Big Old Square Lincoln

[nurdlinger]

A house I pass by every day has had one of those big, old, squared-off Lincoln cars parked out front for sale. This is just the sort that appeals to a lot of you based on previous threads. The price advertised was $1400.

Now yesterday afternoon a violent summer thunderstorm blew through here, dropping tree limbs and entire trees all over the place. This morning when I went by, just such a fallen tree was on top of the Lincoln, and the price sign had been modified:

Car: $1400 Car and Firewood: $1500

 

[58limited]

How badly was the car damaged? Can you post a pic?

 

[abcomatic]

OH no, I sure hope it isn't a '59 Lincoln?

 

[cuffs054]

abcomatic, Dad bought a new 59 to move us to FL. I still remember the cussing that went on over that car. At one point he was stopped by neighbor as he attacked the parking brake pedal with a hacksaw because it wouldn't release. Once again it was towed to the Lincoln dealer. He traded it in on a 61 New Yorker, the cussing continued. Finally he got a 62 Starfire convert and we could all get some rest.
Childhood trauma: Wertle the turtle's bowl was put on the back dash of the Lincoln to move. The reverse slant window did a fine job of cooking Wertle. I believe this added to the cussing at the time (Dad, not me).

 

[nurdlinger]

I passed by the spot just now on my way home from work. The tree is still on top of the car so assessing the damage at 35mph is difficult. I don't believe the roof is crushed. The back window is intact but I got the impression the front window is missing.

This car is surely not as old as '59. I'm no expert but I believe this one dates after the general Ford product downsizing of '77 or '78. It has the severely square edges I associate with that period. It's not likely I will be able to photograph it.

 

[abcomatic]

Cuffs054, lol I love it! So far the parking brake has been fine, it has a pneumatic assist and does release when needed. Now, talk about gas! With a 22 1/2 gallon tank, it passes everything but a gas station. lol
May Wertle RIP.
I have a new ignition switch as of yesterday. Cuffs, I would love to hear about more stories of your dad's '59. Mine is Blueish-green. Gary

 

[63getelevision]

Hey Gary. I am a gigantic fan of the 1958,'59, and '60 Lincolns. There is a 1:18 scale '58 Continental convertible out now. I had a '78 Mark IV for a while. Please post a picture of your Lincoln, if you can.

 

[58limited]

Lincoln downsized after the 1979 model year - the 1980 model still looked pretty big though.

 

[cuffs054]

Gary, it was navy over robin egg blue (Mom's colors)Capri Sedan. Navy interior. Full power (including the rear window) and factory a/c. I loved the huge steering wheel hub and how cool the dash looked at night. In retrospect, it must have had some merit, it outlasted the New Yorker by a year! I still remember the door panels, they seemed so LUX! Ashtrays, lighters, puddle lamps and those cool door handles. I would love to have one now. My current toy is a 1968 Citroen 2CV 6 club.
Tom

 

[washertalk]

I admit, I love(d) the lincoln Town Car as well.
and the 1982 Continental with it's rear oval window, cool faux spare tire hump on trunk, and the Carriage lights. Now, what is a Lincoln or Mercury Grand Marquis without Carriage lights? (merely a Ford, silly)

I was only 18, I didn't want a camaro or transAM, I wanted an Lincoln town Car. The very model here. I liked the 80'-86' models first and second the '96- '98's roughly, before the current change over that what is basically been for the last 10 years. There is no 3rd place.

In fact, here is a picture of me in 1986 with my then wife Adrienne Barbeau who starred in Swamp Thing.

"...they seemed so LUX! Ashtrays, lighters, puddle lamps and those cool door handles..." I sooo agree. add cornering lights, the awesome hood and trunk ornament, multi-button upholstery...

So what if they only got 12 miles per gallon. GASP. I didn't say that. I will keep my civic or Prius. Thank-you

In 1986, I was 19, and my first car was a used 1983 Grand Marquis. (How do you spell n-u-r-d-e?)

This pic was a few years after Adriene played in Creepshow. Ewww, scary. I'll be wearing my what, for what?

...illuminated entry, lighted vanity mirrors, plush PLUSH carpet, Plush seats, cushy ride....

(In real life, I was never married to Adrienne Barbeau, don't ja know. She was awesome with Bea Arthur in Maude, and the other movies I mentioned.)

 

[washertalk]

typo...

It was the 1980- 1984 models. I meant to say.

 

[washertalk]

I fact I think Ford started...

with this design in 1979, before electronic Fuel injection.
They also switched the Grand Marquis and LTD Crown Vic that year to a cleaner lined version.

 

[58limited]

Chrysler and GM had downsized their cars in model year 1977 or 1978, Ford was the last of the Big Three to do so.

The 1979 model year was the last of the big Lincolns and Lincoln came out with a "Collectors Series" edition to commemorate the change. This package was available on both the Mark V and the Town Car. Alas, 1979 only had the 400M engine, the 460 was discontinued after MY 1978 (it was used in trucks for several more years). The 1980 model year was the first year with the design pictured above, again its still pretty big. And I have always loved those turbin wheels.

 

[cuffs054]

Gary, I have been telling an untruth! My bro reminded me that the Lincoln was a 1957! I had forgotten about the 1959 Olds 98 that took it's place. My bro remembers the 98 clearly. He used it for science experiments. Just in case you need to know, you can't crush a pencil in the electric vent window of a 1959 98, but you can bust the crap out of the glass! I'm begining to understand Dad's love for scotch.

 

[rp2813]

57 Lincoln

Cuffs, my family too had a '57 Lincoln, a Premiere 4-door with air conditioning, which came from 4 ceiling vents and had the two clear plastic ducts coming up through the back dash. This car was the biggest lemon in history. Just about every mechanical component of that car was replaced at least once.

It makes sense that it would have been a '57 or other fixed-back-window model that killed Wertle. He/she would have been fine if it had been a '58-60 Continental with the rear window that went down as it would have been more shade and less of a hothouse effect.

I wouldn't mind finding a '60 Continental. I figure they had '58 and '59 to work out the bugs and I'm pretty sure it's the same reliable 430 as was used in the Continentals for most of the 1960's.

 

[abcomatic]

Here is a picture of my '59 Lincoln Continental Mark 4.
It runs real well (just got home from the store in it). It has 56k original miles on it. In my opinion, I think the styling is the best in '59. Thanks guys, Gary

 

[nurdlinger]

Adrienne Barbeau

The woman in the photo may resemble Ms Barbeau from the neck up.
The car in the photo looks like the one under the tree. It's still under the tree as of this morning on my way to work.

 

[washertalk]

She is bustier isn't she?

 

[63getelevision]

Gary, your Lincoln is one of my dream cars. I had a 1:24 2 door scale model in blue-green of that, I dearly loved it. My real Continental, '78 Mark V was a PILE. If everything hadn't broken in it, it would have been a keeper. A dream to drive.