When shopping online for a vintage car to ponder taking on as a project, it’s always helpful when the seller provides plenty of detailed information about the car’s history, and even better when lots of photos are included. This 1966 Lincoln Continental is short on both, but it’s one of those cool 4-door convertible models, so hopefully, someone will soon return this once staple of luxury to its former beauty. This Continental is currently in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, and can be found here on eBay. So far, 10 bids have driven the price up to $5,100, and with no reserve, the high roller will be taking this one home.
The only information we get here is the seller telling us that his Lincoln was originally pulled out of a Florida garage, and that it was already restored once back in the nineties. Granted, that decade has long since passed, and it’s certainly ready for another refurbishment. At first glance, the driver’s side seems fairly good from the front angle, but the red paint may be covering up a few body issues that will need to be addressed. There’s definitely some rust in the lower section of the trunk lid that’ll require repair, and it looks like the time has come to consider replacing the canvas top again.
The opposite side is showing a lot more paint peeling, and it’s hard to tell if that’s a combination of red and gray primer underneath, or what exactly that is showing through. From this view, the rockers appear intact and perhaps solid, although it would be nice to see how they appear below the chrome trim. None of the five ad photos includes any parts of the undercarriage, so the condition of the platform remains a mystery. There’s also no mention at all regarding the engine, but the front end would probably be sitting higher if the motor were missing, so hopefully, a block of some sort is still present under the hood.
Compared to the outside, the interior seems surprisingly decent overall, at least the areas we get to view. The steering wheel has at least one cracked section, but the instrument panel appears complete and in pretty good shape, and I’m not spotting any obvious tears in the seats. Some work will need to be done before this one’s ready to cruise again with the top down, but perhaps under that flaking paint are some adequate bones to start with. Does this 1966 Lincoln Continental seem like a worthwhile project?
It would be rather foolhardy to buy this car on ebay sight unseen.
The rusty trunk lid is classic Florida: cars there rust from the top down. If it were a hardtop, the roof would probably be rusty too.
The sagging left rear is weird… Maybe the car was actually stored outside, the roof leaked, and the rear floor is a rotted rusty mess, and the sub-frame and leaf spring shackle is gone.
Steven King couldn’t write a better car nightmare than that!
I’m going to agree with Rex on that rust issue and the drivers side rear wheel. That looks like its completely bottomed out. P’Burg is located in Northwest NJ, its near Easton PA and about 45 minutes ( traffic permitting) from the Allentown area. ( Did I get Billy Joel in everyones head just now.???). I don’t know how long its been in Jersey. They use a lot of salt in the area in Wintertime. The old gas station I worked at that I’ve posted pictures of is only about 15 to 20 minutes from there. The 90’s restoration that was performed may have been mostly cosmetic. And may not have addressed any underlying issues back then. I’m just guessing here. Like Rex just said, you need to get under this thing. These Lincoln 4 door convertibles are absolutely beautiful cars, and I love seeing them restored.
The last time the Pulaski Skyway (seen behind this Lincoln) got this much exposure, it was during certain episodes of ‘THE SOPRANOS’
Not trying to belabor this ‘SOPRANOS’ thing, but if I’m not mistaken, in the very first episode of ‘The Sopranos’, after Tony Soprano ‘James Gandolfini’ has his panic attack and goes to see Dr. Melfi, ‘Lorraine Bracco’, he tells her about his nightmare dream where his ‘penis’ falls off and then explains that then picked it up and took it to the guy who used to fix his Lincoln ”when he drove Lincoln’s”. It it possible that this was his Lincoln.
This car was featured on this site March 10th of this year, it “sold” with a high bid of $31,001.00.
Steve R
Everyone I have known to own one of these things over the years was happy the day they purchased it and even happier the day they sold it, can’t say any of them got it to the point we could cruise
Only if someone has the money and time, would this Lincolns re restoration be plausible. Being a convertible, there’s no telling what rust and rot issues are happening from the back seat, and into to the trunk. Its only saving grace would be the 430 MEL engine and drive train, but agai, no engine photos or detailed description. Sorry, but just sad.
I think this is a Jay Leno expensive to restore.
Had a 1962 Lincoln Continental convertible around 1970. Always wanted a ’66 or ’67. Around 1971 I saw an aqua colored one on a used car lot, if I remember correctly (and that’s questionable) I think it was $1300. A lot of money in 1971 for an 18 year old kid.
But certainly qualifies for the GALYS
Restored in the 90’s then stored in a nice humid Florida garage, no thanks
Doesn’t anyone remember the multiple hurricanes Florida experienced the last couple years? How far under salt water was this car? Only to the rockers? Suggest long, hard, up-close look before making even a small bid.