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Topic starter
25/04/2026 3:07 pm
The Lincoln Continental returned to the tudor full size personal luxury car design in 1969, ala the '56-'57 Mark ll and the original post war Continental. The continuation of the Mark lll (as well as the later MklV) ignored the designations given to the 4 door land yachts of the late 1950s. Designed to compete with the Cadillac Eldorado, from 1969 to 1971 the car was powered by the 365 HP 460 V8 and Ford's C6 automatic trans and equipped with all interior option. The bottom began to drop out with the 1972 to 1976 Mark lV with the 460 devolving to 212 HP by 1976, and the last of the dinosaurs (77-79), the Mark V, offered after mid year of 1979, a 400 cid V8 producing somewhere around 160 HP). At 5300 lbs, it was certainly no longer a performance car. All 3 series basically held to the long hood short deck designs with a vertical Rolls Royce style grill receiving face lifts along the way. So, of the decade of these Continentals, I'd have to rate this 1971 as the apex predator.
25/04/2026 3:50 pm
To my eyes that is one of the most beautiful automobile designs inside and out ever. I wish I’d had the $$ for that Automodello. I also like the ‘72. That’s a nice color you chose Rich.
Steve
25/04/2026 4:19 pm
I agree completely Rich and Steve. The '69 thru '71 Mark III was a beautiful car with a clean Euro look (to my eye at least) that blew away the competition completely. My late father-in-law had a dark green '69 which I drove a lot and loved the experience. When he was done with driving he offered me the car, still in excellent condition, for $2200 and like a damned fool I turned him down with thanks as at the time I had no place to store it. 
25/04/2026 4:57 pm
I have two of these models which I dearly love. Don't ever remember seeing it in red but I sure like it.
25/04/2026 5:59 pm
A really beautiful automobile and it initially had V-8 power to match, yet I always loved their superb looks, too.
Although they all can be visually and dimensionally quite different, I definitely like all the various Continentals and Lincoln Continentals over the years.
25/04/2026 8:49 pm
@bob-jackman Bob; I think it is actually dark red, which I saw many of back in the day; perhaps just the pic light.
26/04/2026 7:53 am
I love this bodystyle of the Mark's the most. Absolutely beautiful model Rich. And the pics are superb.👌💯
26/04/2026 5:06 pm
A 70 Mark III was Mom's first Lincoln. She also had a 4, 5 & 6. I eventually got 2 Mark VII's, a base model and then a Bill Blass. Loved them all until they came out with the Mark VIII.
Steve Jacobs reacted
Topic starter
26/04/2026 7:34 pm
@carsman1958 I did love the MkVlll aluminum DOHC 4.6 Intech V8. I loved the sound, the pickup and how smooth the engine was. That engine predated the resurrected Cobra.
Steve Jacobs reacted
27/04/2026 12:16 am
I agree completely Rich and Steve. The '69 thru '71 Mark III was a beautiful car with a clean Euro look (to my eye at least) that blew away the competition completely. My late father-in-law had a dark green '69 which I drove a lot and loved the experience. When he was done with driving he offered me the car, still in excellent condition, for $2200 and like a damned fool I turned him down with thanks as at the time I had no place to store it.
Ouch, that hurts.
Rich Sufficool reacted