1971 Lincoln Continental Mark 3 from North America - Comments

Nothing, really. The things that are wrong with it were there when I purchased the car. It has been seriously neglected and has lots of rust, but is complete. It needs to be completely restored.

This Car is absolutely gorgeous. Its low slung, and was designed to cruise. You have to be one cool cat before you dare enter this car. It is black, with red leather interior, and has all the options. I even have the owners manual. I checked the owners manual against the car, and this baby has it all: Power everything, 8 track, auto headlight dimmer, (which still works) cruise control, automatic climate control, A/C, Sure-Track Brake system. This system is supposed to pump the rear brakes so they won't lock up. Not sure how it works, or if it is safe. does anyone know?

This car has 460 Cubic Inches of Detroit Muscle! The carb is huge, and loves the gas! it make 365 horses, although I am not sure whether that is in the crank or wheels.

I have a 65 International Short Bus (Motor home) and the Lincoln is almost as long!

I think that unless I play chicken with a train, I would survive a wreck. This car would hammer almost any new car into the ground.

Like my mom says, its like driving an armchair down the road. This is my favorite vehicle, and I will never part with it. I wonder if I could use this car as my casket when I die...

The 365hp rating is a "gross rating" - the hp is measured by the manufacturer at the crankshaft, with no air filter, and no accessories (A/C compressor, power steering pump, etc). This test is done low-humidity, 67-degree Fahrenheit air. The engine is at each rpm level to obtain optimum power. Manufacturers used this rating system to achieve high "advertised horsepower" numbers before the '70's gas crunch. In 1971 & 1972 (depending on the manufacturer), the "net rating" system was adopted - hp is measured with the air filter & all accessories & emissions equipment in place, in 72-degree air at higher humidity, to get a more realistic number. Net hp usually works out to around 75% of gross hp, so the way hp is measured today, your Lincoln would rate around 275hp (which is still damn powerful). Rear-wheel hp is much more variable, and not as easily estimated.

Well the anti-lock breaking systems should work decent. But the abuse common to older cars of the late 60's (usually people who like to show others the 375 h.p. with burnouts) usually break down the features of the car. Lack of care. Now you speak of the car of not having a lot of power. Well, it sounds to me that the abuse put upon the car, wore down the power-plant. Back to the brakes- Chrysler had the first four wheel A.B.S. system in 1972 with the New Yorker I believe. The A.B.S. of the times should do as they were designed to work. Nice car. Hopefully you can restore it!

ABS was first introduced on the 1969 Lincoln - rear wheels only... but I believe it was in fact the first true ABS system on any car. Steve Ouellette (pronounced Wool-ette) at Baker auto is a Lincoln expert, and can sell you parts and manuals on this car - and its' ABS system. I have a 62 convertible, and he is second to none for parts and an encyclopedic knowledge of the car. And yes, they drive beautifully. Good luck!

Thank you all for your help. I will contact Steve Ouellette today. Thanks!

Try playing chicken with a train, and that car WILL be your casket! And a rusty one besides!

HAHA! I wonder how much that would cost... I guess I wouldn't care because I'd be dead.

I would just like to add an interesting story. It was a late summer evening (3:00 a.m.) in L.A. in 1969. My band and I had just finished our gig at some club on Sunset Blvd. We had the gear loaded in the back of our Chevy truck, and 3 of us were cruising slowing back home in the center lane with all the windows rolled down. There was hardly any traffic that late at night. But up ahead we were slowly gaining in this beautiful shiny new black Lincoln Mark III. Funny thing I noticed right off was that it had out of state plates. As we slowly pull up side by side with this beauty (and me sitting at the passenger door side), who did we see driving this vehicle with two passengers beside him...? It was Elvis Presley out for a late night cruise. We were all just speechless...frozen. He looks over at us, smiles, waves a hello, and then slowly turns off on the next intersection. We were just awestruck, and couldn't wait to get home and tell the other member of the band. Gotta love those Black Lincoln Mark III's. Cheers, LG King, Bangkok Thailand.

I also own a black, black with red interior mark III. If you look in the reviews I have one in Mark III category. To me, black is the only choice for this car... well except maybe for a light blue, black top and red interior... Anyone heard of Frank Cannon by chance??