Now we are talkin’! Two hundred and twenty-one inches in length, 5,300 lbs in weight, and a top that goes up and down. Detroit iron at its best – yes, this 1966 Lincoln Continental convertible is a whammer-jammer! Owned by one family for 38 years, this beast of a convertible is located in Brownsburg, Indiana and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of  $8,350 with twelve bids tendered as of this writing.

This Continental is a member of Lincoln’s fourth-generation that spanned the years 1961 through 1969. A refresh, with an increased wheelbase, occurred with the ’64 model year and then another update took place in ’66 but the basic profile of this big luxury cruiser remained the same. A mainstay of this generation was the four-door convertible body style, such as this example. It, however, didn’t make the entire run as it was discontinued at the conclusion of the ’67 model year. As it turns out, 1966 was a high watermark for Continental sales with approximately 54K finding new homes.

It is stated that “Car, unfortunately, was in the possession of a mechanic that didn’t store the car correctly. It has suffered severe deterioration in the last 7 or 8 years“. That seems like a peculiar situation. What that translates into are peeling paint, dingy chrome, and a deteriorating convertible top. But, the slab sides look straight, the trim is all present and there is no indication of rust-through except in the dutchman panel at the rear edge of the folding top. As beat-up as it is, this is still a remarkable car with classic lines.

The most notable thing under the hood, besides the 340 gross HP 462 CI “M-E-L” V8 engine is the amount of visible corrosion. Both the carburetor and the distributor are showing signs of serious dampness exposure. Worse still is the statement, “Engine and carburetor are seized from sitting in damp conditions“. There are various tricks that can be performed to unseize an engine sometimes – it depends on the extent of the seizure/damage. Nevertheless, it’s not a good sign.

The biggest issue with the leather-clad interior is dirt. And the fact that it’s white, makes it that much more obvious. That said, it doesn’t appear to be terribly damaged. The leather upholstery shows typical signs of cracking and maybe a seam separation here or there but a real thorough cleaning may reveal an environment that’s not as deleterious as it initially seems. If nothing else, it looks to be complete.

I think that this version of Lincoln’s Continental is an absolute standout among domestic luxury cars – the fact that it’s a four-door convertible just adds to the allure. This one has to be saved! The seller adds, “Car would need a full restoration or used as parts“. The full restoration comment is obvious. Parts car? Nooooo. Will somebody please buy this classic and save it?