1976 Lincoln Continental

Your first impression when you approach this 1976 Lincoln Continental is that it's simply mammoth. On a 120-inch wheelbase, it rivals the biggest cars of the '50s, and today anything with 120 inches between the wheels is a full-sized dually pickup. In fact, this car is more than 11 inches longer than a new Lincoln Navigator! But it isn't merely big for the sake of being big, it has style and proportion and a gothic look that has aged pretty well. These cars have enjoyed a nice uptick in values ever since the guys in the Scorsese flick “Casino” were motoring around in such things, and in 1976, if you owned one of these, you had well and truly made it to the top.

For consignment, taking up significant real estate in the Classic Auto Mall, is this 1976 large and in charge Lincoln Continental. With a mere 66,405 original miles and always garaged it is a no rust car, clean undercarriage, and oodles of convenience options, you are entering the lap of luxury, so supersize me!

Exterior
A big chrome grille with the Lincoln star atop, hidden headlights on either side, and cathedral style signal lights at each corner. We have the beginnings of a limousine-like car, and we are only up front! A long luscious hood, big side panels minding their gaps, plenty of side trimmings in vinyl and chrome. 4 big full access doors, a 3 bedroom apartment size trunk and a landau style padded vinyl top in matching Dove gray body color. It has complete stainless steel rocker trim which is wide and shiny, as are all other trimmings, door handles, mirrors, window surrounds, bumpers, and wheel covers. Speaking of wheel covers, big shallow dish wheel covers have a black Lincoln badge in the center and are wrapped by thin white radials all around. The vinyl padded top shows some cracking and staining on the bottom rail and the beginnings of the trunk deck have some invasive rust. Also a few slight areas of some rust bubbling can be seen on front panels.

Interior
A swing of any of the well balanced but big doors reveals gray stitched leather panels, wood appliqué, nice chrome trimmings, and a lower silver/gray carpeted panel. A litany of power switches and toggles for door locks, seat adjustments, windows, and a rear-view mirror toggle are within the door. Having a seat inside, and I might as well be at the local Republican Club in the smoking lounge surrounded by full gray leather wide buckets with extra pillows stitched on just for good measure. A large pillowed leather armrest magically lowers from the center of the buckets to create an armrest for the “lean” when you decide to go low and slow. A rear bench like grandmother's couch stretches from rear door to door, and has the same buttoned pillows as the front as well as the armrest…smoke 'em if ya got 'em… The square and rectangle dash is simplistic in its design, but retains luxurious looks with brushed aluminum panels and burled veneer appliqué housing various controls, the speedometer, trip odometer, and fuel gauge. Climate controls are to the right of the steering wheel, (which is original), and a factory Ford radio is installed in a mid section horizontal wood burl covered bar. Also within all this menagerie is a rolling wheel digital clock right out of mid 1970. More A/C vents and a large glove box in front of the passenger. Silver gray clean carpet floods the floors, and a tight headliner stretches above the passengers.

Drivetrain
A big powerful 460ci V8 engine is within a slight patina but clean engine bay, all original. On top is a Motorcraft 4350 4-barrel carburetor. This “proper” engine is mated with a Ford C-6 select-shift 3-speed automatic transmission and a Ford 9" rear axle.

Undercarriage
The 1978 Lincoln Continental Town Coupé has the luxury length of 228”, rides upon a long 120.4” wheelbase, and is 79.8” wide. This is one of the largest passenger production cars ever built in America. Underneath is showing some surface rust on the driveshaft, rear pumpkin, and suspension. Floor pans and rockers are clean and look as if they may have been resprayed with rustproofing, however this is not verified. Power disc brakes for the front, and big drums for the rear, along with the front coil over suspension and rear coils, it rides like a dream.

Drive-Ability
This car started with little effort, ran smoothly and handled the test track with flying colors, (well, at least Dove gray and silver!). Good acceleration, smooth shifting, and a very luxurious cruise at highway speed, where you barely know you are moving. It stopped in a straight line, and stopping power was very sufficient.

A fairly low mileage always garaged car and owners who babied it and were careful about maintenance and repairs when needed. Now you can show up in classic luxury style, turn heads, and enough seating for 6. They do not make them like this anymore, and what a kick to drive such a large car. I think I'll light a cigar and go for a ride and watch other drivers and pedestrians turn gray with envy!

VIN DECODE
6Y82A837680
6-1976
Y-Wixon, MI Assy Plant
82-4 Door Continental Sedan
A-460ci V8 4bbl
837460-Sequential Unit Number

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.