Side of the Road 24: 1973 Lincoln Continental 22K Mile Time Capsule – SOLD!

August 9th Update – While passing by the antique store which had this low mileage Lincoln featured in front of, we confirmed the car is no longer there and no longer for sale.

Sometimes you come across a classic car for sale along the side of the road you recognize from a Craigslist post.  That’s exactly what happened this past Friday when we came across this 1973 Lincoln Continental 22,ooo mile time capsule for sale just as you enter into scenic Frenchtown, New Jersey.  The asking price of this example was offered at $14,000 and a review of the Hagerty Insurance Online Valuation Tool confirms this private seller had his Mark IV priced $1,200 above the current #2 “Excellent” estimate of $12,800.

Full disclosure:  we’ve been watching this Craigslist post for this exact for nearly one month as the yard is easily recognizable for us from just a few miles away from our office.  However, every time we pass by, the Lincoln was never there for us to see it and the listing’s limited pictures were not enough for us to feature it. Consequently, when we took a drive to the next town over and we saw the car, we immediately had to stop and photograph it as we were shocked at how much better this Lincoln is in person that must be seen to be appreciated.

Lincoln launched its larger Continental Mark IV for the 1972 model year as a stylish update of its successful Mark III personal luxury coupe.  While it now shared a common chassis with the Ford Thunderbird, the Mark IV featured its own distinctive exterior design from the windows down, which included elements such as a classic Rolls Royce style radiator grille, hidden headlights, and a mock spare tire outline molded into the rear deck lid. However, unlike most American land yachts of the day, Lincoln designers made the rear wheel openings of the Mark IV the same height as the front wheels as its large fender flares precluded the use of fender skirts.  In 1973, the front bodywork underwent a major redesign, necessitated by the addition of a five mile per hour safety bumper in front while out back it retained the much more attractive tailight-in-rear-bumper design for one more year.  All Mark IVs came standard with full-length vinyl roofs and the 460 cubic inch V8 connected to a Ford C6 three-speed automatic transmission.

In Lincoln’s 1973 TV Commercials, the company used the tag line, “It is a very good year.”  Here’s an example:

Despite the low mileage, we are very impressed how this Mark IV has been preserved over the years. The private seller mentions in his post the car has been kept in climate-controlled storage for the past 45 years and it definitely shows.  The most interesting aspect of the car not mentioned in the post is the unique period-correct floor-mounted telephone!  We tried to get a picture of it however with the car locked up it was hard to do through the side windows.  The black leather interior appears like new, however we could not get better pictures in the closed car.

If you’re looking for a solid, head-turning contender for the Antique Automobile Club of America’s (“AACA”) Preservation Class, Original Features Division, we strongly encourage you give this car a look.  A month of over-the-top detailing in your spare time will have this car easily winning your first “Junior” award.  We believe it’s that good.

Good luck with the purchase!

Here’s the seller’s description from the Craigslist Ad.  You can also read the description pasted to the rear passenger side window we’ve included in the picture gallery.

“Original 1973 Lincoln Continental Mark IV
Original Car
22,000 original miles
Metallic Burgundy

***Stored in temperature controlled garage for 45 years

NEW:
Radiator
Water Pump
Battery
Gas Tank
Tires
Master Cylinder
Brakes
Fuel Pump
Heads Rebuilt
Tune Up

Call (609) 533-4806 Interested buyers, if we do not pick up please leave a message, we will definitely get back to you

PLEASE !!!!!! SERIOUS BUYERS ONLY!! PLEASE !!!!!! NO TIRE KICKERS !!“

Do you have a Lincoln Continental Mark IV story you’d like to share?  Comment below and let us know!