Ford gave the go-ahead to the fourth-generation Lincoln Continental in 1961, with the lineup now available as a four-door sedan and convertible.
As a full-size luxury car, the Continental wasn’t affordable. The base model, a four-door sedan, cost over $6,000, while the convertible was available for approximately $6,700.
The new generation wasn’t initially impressive from a sales perspective. Lincoln shipped only a little over 25K units in 1961, but the numbers gradually increased beginning with the 1962 model year, when it produced 31,000 Continentals. The best year for this generation was the 1966 release when Lincoln sold 54,755 Continentals.
Enter this fantastic 1962 Lincoln Continental barn find.
The car landed on eBay thanks to seller collectorcarswanted, who posted the convertible after saving the vehicle from an estate. I won’t waste your minutes talking about the car’s condition because you can see everything in the highly detailed photos shared by the owner (and hats off to them for the photo gallery), but I still have to point out the obvious.
This Continental needs a full restoration, and you’ll find rust damage courtesy of Midwest weather conditions.
The convertible is 99% complete, but the bad news comes from what happens under the hood. The car rolled off the assembly lines with a 430 V8 unit, but it’s no longer running, which isn’t surprising considering this Continental spent over two decades in the same spot. It’s unclear if it turns over, but potential buyers should see it in person before committing to a purchase, especially because the vehicle has incredible potential to become a super-expensive classic.
Lincoln produced only 3,212 convertibles in 1962, and even fewer came with factory-installed air conditioning. This example is one of these rare examples, and I’m certain it won’t remain available for long. The seller emphasizes that this Continental can be a six-figure car, and I agree that a 1962 convertible restored to factory conditions and with everything original can easily be worth more than $100K. However, everything depends on the quality of the restoration, as some collectors might be tempted to get it running and keep the car for themselves.
Meanwhile, the Continental can be yours if you agree to pay $19,500, and the price is firm. However, if you consider this car an investment and plan to restore it for a profit, keep in mind that restoring a Continental is not an affordable job. 99% of the vehicle is still in place, but this doesn’t mean it’s also usable.
Your best option if you’re interested in the car is to contact the seller and see it in person. It’s parked in Scottsdale, Arizona, and considering it doesn’t run, you’ll need transportation to take it home once you reach a deal with the owner.