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.

 

[rp2813]

Nice '59, and with only 56K on it, can you advise how you got it and why the low miles?

Our fellow member 58Limited advised that there were some mechanical issues with the '58 model year. I prefer the styling on the front of the '59 and '60 models over the '58. Lincolns and Continentals made during this 3-year run are considered ugly ducklings and the Continental Marks from this period often aren't even included in the historical accounts of the Mark I, II, and III.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the feeling that this series of Lincoln & Continental are among the least desirable can only help those of us who are interested in them to be able to afford one.

Ralph

 

[abcomatic]

HI, The '58s did have some problems. I know a lady who's dad bought one brand new and had to take it in because the shock absorbers in the rear of the car were coming through the floor of the trunk! Not a real good idea! lol
Mine originally came from an older couple who bought it new in Joplin Missouri. It had been in the barn there for years with 40k on it when some friends of my from Elmhurst,IL bought it and got it going etc. A new paint job, tires and a few things that had to be done to it and it was on the road. They moved to Arizona and I bought it from them. I sure do like the way it drives. Bye for now. Gary

 

[nurdlinger]

Post-script on this thread

The tree is removed from the subject Lincoln, it seems hardly damaged at all from the experience.

However, I'm suddenly in the market for a vehicle, as my beautiful '03 Windstar was T-boned yesterday and I doubt it will be repairable. How does the song go? "In a New York minute, every thing can change."

 

[volvoguy87]

One word: Honda!

It has been my experience that Honda makes some of the best-designed and durable vehicles today. I know my user-name says Volvo, but they just aren't as good as they were 20 years ago. A friend of mine has a Honda Element. While that cube on wheels is one of the ugliest cars I have ever seen, it drives remarkabley well. It also has good visability and erganomics. It will also hold a washer or a dryer very nicely, and its easy to load too. Also, the fuel economy is on par with that of my Volvo (mid 20s most of the time).
I'm glad you seem unhurt from your accident. Were you driving, and if you had any passangers, are they ok? I hope things improve for you.

Just my 2 cents,
Dave
(My family had 2 1975 Lincoln Continental Towncars, and I sure miss them.)

 

[washertalk]

"T-boned" ewww, that sounds like dirty fun? I have no idea what it means but it sounds like a kinky 3-way of some sort. More info please!

Volvodude- I know what you mean about about Volvos'. They were always good cars before Ford got involved in 1999. No surprise there. Being swede, I am required to like Volvo's, but not when they are owned by , ugg, soon to be filing for bancrupcy (we have one hybrid suv made from japanese parts) f-o-r-d. lol
Apparently BMW is looking to buy.

Well nurdy-Tom, I'm sorry to hear that apparently something bad and unrepairable happened to your handy appliance mover. How well will that Lincoln look parked in your car port? The prob is, you can't move a washer or stove in a towncar. So I see your dilemma. hmmm

I



http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070808/FREE/70808020/1024/THISWEEKSISSUE

 

[selectomatic]

Well, Nurdinger,

I hear that there's a nice Lincoln for sale right in your neighborhood.

-kevin

 

[58limited]

"T-boned" means someone impacted the side of your vehicle with theirs.

 

[nurdlinger]

T-boned

Yah, this time it means an enormous Dodge Ram pickup hit the driver's side right about at the front door hinges. The front wheel got pushed in at the top along with the fender, the left edge of the windshield shattered, and the door won't close. A couple seconds later and the impact would have been square on the door and the consequences much more serious. As it is I have aches and pains and a couple bruises but that's all. I was alone, so no worries about anyone else. The other driver was not injured at all. He had a front impact, and his airbags did not go off. It's the first car accident I have experienced in 42 years of driving.

Unfortunately large cars like that Lincoln don't appeal to me. It's interesting that someone mentioned the Honda Element. That was my second choice when I bought the Windstar, maybe it will win this time.