1970 Lincoln Continental Mark III 2 Door Hardtop
Attaining their long term goal in the first year of production, the Mark III outsold the Cadillac Eldorado and according to Lee Iacocca turned Lincoln Mercury from a company that had previously lost money on every luxury car sold, to one that had high profit on each Mark III. That's because of the low cost of development and platform sharing " the Lincoln borrowed heavily from the Thunderbird, which was failing in the market at the same time. This was not Iacocca's first success, of course, and his most notable was his involvement some years earlier with the Ford Mustang.
For consignment, a 1970 Lincoln Continental Mark III in a desirable color and armed with an appraisal that earned the car a #1 condition on every scorable component. These personal luxury cars were seen as top tier cars above such cars as the Buick Riviera, the Oldsmobile Toronado, and the Chrysler New Yorker, and they had features the others could not offer at their price point.
Exterior
The Lincoln used 300 more pounds of bodywork than the Thunderbird and that means more Raven Black paint for this one, stunning and shiny and the ideal color for this period Lincoln. At the tip of the long front end is a grille inspired by Rolls-Royce and hideaway headlights that give every Lincoln that has them a regal look. The chrome is excellent and spills onto the curvaceous bumper with a high quality sheen and that quality is mirrored in the remaining brightwork and rear bumper. A large C-pillar continues the coverage of the black vinyl roof and is in excellent condition, hitting a right angle as the straight shoulder line continues over a flat trunk which is capped by the epic Continental tire cover rear deck design. That trademark detail is flanked by sharp taillights that lean forward with the same degree as the rear window, and it's all very pleasing to the eye. The 15-inch wheels look bigger somehow, with hubcaps and 75 series tires. Two small imperfections including a spot of bubbling and some under paint roughness near a keyhole.
Interior
Ten interior leather colors were available on the 1970 Mark III and this car possesses Saddle, a medium brown that starts its journey on the luxurious door panels that also include real walnut inserts and robust controls and switches. The split bench seat is covered in leather that the sales brochure states is "top-grain leather, tumbled in huge drums for exquisite softness" and indeed, 56 years after being assembled the seats retain some of that softness and are in fantastic condition. The rear bench mirrors the stitched pattern and also has a fold down armrest and stylized side walls, all in great condition. The light brown steering wheel rim shows some patina but is fully intact and shares the column with a shifter and gear indicator. Five points of interest on the dash present a line of large square instrumentation augmented by walnut accent pieces and including a Cartier clock with Roman numerals. Such class! The tan carpet with the brochure describes as "toe-deep 100% cut-pile nylon" shows some age on the driver's side but is in otherwise good condition while the headliner, ceiling mounted shoulder belts, visors, and indicator lights on the overhead console, are in all in good shape with a bit of staining on the headliner. The trunk is cleaned and finished with a gray flannel matting.
Drivetrain
The hood is enormous and as we hoist it up, we find a better than driver quality clean engine bay hosting the 460ci V8 which is rated at 365 horsepower. A 4-barrel carburetor provides the go juice and movement is handled via a C6 3-speed automatic transmission sending power to the Ford 9" in rear. Power brakes are supplied on the big Conti, with disc up front and drums in the rear.
Undercarriage
There's plenty of surface rust underneath but in general, it's very clean and dry underneath. We spot one drop of oil on the flywheel cover but nowhere else. There's no grease built up or dirt at the wheels and the dual exhaust shines bright as it makes its way in tandem to a pair of stock style mufflers then exiting just under the rear bumper. Suspension consists of coil springs in front and a 4 link with coil springs in the rear.
Drive-Ability
We can't imagine what it was like to drive one of these richly appointed personal luxury cars back in 1970, but it still feels pretty special in 2024. Smooth sailing across our test loop and through our battery of tests, making sure to note what is working and what is not. There's good power here, but it's a big car with heavy steel body panels and 365 horses. Even so, it moves well. It was noted that the fuel gauge is inoperable, and we confirm. Also, the power antenna is not working nor the left rear window. Everything else, all good.
Inside and out, this is a car that means business and epitomizes luxury. Long before plastics and lightweight materials and aerodynamics became prominent in the automotive industry, big cars with a big presence roamed the streets like fancy living rooms on wheels. This is a fine example of a bygone era when American manufacturers offered a little of everything and went all out for the flagship and top of the line models. Make the call on this black beauty today!
0Y89A817732
0-1970
Y-Wixom, MI Assy Plant
89-Continental MK III 2 Door Hardtop
A-460ci 365hp 4bbl V8
817732-Sequential Unit Number
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