1965 Lincoln Continental

Description

If you've been paying any attention at all to pop culture, you know that the iconic Lincoln Continental sedan is red hot right now. Everyone from pro athletes to rappers to movie stars are snatching up the stylish cruisers the same way young hipsters are dressing themselves in skinny ties and tapered suits to emulate the hottest shows on TV.

This 1965 Lincoln Continental offers a clean, chiseled look that still looks great today. A few years ago Lincoln rolled out a concept car that borrowed a lot of this car's styling cues, and we have to say, they might be in a better place by running with that particular ball. The Wimbledon White paint is probably an older respray, but it still looks right on the chiseled flanks of the big Connie. That's a lot of sheetmetal to prep, and yes, there are a few areas that might benefit from some attention, but at this price, our advice is to just get in and enjoy being the center of attention. You'll really dig things like the chrome strips that run along the tops of the fenders and doors in an unbroken line, the highly detailed grille, and, of course, those suicide rear doors that turn simple door handles into design statements. The chrome is in decent original condition, including both front and rear bumpers, and all the Continental emblems are intact, just in case people don't recognize the iconic shape.

And if you think the body is cool, wait until you see the interior. The handsome two-tone upholstery is almost entirely original, with cloth and leather decorating the seats, ornately detailed door panels, and stainless steel and chrome accents that look expensive and upscale. The carpets are original, too, and they're showing some age, but for a survivor everything looks pretty darned good. The individual gauge pods below the speedometer are a nice touch and as a top-of-the-line luxury car, everything is standard, from power windows and locks to A/C (needs to be serviced) to an AM/FM radio. The two-tone steering wheel is in good shape with only minor cracking and the dash pad doesn't appear to have been cooked in the sun. A cavernous trunk is included, and while the original mat set is worn out, it does include a full-sized spare and lots of storage space.

Power is delivered by a 430 cubic inch V8, the largest in Ford's arsenal in 1965. It runs well and has been recently serviced, including a rebuilt power steering pump, new fuel pump, fresh carburetor, and a full tune-up. It isn't detailed for show, of course, but the satin black paint gives it a purposeful, no-nonsense look that we can appreciate. It fires up with a muscular rumble from the dual exhaust system (the mufflers and tailpipes are new), and pulls effortlessly on the highway where it glides over bumps like a hovercraft. It shifts well and the underside, while not shiny and perfect, also shows no signs of critical rot, which is important in the Continental, which is a unit-body car. Standard wheels with hubcaps are typical Lincoln understatement, and it sits on relatively new 235/75/15 whitewall radials.

This is a heck of a lot of car for the money, but you also realize that there's still some TLC in store for you when you get it home. The basics are quite good and you just know Frank Sinatra drove one up and down the strip in Vegas; this is still an A-list ride. Call today!