“Grandpa’s pride and joy” is how the seller describes this beautiful 1971 Lincoln Continental Mark III. This was quite a car in its day and it still is today, although it’s been parked for many years and will need some work to get it on the road again. The seller has it posted here on craigslist in beautiful Yakima, Washington, and they’re asking $5,000 or best offer. Here is the original listing.
The Continental Mark III was coincidentally made for three model years: 1969 through 1971. They’re big cars. They’re long (18 feet), wide (7 feet), and heavy (4,900 pounds). And they use gas like nobody’s business (10 mpg on a good day), but who cares, it’s a Lincoln Continental Mark III for cryin’ out loud. This example looks nice overall but it has a few areas to work out on the exterior.
Speaking of exterior areas to work on, the exposed rust spot there on the bottom right side of the trunk lid. It doesn’t appear to be a rust hole, but I’m not sure what’s happening there, and there are a few other spots and minor issues. But overall, this car is 52 years old now and it looks outstanding from what we can see in the photos. We don’t see any underside photos, unfortunately, and with it being up in the air a bit on the trailer it would have been easy for the seller to slip a camera (i.e., camera phone) under there, but they didn’t.
The interior really shines, figuratively and literally. The leather/vinyl seats appear to be in almost as-new condition like they were just stitched together at the factory. The dash appears to be perfect and the beautiful walnut trim and everything else is just really nice. I don’t really see anything inside at all that’s concerning, but I’m sure that once it’s powered up, there may be a few issues, such as the clock isn’t working (we don’t know that for sure) or minor things. The back seat looks perfect as does the trunk area. This is a damn nice-looking car.
Surface rust under the hood makes me believe that the underside is equally coated with surface rust, and that’s unfortunate. A weekend of detailing would do wonders under the hood to show off that powerful 460-cu.in. OHV V8, which had 365 horsepower and a lip-curling 500 lb-ft of torque. It isn’t currently running, of course, but we’re hoping that it will be again soon. This is a good-looking Mark III project. Hagerty is at $5,300 for a #4 car and $12,300 for a #3 car. This could be a great buy for someone, would you take a chance on this beautiful Mark III?
Darn! Already deleted so someone jumped on this awesome deal. Sorry it couldn’t have been me!
In 2016 I bought a 69 MKIII FOR $1,700 on Ebay. The seller did not put a festive on it, he forgot. It was in the same condition as this one pictured. Only bad part I had to go to KY and trailer it back to CT, it is one heavy car
Reserve not festive
Thanks for that info!
Alphasud, I was going to say the same thing. What a deal on that car. But of course they all seem to be in Washington state, and I’m way down here in Tampa.
Now that I look at the listing, it makes no sense that a Mark lll this nice would be offered for a paltry 5K. It doesn’t pass the smell test.
I agree if a deal is too good to be true….
These aren’t very desirable, the car isn’t all that clean and hasn’t run in a while, seems like a fair price.
Yep I would jump too! Drive it everyday & not care because the tin worm would eventually get it ! Whats not to like at that price? Riding in high style with everything you could ask for except that hot honey on the street corner & lets face it that Lincoln has you looking sharp as you pull up!
had a 1978 mark they are great cars looking out over that hood sitting in the captain chair seats bought it in 1980 loved that car traded it in 1983 for a new Lincoln town car those where the days
Had a ’78 Mark V Givenchy – great car … I traded a ’77 Corvette and the first time I had to turn into the alley behind the house in Chicago I almost took out a fence – that is one long hood …
BTW, I accidentally hit “Report” when I meant a “thumbs up” … my apology on that …
The price does sound too good to be true. Great looking car overall especially, the interior. Shame they didn’t take some time to at least get her running.
Had a 70 myself 30 some years ago in High school. Paid $500 for from a buddy’s dad. Wasn’t as “nice” as this one…lol, but it drove, and passed most things…except of course…gas stations. She was a lot of fun. Sold her 3 years later…for $500. I still have the build sheet I found under the rear seat…framed with a picture of her on my office wall.
Jumped on a ’77 Town Car that was the uber boat in the early ’90’s, good condition for northern climes…all except the landau roof, was hard, split & peeling. Found a firm that quoted $169 to replace it, ended up near $600 for ‘surface conditioning’, had I removed it & prepped, would have been the lesser price. At any rate, was good for a few trips, loved the 5 body trunk, kids slept on the spacious footwells. Friends bought it & enjoyed for a few more yrs.
I had a 69 Mark III that I paid $500 for in 1980. Around 90,000 miles on it. That was a beautiful and fun car, though not nearly as rare back then. I wish I still had it, but by now the rust would have completely eaten it. I saw a 72 Mark IV in town here yesterday, blue with a blue vinyl top, with a huge old guy driving it. A friend’s father had a green one that we used to take out whenever his dad passed out, back in 76. Sweet ride!