1961 Lincoln Continental Convertible

Description

Lincoln is making a lot of their heritage these days, and I'm of the opinion that they could do far worse than building a 21st century version of this 1961 Continental Convertible. Affectionately known as the "slab-side" design, the stunning "suicide door" 4th generation Continental convertible is a technological wonder and an icon of '60s style. This particular Sultana White beauty is largely a survivor that's been restored as needed and impeccably maintained throughout its years, a former trophy hunter that was recently brought back to standard and fitted with modern air conditioning. With a correct 430 V8 under the bonnet, an opulent turquoise leather interior, and yards upon yards of gorgeous droptop real estate, it's a terrific example of one of America's best convertibles.

1961 was a pivotal year for Lincoln, sales were falling behind Cadillac and Ford Motor Company knew the brand needed to be extra special, a notch above Mercury and Ford, if they wanted to compete with big dogs in luxury motoring. The entire model range was consolidated into the 4th generation Continental (a model last seen in 1948) as Ford set out to make the finest mass-produced domestic automobile of its time. It was quite a daring feat to put four doors on a convertible, the first for any American automaker since WWII, especially with those rear-hinged suicide doors. But Ford had to put the retractable's hardware (borrowed from the Skyliner) to use somehow to earn back their immense investment in the mechanism, so the Continental was born. Although the car is elegantly massive in every possible way, it's shorter than its predecessor. The angular lines and minimalist chrome make it seem trim and stylish atop its unibody platform. Light colors like the gorgeous Sultana White found in this example seem to suit them best, as they brighten up the formal attitude many of these Contie's took on simply by being the chosen car of so many executives, dignitaries, and politicians. No, this one's not perfect, but all four doors fit with a solidity that seems hard to imagine in such a mammoth open-topped machine, and the character line running the length of the body lines up quite well from panel to panel. Good chrome is critical on a car like this, and those big bumpers, simple horizontal grille, and lovely stainless strip running along the tops of the fenders and doors all sparkle in a way that's consistent with the rest of the car. It's an elegant driver with some flaws it's earned honestly, but a stunning driver nonetheless.

Inside, the stately cabin is as spacious as you'd imagine. Forget compact muscle cars and imagine a limousine without a roof, and you're in the right neighborhood. Luxurious Turquoise Magic-Finish leather covers the seating surfaces with an upright formality that would look right in your living room. The two-tone dashboard features a series of brushed aluminum bezels housing the vehicle's gauges, major dials, controls behind crystal-clear original glass, and even the accent brightwork and paint on the knobs and switches showcases daring styling, which in the 1960s, Lincoln exemplified. The seats show some age but are in fairly good shape, particularly for a 60-year-old ragtop, and the dash, door panels, and matching carpets exhibit minor wear-and-tear as well, but little evidence of UV damage or anything major. A Turquoise steering wheel spins a chrome horn ring around an ornate center cap, and the under-dash A/C system was recently installed and keeps the cabin nice and cold when the sun overpowers the breeze. Standard luxury equipment includes that marvelous retractable power top, power windows and locks, a power antenna, a power driver's seat, and an original push-button AM stereo. This Lincoln is definitely about no compromises.

Power is delivered by a 430 cubic inch 'Bulldozer' V8, a refined member of Ford's MEL big blocks that boasts a factory-rated 10 to 1 compression into 300 horsepower and a whopping 465 lb/ft of torque. According to the car's extensive maintenance records, the engine was professionally rebuilt in the past. Because of that, it runs incredibly well today with plenty of power and an insanely smooth gait that made these Lincolns legendary. Automotive International performed a recent and thorough service of the entire car to prepare it for today's road. The original engine bay was detailed and shows off clean black valve covers, a matching snorkeled air cleaner, and signs of maintenance throughout. The factory-spec mill fires up easily thanks to an upgraded Petronix ignition. A modern alternator that replaced the original generator is fed through a rebuilt carburetor and stays nice and cool thanks to a re-cored radiator. Underneath, the true-dual exhaust has a proper throaty rumble thanks to chambered mufflers, and this big droptop is easily managed with the help of power steering and responsive power brakes. According to the car's provenance, this Contie's Turbo-Drive 3-speed automatic transmission was also professionally rebuilt. It spins a Ford 9-inch rear end pushing a correct Silent-Strut suspension that pulls effortlessly on the highway and glides over bumps like a hovercraft. Finishing off the beautiful land yacht, 14-inch steelies are adorned with shiny Lincoln hubcaps, and all four wheels are wrapped in gorgeous 235/75/14 Coker Classic whitewalls.

A multiple show-winner impeccably maintained and conscientiously owned by Lincoln enthusiasts for decades, this graceful Continental is offered with an abundant provenance featuring an original build sheet, original owner's manual, and a large stack of service records and receipts. These are quickly becoming A-list collectibles with fewer and fewer offered for sale each year, don't let this chance to snag a real winner get away. Call now!