LOL is online slang for “laughing out loud.” But if you’re searching for a low-mileage, garage-pampered survivor, you’d want LOL to stand for three other words: “Little Old Lady.” And this attractive time-capsule 1969 Lincoln Continental Mark III checks all three boxes. Its odometer shows only 59,722 original miles, it’s described as being always garaged and very well-maintained, and a little old lady drove it. (The current owner bought this car from an “elderly lady” not far from where he lives in Wyoming). This first-year reboot of the elegant Continental Mark series is available here through Classic Lady Motors for an asking price of $19,500.
Lee Iacocca may have been the Father of the Mustang at Ford Motor Company, but he also had his DNA in the styling of the Mark III. It was Iacocca who suggested the Mark III’s two most distinctive visual features: the Rolls-Royce inspired vertical grill (said to have cost Lincoln-Mercury 10 times as much as an ordinary grill), and the spare tire hump, a carryover from the distinctive rear deck of the classic 1956-57 Mark II. When the Mark III was unveiled in April of 1968 as a 1969 model, it was a hit with luxury car buyers and a total of 30,858 were sold.
The paint is described as in excellent condition and all trim and chrome are in above average condition. The black vinyl top is said to still look new and it appears so. The inviting dark blue interior, with its tufted button leather seats, Cartier clock, simulated East Indian Rosewood applique, and the plush carpet looks to have minimal wear for a 52-year-old vehicle. The dashboard looks almost new as well with no apparent cracks or sun damage; a testament to being garage kept and babied for more than five decades. The powerplant under that aircraft carrier length hood is the 365 hp, 460 CID, 4 BBL V-8 and is described as “runs great.” Recent mechanical work includes a rebuilt carburetor, and new rubber fuel lines, fuel pump, and front calipers. Based on the 35 photos posted, this Mark III appears to be well-optioned. The site lists power front seats, power windows, power antenna, remote trunk release, climate control heat and air, and AM radio with an 8-track player. (There is no mention of 8-track tapes of Henry Mancini, Andy Williams, or The Fifth Dimension nestled in that cavernous glove compartment.)
Although we’d like to know more about the car’s history (is the current owner the second owner? Was the Little Old Lady from Pasadena or from Casper, Wyoming?), this ’69 Mark III time capsule is impressive and presents very well. It also appears to be reasonably priced. Hagerty values a #1 Concourse 1969 Lincoln Continental Mark III at $36,900. A #2 is valued at $24,000, and a #3 is valued at $13,100. Could your garage be the next home for this pampered Mark III?
I don’t see barges like this beauty ever being converted to electricity. With all that weight it wouldn’t pass a power station without stopping. Maybe get a nuke in a trailer?
Maybe not, but then maybe the new Hummer EV’s battery pack wouldn’t even notice it was propelling the Lincoln after being designed to lug around a 9,000-pound-plus “SUV”!
Good write-up Ron. This looks like a very nice example. I always liked the Mark III and also the Mark IV (especially the early small-bumper models). The styling is clean and attractive. Having one today would be fun, in the context of having a type of car not produced nowadays. Cruise in style.
So, does anyone have any Henri Mancini, Andy Williams, or Fifth Dimension 8-tracks to provide to the buyer?
Thank you for the kind words. I remember when the Mark III’s came out and always liked the elegant styling of them as well. (I found them more attractive than the Eldorado.) This looks like it would be a great one to snag.
I agree about the Mark III but respectfully disagree about every one that came after. IMHO they were all poorly overdone imitations.
You guys will hate it cuz it’s not a 20hp umbrella handle shift Frenchie catfish car, but here in the us we craved for these, and it’ll do 120 not 70 no problem…we we…I don’t forget
I owned one of these in the late 70’s. Loved that car. Wish I had room for this one.
Reminds me of The French Connection movie
Me too, John. I had forgotten a brown Mark III was the drug-smuggling car until I watched The French Connection again about two weeks ago. I believe the actual drug-smuggling car they confiscated was a ’59 Buick.
1960 Buick Invicta.
60 Buick Invicta 4 dr ht.
Chuck, you are correct, sir. It was a ’60 Buick. It’s true that memory is the second thing to go…
Be sure to check under the door sills. For rust, and other things.
Good point. You never know what surprises could be found under door sills. Just ask Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider.
Frank Cannon’s car!
Frank Cannon drove a Mark IV
On my top 5 list for years. This one is especially nice.
“Cannon”,,,
Yep, this is exactly what he had at the beginning of the series.
Took my driver’s test in a silver/black ‘69. Guy was impressed I could actually drive this barge, he cut the test short and passed me…
One of the few ’60s cars that still exudes understated class.
I remember graduating from high school in 1968 and asking my uncle to take my girlfriend and me to the Senior all-night party in his new black-on-black Mark III. We felt like royalty!
Speaking of 8-track tapes, back in the day I owned every type of tape deck, all interconnected to copy recordings. I had a cassette converter for the 8 track in my ´69 Alfa Spyder on which I could play ¨modern¨ cassette tapes. I still have a Lennie Tristano (intellectual modern Jazz) cassette which I recorded off an 8-track. As far as the car goes, what a raving beauty – another super offering found on Barn Finds, thanks fellas – you are the greatest.
I had a 69 Mark III and they are quiet comfy cars. The first few years had power also before the engines were choked down. The auto temp control was pretty marginal before Ford adapted the Frigidaire system from GM in 72
Fifty-two years ago that “little old lady” would have very likely been in her 30’s or possibly her 20’s. I’m just sayin’.
It ate my tape.
My favorite style of Lincoln, hands down, and a great year of birth as well!
Cannon drove one of these 1 season of the show, 1971, then 72 on he drove MKIVs which are my favorites, when he made the TV movie Return of Frank Cannon, he drove a Cadillac, I had a 75 MK IV, my favorite car
Agreed mark IVs were very nice also,had a friend way back with a 72,nice car,but we could barely afford to go cruising because it drank lots of fuel,my brother had a mark v cartier,sweet car with some some 1st year goodies, such as rear disc brakes with anti-,lock,and his was a positraction also,but man those 460s loved that fuel.
Still an iconic design after all these years. Some cars never look old to me and this is one of them. Beautiful. I remember when they came out and I thought they were the most stylish thing on the road.
Well said, Michael. I agree with every word you wrote. The first one I saw up close as a teenager was a burgundy ’69 with a black vinyl top. Understated elegance par none.
My dad had a 71 Marklll. It looked exactly like this one. A little different interior though. After my cousin shot him I was taking him to the hospital in it. I pulled out to pass a car and stomped it to the floor. It broke loose and began spinning! I wasn’t expecting that! Months before all that happened, Dad out ran a deputy sheriff one night in it. He said the speedometer was buried well past 120mph. The car was so heavy it would “slide” from white line to white line in the curves. Ha! That 460 ran like a hoss. But it sucked down fuel like an elephant. He sold it shortly after the shooting. He didn’t like the .35 caliber holes cuz left in the passengers fender and headlight bucket. Kinda wish he would have kept it now seeing how much they’re selling for today. That was in the mid 80s. Ahhh memories. Haha!
These 69 Lincoln Mark 111s were great luxury cars before emissions started ruining them. The 460s were still strong, AC was cold and those seats still look like butter. Great find on the Mee maw Mark 111.
HC: Mee Maw Mark III…now THAT made me LOL.
The first time I ever flew, my grandfather came to pick my parents and I up, and take us to DTW. He was driving a brown Mark III. He was and exec at Ford his entire career. I loved all his lease cars. He drove a new Lincoln every year, except when the Mustang came out. He had to have one, and turned it back in after 2 weeks. The Mustang didn’t drive like a Lincoln, and he wanted his Continental back. He retired in 1976, and drove Mercury’s from then on. After the trip to the airport, he came by the following year to take me to his box seat at Tiger Stadium for a Tigers game. The only thing I remember about the evening was him allowing me to play with every button in his Lincoln (except the trunk release). Those were great cars.