I’m just finishing up a book titled The Lincoln Motorcar: The Complete History of an American Classic, written by the late Thomas Bonsall. Mr. Bonsall came to the same conclusion that many luxury cars buyers of the postwar period certainly did: Lincoln was all over the place, at least until they settled down and released the 1961 Continental. The “bathtub” Lincolns were succeeded by the “Road Race” Lincolns; then, the beautiful ’56 model was introduced, followed by the somewhat less cohesive ’57. Finally, the decision was made to open the new plant in Wixom, Michigan, which would be shared with the new unibody Thunderbird. Hence, 1958 brought us a unibody Lincoln that got a crash course in structural integrity, meaning that it weighed about 5,000 pounds. And then the public didn’t even like it! Well, popularity doesn’t always matter that much to collectors…or does it? This neat 1960 Continental Mark V, representing the third model year of a three-year styling cycle, has been on Marketplace in Rogers, Arkansas, for two weeks, but our friend T.J. sent it our way anyway. Its asking price of $11,999 doesn’t seem too bad, until the seller says those three words we all dread: “does not run.”
To pull around the massive new Lincolns, a 430-cubic-inch “MEL” V8 (Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln) was introduced in 1958. By 1960, Lincoln detuned the 430 with a Carter two-barrel carburetor; Thomas Bonsall quoted famously witty road tester Uncle Tom McCahill’s response: this was “sort of like Charles Atlas coming out against muscles.” The Lincoln was now rated at 315 horsepower, down from 350 in 1959. This car has, according to its Marketplace ad, a four-wheel disc brake conversion (and a dual-circuit master cylinder), a new dual exhaust system, and new tires. Unfortunately, none of that is currently getting you anywhere. The seller doesn’t mention the last time the Continental ran, or if there’s a known major problem with the engine.
Still, I’d rather deal with some mechanical fettling than rust or a completely trashed interior, especially in the case of an uncommon car like a ’60 Lincoln, as trim and interior pieces are certainly more difficult to find than a part for a 430. The 1960 Lincolns were, in my opinion, the most tasteful of this generation, and they actually received a lot of updates considering that an entirely new ’61 was in development. The dashboard had four gauges mounted squarely in front of the driver, and the car’s nose and tail were given a fairly significant update. This example has a beautiful interior with a few blemishes here and there, but nothing to keep someone from falling in love with this Lincoln if they are so inclined. The color appears to be “Rose,” which complements the exterior nicely.
And that leaves the exterior color: Is it “Twilight Pink?” Regardless of what it is, it’s perfect for a 1960-model almost anything, and it certainly looks great on this Lincoln. After all, if you’re already going over the top with a brash new Lincoln, why not paint it pink? It’s too bad that we don’t have much information on the mechanical status of this Mark V, because it looks like a really solid car. If it just needs a tune up or some carburetor work, that’s no big deal, but if there are pieces of piston in the oil pan, that’s a different story. Regardless, this is an interesting car with polarizing styling from a period where Lincoln was trying to figure out what worked.
I’m with you, Aaron! Mechanical repairs I can handle, while bodywork and interior refreshes — beyond cleaning and polishing — are jobs best left to others. And the reasons for the non-running status may be trivial. I’d first look at the added wiring in the engine bay to see if that might be a contributing factor.
When these first came out, I thought they were awful. But time has changed my view considerably. They’re not quite beautiful — some may disagree — but are at least distinctive, flamboyant and emblematic of a time when bigger and flashier were better. It would be fun to have one.
But then, I’ve grown to like Lava Lamps, too.
The guy bought 4 new tires, period correct whitewalls which can’t be cheap. He also installed a new modern braking system. Other than the engine the car looks good enough to be a nice driving survivor. But the engine… the guy clearly knows his way around cars and if it was something simple and inexpensive he would have done it. I can guarantee that he knows the problem, the difficulty, and the cost, but is being cagey about it. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
My recollection is the 430’s were quite problematic and commonly fail, although I cannot recall why or how…..sidelining many of this era lincoln….
You can’t appreciate the size of these beasts until you are standing next to one. If you were planning to Simoniz it, take my advice and pack a lunch!
This is truly a bucket list car for me. It is so excessive, and like the ’59/60 Caddies, that’s why I like it so much.
I don’t understand why the 2-barrel on a 430. To save gas? Hell, if you can afford a Lincoln, you can afford the gas! Yes yes yes, someone is gonna say that gas was only 30 cents per gallon in 1960, but that computes to $3.00 in 2025, so gas hasn’t really gotten more expensive.
I have similar thoughts. While it is not in the same league as the exceptionally clean and elegantly-styled 1961, it has grown on me as a representation of its times. And it is huge; it certainly has presence. And thanks for the reminder that the price of gasoline hasn’t really changed.
Believe it or not Rex, I believe that actually was the reason for the 2 barrel. It was gas Mileage. But I’m with you, if you can afford a Lincoln, you can afford the gas too. That move never made much sense to me. But I do remember reading an article about the ’59 to ’60 Lincolns and the 2 barrel was mentioned and it was for fuel mileage. I’d think something this heavy would need all the help it could get to move down the road.
Thank You for the Reality Check!
First, when you own a vintage V8 (Luxury or Muscle) it will be hard to get > 10 mpg. Who Cares?
Secondly, thank you for the gas-pricing reality too.
Don’t forget the retractable “breezeway” rear window. I read somewhere that the convertibles had it too.
No surprise to any BARN FINDERS 😉. It’s HUGE! It guzzles gas! It pollutes the air! It scares the birds! Other cars part like the Red Sea to get out of its way! What’s NOT to love? OK, so it’s not running. IF I could, I’d buy it and park it in my driveway to watch my snooty neighbors salivating on their SUVS, amazed at my MONUMENT to an era unfortunately never to be seen again. Of course I must add (as usual),Today’s PEASANT vehicles are revolting, so I’m On to VERSAILLES in my Town Car!
No wonder the dang thing don’t run, it’s 65 years old! (as I’m I). I think it’s an awesome car. Will I need a truck driver’s license to get behind the wheel, I don’t know, but with my poor depth perception, I’d have to watch those fenders carefully.😕😂
Rick! Where have you been hiding? I miss you. 😗
Being a lover of land yachts I’ve always loved these big bold and brash Lincolns. I’ve hated the roofline of the “breezeway” rear window but other than that their over the top excess was never lost on me. I’ve always preferred the 1958 model year as the headlights were separate from the grill, the front fenders were concave and the dashboard was tolerable. I like the 1959 taillights better though.
We all know the head designers of GM, Chrysler, AMC, Studebaker, etc, but WHO were the designers at Ford? Good Lord these guys just couldn’t get it together. Their dashboards were generally hideous. Tail fins were very restrained and until the late sixties rooflines were just terrible.
They came out with some great innovations like the hardtop /convertible, the Mustang even the Edsel, which introduced earlier or later might have been a hit.
Looking back, Ford/Lincoln/Mercury kinda looks like a third world country in the automotive world.
That 3rd world country designed the ‘57 Ford, which outsold the now iconic ‘57 Chevy. (312 could blow a 265/283 into the weeds as well)
‘56 F 100? ‘57 T bird? ‘60-‘61 Starliner? Of course there’s the ultimate loser- ‘65 Mustang.
The 1961 Lincoln Continental would like a word…
Well, My dear Angel, you know they say *Life’s a B….* I know you have experienced it and I’ve been rediscovering the same. Of the 3 years, I always liked 60 best. If you compare it’s front end with 61 DeSoto, they are sooo similar. Just add the oval with D E S O T O inserted. With EVERYTHING going on, TRY to Keep Calm! I know we’ll both Carry On! BTW, we need to schedule a BORED 😉 meeting of The GREAT AMERICAN LAND YACHT PRESERVATION SOCIETY. As always, LOL and 💋 💋 💋 Emojilly yours till the oceans wear diapers to keep their bottoms dry! Yeah, I know! BUTT somebody has to add some insanity out here! AND I’m close to getting there.
Dual brake cylinder! This thing has been messed around with.
@Rick in Oregon
I think it has something to do with vaporlock. I’m no mechanic but I recall hearing that alot here on BF
Vapor lock was very common in the ’58 we had. The kicker for us was when the cam lobes wore down two days after my folks had sent in the last payment. We found out that the 430s in 58 had soft metal cams. On top of that, when we were at the dealer for it’s repair, a man had a stack of cams. He would hold one level at the hip and drop it. Some actually broke on impact, some rang like a bell and some made a weird clunking sound. My dad told me that only the ones that rang (less than half were in that stack) were supposedly going be reground. (Wonder how that worked out.) Dad was always working on that boat.
Darth, THANK YOU for using an apostrophe when writing “it’s” repair, indicating the possessive noun. Yes, the Lincoln’s repair. This is the way I was taught, but somehow we dropped the apostrophe, and it just became its. I won’t back down.
I agree with you Angel. I also remember reading here on BF about vaporlock.
Well, My dear Angel, you know they say *Life’s a B….* I know you have experienced it and I’ve been rediscovering the same. Of the 3 years, I always liked 60 best. If you compare it’s front end with 61 DeSoto, they are sooo similar. Just add the oval with D E S O T O inserted. With EVERYTHING going on, TRY to Keep Calm! I know we’ll both Carry On! BTW, we need to schedule a BORED 😉 meeting of The GREAT AMERICAN LAND YACHT PRESERVATION SOCIETY. As always, LOL and 💋 💋 💋 Emojilly yours till the oceans wear diapers to keep their bottoms dry! Yeah, I know! BUTT somebody has to add some insanity out here! AND I’m close to getting there.
I remember vapor lock as a common problem in the 60s in very hot weather. It was the symptom of, and cause of, many urban traffic jams in summer. IIRC you just had to let the car cool off. It’s not something you would just give up on.
@Kim
Ken Carney was the one talking about vaporlock. He came up with some sort of remedy for it.
Yes dear, as a matter of fact I did.
Just after my disasterous date with my ’59 Premier 4-door hardtop, and old family friend named Don Grimm stopped by to show us the ’51 Lincoln ragtop that he bought for a song. That car was clean as a whistle inside and out. So when he popped the hood, I noticed all those clothes
pins on the fuel line running up to the carb. So I asked him what was up with that and he told me
that it was done to prevent the car from vapor locking. He explained it this way: On a hot summer day, fuel coming from the tank would super heat and vaporize BEFORE it got to the carb where normally the LIQUID
fuel would go to be vaporized.
On an engine about to vapor lock,
that super heated vaporized fuel
comes up from the fuel pump, into the carb. Once there, the vaporized fuel enters the venturi.
Once there the venturi tries toi
mix the vapor with the air and cannot do it. And since the carb is taking in already vaporized fuel,
you get too much air. Which creates an obstruction that the liquid fuel can’t get past. End result, vapor lock. Vapor lock has been a real problem on Ford products since 1932 when Henry
gave us the flathead V-8. Just go get some spring loaded clothes
pins and place them side by side
on your fuel line from the fuel pump to the carb. The wooden clothes pins are very porous and will absorb the heat from your fuel line and vent it away from your fuel line and Presto! No more vapor lock! I recall a time when a lady driving a ’73 T Bird came through our drive thru and her car stopped running. My manager called me and asked me to push her into a parking spot. When I got her into one, she as hot under the collar as her
car was. And yes Angel, she was a Joisey goyle who threw more F-bombs than I’d ever heard before.
And when I asked her to pop the
hood, even more F-bombs came out. When you got through all that profanity, she told me that she was gonna sue the restaurant for making her wait and for damages to her T Bird.
Once under the hood, I took the lid off the breather to allow the steam to escape. She tried to crank the car, but she killed her battery after the engine vapor locked. She called her husband to
jump her off but my wife got there first so we did it before he got there. I told him what happened and how to fix it so that it wouldn’t be a problem anymore. He asked me if I could
do it that night and I said no because it was too dark to see where the fuel pump was. I gave him my address and told him to bring it by and that I’d fix it for him the next day. Sure enough, he brought the car by and I fixed it. He gave us $20 for our trouble
and before he left, I asked him about his wife’s temper. To which he replied “Oh, she’s from New Jersey, she’s always like that”
Hope that helped.
…And you know that after that, they became regular customers and brought their friends too. That was 35 years ago this month and I thought about that as I was explaining about vapor lock. She was a blonde lady with
cleavage that got there before she did and her poor husband was as skinny as a rail. To this day, I wondered just who wore the pants in that family.