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Collector’s Series: 1979 Lincoln Continental

This 1979 Lincoln Continental is one of the final flings of this model’s generation, built in limited quantities as a “Collector’s Series” to commemorate the end of the line. These were extremely well equipped cars with some cosmetic tweaks, like the gold-colored grill and opera window deletion in the C-pillar. This Continental has 64,000 miles and presents very well. Find it here on eBay with no reserve and bidding at $4,269.

The Collector’s Series were produced in just four colors, with white one of the choices that came with a color-matched vinyl roof. The Continental was already a well-equipped car in stork form, but the Collector’s Series effectively checked all the options boxes – though leather wasn’t standard, believe it or not. Chrome bumpers and wheels look great here.

A cloth interior was standard, and you had to choose a delete option to get the leather seating installed. It was a good choice, as the blue leather with the white exterior is a handsome and somewhat nautical combination. Despite not being a time capsule car with uber low mileage, the interior presents as having been lovingly cared for.

I love details like these, with the perfectly preserved tool roll and safety kit still with the car – again, another indication that despite the not-amazing mileage, the owner took great pains to preserve this Collector’s Series Continental. The A/C still blows cold and the seller notes it will come with new front brakes and shocks. It’s going super cheap at the moment – will it rise?

Comments

  1. Avatar KSwheatfarmer

    These were very common around here 20 years ago,haven’t seen one on the road now for quite a while.I did manage to get a 78 Town Coupe as a daily driver back in the day,only way to get the gas tank full was to shut down its 460,still making payments on the gas bills.

    Like 8
  2. Avatar JACKinNWPA Member

    I believe that to be a Town Car and not the markV, Still a great car however they were only available with a 400 engine, good for 11 MPG instead of the 10 that the 460 got. Actually I was able to get 13 out of my 1977 but haven’t driven my 1979 Coupe enough yet to measure it. Speaking of measuring,measure the garage before you buy as these are over 19 feet long!

    Like 3
    • Avatar Jeff Lavery Staff

      Thanks – forgot the Mark V designation referred to the coupe. Corrected.

      Like 3
      • Avatar JACKinNWPA Member

        Actually Jeff, MarkV referred to the Thunderbird based Continental coupes, yet the full size Continentals had the Town Coupe so you are half correct.

        Like 1
  3. Avatar Bob McK

    Not worth a lot of cash, but is a beautiful car.

    Like 3
  4. Avatar Peter Kaczmarski

    I personally preferred the 1976 model. Last of the fender skirts, opera windows and the 460 motor.

    Like 6
    • Avatar Bryan

      Actually the 1977 model was the last offered with a full wheel skirt. The 460 was available through 1978 (until 1997 in Ford trucks), and the Continental’s opera window survived until 1979 (and into the 80’s in the Mark series).

      Like 3
      • Avatar Ralph

        1977 and down still have the much better Lincoln unique dash with thermometer style speedometer and the extra gauges, the 1978 and up cars have a cheaper LTD dash with some more wood glued on it.

        Like 2
    • Avatar Patrick Huot

      I would def. agree. My dad bought one somewhere around 76 or 77.
      Not sure what yr it was exactly. Been trying to find that out now lately. It was an awesome town car. Black outside with jade green velvet interior. Had the bar that folded down from behind the front seats. Oval opera windows in the rear pillar. (a real sweet feature)
      Solid disc alum. wheels and the front grill was larger / wider than anything I’ve seen on these typical cars in recent years. Would like to find that same one again if possible. We still live on the top of NY state. Ogdensburg area. Anyone have it stashed in their barn around here still?? Do let me know!

      Like 1
  5. Avatar Jim in FL

    I inherited my Grandfather’s town car. I can never remember if it was a 77 or 78. It did have to opera windows though, and there was actually a switched light on the window.

    His had the cloth interior, which was a sort of velvet, but there were always towels on the seat that my grandmother put on when it was new. I took them off for a couple days then put them back on out of respect.

    My dog and I took it back and forth to from FL to Philly a few times and so did my wife and I. It was a great highway machine.

    Like 5
  6. Avatar The one

    I wonder how many drivers fell asleep at the wheel! My goodness those seats!

    zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

    Like 7
    • Avatar Donny

      I bought a 1976 Lincoln Continental Town car, silver with red velvet interior, in 1991 for $500. Man I miss that car. Driving to New York State from Tennessee I woke up on the diagonal, having fallen asleep and drifted into the median. So yeah, a bit too cozy.

      Like 3
  7. Avatar Milt

    At the risk of displaying my ignorance, why do so many of the Barn Find and BAT cars show a “blacked out” license plate? Why would any reader care what the license number is?? Ignorant minds want to know!

    Like 2
    • Avatar David G

      Sometimes scammers will place false ads with the same car at an unheard of low price. Buyer sends money to an offshore bank to pay for it, and their money is gone forever. You may recall a rash of muscle car ads done that way a few years ago. Fully restored 1970 Chevelle SS cars for buy it now prices around $4,000. Restored show winning numbers matching Hemi Road Runners and Challengers for under $10,000, and so on. Hope nobody was foolish enough to send money to purchase them, but one never knows.

      Like 2
  8. Avatar V murry

    Had a black 78 town car with the red leather ,suuuuuper nice cars,I used to fit like 7 friend and me I’m there on Saturday nights and hi to clubs!

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Paul Ewald

    If I’m not mistaken I believe the 1979 Lincoln town car collector series only came in two colors, with portholes deleted.Midnight blue and white not four colors as mentioned. The Lincoln Continental Mark five was also available in the same two colors of midnight blue and white with the portholes deleted. The Lincoln town car was also available in another unique edition which was called the Williamsburg edition which I believe was a silver over dark silver color scheme which had porthole windows. My father had a red 1979 Lincoln town car. As a kid I remember looking over the brochures when he purchased it.

    Like 0

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