot more sad stories like this in the future where people overpaid for these cars in the last two years and ended up underwater.
He’d be lucky to get half of that so-called 65k.
This was a $10,000 car 4 years ago
Bob hope, did he found Myspace? Celebrity provenance doesn’t add THAT much to the value here in my opinion, if it is even true.
Wow…the weirdness in this country just keeps flowing ceaselessly, like a never-ending river of bull$hi++.
65K? Baaaaaaaaa!!!
Having owned a few of these beauties, its hard to fathom anyone ASSking
this kind of $$$ for a vehicle in this condition.
Bob Hope would be embarrassed…
I found a 67 robin blue black interior payed 1000, changed belts and tires ,washed and waxed and cave it to my mom for her 50th birthday, took out on the interstate and was going a bit over 100 mh when she said that will do, then two weeks later she said it was to big for her drive or park, so I sold it and made a killing on the price
Well, the ‘Bob Hope’ stretch won’t solidify a $65K sale, and I’m surprised the seller paid that much for this. Missing important trim below the deck lid in back, interior basically in tatters, filthy and parts scattered all over the inside? He’s going to be horribly disappointed and end up having to take a huge hit if it sells. I see maybe $20K in this, and without any documentation that Hope owned this exact car, he’s hedging alot on a “rumor”. (Hope was a Cadillac man, and I doubt seriously he ever owned this.)
Take a zero off the asking price and he should be close. This is the “Jon Voight’s Car” episode of Seinfeld come to life.
I have owned five 62 Lincolns two of which were convertibles. They have always been undervalued until recent times. However this is a 20k car. Someone has stars in their eyes in this one
Very nice classic car but it is hopelessly overvalued at the asking price. I was at a cruise night last week and will tell you that classic old cars are being passed by. If lookers aren’t gapping, buyers aren’t much interested either. If this car was customized, it might fetch that price but not in stock, unrestored, non customized condition.
Definitely not worth 65K. The Bob Hope provenance is sketchy at best. Even if the great entertainer and USO show performer rode in it or once owned it, millions of people in later generations probably have no clue who he is in 2022. It is a nicely styled car, but is not in show car condition either.
Definitely not worth 65K. The Bob Hope provenance is sketchy at best. Even if the great entertainer and USO show performer rode in it or once owned it, millions of people in later generations probably have no clue who he is in 2022. It is a nicely styled Lincoln but is not in show car condition either.
Hey, here’s a crazy thought. If you want anything close to that asking price, try washing the car, then clean out the interior and organize whatever’s in there!
The seller doesn’t realize that you could buy a completely restored Lincoln Cont conv for $65K. Unfortunately they have created a story in their brain that Bob Hope’s provenance has added some tremendous value to this tired old gal. even if it was titled in Bob’s name they wouldn’t get $65K for it. I am sure they had some real hopes when they bought this to flip it for a profit but I don’t see a $65K car here. Maybe if it was owned by Elvis or Frank Sinatra it might juice it a small amount, but not Bob Hope.
Barnfinds seems to be turning into something of a humor site, or perhaps “believe it or not” regarding asking prices for vehicles. It is fun to see folk’s delusions (probably spurred by watching BJ or Mecom).
He paid 65K for it. ?!?!?!?!?! Someone saw a schmuck coming and added a zero.