No Reserve: 1969 Lincoln Continental Mark III

While many historians view the First Generation Mustang as Lee Iacocca’s most successful contribution to automotive history, the Lincoln Continental Mark III demonstrated that he had his finger on the pulse of luxury car customers. This 1969 example presents fairly well for its age, with only minor rust that the new owner could address as time and circumstances allow. The interior is probably its highlight, reflecting a life of care and attention. The seller has listed the Lincoln here on eBay in Oakland, Michigan. The bidding sits at $2,025, and with No Reserve to confuse matters, it is days away from finding a new home.

“Put a Rolls-Royce grille on a Thunderbird.” Those eight words, spoken by Lee Iacocca to Design Vice President Gene Bordinat, were the catalyst for the Lincoln Continental Mark III. Iacocca knew the value of platform sharing, and his approach resulted in a distinctive luxury car developed for what could be considered mere pennies in automotive terms. That philosophy not only guaranteed a healthy profit on every sale but also allowed the Mark III to trump Cadillac’s all-conquering Eldorado in the sales race. Our feature Lincoln rolled off the line in 1969, finished in subtle Wimbledon White with a Black vinyl top. It makes a positive first impression, with no glaring paint or panel shortcomings. That doesn’t mean it is perfect, because a couple of images show rust in both lower rear quarter panels. The issues aren’t extensive, and should respond positively to a couple of well-executed patches. Otherwise, the car appears to be rock-solid. The trim is in what the seller describes as presentable condition, and the damage-prone wheel covers are excellent.

Lincoln adopted a “one size fits all” approach to the Mark III’s mechanical specifications. Every buyer, and there were 23,088 of them in 1969, received a 460ci V8, a three-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. The curb weight was almost 5,200 lbs, but with the V8 producing a factory-quoted 365hp and 500 ft/lbs of torque, these were remarkably spirited vehicles off the line. The seller has recently invested a considerable sum below the surface, and the winning bidder will reap the benefit. Rebuilt items include the transmission, brakes, suspension, carburetor, power steering pump, and water pump. They replaced the distributor and cleaned and sealed the fuel tank. A selection of invoices and receipts verifies the work, and potential bidders can consider the Mark III a turnkey proposition that they could drive home.

Trimmed in Black leather, the interior could be this Lincoln’s highlight. The seats are virtually wear-free, while the remaining upholstered surfaces are equally impressive. The dash and pad are spotless, as is the woodgrain trim. The seller recently rebuilt the climate-control air conditioning, upgrading it to R134a refrigerant, ensuring it blows ice-cold. They state that the fuel gauge, power door locks, windshield washers, and passenger seat switch require attention. Still, it appears that virtually everything else, including the power windows and power driver’s seat, functions as it should.

This 1969 Lincoln Continental Mark III isn’t perfect, but addressing its rust issues would be an excellent, productive way to spend the upcoming winter months. That would allow it to roll out of the winning bidder’s workshop next summer in a state that would receive attention and respect. It has received plenty of attention since hitting the market. However, if the bidding doesn’t intensify, the No Reserve factor could result in someone driving away in a very affordable luxury car. If that piques your interest, monitoring the listing could be worthwhile.