Notifications
Clear all
Topic starter
06/01/2026 12:49 pm
Touted as offering "New handling ease to the luxury market", part of this 'next generation' Continental came from "all unnecessary bulk and excess ornamentation have been eliminated". Hallelujah!!! Overall length was reduced by 15" (so it was no longer like driving a hook and ladder truck). This was now the first convertible sedan since the 1951 Frazer Manhattan and had "suicide" rear doors for easier access. Interior space was increased which included reducing the center 'hump' by 40%. At 5150 lbs, it was over 225 lbs less than the '60 model, but still about 200 lbs heavier than the Cadillac and Imperial. TThe single engine offer was 430 cid MEL V8 that produced 300 HP making it a fairly potent cruiser. Some interesting features included vacuum door locks and an unusual hydraulic operating windshield wipers with electric washer pump. It was power everything with a central control panel. It had two heaters - one for each side under central control. With an MSRP of $6715, it was about $1200 more than its Cadillac and Imperial counterparts, what was optional on those two were standard on the Continental.
When I first saw the first FM release in black, I didn't like its looks and passed. When the white Pebble Beach LE was announced, it was sold out instantly and carried a stiff secondary market price. Ultimately I realized that image was too important not to have so I settled for this repaint in Regency Turquoise. I can't say this would be my color choice and I could never understand why anyone would order a convertible with an all black interior unless you wore an asbestos suit in the summer... but, here it is. It's not a bad looking model for its age. I wish they could have done a better job on the hood ornament and those PE wipers are pretty skimpy.
06/01/2026 2:28 pm
A beautiful automobile and model of it. The exterior color is pretty cool, too.
06/01/2026 4:33 pm
Great writeup and pics...one just like it is parked in my display case.
John Bono
North Jersey
06/01/2026 5:17 pm
I have the original black version. Gotta admit not a real favorite for the reasons you mention Rich, and I reckon the dash is a little rough.
06/01/2026 9:03 pm
This was the year that Lincoln was reborn; no longer a bloated land yacht. I have loved this car from the first moment I set eyes on it.
07/01/2026 1:22 am
The Harrison Ford version, one source said 4 were made, another said there were 6.
Here is one example that AI doesn't know everything (unfortunately). If the AI LLM engines were made several years earlier they would've recorded the info from the old forum and have more info about this model...
It came with better hood ornament, can enlarge the picture bellow (on my flickr page) do see it better.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/69176776@N02/50196914578/in/album-72157654069015249
07/01/2026 4:36 am
big improvement with the hood ornament Chav, and love the color
07/01/2026 6:28 am
Chav, it's been too long to be 100% sure, but I want to recall that 11 were made of the model that Harrison Ford asked FM to do to match his 1:1. He actually got more than one though and I believe it may have been 4 of them. Execs at FM kept the rest of the small run which would have been 6.
The special white Lincolns were usually made in limited numbers of 500. Here's the '61.
07/01/2026 9:17 am
I must have liked the model as I have it in Turquoise, Burgundy, Black and White. The Silver looks terrific.
07/01/2026 3:36 pm
Chav, it's been too long to be 100% sure, but I want to recall that 11 were made of the model that Harrison Ford asked FM to do to match his 1:1. He actually got more than one though and I believe it may have been 4 of them. Execs at FM kept the rest of the small run which would have been 6.
The special white Lincolns were usually made in limited numbers of 500. Here's the '61.
My COA by RH states that only 4 silver Lincolns were made, however GB in his posts here several years ago, said 6 were made, and Harrison Ford people got only one. Several years ago one sold on eBay. The one I have, I purchased from another collector, I think that collector got it from a dealer who purchased David Appelbaum's collection (David used to post here long time ago).
Geno and Tony Perrone reacted
