1978 Lincoln Town Car Continental from North America - Comments

Poor fuel mileage when purchased (10-11mpg).

Difficulty starting when purchased.

Leaky engine gaskets.

Leaky transmission oil pan gasket.

Leaky radiator.

Air conditioner inoperative.

Sagging rear springs.

Shock absorbers worn out.

This car had been used infrequently, had been stored in the New Mexico desert, and maintenance by previous owner had been limited to oil and oil filter changes.

I only paid $350 for it, and put a little more than $1,000 into it fixing it up.

My first move was to buy a new set of tires and shock absorbers, and correct the sag in the rear springs with rubber spacers.

The radiator wasn't original. It was from a car with a much smaller engine and was leaking. I replaced it with a new, correct radiator, and changed belts and hoses and thermostat.

Transmission got fluid and filter replaced, engine got oil and filter changed.

I corrected the engine oil leaks by replacing valve cover gaskets. Mileage was improved by replacing spark plugs and plug wires, and tuning carburetor.

Now it gets up to 16mpg.

This car is extremely comfortable. It is enormous, plenty of room in the interior, trunk, and engine compartment.

I am so pleased with this car that I plan to take it on a cross-country trip this week.

A car this size may cause some concern from other drivers as being gross and excessive. By automobile standards, it is. But mechanically, it has much more in common with pickups and Sport Utility Vehicles than with today's front-wheel drive cars. Judged by comparison with it's present-day mechanical peers, it is neither gross nor is it a gas hog.

It delivers the luxury it was made to provide, and with 3 tons of metal surrounding the driver, it provides safety, too. I feel this car could hold it's own in a collision with anything up to a Humvee.

3 tons?

What kind of tons are you using?

2 tons, max.

7.5 Litre engine! oh my god. that's got to be getting on for 500hp? In a '78 model though, I guess it would be less.

A well-written and interesting review.

I love these dinosaurs.

Not many of these cars left on the roads now.

We are getting ready to purchase a 79 town car w/only 34,000 original miles.. this will be our daily driver. 10 miles to the gallon? Who cares. That's not what we're buying it for.

I'm only 51 and I expect this to be the best of all the cars I've owned. There is no other luxury car like this at any price or year, current cars included.

I own a 78 Town Car. It is 19.5 feet/ 5,000+ lbs of perfect luxury. The 460 can't be heard or felt inside and the suspension floats on air. At 125,000 miles it shows no signs of deterioration. I am the third owner, the second owner bought it in '81 and put it in the garage. 15 mpg on the freeway is fine with me!

I recently bought a 1978 Lincoln continental, 22 feet, all white, little rust, although the oil needs to be changed as well as the filter, and the fuel pump was rusted through at the top seams, it is in great condition, all the elecrical systems even still work and it only has about 92,800 miles. I'm only 16 but I love the car to death, nothing safer and absolutely nothing more luxurious, comfortable, or fun to drive.

Have you ever measured your car? It is not 22 feet unless it has a bumper extension continental kit. These cars weigh 4660 pounds from the factory and the overall length is 19 feet 4 inches.

I don't understand negative comments like the above. This car is definetly in the realm of 5500 lbs. And 22ft seems accurate. Maybe 20 - who cares. Amazing vehicles. Shame the'll NEVER be built like this again : (

I completely agree. A minimum of 5500lbs. The 70's brought grossly under weight ratings.

It's not a negative comment about the length, just a clarification. The writer is correct, the Lincoln described is 4500 to 4800 lbs. in weight & was 19ft.4in.long.

I drove my '78 Towncar 460 on the weigh scales in Ontario, Canada and it weighed well over 5,000 lbs. My car is fully loaded with options. You have to keep in mind that in '78 power seats, power windows and even the 460 were options. So a base Towncar may weigh 4,600 lbs.

-Rob Skolik.