Ford’s premium car brand, Lincoln, is pretty much done with regular passenger vehicles in our market. Their portfolio only comprises high riders, like the Corsair, Nautilus, Aviator, and the mighty Navigator.
We may not be weeping about the Ford Fusion-based Lincoln MKZ, even though it was a breath of fresh air in the segment, but we certainly miss the platform-sharing Continental, especially in the Coach Door special edition, which sent Rolls-Royce vibes for a fraction of the price.
Lincoln's ties with the Continental date back to the 1940s when the first generation came out. Related to the era's Zephyr, it was offered with two doors and rear-wheel drive. The more advanced second generation was launched in 1956, and two years later, they replaced it with the third generation that survived until 1960. One year later, the fourth generation debuted, followed by five more generations.
There was a 14-year hiatus between the ninth and tenth generations, and the latter was the last of its kind. It was made at the Flat Rock assembly plant in Michigan, came with various V6 engines, and was sent off by the marvelous Coach Door Edition, which packed a twin-turbo mill with 400 horsepower under the hood and featured an all-wheel drive system.
Photo: Instagram | 412donklife
Due to slow sales and the company's desire to focus on crossovers, the Continental was dropped after the 2020 model year, leaving a gap in the brand's lineup that hasn't been filled. Ask any car guy (or gal) about the Lincoln Continental, and chances are everyone has a favorite iteration. And if the fourth one still gets your heart racing after all these years, then you will probably fall in love with the pictured example – we know we did!
Considering that the images were released by 412donklife on Instagram earlier this week, pictured could be a big word. But it's real, and there's no CGI here. The car is out of this world with its rear suicide doors and a darker-than-night overall stance. It's black almost everywhere, features smoked lighting units at both ends, extra tinted windows all around, and a few other things.
In fact, the only things providing some contrast are the aftermarket alloys with their shiny look and the red interior partially visible through the open doors. This 1969 Lincoln Continental also boasts some serious firepower under the hood, complemented by a parachute attached to its back end, suggesting that it is ready for a fun day at the drag strip. The adjustable suspension allows it almost to rub its belly onto the road.
This is a great-looking project that has conquered our hearts, and we think it is one of the most fabulous takes on this model yet. Do you agree?
Editor's note:
This article erroneously stated that the Lincoln Continental in question was all CGI when it was actually shown at this year's SEMA Show.
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News