It doesn’t happen all the time, but occasionally a deal will show up on an auction website (or in person) that seems so outlandishly good that you think at first it’s a misprint. Such is the case with this 1974 Lincoln Continental Coupe, which recently sold on Bring a Trailer in Northampton, Massachusetts, for a no-reserve price of just $1,950. No, it’s not the finest specimen roaming the earth, but it’s a fairly solid example of what 1970s luxury looked like. And somebody just stole it.
For one thing, the Coupe was relatively rare, just 7,318 being sold. Part of the reason for this is the wildly popular Mark IV, which was the best seller in the Lincoln line by far, with 57,316 finding posh new garages in 1974. The Coupe edged the Mark in size, measuring a whopping 232.6 inches in overall length, while the Mark IV couldn’t even hit 230 (it was 228.4 inches long). You may notice in the pictures that the rear bumper and taillights look a bit tweaked; maybe that’s the reason for the low sale price.
But probably not. This is far from a pristine Continental, and it’s also a high-mileage example; the BaT ad says that the mileage is unknown, but it goes on to say that the title reads 212,000 miles and the odometer shows 20,000. Using a little extrapolation, that makes 220,000 miles a likely guess, although I have to wonder if there’s a typo in the paperwork somewhere.
At least it has the big, tough 215-horsepower 460 (and a beefy C6 automatic), which should continue to run well regardless of how much springiness the piston rings still have (or have not).
Other problems include non-operational air conditioning and passenger-side power windows; the windows probably aren’t too involved a repair, but air conditioning is always a money pit (in my opinion). Despite that, I think the interior is very handsome; Lincoln did interiors right in the 1970s.
The carpeting is deep, the steering wheel surprisingly sporty, and the dashboard unique (in a good way). Obviously, the steering wheel has some cracks.
And the leather seats have some wear and tear(s).
And the mice have gotten to the headliner.
And somebody decided that a tailpipe delete option was a missed opportunity at Lincoln in 1974.
And the headlight doors don’t close on their own.
And there are some rust bubbles. (It’s surprisingly solid overall, however, especially considering its New England home.)
And it is wearing Ford’s ubiquitous Dark Brown Metallic, the same color of my dad’s 1974 Ford Gran Torino Elite and my mom’s 1974 Ford Pinto. But the color and the minor flaws don’t change the fact that someone took this, I’m just going to say it, very attractive Lincoln home for only $1,950; apparently, there is no justice in the world. I’ve always thought that the early 1970s Lincoln Continental Coupes wore that car’s bulk best, as the proportions are not bad at all, so kudos to whoever clicked “bid” when everyone else seemed to be snoozing.
Related Reading
1970 Lincoln Continental – All-New, Lighter, Faster, But Not Quite Good Enough? (by Aaron Severson)
1979 Lincoln Continental Town Car: A 14,500-Mile Original Owned By The Same Family For 45 Years (by me)
Assuming it drives OK, that seems like a great price. I saw a Continental of that vintage though a four door, driving along in Las Vegas just yesterday morning. It was white on white and far rattier looking, but running smooth and silent.
This was a very good buy, and in a beautiful color, one that just screams Lincoln to me (maybe because we had a Mark VII in a different shade of brown).
If the owner has the budget, headliner and front seat won’t be terribly expensive and there are kits to replace the vacuum headlight door system with an electric one. A/C is a can of worms that I would just forget about.
Hopefully the new owner will give this car the love it deserves!
9 mpg + $4.50 gas. Not such a bargain.
I don’t think that matters since it is never going to be a daily driver otherwise I wouldn’t drive my six. Besides I could see this being flipped given that it went for so little.
There was one of these (a ’73) in my area for sale recently with 50,000 or so miles. Sold cheap.
2k is a good price theres only another 3k in obvious problems to putting it on the road here, postage being the real deal killer and gas is already past $15 for 4.5 litres an actual gallon.
I have long considered the 74 as a styling sweet spot for Lincoln in the 70s. This car, both inside and out, was at Lincoln’s dignified best. But the buying public was into bling in the 70s and the 75+ Lincoln accommodated with fat filagareed moldings and loose pillow-style upholstery. And opera windows. Lots of opera windows.
I am really glad this wasn’t in my area (and that I didn’t see the ad). It would have been a really stupid purchase at my stage of life, but then I’ve made really stupid car purchases before.
That’s top end of market value for a ’73 & up. I don’t consider it being a “steal”
Thought about that. Has issues (and lots of miles). If someone had the time and wherewithal to deal with them (especially the non-functioning A/C), might not be so bad.
But I’m wondering about the hidden chassis rust in a New England vehicle over all these years. That could be a real killer. Even that funky exhaust dumping ahead of the rear axle would give me pause.
TBH, although it seems like a steal, might be better to try and find a pristine, fully-functioning estate car for twice the price. This one’s easily going to eat up another couple of grand just to get it in fully drivable shape (and that excludes the cosmetic stuff).
Assuming it starts up, it’s a pretty fair buy. Even with those government regulated bumpers.
And it was staged for the photos at the parking structure of the Holyoke Mall in Holyoke, MA! I know that mall well. Just down 91 from NoHo. Hopefully on the way back home the owner stopped off at Nick’s Nest (on parallel Rt. 5) for a hot dog, a cup of beans, and a frappe … and to take a look at the 79 year old Chicago Coin band box (Nick’s itself is 104 years old). I always do.
Yes, someone got a pretty good deal on this Lincoln. But I’m guessing that when the gas it needs – in copious quantities for its giant 1974 V8 – is running around $5.50/gal (in MA at least), it makes sense that buyers were a bit less than enthusiastic.
I’m impressed that you can identify the mall just from a generic parking ramp in the background.
The PeoplesBank HQ building in the background of some of the photos on BaT is the give away. That, plus living in the area for close to 40 years. 🙂
I too think this was a good deal and I don’t like big cars .
-Nate