“And now for something completely different.” I can just hear John Cleese (dressed in a black suit and sitting behind a wooden desk) saying that famous catchphrase now. And what a perfect lead in it would be. In all transparency, my eyes got diagonally canted like the front of this ’59 Continental Mark IV when I saw the photos of this campy camper. At first, I thought it was a well done one-off, but the seller says that Chinook RV (founded in Orange County, California, in 1938 by Sy and Rose Mair and operated as Mair & Son, Inc.) made a total of ten of these ’58 – ’60 Continental Conversion Campers: four in 1958, four in 1959, and two in 1960. It is currently residing in Spring Hill, Florida, and is for sale here on Facebook Marketplace for $50,000. A huge thank you to “T.J. the Wonder Spotter” for sending this ultra-rare ’59 Continental our way. As an old buddy, Frank Roy, used to say, “I ain’t never in all my ever!”
This is one of those vehicles where I wish we had more history about its origins, what it’s been up to the past 67 years, and more posted photos. I bet this rig wasn’t cheap when it was purchased back in 1959, and its restoration somewhere along the way wasn’t a cheap endeavor either. The seller, who says he “hates to part with her, but I’m getting old and not using it as I should”, did make the effort to contact Chinook RV and they verified that it’s indeed one of the four Continental Conversion Campers they produced in 1959. Based on the photos, the exterior is impressive with no rust or problem areas spotted. The white with medium blue trim on both the Continental and the camper looks very good as does the chrome, trim, glass and lenses. It’s a sharp looking unit and will definitely draw a crowd when it parks in the needed two (or three) camper spots.
There aren’t any detailed photos of the Continental’s interior; it’s only described as being gray in color. Inside the camper, the white and medium blue color theme continues with the cushioned seats, and the floor is finished in the obligatory 1950’s black and white checkerboard linoleum. There’s also a photo of the kitchen area with Avocado Green appliances that screams the 1960’s (we had them in my home growing up).
The original 430-cubic-inch MEL (Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln) V8 engine, which generates 385 horsepower, has been rebuilt as has what the seller describes as the camper’s “original heavy duty automatic transmission.” The drivetrain has 48,000 miles showing on the odometer and the seller says the rig “runs and drives excellent.” The seller also shares that he’s only been able to locate two other survivors of these rare, cool Continental Campers, so it’s highly unlikely that the next owner will see another one at their local Coffee, Cars & Campers gathering.
Wow… Just when you thought you’ve seen everything….
Is just me, or is that fan in the last picture really small ?
I think you’re just seeing the red frame of the fan.
If you look closely, you will see the grey fan blades.
It looks to be a normal sized fan.
Yes, the fan IS small and it needs
a bigger one to keep the engine cool and to keep it from vapor locking. One upside to this is that it would make a great tiny house AFTER your wife or girlfriend kicks you to the curb for
spending $50K on something like this. And Greek Boy, don’t show this to your wife as it would cause her to wave Divorce 4 Dummies at you again. Angel 😇
Your thoughts.
Yes, and I can’t quite orient the engine. Radiator, hoses, etc. Also I suspect the stove is a later replacement. Avoado is late 60s and 70s.
Ok, this is something new. I’ve never seen one before. When I think of a Continental, the word camper does not spring to mind. Nothing about this makes any sense but for some reason, I kinda like it. It’s definitely unique and I highly doubt you’ll ever encounter another. I can only imagine the looks and comments one would get while cruising the streets in this.
My sentiments exactly. Quite cool, in a 1959 sort of way.
Saw a U Tube video of guys pulling one out of a tree line and working on it to get it to run. They had to pull the engine. I think it was ’58 however.
Barn Finds featured another one of these before at a MUCH lower price point! https://barnfinds.com/1960-lincoln-continental-camper/
Yeah, and at a MUCH lower condition point too! :)
Are you guys just looking at the red center of the fan? Not the actual blades….
I see, thanks
God I’d love to pull this thing into a Jiffy Lube…
🤣I can see the look on those kids faces
That’s a pretty amazing conversion to do with a unibody car!
What, me? Nah, I’ve thankfully moved past the “vagabond” thing, traveling today is nothing but a hassle, coupled with a burden, it’s not 1971 anymore. I see the ilk and downtrodden that drive around in decrepit motorhomes, okay, not ’59 Continental restomods, but the general public doesn’t know the difference. They hang out at Walmart and behind laundromats. Camp spots are $100/night, if they’d even allow this thing, this will get GALLONS per mile, and the back lot of Loves is full, now what? I know, I’m a master at painting the down side, but I speak of what many don’t want to hear, a camping excursion can turn into a nightmare in a minute, not much different than trucking, I suppose is how I know. Crosswinds, that we have a lot of, would flop this over, I think a “Continental” waste of money, maybe a $40,000 LeMans would be better,,,I swear, where is the money coming from for this stuff? Oh, right, $14 dollar spark plugs.
“T.J. the wonder spotter”? Harrumph,,,
Friends of ours had a beautiful 500k motorhome. Nice, but 500k can buy a lot of nights in an Omni or Holiday Inn.
wow this thing is in the wrapper. inside looks like you just stepped into 1959
This time of year here in the Desert Southwest/Phoenix area there are campers of all sizes,fifth wheels and diesel pushers all with out of state tags,mostly Montana, must be cheap to tag them there.Oh they will be leaving soon,the 90 degree temps are coming.
$50K? A cup of coffee and a good laugh is a great way to start off your day!
Wow, this is one of the coolest things that I’ve ever seen on Barn Finds. Would I want it? Sure, but not for $50 large. Well, and also for a lot of the reasons that Howard A mentions above.
Talk about having the only one. Take to the show and collect a dollar a head to sit in it.
That camper is as old as me EXCEPT it’s in better shape than me……LOL
Correct me if I’m wrong but when I was young I hung around a machine shop a family friend owned and a 1960 Lincoln 430 came in to be “BUILT” and if I remember correctly that puppy was a Side Oiler just like the 427 Ford of a couple years later and the guy said it was like a secret because it was only in big luxury cars and not many people even new it existed and most of them never knew it was a Side Oiler and was just as capable when built the same as the 427 for a lot less money to obtain one. Is that true?
The Mercury 383, the Edsel 410 and the Lincoln 430 and 462 were MEL engines.
The 427 side oiler was an FE engine. That was the series that included the 332 through 428 Ford and the 410 Mercury.
The Lincoln 430 might have had a side oiling arrangement, I really can’t remember, but the MEL blocks weren’t interchangeable with the FE blocks. Nor were the heads, manifolds, timing cover, oil pan, etc.
Very cool! There was a very similar (if not identical) rig floating around Yakima decades ago. Interestingly, Chinook built campers and motorhomes in Yakima as well. Chinook holds the record for the World’s Fastest Motorhome. Look it up.
Many many years ago,over 20 I believe,OMG I used to pass a similar one every day that was sitting in somebody’s backyard except it was a 57 Cadillac. I was going to stop in and see what the deal was with it but my late girlfriend, Karen told me that I had seven Cadillacs now and that was enough. I did not agree, but I went along with her.
The photos look like Anthony Schmidt’s work .
Is this CLARK GRISWALDS brother ride ?? Or cousin Eddy ? All jokes aside , Alot of effort went into this nice ole camper. Unusual for sure .
Is the diamond plate in the kitchen area original?