Photo: Mecum Auctions
Without a shadow of a doubt, the '50s and '60s were glamorous decades as far as automotive design is concerned. An example of that four-wheeled glamor comes in the form of this ’61 Lincoln Continental, which was loaned to the President’s wife.
The 1961 Lincoln Continental Convertible in the photo gallery to your right will headline the Mecum Monterey auction in August for the simple fact that the car was assigned to Jaqueline Kennedy for personal use during the late John F. Kennedy’s tenure as POTUS.
As per Mecum Auctions, the 17.7-foot long car was given to the White House by the Ford Motor Company. Afterward, the White House assigned the white-painted cruiser to Jacqueline, probably because JFK already had a fleet of Continentals at his disposal.
Once equipped with all the Secret Service equipment available in the 1960s, the Conti now presents itself in civilian overalls. After Jacqueline had been done with it, the White House sold the car to the peeps at Steuart Ford in Lanham, Maryland. In its present form, this piece of U.S. history is documented with a copy of a letter written by Ronald W. Young, the vice president of Steuart Ford.
The product of an older restoration, the 1961 Lincoln Continental four-door convertible in this story is motivated by a 430 cubic inch (7.0-liter) MEL V8 engine that sends its 300 horsepower or so to the rear wheels via a Cruise-O-Matic three-speed transmission.
As expected for a luxobarge such as the Conti, power steering, brakes, windows, and the convertible top came as standard. One optional extra that it’s worth mentioning is the cruise control system.
So there you have it. If you’re in the market for U.S. Presidency paraphernalia or one of the best fourth-gen Continentals in existence, look no further than this instant classic with suicide rear doors.
As per Mecum Auctions, the 17.7-foot long car was given to the White House by the Ford Motor Company. Afterward, the White House assigned the white-painted cruiser to Jacqueline, probably because JFK already had a fleet of Continentals at his disposal.
Once equipped with all the Secret Service equipment available in the 1960s, the Conti now presents itself in civilian overalls. After Jacqueline had been done with it, the White House sold the car to the peeps at Steuart Ford in Lanham, Maryland. In its present form, this piece of U.S. history is documented with a copy of a letter written by Ronald W. Young, the vice president of Steuart Ford.
The product of an older restoration, the 1961 Lincoln Continental four-door convertible in this story is motivated by a 430 cubic inch (7.0-liter) MEL V8 engine that sends its 300 horsepower or so to the rear wheels via a Cruise-O-Matic three-speed transmission.
As expected for a luxobarge such as the Conti, power steering, brakes, windows, and the convertible top came as standard. One optional extra that it’s worth mentioning is the cruise control system.
So there you have it. If you’re in the market for U.S. Presidency paraphernalia or one of the best fourth-gen Continentals in existence, look no further than this instant classic with suicide rear doors.
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