Lincoln’s 1958 to 1960 model range had seen losses topping $60 million, so Lincoln began the 1960s with a complete revamp of its model line. For the 1961 model year, Lincoln coalesced its entire line it into a single offering, the Lincoln Continental. It was the first use of the Lincoln Continental nameplate since 1948.
Designed by Elwood Engel, the new-for-1961 Lincoln Continental had a clean look, with sweeping lines that ran the length of the car. The 1961 Lincoln Continental featured a robust construction and high build quality borne out of Ford’s desire to manufacture the finest mass-produced domestic automobile of the time. The Continental’s design won the 1961 Car Life Engineering Excellence Award, and a Bronze Medal from the Industrial Designers Society of America, an award rarely bestowed upon motor vehicles.
The fourth-gen Continental could be had as either a four-door sedan or four-door convertible, until a refresh in 1966. The unibody platform was a stretched version of the 1961 Thunderbird. Rear-hinged back doors returned to Lincoln for the first time since 1951, latching at the B-pillar along with the front doors, and utilizing a vacuum-actuated central locking system. Continental convertibles had a fabric top that stowed under a rear-hinged deck lid, with an operating mechanism similar to that of the Ford Fairlane Skyliner.
The sole engine option for the 1961 Lincoln Continental was a 430 cubic-inch V8 fed by a two-barrel Carter carb rated at 300 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, and backed by a three-speed automatic transmission. The list of available options included air conditioning, cruise control, six-way power bench seat, tinted glass, limited-slip differential. At no extra cost, polished walnut trim could replace the standard machined aluminum on the doors and dash.
Our feature Lincoln Continental is a 1962 Convertible is finished in elegant Presidential Black over black interior and black vinyl top. The finish presents well, with great gloss from every angle. The chrome bumpers have either been refinished or have received fastidious care. Stainless trim is equally brilliant throughout. The black convertible top is colorfast and wrinkle-free. Black painted steel wheels wear full polished hubcaps and are shod with thin whitewall bias-ply tires.
Inside the Lincoln Continental, the black bench seat shows no significant wear, and only minor creasing. Carpets are deep black, with no sign of fading. The dash has the optional walnut trim in place of the standard machined aluminum. The dash top is solid, with no cracking present.
This stately 1962 Lincoln Continental will be crossing the auction block at the Mecum Auctions Chicago event taking place October 21st-23rd.
Be sure to subscribe to Ford Authority for more Lincoln news, Lincoln Continental news, and ongoing Ford news coverage.
Comments
Simply a Beautiful Sedan LINCOLN need to find the 2002 Concept model update with latest design, option and make it a EV Luxury Flagship
nah dont like the look of the rear view mirror
???
The 60s up through 1966 saw some amazing auto designs out of all three of the Big Three. This Continental, the ’65 Ford, the ’63 Chrysler, the ’61 through ’64 full-size Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles, and any of the ’61-’63 BOP compacts, the ’65 Corvair. It was an amazing era; a time when it was still a USA that could do anything it set its mind to do.
One of my dream cars is the ’64 version of the Continental in a convertible.
When you use a crap battery cable, the wrong size battery that will not fit case you have taken $1000s off the price ——-
This car looks like a “survivor” car, not a restored OEM car where everything would have been as it was built at the factory… The owner gets bonus points for sticking with OEM spec Bias Ply tires which would have come as a standard-issue with that car.
BTW, There are only a few of these cars in this good of shape due to convertibles of that age being notorious for rusting out. This car was well-loved.
You are being a bit harsh … Why don’t you bid for the car and restore it to factory condition?
The running joke about those big ‘boats’ was that the ‘suicide’ doors were used to ‘pick up girls’, right off the sidewalk!! LOL