I would say that the majority of modern cars are totally forgettable. They all look alike and mostly live obsequious lives dithering to and fro. Well, that wasn’t the case in 1958 and as proof, I offer this spectacular 1958 Lincoln Continental Mark III convertible. It’s pretty rare, one of about 3,000 produced 66 long years ago, and it is one of the most unforgettable designs I can recall. Hailing from Denison, Texas, this lovely Lincoln is available, here on craigslist for $29,900.
I’ll suggest at the outset whether this Lincoln can possess the qualities of both a beauty and a beast. The beauty part is a no-brainer, its presentation is immaculate. A luxury car was a luxury car in ’58, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. I posit the concept of a beast primarily due to that front-end treatment – those goo-goo eyeballs, also known as headlights, have a menacing quality about themselves. But Lincoln scored one for originality as ’58 marked the beginning of separate high and low beams, but auto manufacturers sought a certain conformity with them being horizontally aligned. What inspired Lincoln designer John Najjar to stack the headlights diagonally, I’ll never know but it is an unforgettable look. Oh, and I almost forgot to add, the listing states, “This is a true convertible, however, a previous owner removed the convertible top and frame. IT DOES NOT HAVE A TOP. A convertible top could be put back in place, but we do not have the parts that were removed. really? Who thought that was a bright idea? I’m thinking that this 5,400 lb. no-top might be a trifle difficult to move to a new owner due to that omission. Here’s a video that will tell you a bit more about this unusual Lincoln.
Under the reverse opening hood is a 375 gross HP 430 CI V8 engine that is said to “drive great“. The mileage recording is 29K miles but there’s no claim of authenticity to that reading. The engine and its compartment are certainly clean and seem to be complete and original. A “Turbo Drive” automatic transmission makes the rear wheel connection.
Get a load of that interior! It’s more remarkable by virtue of this Lincoln’s missing roof. Obviously, it has to live in covered quarters but a sound car cover would be essential in keeping the interior dust and dirt-free. The listing claims that the environment is in very good condition, which appears to be the case, but it’s the splash of colors and that floating instrument pod that set the whole shebang apart from so many lesser cars. It’s not said if the leather upholstery components are original or not but my guess is that it’s a redo. A/C was a Continental option in ’58 and this convertible has since had it added – not particularly helpful, however, without a proper lid. Regardless, the seller states that it’s not cold.
Well, the elephant in the room is the missing top, I can’t imagine deep-sixing something as critical as that component. Yeah, it can probably all be replaced but at what cost and how much effort? It’s a shame as I imagine that little matter is going to make this Continental Mark III close to unsellable. But who knows, there’s usually a bottom for every seat, right?
Strange this is….that A/C isn’t going to do a bit of good…..look at some of the other cars for sale and low to be hold….there’s that Dodge truck that was featured here….
Oxymoron for sure not to mention impetuous.
Outstanding. Commanding. Beautiful.
Sometimes owners put their personal stamp on a car making it virtually impossible to sell.
AND stupidly-topless.
More stage presence than that ‘56 posted yesterday, but the ‘56 is a far prettier car (when restored). The convertible top mechanism was very complex on this car; it was similar in design to that on the 1957-59 Ford Skyliner, and that’s probably why it was removed. Just finding the mechanism will be a tall order, installing it will cost more than the $29k asking price for the car itself, so calling this car unsellable is a gross understatement.
So, they removed the top but added air conditioning? Hard pass
This looks like something Perry Mason would drive.
Perry drove a 58 Cadillac. Paul Drake drove a Lincoln at that time. Hamilton Burgher drove everyone nuts! FYI, Paul was played by William Hopper, son of Hedda 👒 Hopper. 😉 I never repeat gossip! So be sure you get it NOW! 😏
He drove a Corvette in the early early shows.
Here’s a start on that top, if anyone can find one, these guys can.
https://www.convertibletopguys.com/convertible/421/1958-60-Lincoln-Continental-all-two-door-
We had a ’63 convertible Lincoln that we sold sheerly because of the electrical complexity. We had a guy come rebuild the top, but we remained afraid to put it down – no fun when you have a convertible. That car had power everything – even the windows declined a bit when you opened the driver’s door, to clear the “drip edge” of the top. Amazing, but there must have been a few miles of wire and a boatload of relays in that thing.
So the back window stayed up permanently and it was that Breezeway design? Followed the link and the top materials retailes for around six hundred, but that’s without the mechanism. No matter, just window shopping.
The engineer deserves to have his brain preserved in a pickle jar for being able to design something this complex.
On the 1961 to 1967 Lincoln convertibles it was not the drivers door window the receded a couple inches when opened, but the two back door windows that did that.
That was the only the windows could clear the roofline design of those Lincolns.
I had a 1962 Lincoln convertible.
Breathtaking car but no top is a non-starter. Even if you find the components, isn’t that top all vacuum controlled? Finding the expertise to complete re-adding the roof AND making it functional will not be cheap or easy (props to above posted who already put out a suggestion)
There is NO vacuum plumbing, in fact I can’t remember any car of this period using vacuum. They operate hydro-electrically and share much with the Ford retractable and the Tbird convert.
You’ll be a weather expert if you buy this Lincoln. How dumb do you have to be to remove that top, completely, on a ’58 Lincoln, that’s rare to begin with? Then get rid of the mechanisms? I’d offer them $2900. Just to drive home the point.
Here’s a fascinating episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, featuring his Lincoln convertible and THE guru of the Lincoln convertible mechanisms.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXc4zYMdnbE
Thanks for sharing. When you hear some parts need a “30-thousands of an inch” to work properly, you know why some people want to ditch the ragtop. There is just too much that can go wrong with the design and nixing the top starts to sound like a good idea.
Convertible top mechanism removed (and kept) by prior owner – humm, maybe these were the real value of the original car Sell the top mechanism and/or all of its parts and then sell the car?
I think it’s be humorous to see this big old girl with one of those snap on tonneau covers that were somewhat popular with the little British sports cars. Other than that this is almost strictly a parade car now, which is a shame.
Ha, shame on the previous owner for removing the top and all the parts to go with it. And what’s up with the subsequent owner(s) for purchasing this otherwise beautiful automobile without all those parts?
It’s likely to cost another $29K to restore that unforgivable sin and make it very difficult to sell to another buyer.
I have a 60Mk5. Refined version of the 58. Tops the same. Wildly complicated. Has 5 pages in the shop manual alone. Over 25 switches, relays, ect. You better have a donor car. Every time I put mine up/down, It’s, cross your fingers. Will cost you the mint to replace the entire top.
Since the top is gone, and the old one is expensive and wonky, I see absolutely no reason to try to source a replacement original. Get the dimensions and have a modern top built and installed.
Or even a removable ‘Carson top’ like they did on the old customs.
Here’s an option. Buy the fabric from theconvertibleguys to use as a template to create metal panels. Then cover it with the fabric making it a removable hardtop like on the early Thunderbirds. Just offer no more than $10k for the car.
I have an idea that might save this car. I would have a top designed along the lines of the early T-birds and Corvettes; a removable hardtop. Since this Lincoln is a coupe (2 door), You could build a small enough top to be able to be lifted off by two people.
Looks like a complete top assembly of the (nearly) original type could be purchased for around $3K.
Add another $3K for installation and this would be a nice cruiser for no more than $30K.
Classic convertibles don’t need tops. I have two convertibles. One, I put the top up every couple of years because it shrinks. The other, I don’t remember how long it’s been since it was up. If there is any threat of rain, I drive something else.
If I were to buy the car I’d only drive in nice weather so no top wouldn’t be a problem.
Pick up a junk hardtop convertible and replace the top with it. Have a retractable harstop Lincoln.
Stunning! Four city blocks long and absolutely dazzling!
🏆 ✌ 🌟 🤩 ⭐ 🌟 🌟 🤩 ⭐ 🌠 👍🤴 👑 👍 💐 💜 💖 .
It’s HUGE! It guzzles gas! It pollutes the air! It scares the birds! I love ❤ it! Bigger, better, and OTT excessive chromed luxury! We unfortunately will NEVER see anything like this again 😔. Lincoln had set out to out Cadillac CADILLAC. And it did, but the public just didn’t realize it. LINCOLN, what a Luxury car should be and once was. Now the focus is on melted jelly beans and Glorified trucks masquerading as Luxury vehicles! 🤮
And without the badges we can’t tell them apart.
Some people sure like emojis…too much.
Smile 😃 😊 and please Don’t Wreck any Cars! 😉. Just go on down to your friendly DeSoto dealer and tell him GROUCHO sent you! But keep thinkin Lincoln 🤔! LOL!
This is the second 58 Mark III that has been featured. I thought the Mark III didn’t come out until 1969. Weren’t the 1958’s model the Mark II?
I like this better than the hardtop, but removing the top and mechanism? Nuts. But it’s a beautiful car nonetheless,
I’d love to hear what reason the booger eating moron who crap-canned the top could possibly have.
Haven’t quite determined if he was off his meds or on.
Always loved the big Lincolns – had a Mark V back in the day … would be great here in the North Valley – no rain from April-October … AC would be fine as weeks of 100+ temps would definitely make cruising better – I aim the AC on my hands and feet in my roadster … wish I had room for it …
Hi Jon! Like you I’m a lover of the GREAT AMERICAN LAND YACHT! Check my comments. BUT, in my area, back in the day, we had a custom tailor men’s clothing store named for the owner Jon Chico! Total CLASS establishment. One of best shirt tapering shops. Unfortunately the store and my V-shaped torso are Gone With the Wind! 😉
way back I lived in rural SE Louisiana … mostly farm area – pickups were the norm … only drs and “hi-brows” drove Lincolns and Cadillacs – my dentist had the big Lincoln … like you, my shape has changed and big Hawaiian shirts are the shirt of the day … but I still manage to crawl in and out of my “Z” roadster – some things we just can’t do without and it’s an instant attitude adjustment … viva la difference … 😁
I think the condition we or most anyway succumb to is called furniturosis. That’s when your chest falls down into your drawers. Isn’t it strange how your clothes and interior cabin of the cars seem to shrink with age?
To Jon and Frog. It’s better to be a Has Been than a Never Was! 👍. 😁 🤣. ALMOST members of the DICKEY DO Club!?! Stomach sticks out further than my DICKEY DO!? For me bigger was always better for cars, but NOT waist line.
Rick … years ago on an old sitcom now considered “racist,” the expression was Dunlop’s Disease – his stomach done lopped over his belt … 😁
Pretty beauty pageant winners sat on the top of the back seat and waved to the crowd. After that the car went back in the garage till the next event.
We called them small town parades back then.
😊