For the first time in five years, the Lincoln Continental would be an all-new car for 1966. The buying public responded positively by scooping up nearly 15,000 more copies than they did the year before. On sedans and convertibles, the practice of using “suicide doors” continued as is the case with the car we see here, owned by their family since 1998. Mechanically, it’s in good condition, but a new top will be in order before you run it through a car wash. Located in Wayland, New York, this classic is available here on eBay where the bidding has arrived at $8,800.
With the redesign in 1966, the Lincoln Continental would have several firsts: a coupe model, an optional stereo tape deck, a glass rear window in the convertible, and a 462 cubic inch V8 producing 340 hp thought would only be offered for two years. Production of the 4-door convertible would total 3,180 units, so given typical attrition, perhaps only a few hundred survive today. But given all the cool improvements and increase in overall sales, Lincoln would continue to trail Cadillac in production numbers.
After two and a half decades of ownership, it regrettably is time for this Lincoln to move on to a new owner. Due to other interests, the convertible isn’t getting used anymore and it took its last road trip some six years ago. The car is said to run great, thanks in part to some mechanical work done a few years back that includes a new timing chain set and rear leaf springs. It starts, stops, and moves through the gear as it should.
The car’s cosmetic condition is where the rub is. The convertible top, which raises and closes properly, needs a new canvas. The leather interior is in fair condition and would pass at least for the near term. Everything works properly other than one of the power windows. The paint is okay, but some rust bubbles are popping up here and there and a few holes can be found in the trunk. No title will come with the car as we’re told New York didn’t implement them until 1972. The seller has included a video clip showing the automobile doing something besides sitting still.
I worked on one of these convertibles from the day the owner purchased it new. The dealer was clueless. At some point the owner became unable to drive this massive car. Jokingly I asked her to sell me the car. She asked me what my offer was and again I said jokingly $200. She told me that she would have her nurse get the title from the bank. Unfortunately she died before that happened. Her grandson inherited the car and the last time that I ever saw it was when it went roaring by my house with no exhaust.
Interesting cars that I’ve always admired. Recently I’ve read about how all the electrical components must be protected from the least little amount of water. This car would need to be kept in a dry shelter for sure. I wonder where a good top installer could be found. Well anyway I wish the best to everyone.
God Bless America
The working top aid a huge thing for this car. Adjustment will probably still need to be made when a new top goes on. It is a daunting task to diagnose and repair the electrics on this top mechanism and there are only a handful of people who have the experience to do so. Lincoln also did things differently under the hood with fuel pump and power steering arrangements. Hopefully that hasn’t been tampered with.
You won’t find anyone capable of repairing that top. People say today’s cars are complicated. They are, but some also were back when I was a kid. Try fixing the fiber optics on a C3 Corvette. Walking off a cliff is almost a better alternative. Leave the top down forever, drive on nice days and leave in garage only way to enjoy this monster car.
George,
I respectably disagree. Anyone who has installed a convertible top on a 1960s car [and done it correctly] has the ability and tools to do this job. Yes, because of the top mechanism folding in more locations, and the need to secure the top down to a base that also moves, the ability to “hide” less than perfect side panel installations can be compensated for, but it takes a bit longer to “finesse” the material into place.
How? By taking your time. Most top installation companies won’t work on these [or the T-Bird versions] because of 2 things: They have heard about all the top operation “problems”, and that it takes far longer to install. Most of the time we hear about the top operation problems is because the person working on the car didn’t have the manual, or didn’t follow the manual’s instructions on how to diagnose it correctly.
If the car in question has a convertible top mechanism that works well, and the top mechanism is adjusted correctly [consult the factory manual in attempting the adjustments], then if you take the time to do the install, checking your progress with each step to ensure it’s aligned correctly onto the top frame, then you will be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
I’ve installed quite a few of these tops over a period of 30+ years. I’m a 1972 graduate of the FoMoCo Lincoln and T-bird factory repair course on the tops, and once someone understands how they work [step by step, where ever it stops working is where the problem lies], then replace the defective part [or adjust the limit switch that caused the top to stop at that point].
The key to finding a guy willing to do the job is to find a top installer willing to take his or her time to attack the job correctly, and the car’s owner should already have the factory top manual available for the installer to fully read and understand IN ADVANCE of starting the job.
There are several Lincoln parts suppliers in north America who can make referrals to top installers or repair mechanics, for the mechanism.
Thank you for calling out the myth.
Too much rust affliction
I had a 1965 T-Bird convertible so I’m familiar with the motorized locks (used a hand drill through the rear arm rest once to unlock the trunk), 2 limit switches, 4 rocker switches, 4 hydraulic cylinders, etc. Best to run it a few times a year. I got pulled over for suspected DUI one warm dry winter day in Syracuse because I went for a drive with the top down whilst exercising it.
JCH,
I also love driving with the top down in cooler weather, with the heater blasting.
Around 1972 I was driving my red 1966 Plymouth Sport Fury convertible on a very snowy night, heading south on I-270 from Frederick, MD. The snow was coming down hard, and I was the only car on the road. So I pulled over to the shoulder under an overpass, and put the top down. Turning the heater fan to high, I hit the gas and pulled back out onto the road. It was an incredible experience to look up at the sky and watch as thousands of snowflakes went flying over me!
I knew the road well and as I neared my exit for Rt 28, I stopped once again under an overpass and put the top back up. As I continued down the local road, all of a sudden flashing lights came on behind me, so I pulled over. A Maryland State Trooper came up to my window, snow swirling around him. he asked if I had been drinking, and I said “No, Why do you ask?”
He said because I was driving down the interstate with the top down, in a blizzard, and only a crazy man or a drunk would do such a thing. I looked at him, smiled, and said “Well I guess that makes me a crazy man!”
He never asked to see my license or registration, just reminding me to stay safe that night, before returning to his cruiser.