“Cabernet Wine over Medium Charcoal Glamour Clearcoat Metallic” is a heck of a name for the Valentino Designer Series edition Lincoln Continental and the “cool”, shady color temperatures make these colors look decidedly blue rather than warm and burgundy or wine-like. This gorgeous 41-year-old 1984 Lincoln Continental is luxurious, and luxury is luxury, whether it’s from the 1980s or the mid-2020s. The seller has this car listed here on eBay in Nipomo, California, the current bid price is $3,338, and the reserve isn’t met.
The seventh-generation Lincoln Continental was made from 1982 through 1987 and they weren’t exactly a hybrid, but they helped Lincoln with the CAFE regulations for MPG as they were a bit smaller and lighter than the previous generation cars. I thought it was maybe mislabeled as a two-tone blue Givenchy Edition, but there’s clearly a “V” on the c-pillars, and some of the photos show paperwork listing the Valentino colors, so there ya go.
From what I’ve found in 1984 Lincoln Continental brochures, the Valentino only came with the “wine over gray” paint scheme, and this car looks like new to me. This special edition was reportedly only made for 1983, 1984, and 1985, and the seller has provided many photos, even close-ups, and detailed images so you can see for yourselves how nice this car looks. I’ve always wondered what a two-door seventh-gen model may have looked like… hmmm…
The Valentino Designer Series interiors came with this beautiful interior, gray leather with pleated cloth inserts. It looks as perfect as the exterior does and the back seat may never have been used. The seller says they bought the car from the widow of the original owner after he passed away and the car sat for a dozen years. The trunk also appears in excellent condition.
The engine is Ford’s 302-cu.in. OHV fuel-injected V8 with 140 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque when new. It’s backed by a four-speed automatic sending power to the rear wheels and the seller has replaced the fuel pump, front brake pads, the tires, and the gauge cluster was changed by a dealer in 2005. Are any of you into special editions like this Continental Valentino Edition?
Oozing 80s Luxury at its finest. A Givènchy special edition also available. 3.08 rear gear ⚙️ std. Pure elegance.
This has got to be one of the nicest early 80’s Continentals we’ve seen here. Just beautiful condition. And look at the garage in the one photo. There’s a couple other gems too. This Lincoln was in good company.
Very nice. With the two-tone paint and plenty of bright trim, it carries the American-style luxury theme of the era. That interior looks great. The “gray” paint’s name is five words long. Another Fox variant, I believe. I don’t think these were big sellers. I wonder what it will bring.
Good job Scotty.
My eyes see an LTD -shrug-. The Town Car seems like the appropriate Lincoln, for that year.
too bad they didn’t make the coupe! It is a nice looking car in the fashion of a bustleback GM.
Ah the car that never was; the two door version of this whip. Perhaps a hat tip to the mark6 would be nice. Gotta have a moonroof though. Perhaps more two door units would have sold than 4?
I wonder if it has the famous Leanin’ Lincoln air suspension?
I had one of these in two-tone gold. We’d be cruising along on the interstate at 70+ and the air suspension would shut itself off and the air would leak out. I’d turn off the ignition and coast for a few second, then turn it back on to reset the compressor. Would work until the next time. I think I had to replace a $1,000 computer circuit board to make the car run right one time. I did like the car tho.
There was of course a coupe version, the Mark VII, just not using any of the sedan’s styling at all.
Speaking of, being based on the Fox platform, I’m surprised I’ve never seen any of these souped up with Mustang go-fast/handling parts and given speculative “coulda-been LSS” (Luxury Sport Sedan) cosmetic treatments akin to the Mark VII LSC (Luxury Sport Coupe).
Let’s see… bigger alloy wheels with lower-profile blackwalls of course, buckets with a center console inside, lightly smoked tail light and signal/cornering lenses, body-color bumpers, remove or black-out most of the chrome trim—I’d keep the outermost chrome frame outlining the side windows, headlight clusters, and outer grille shell, but blackout the rest of the window trim, headlight inner buckets, and grille slat inserts. Prolly remove the lettering from the trunklid hump, or maybe just reduce it to say “CONTI LSS”.
Very interesting idea SubGothius. I’ve never thought of that angle.
Based on this I’m wondering if Scotty might take off with the concept….
Great idea ..Hot Rod Lincoln
Am I close?
Great job Scotty. Completely transforms the look of the car.
Thanks, Bob! That was fun to try to figure out.
Beautiful looking car! I remember when this version of the Continental was offered. I thought it was Lincoln’s best looking car. I still find it way more attractive than the Town Car. I also find it way better looking than what’s offered today.
@ Tacoma, you’re definitely not a nut! Although I love my Town Cars and admire this Valentino, Unfortunately LINCOLN (like all the rest) now focuses on BLOATED SUVS masquerading as Luxury vehicles at BLOATED prices. It’s TARRIFying to think about how much higher prices might soar for the new POS. As for the color name, 69 Cadillac offered Chateau Mauve Firemist. On to VERSAILLES!
My Nautilus is a perfectly acceptable vehicle for what it is. Definitely not bloated, and gives me fairly decent performance while delivering 30mpg on the highway. And, it holds all my stuff.
Well BIG C, I’m happy to hear you’re enjoying your Nautilus. Fortunately, in America 🇺🇸 we can STILL have our own opinions and share them. I’m not sure how much longer 😕. It’s becoming a longer winding road. Happy motoring in your Nautilus. 👍
Rick W,
You are absolutely correct! Just yesterday I visited a collectors car dealership in Mankato Minnesota and they had a 2023 Cattlereck Escapade there for sale that listed for $200k new. It was black with atrocious big tires and black rims. They were asking $145,000 for it. I just happened to be nearby when an interested person wanted to hear it run. It had some loud exhaust that would make a Harley sound like a testla. Talk about insulting. Cadillac would probably sue the builder for defamation.
Although not 🎵 Loretta 🎶 Lynn’s 🎵Lincoln 🎶 this is a real head TURNER 😉 NO Joshin! Like NORMA DESMOND, truly a star 🌟 worthy of the VALENTINO name of both the designer and Rudolph. Thankfully it bears NO similarity to the MARK VI 🤮. Not quite a bona-fide LAND YACHT, it clearly demonstrates LINCOLN, what a Luxury CAR should be and ONCE was. Clearly a Bon Marche and MONUMENT to an era unfortunately never to be seen again. I’d love to park this beauty in my garage.
I had a silver 1982 with burgundy leather. Loved the styling. Can’t recall any issues but maybe suspension.
Hey Frog 🐸! Good to hear from you. As usual great minds drive the same roads to the BARN. It will soon be time for a meeting of The Board (or bored 😴 ) members of The GREAT AMERICAN LAND YACHT SOCIETY. Please notify other executives of that!
Greetings and salutations Rick. I want to suggest an addendum to the club name. If look at my previous post I think you will understand where I’m coming from. My suggestion would be changing the name to the GREAT AMERICAN LAND YACHT PRESERVATION SOCIETY. I know it’s a mouthful already. If you visit any car museum or true high-end collectors car garage you will only see vehicles in their unaltered “preserved ” condition. No tricked out blacked out lifted, lowered graffiti graphics cluttering up the display of what the original vehicle was meant to be. What’s your thoughts? I know I’m going to draw some ire from some but bring it on. You can start your own club.
Frog 🐸, That’s purely Inspirational! Please attend the next meeting of The GREAT AMERICAN LAND YACHT SOCIETY (date to be determined) and propose your ammendment! I will happily second it,bringing it to a vote 🗳.
a 2 dr would have looked like a mark vii, same platform.
Good story with seeming proof…but it is still, and always will be, TMU (true mileage unknown) so, buyer needs to take that into consideration. It will be detrimental to the value of the car.
True unless they kept the original guage cluster along with documentation.
In 2005, I had an ’85 Continental, one year later than this one but virtually identical. Body was perfect, I was in process of cherrying it out when it got hit while parked. I couldn’t find ANY body shop that was willing to repair it, all I heard was 1000 excuses. sigh…..
Auction update: this one sold for $7,100!