50,168 miles. Great color combination. Nicely maintained car in largely original condition. Beautiful interior, loaded with options, lots of recent service work. Lights operational. A big, handsome luxury cruiser for not a lot of cash!

The Lincoln Continental Mark III is currently on our “buy and hold” list. Why? Because big luxury is in demand and these are some of the most attractively styled cars of the period. And with most of them wearing some awful shade of brown or olive green, this handsome Admiralty Blue Mark III stands out. It shows just over 50,000 miles and carries an original miles title, and given the condition of the soft parts, there’s no question this is a low mileage car that’s always been loved. There are one or two spots that might have been touched up, but that’s 95% original paint that still shines up nicely and looks suitably luxurious. There’s a nice shine that suggests this was an expensive car when it was new (it was!) and the crisp Mark III styling always looks best in dark colors. Proportions are excellent—it’s big, but it’s not comically massive like its ‘70s siblings would become. Details like the gothic grille and hidden headlights are instantly recognizable, and that awesome roofline almost looks chopped—too cool! Speaking of the top, the vinyl is in excellent condition with no indications of trouble underneath. And the headlights are operational, although they tend to not stay closed if the car is parked for a while, which is a common issue. The chrome is original and quite nice and even things like the parking light lenses and taillight are in fine condition with no cracks or fading. It’s a clean car!

The interior is really where cars like this shine. Plush but not ostentatious, this is how American luxury was done when the domestic manufacturers were at the top of their game. The diamond-tufted cloth and leather upholstery is beautifully preserved and still quite comfortable, and the seats give the impression of dual buckets, which is kind of sporty for a big luxury coupe. Five pods head of the driver contain all the gauges and the clock (and the wiper switch, oddly enough), while secondary controls are underneath. Of note, everything works except the A/C, which is functional but needs R12 refrigerant which we are not equipped to service. The extra gauge under the dash controls the rear air shocks, which is a nice feature if you’re going to have folks in the back seat. Of note, all four windows work correctly, although the right rear is a little slow (another common issue on these cars) and the overhead warning lights are just plain cool. Carpets, headliner, door panels, and dash pad are all extremely nice, making this car a pleasure to drive. Rear seat accommodations are comfortable for two and there’s a massive trunk that’s fully upholstered, including a special cover for the spare tire. Nice!

Lincoln’s biggest engine was the sole powerplant in 1969, a 460 cubic inch V8 making an impressive 365 horsepower and a towering 500 lb-ft. of torque. Built in the muscle car era, even the big luxury coupes were packing the firepower. But despite all that muscle, it’s smooth and quiet, and remains ever the luxury car powerplant. It starts easily thanks to the help of an electric fuel pump, idles nicely, and pulls the big coupe around with genuine enthusiasm—it feels a lot lighter on its feet than you’d expect. The engine bay is quite clean and shows no signs of exposure to winter weather, with correct Ford Blue on the engine itself and plenty of evidence of conscientious maintenance, including a recent full tune-up, new brake master cylinder, fresh belts and hoses, and more. Other work includes servicing the C6 3-speed automatic transmission with a fresh rear seal, pan gasket, and shifter shaft. And with 2.79 gears in the rear end, this is a superlative highway cruiser. It’s largely original underneath, but not at all rotten with solid floors and rockers and plenty of other recent work, including fresh brake calipers up front and the new air shocks out back. The exhaust is appropriately hushed and it rides like a luxury car should on big 225/75/15 whitewall radials.

Documentation is extensive, including the window sticker, build sheet, and owner’s manuals, a shop manual, plus the original OwnerCard. According to the documentation that accompanies the car, it’s had only three owners, which is rather remarkable for a 55-year-old automobile. There’s also a long history or service receipts dating back decades, a Marti Report, factory sales brochures and color chips, and ownership history. I wish all old cars were this well documented.

These cars can’t remain this affordable forever. They’re wonderful to drive and the handsome good looks are suddenly very much back in demand. If you like your muscle to be a little more subtle and a lot more luxurious, something like this Mark III might just fit the bill. Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.