As most readers can tell, a lot of the writers here are big fans of seventies luxury barges. There is simply no vehicle on the road today that has that floating-on marshmallow creme ride that these vehicles all possess. Most of the time we feature Cadillacs with the odd Chrysler thrown in here and there. This one is different. Take a close, long look at this 1972 Lincoln Continental for sale on eBay in Louisville, Kentucky. This spectacular Lincoln has been driven a scant 23,000 miles since it rolled off the assembly line so long ago. Is this amazing black luxury car worth the $39,500 asking price?
How rare are these big Lincolns? Way back in 2011, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il’s funeral procession became a must-see event in the news. The pageantry of the Hermit Kingdom’s state funeral was over the top in many ways. However, it was the three seventies-era Lincoln stretch limousines that caught the attention of car lovers across the world. The first had the coffin on top, the second carried a gigantic picture of the smiling despot defying gravity atop the car, and the third had a nearly as enormous funeral wreath strapped to its roof. If I remember correctly, one of the cars had steam escaping from the grill, indicating a rupture somewhere in the cooling system. They pressed on with the show, with the Lincoln hopefully none the worse for wear. There is a short article here by the website The Detroit Bureau outlining the speculation of how the North Koreans acquired the big, black Lincolns and how they were yet another sign of how the nation was frozen in the seventies.
If the funeral cars were seventies Cadillacs, nobody would have batted an eye. Yet, big Lincolns are a very rare sight. In the year that the car featured here was produced, 35,561 of these behemoths rolled out of the factory. They were all powered by 460 cubic inch big block V-8s backed by a three-speed automatic transmission. Power made it to the rear wheels via a 9.25-inch rear end with either a 2.80 to 1 or 3.00 to one gearing. These sedans also weighed in at 5,116 lbs. As you can imagine fuel economy was never called miserly. Certainly, Lincoln figured that anyone who could plunk down the cash for a Continental sedan could afford the fuel for it. They were probably right. However, the various gas crises in the seventies made these cars just about the last choice for day-to-day travel. Thus, most of them got retired early or rarely left the garage.
By a look at the pictures and a perusing of the description on eBay, this stunningly beautiful Lincoln never left the garage much. The seller tells us that the car has been kept in a conditioned environment during their ten years of ownership. Furthermore, the car was kept under probably the world’s largest car cover during that time. There is no mention of where the car was purchased and under what conditions it was kept previously. Most likely it just sat in a garage and was used little. 23,000 miles is not a lot of mileage for a fifty-year-old car.
Just as the original black paint and chrome trim gleam on the outside, the original interior is showroom new. Nary an imperfection can be seen in either the front or rear seats, the carpet still looks to be amazingly plush, and there is not a crack in the dash. You can barely make out a little bit of a depression in the foam of the driver’s seat shown above. That depression is likely not a worry at all.
While these cars are listed as capable of carrying six passengers, the enormous back seat leads you to believe they based that number on folks the size of NFL linebackers. The rear seat area is enormous. Notice also that the interior lights are still working in both of the pictures above. The non-retracting seat belts are also still shiny and appear as new. The seller tells us that the car has recently had the air conditioning system serviced, a few minor gauges replaced, and even the retractable radio antenna works flawlessly.
Under the hood is the previously mentioned 460 cubic inch V-8. This reliable engine put out 212 horsepower and a turbine-like 342 ft-lbs. of torque to push this car along the highways. We are told that the vehicle is the recent recipient of servicing and that it smoothly floats down the road. The seller even brags that it can be steered with a single finger. Everything about the car points to it being nearly perfect in every way.
That perfection comes at a cost. The Buy It Now price is a heady $39,500. That is big money for a car that isn’t on the collector’s top ten list. Still, where would you find another in this condition? Lincolns of this era were spectacularly well-built and had a well-earned reputation as the vehicles for heads of state. There were more than a few in the White House fleet, and across the Pacific, at least three Lincolns were in the control of one of America’s greatest enemies. Hopefully, someone with the means to purchase it and feed it will come along and give it a safe home for the next decade or so.
Have you ever owned a seventies luxury barge? What was your experience like? Would you like to have another? Give us your thoughts in the comments.
That is a beautiful car and one would be hard pressed to find a good one and restore for less than the asking price unless your free labor were to do it. Price is definitely strong because these were never worth big money. Times are a changing and we have this ugly thing called inflation.
Personally this warms my heart to see because my grandpa owned one when we last visited in 1975 and it was his pride and joy. Took us kids for an ice cream and he went flying on the back roads to see if he could bury the kool speedometer bar. We as kids were mesmerized by the design. He passed the following year so unfortunately that was the last time we saw him. Grandma passed a year to the day later with a broken heart. Wow, that got emotional real quick. Good times and sad times are a fact of life.
A wonderful, beautiful, conservatively styled car, aptly representing its era. It looks great in black with blue. Who would have thought the large, comfortable, luxurious, rear-wheel-drive car — an aspirational vehicle for many people — would largely have disappeared from the automotive landscape a few decades later.
A big asking price, but if this is what you want to relive (alphasud’s post is a great example), I’d say it’s worth it.
It is a great example of American luxury of the time, I bought a 1977 Town Car in 1984 but had to sell to buy my house. I finally got a 1979 Town Coupe/truck as a memory replacement that I am very close to finishing restoring/customizing.
I could see this car in Goodfellas 2….with someone in the trunk moaning.Nice car.I’d roll this baby. If you like these yolo if you have the $ .you’d be hard pressed to find a better one.
If you have to own a Lincoln and are willing to spend $40K or probably more, a buyer should consider a ’61-’65 Continental w/suicide doors. Much better long-term investment. Early ’70’s models are not rare. I’ve had them, and would suggest a very nice ’72 Mark IV as an alternative. Much more unique and interesting that a big 4-DR Continental. A buyer should consider other options, like Cadillac or Imperial. Those cars won’t be the potential mechanical headache (my experience) as the Lincoln’s, and are in many ways more durable and better drivers.
I drove a ’72 Olds 98 with every option for that year. It was the best car I ever owned. Well the nicest in many ways. I would love to own one again.
I had the opportunity to drive a brand new, final year of production, of one of these Continentals for a few miles, just one time. It was, I believe a 1978 or 1979 model. It felt enormous in every way and I recall the color was a reddish purple metallic with red velour interior. It seemed hilarious at the time and could easily hold 8 people, imo.
It’s hard to tell from all of the wet and artsy photos what this car is worth. But almost 40 grand seems very optimistic.
Beautiful Lincoln I would love to own it. I had a 1970 Lincoln Mark 3 in white /black vinyl top and black leather interior. 60,000 miles beautiful shape. Love that car and the ride so smooth. Until I got rear ended and it was total! 🤦 The price I am on the fence. Yes I agree you won’t find another like this with low mileage in A1 condition. Whoever buys this must sure you have the room and keep it indoors with a cover! 🐻🇺🇸
When you look at the asking price per square foot of car it works out to be well priced. Probably one of the nicest ones left
I’m totally in freaking love with this beautiful beast.. And in black too.. Wow.. Just wish I had 40k in my piggy bank… I had. A 72 in the same body style that truly floated on the freeway at 70mph until a drunk blasted out of the bar parking lot n killed my big yellow banana.. White leather interior n top.. Man y’all just made me miss it
To answer the question “Where would you find another one in this condition?”, well, the answer is about a mile from my house. There is a very, very nice blue example in really excellent shape (ok, maybe not quite as nice as the subject car, but pretty close), and the ask is about $8500. See photo of similar car.
It’s been on CL and FB Marketplace for a few months, and I’ve seen it firsthand. It started at around 13K, and went down to 8500, and it still hasn’t sold. I’m holding out for a Mark III, otherwise I’d consider it. Yes, the Kentucky car is sublime, but 40K is a bit steep. I’d take the blue 8500 car and call it good!
What are the miles in your better find?
What city in Kentucky?
What city in Kentucky l?
I love it! Mafia staff car material for sure! Limo tint the windows & break out the ZZ top! If it’s as perfect as it’s claimed & what could you get around that price range that has that presence & room? I-4 traffic jam? No worries! Better yet cruzing I-75 with a blues man at the wheel , your Bad, your Nationwide!
If you have to own a Lincoln and are willing to spend $40K or probably more, a buyer should consider a ’61-’65 Continental w/suicide doors. Much better long-term investment. Early ’70’s models are not rare. I’ve had them, and would suggest a very nice ’72 Mark IV as an alternative. Much more unique and interesting that a big 4-DR Continental. A buyer should consider other options, like Cadillac or Imperial. Those cars won’t be the potential mechanical headache (my experience) as the Lincoln’s, and are in many ways more durable and better drivers.
That is a fine looking Lincoln. I’ve been a Ford man ever since my brother brought home his black on black 66 Mustang. Now as a older man, I have become a Lincoln man. My parents owned a 1976 Town Car they bought new. While it wasn’t my favorite color, it was gorgeous. It’s official color was Dark Red Moondust Metallic with matching half vinyl roof and maroon velour interior. The styling was all Lincoln, big, square, and very stylish. I was the one that kept it detailed. I noticed early on the paint was excellent, it had depth and luster. The interior materials were also top notch. I loved the dashboard, it fit the car perfectly. Full gauges, a barrel speedometer and a Cartier analog clock. At night it was a sight to behold, everything lit up in the bluish green that Ford used on all their cars and trucks from 63 to 97. We called it the “Hot Rod Lincoln ” although it was no hot rod. My mom was it’s main driver, and didn’t venture to far from home too often. In 1990 they replaced it with a new dark blue metallic over light blue leather Signature Series Town Car. My uncle took over the 76. It had 58,000 mies on it. It was barley broken in. We all loved that 76, it was truly an American luxury car that represented all that was good in America. The 1990, was just as beautiful, but a completely different car. It was built on the famous Ford Fox platform, it was much smaller on all accounts. It had the fuel injected 5.0 with duel exhaust and the new at the time automatic overdrive transmission. It was the first year for Lincoln’s all new downsized American luxury, and for that it won Moror Trends Car of the year award. In the 70s the Lincoln Town Car was so much more car than the Cadillac deville. The Lincoln had beautiful styling inside and out. The Cadillacs, not so much. They were just big and boring, inside and out. I can’t say enough about the 70s Lincoln Town Cars, but as the author mentioned, today’s price for one continues to increase. Back in 76, my parents paid $12,000. Today it’s $39,000. If you can find one, I think that say it all. I had a black with black leather 95 Signature Series, it was a fantastic car with technical features that were state of the art at the time, that most people didn’t even know it had. Even the people that owned them knew about. Yes I’m a Lincoln fan and for very good reasons.
Very nice shape; but as some others have already indicated themselves, I wouldn’t put down 40 kilos of anything for one, not even $40g’s. Even $30g’s is a bit steep for a car of this year, but more plausible factoring its near-museum condition (if the seller’s claims are accurate).
I’ve never owned one of these monsters, the largest car I have had being my current ’66 clap-door (I refuse to use the phrase “suicide doors,” because that has been too overused by amateurs trying to sound like experts), or my grandmother’s nearly-identical ’67. The largest ’70s car I ever drove was a ’79 Electra Limited 2-door, which was much smaller than earlier years but still no compact; loved that car, too, Buick Electras being my next choice after clap-door Lincolns.
Oddly enough, huge as these cars were, their interiors were hardly any better than the last subseries of clap-doors…in fact, worse in at least one detail: The trunk space in the ’70s models was less than that of the ’66-thru-’69 models, despite the ’70s cars being a good inch longer in wheelbase and 4 inches longer overall. One person commented on a version he had being wrecked by a drunk. Knowing what I know about Lincolns of that vintage, it doesn’t surprise me. The size was not necessarily an indication of mass, and body-on-frame cars can take fatal hits if impact isn’t focused longitudinally on the frame itself. Plus, with “Controlled-Crush” already employed, that made the front ends of these cars much weaker than their size suggested.
My grandmother told me a story about once stopping by the local Lincoln dealer, I think for some routine service, right about the time the showcased car here was made. She looked at the inventory and commented on how nice they looked. The salesman told her something that nobody can ever expect a dealer to say:
He told her they were nice, yes, but they were a fad that would eventually pass; and that she should hold onto her car, the aforementioned ’67, which was a classic already when built and was destined to remain so. When a man who is supposed to convince you to part with your existing ride tells you to keep your ride, that’s something you take seriously.
It’s interesting that the author says that because of the energy crisis, early 70’s Lincoln Continentals were regulated to the garage, or “retired early.” Yet, Ford kept making these same cars for almost ten years after this ’72 was produced.
I owned a 77 lincoln continental coupe, one of the biggest pleasures of my driving experience. Having owned 88 brougham ,87 mark vii, 83 coupe deville, the Continetal took the cake. The cake and all my disposable income as gas lol. Sold it after 6 months . Nothing compares though to that luxury land yaht feeling on the road. The pinnacle of cruising comfort.
https://youtu.be/B4isxQ1aHg4
She was a Bute!
I don’t know asLincoln’s go that’s the least desirable one I can think of. 40K? Not me. I like Mark 3’s had a couple of those years back..Never really cared for the markIV. Had a 92 LSC Mark 7, it was a nice enough car, 302 ho motor. Till some guy T-Bone me in a scirocco. That big land yacht 72, what’s collectible about it? Personally, I’d rather have a 72 coupe DeVille or even a Buick wildcat before that Lincoln. That Lincoln and the 460 was one of the most gutless pigs on the road.
When I think about my ex spending $60k for a new Mercedes and my brother spending $50 for a BMW 5 series, this is a bargain and a lot more luxury. I finally have the means to buy pretty much any new production car that one would care to drive on the streets of Boston, and yet there is nothing on the market that interests me. So I continue to drive a ten year old pickup and think about the ads that show trucks bounding through the mud. The conditions in these commercials is nothing compared to the holes in the roads around here. The thought of a smooth-riding luxury barge is attractive.
I’m with you. Could buy almost any car within reason but very little new seems interesting. I don’t know who these companies are marketing too
So I drive my 18 Silverado daily. BUT, I do have a low mile 76 continental that I keep as part of my collection. Wonderful ride. Took a 1200 mile road trip with it last summer. Tough on fuel, but what an experience.
I had a 74 Marquis Brougham and will attest to one finger steering. That was the biggest and most comfortable car I’ve ever driven. It was as comfortable as sitting on the living room couch and had similar handling characteristics.
Beautiful car, one of my favorite versions of the Lincoln.
It was a land yacht, but still a great riding car, and eye candy to boot.
Nice car with low mileage. I don’t see it going for more than 20k something. That would still be a good price. GLWTS!
Steve McGarretts car from Hawaii Five-0?
Book’em Dano!
If in fact the miles are correct and it is as good as it looks in the photos then I would hope it brings the money. Plenty of 140000 mile examples out there that need 10000 in work. Or Camaros with dubious backgrounds at 1.5 times the price
Reminds me of the elegant black Continental coupe in the movie The French Connection.
All my cars are baby finger steering except the GN. That is the way I like them. I have had a 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis, 1972 Oldsmobile 98, 1973 Buick Centurion and 1971 Lincoln Mark 3. All great boats!
As great as a car that they were, I still can’t get over the fact that they “looked like a Lincoln but drove like a Ford”. Not sure who said it but they were right in the fact that the Lincoln Town Cars were built on the same chassis as the Fords and Mercurys. AND – they used the exact same drivetrain. The Lincoln Town Cars of the 1970’s were basically a dressed up Ford LTD/Mercury Marquis – except for the dashboard. The nicest dashboard design I think in almost any car. I still love the Lincoln Town cars anyway because they are so classy. I hope it goes to a good home. Good luck to the owner and buyer.
Does anyone old enough here, remember the the mid 70s commercials of a Diamond cutter, cutting a diamond in the back of one of these, that’s how smooth they rode, I had a 75 MK IV, nothing rides like it, 40k very steep, hope they get their money, well worth it
Yes I do…
It’s not everyday we get to see these cars in this condition. It’s practically showroom new.
And seeing it like this highlights just how nice these cars were, the styling, the materials, the features, etc., at a time when power steering and brakes were still options on most cars.
Hard to imagine the impression they made in ‘72! Thanks for sharing this.
How many people know that the Lincoln Continental Brougham and Town Cars were the only Rides that had Presidential Prestige at that time?
I remember as a kid growing up in the seventies our dad had a good friend who let him use his 72 Lincoln Town Coupe. It was Beige with
a Black or Deep Dark Brown Vinyl Top Roof. With Champagne Leather Interior. It had every option in it from the Lincoln Division Factory. You name it it was Equipped and installed in it. To this very day I still remember that Amazing, awesome beautiful, Glorious, Luxurious,
Luxury Ride it was. When my dad took our mom to work and dropped her off and then took me to my summer program job, my dad pulled up heads turned and looked, my summer councilor says oh, oh oh, oh check out the ride and would you mind look 👀 who is getting out of it? Me and our dad started laughing. It was like people couldn’t believe their very eyes 👀. People thought 💭 it was Brand New At the time, the summer of 79. When I got home 🏡 🏠 that day from working, I told our dad that people thought that Ride was Brand New.
Our Dad said that it was pre-owned. The 1st owner of that Ride really took really good meticulously care of it. They really did not bad for a 7yo Ride. To this day I still remember that Ride. And to this day I still would choose and pick from the 60’s to the 70’s Era Big 3 Luxuriously Luxurious
Luxury Land Cruisers, Land Liners Land Yachts 🛥 with the Big 4BBL
V8’s and Same goes for the Fully Sized, Fully Equipped, Fully Loaded Fully Powered Beach 🏖 🏝 Wagon Station 🚉 Wagons. With the Same Sized Power Plants Under The Hoods of The Big 3. Ford, Chrysler and GM. Which will always be, always had, always has, always have, always still always will be Aways Cool 😎 In The Gang 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎 with Me.
Sincerely Yours Truly
Ivan IJ😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎
There was a movie when I was a kid called Charlie Varick I believe and one of these is used in a bank heist and blown up. I am a big fan of Lincolns and Cadillacs. I grew up in and around them. I have a 67 that has been in the family since 69. I also have a 71 coupe, no vinyl top of this car which I bought with low miles 20 years ago give or take. The nice thing about these are their reliability and ease of routine repairs, and parts interchange which makes them easier dailies than the 61 to 69s. In the end though for me nothing says here I come but my 78 custom convertible that they built few of but what a car. It surpasses my love for the big Eldo convertibles of the time. This is a beautiful example but useless to me since any use will destroy its museum quality. So if your a collector of giant Hummels this is the piece for you. These are few and far between nowadays. I have not crossed paths with another coupe except in photos since acquiring mine and none have appeared in yards I frequent. The marks did much better then as they were much more gaudy and very 70s where as these were quite conservative for the time.
Car sold $35,000 Indiana collector