The owner of this 1962 Lincoln Continental Convertible purchased the vehicle from the estate of the original owner. It had sat idle in a dry garage since 1992, but it has proven to be a surprise packet. If you look past the dry and tatty paint, what hides beneath is a solid car that is a driveable classic. It would seem to need little work to be returned to a roadworthy state. The buyer might choose to treat the Lincoln to a cosmetic restoration, or they might decide to leave it untouched and embrace the automotive equivalent of the “shabby chic” look. Located in Auburn, Massachusetts, you will find the Convertible listed for sale here on eBay. The BIN has been set at $13,995.
The Continental’s exterior is not the prettiest sight, with the Sultana White paint peeling heavily in some spots. The fact that this has heavily impacted the car’s rear half could indicate some previous repaint or repair work. The rear quarter panels of these Lincoln’s could be susceptible to rust, and there is definitely Bondo present in a few spots. This does not necessarily spell big trouble because replacement panels can be found. The deck lid is also rusty and seems to be beyond repair. It is possible to find reproduction panels, but I’ve had no difficulty finding some nice secondhand deck lids for around $400. The rest of the car shows promise because there is no structural rust and no rot in the floors or the trunk pan. The power top looks quite tidy, although the owner hasn’t tried to lower it in the 3-years since he purchased the car. The mechanism is intact, so it just needs a brave person to hit the button. The majority of the trim and chrome is present, although some of this will require restoration. The glass is also intact, and there aren’t any significant problems visible in the supplied photos.
Powering the Lincoln is a 430ci V8, which is hooked to a 3-speed automatic transmission. This motor would have pumped out 300hp in its prime, and the Continental needed every one of those ponies. At 5,416lbs, this is one heavy beast. Even so, that engine could propel the Lincoln through the ¼ mile in an impressive 18.1 seconds. When the seller purchased the vehicle from the original owner’s estate, it had been sitting idle since 1992. He tinkered with the car, and it now runs and drives. He gets it out of his climate-controlled garage once a week to drive it around his property, and it runs and drives well. However, it isn’t roadworthy. The tires are old and dry, and the car should undergo a full mechanical inspection before it hits the road again.
The Continental’s interior condition is probably better than you would expect when you look at the exterior. However, it is a long way from perfect. The owner describes it as being in great original shape, but a certain amount of poetic license is involved in that description. The leather on both the front and rear seats has some splits, and I believe they are probably beyond blind patching. However, replacement covers are readily available, and $1,600 would secure a full set of leather covers in the correct color and texture of leather. The carpet is looking pretty tired, and some of the timber trim is in the same state. The dash seems quite good, and I suspect that most of the metal trim might respond positively to some hard work with a decent polish. Luxury appointments include a radio, power windows, a power front seat, and an Autronic eye for the headlights.
The 1962 Lincoln Continental Convertible is a giant of a car, and some people might find the prospect of restoring one of these in a home workshop to be quite daunting. However, the reality is that they are no more complicated than any other car produced by Ford during this period. They’re just bigger! The question has to be whether this is a financially viable restoration prospect. That will depend to a large extent on how the next owner chooses to tackle it. If they farm out all of the work and don’t lift a spanner themselves, it probably isn’t. If they have some of the work completed by specialists but tackle the more straightforward tasks themselves, it starts to make sense. A tidy example will generally fetch around the $40,000 mark in the market at present. A pristine example can easily sell for $60,000 or more. With its rust problems appearing to be so minor, that makes this a project car that could be worth further investigation.
No clue on the value Adam, but this rig speaks to me. Cruising with Commander Cody. Make safe to drive, drop the top and enjoy. Really wish I had a spot for her. And I would leave the missing headlight missing. https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=commander+cody+and+his+lost+planet+airmen&docid=608035247740684606&mid=8A2A5A071572DDBF65128A2A5A071572DDBF6512&view=detail&FORM=VIRE
This is a Hot Rod Lincoln. Way worn, I had a ’63 sedan. Absolutely perfect condition. Of course it was only twelve years old and I was a college student having a ball. Had a Craig 8 track on the hump and I drove it across country a number of times. Of course gas was .35 a gallon and still I had trouble coming up with 9 bucks or whatever. I love these cars, The dash is something else. I wish back then I hadnt thought these cars would always be around so no sweat just buy them one after another. Big mistake :).
May be okay base on what’s visible. A lot of good. By the look of it, I’d guess someone troweled the Bondo to the left rear, then had to apply apply latex paint with a roller in a snow storm. Serviceable beyond that maybe (?). As far as four door sedans go, these are certainly among the most nostalgic and desirable. Must be those ” soo- is -side” doors (may not be able to say suicide anymore, it offends others).
These are amazing cars, cruise all day long and the 430 with a large 2bbl carb, so smooth. Put the top down and enjoy the ride. Had huge 14 inch tires too. Drove a 61 for a summer as a teen. Dad was getting the paint and interior done I did the lighter mechanical The detail the Lincoln had and craftsmanship. Just floated down the road.
When I worked for Ford’s Auto Assembly Division General Offices I had the ‘suicide’ doors explained to me as follows. When folks go out, the ladies sit on the back seat. They have very nice, full, dresses. To enter the car, a rear door is opened and the lady backs up to the door. A gentleman takes her hand and she lowers herself backward onto the rear seat thru the door, being assisted by the gentleman moving towards her as she lowers herself onto the seat. The lady then lifts her feet and swivels herself around until she is comfortably seated in the car. The gentleman then closes the door. Mission accomplished, with class.
That’s a particular kind of social engineering. Absolutely the truth until it suddenly isn’t.
A shout out to Al and his Polk High Panthers. We all remember that 4 touchdown game. I think this think would be a nice cruiser. I am not an air ride guy, but this thing would be SWEET with air ride, but fairly otherwise restored to stock appearance. OK, maybe a bit more power. A stroked 460. And a nice (but not ridiculous) sound system. And Peg in a tube top in the back seat.
I’m definitely not brave enough to tackle this beast. They are one of the most complex to set straight. There is a guy who all he does is fly to you and camp out while he gets the top set up and performs all the electrical repairs to make it happen. And the paint work will cost another small fortune and you can’t paint all at once but in sections due to its size. Drivetrain is pretty straightforward but there are specifics to the Lincoln application which can be challenging. They are beautiful and rank with the best of them when they are done right.
Imagine this piece of Lincoln history when it was new. Now all they build are useless SUVs that are dressed up Expeditions and Explorers. Needs a ton of work and $$$$$
Consider this a Siren calling you into the rocks.
No more complicated than any other car of the same period? Sure, if every other car was a space shuttle.
Someone else can quote the number, but the linear feet of wire and vacuum lines is staggering.
Fabulous cars when done. I have a ’63 sedan that I don’t get to drive enough, but every time I do I channel my grandfather driving this same car on multiple cross-country trips.
You just need to start with one that is either flawless or done.
JR, my Dad sold these new. I know the wiring & vacuum lines are almost endless. 17 relays in the trunk? Have you ever heard how long those lines & wiring would be?
Make certain to have a strong budget if considering restoring a convertible slabside..Been there and done it…
Jay Leno does a great segment on his car show about restoring one of these. The bottom line is that it isn’t a home mechanics dream- it’s a nightmare.
You need deep pockets to fix one of these and a lot of time. Having said that, I love these cars..
I managed a muffler shop in the 80’s, these cars had an unusual exhaust system. Dual resonators had dual outlets, they connected with each other to make a balance tube. Those had been discontinued, so I bought up the remaining 10 sets and contacted Lincoln clubs. Rest of the system was custom bent, the owners were happy to get them back to original.
Safe to say, this is not an easy restore, but I would love to see this one brought back to life.
Even as Jr above refers to it as Siren calling you into the rocks.
What a way to go.
I BJ ought a 64 hardtop in 74, to replace a 64 Buick Electra 225 convertible that was stolen. It was a Texas car with high mileage but a cream puff. Black on Black. Cruise control. Smooth. Loved to drive it in the cheap gas days. Then it chipped a flywheel tooth. Climbing underneath to rotate the flywheel got old fast.
I bought a 1963 four door sedan in 1971 to commute from San Diego to L.A. to work on a PhD at USC. It cost me $800 and four new tires. I LOVED it. At about 95K miles, I took it to a garage to have the 430 engine rebuilt. The worse cylinder had 3 thousandths taper.
I’m not gonna hire this photographer to do my car. Just jumps in and puts his feet on the dash and starts shooting… lol
Leiniedude, I agree with you! I remember the album cover (for those of you that don’t understand, an album cover was the package that held what you know as “vinyl)” for “Down to Stems and Seeds” that had a Lincoln this year (I think!) You used to be able to buy these for a song; now, $14K for a used Camry or this “Parade Car”. I’d go full Commander Cody, do a wrap over sealed rusted pieces and call it a day on the bodywork. Dress up with a big white Stetson, put some wireless speakers in the back seat, and drive it! At 10mpg, not a daily driver, but literally “A Ton of Fun”!
LOL wifewontlikeit ! Great comment. Going to YouTube Stems and Seeds now. Nice handle also, take care, Mike.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAd-U6CYjIw
Seems like Ive been down to seeds and stems for a quite a while now.
Crp! Thats Nicolette Larsen singng with him! God I loved her singing. The stuff she did with Neil Young used to kill me. Another fine singer taken too soon. Last saw Commander Cody in Berkely in 1978! What the hell have I been doing?
I saw them at the Longbranch Saloon on San Pablo in Berkeley around that time. I saw them many times between 1974 and 1979 or so.
That’s from the album “Country Casanova” by Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen.
Don’t take it by a textbook warehouse.
Ah yes, my first car. White Lincoln convertible, vintage ’62.
Mine was white, but had a white top and looks so much better. My interior was blue leather
I suggest putting front disc brakes on this car. They are heavy, and take a while to get up to speed. Hence, it also takes a while to stop it!
This is a ’62, but amber parking lights didn’t come out until ’63. Simple swap out for clear.
I would SO love to get this in my driveway
Back in 96′ I bought a 62′ Red on Red. The best 3,500 I ever spent. I called Her Big Red. My Cardinal Car as it was Big, Red, and Expensive like a baseball player.
All original non molested but with one problem. Electrical Nightmare. Big Red had so many relays for the top that I seen relay’s in my sleep. The top did not work unless I jumped wires to operate. The top operation was a relay ballet and if you worked the system to much, well wire coatings did not last for long.
At 45.00 bucks apiece for the relays and a bunch of them 8,10, or more it seemed like I would restore the relays until the points were toast. Once I fixed and timed all relays and hydraulics for the top then the windows were done and the rest was already in mint condition. Even the top was perfect for a car of that age.The original owner had garaged the car and except for the Grandkids molesting the top switch all was Grand.
I drove the car to Cardinal games and a guy made me an offer I could not resist. The Lincoln was a great car to own. I wish at times that I had it now in my later years as luxury is my thang. But 62′ luxury, and for the time that it was made it was top notch. I miss my suicide 62′, Kennedy Car.
And I play Commander Cody at least once a year as the vinyl was played quite allot back in my younger years.
Heh it was funny to read the text that previous owner just didn’t try to put the roof down. Don’t be naive, surely he did, just look at the car, even on those ones that look great the roof mechanism does not work anymore because it’s so incredibly complex! There are hydraulics, electric motors, and plenty of relays. I know since, I have one and have been fixing it already some time and still not finished. In my case there were many problems occurring at the same time making the troubleshooting even more demanding!
And whats with the lid costing only 400, you mean the small lid between the car and the trunk lid? What about the actual rusted trunk lid, it’s huge and will cost you thousands to replace! Probably extremely difficult ton find one too since many of them are rusted. Repairing it well is difficult and time consuming.
Most people have no business having this car unless they know what they get in to. Most people can’t even repair a “normal” classic car properly.