Lincoln Continental: Did it Almost Destroy Cadillac.

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 มิ.ย. 2024
  • On October 2, 1939 an assembly line was set up to begin the manufacture of the Lincoln-Zephyr Continental. By the end of 1939, 25 had been produced and were designated 1940 models. The cars could be had for about $2,640 which is about $60,000 in 2024 dollars. The first generation ended production in 1948.
    The second generation ran from (1956-1957)
    After an eight-year hiatus, for the 1956 model year, the Continental nameplate made its return; to launch the vehicle, Ford created a namesake "Continental" division centered around its new flagship vehicle.
    At its 1956 launch, the Continental Mark II was the most expensive automobile sold by a domestic manufacturer in the United States, rivaling the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud.
    At $10,000 which is about $115,000 in 2024 dollars, the Mark II cost nearly the same as five Ford Customlines.
    With a large number of power-equipment features included, the Mark II was offered with only a single option: air conditioning, priced at $595 which is a whopping $6800 in 2024 dollars.
    In total, 2,996 Continental Mark IIs were produced. Ford estimated it lost nearly $1000 on every Continental Mark II produced.
    The third generation of the continental was from (1958-1960)
    If you ask me, I think the 2nd gen looked a lot more stylish than the 3rd gen. What do you think? Leave us your comments below.
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ความคิดเห็น • 98

  • @ThisOldCarChannel
    @ThisOldCarChannel  27 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Hey everyone, I sell posters of your favorite cars on eBay. Please check out my store www.ebay.com/str/paylessposters

  • @wydopnthrtl
    @wydopnthrtl หลายเดือนก่อน +26

    I was the water pump design engineer on the 9th gen. It was my first project where management handed over full design responsibility to me.
    At the time our "competitor" was the 4.6L Northstar from GM. It was a good experience but honestly... my love was for the RWD Fords that I was doing design work for.
    Just something inside me said (and still says) the front wheel drive cars will NEVER be a true performance vehicle.
    As your coming off a late apex and rolling into full throttle... there is no way a FWD car can give a stir to the soul as well as a RWD car can.
    Steer with the rear is NOT just a slogan.

    • @chrislong8986
      @chrislong8986 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I have a question why did ford didn't make the generation you worked on , have a longitudinal front-wheel drive setup similar to chrysler's LH platform or the first gen Oldsmobile Toronado

    • @wydopnthrtl
      @wydopnthrtl หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@chrislong8986 We made the 9th gen continental FWD. Why they wanted a FWD? I don't know but I can guess.
      Better MPG and lower cost are for sure. I suspect that is why. Also that's what GM was doing at the time.
      "The 1995-2002 Continental was the only production vehicle in which a Ford Modular family engine was mounted transversely, and the only one to use it in a front wheel drive application"
      Insider tip... the reason the WP was different than the RWD WP was because we moved the FEAD (front end accessory drive) was to make it closer to the front of the block. Meaning... I designed a shorter version of the WP to help move the serpentine belt closer to the front face of the block. So it would be shorter and fit transversely. Also its 7 ribs were thinner because it didn't have to support as much load when the AC compressor kicked on.

  • @troynov1965
    @troynov1965 หลายเดือนก่อน +14

    Those 2nd gens are some of the best looking cars ever made. I heard they lost money on every one of them even selling for 10 grand a piece.

  • @charlesb7019
    @charlesb7019 หลายเดือนก่อน +26

    Sadly, both Cadillac and Lincoln have destroyed themselves. Should never have abandoned their luxury CAR customers.

    • @ThisOldCarChannel
      @ThisOldCarChannel  หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I agree!

    • @allenwayne2033
      @allenwayne2033 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Yep, you are so right!

    • @TomSnyder-gx5ru
      @TomSnyder-gx5ru หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Agree, they abandoned luxury for "BMW sport" - now everything has to look like a "pod" and do 0-60 in 3 seconds! No one builds "luxury" cars anymore and I'm so thankful I was able to experience them.

    • @claybarnett6350
      @claybarnett6350 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Sadly, their car customers abandoned them (or passed on) like all other companies’ car customers.
      Sedan lover here (G70 3.3T here, never owned an SUV) but most folks want a higher / easier seating position. I’m 6’5” and being tall is overrated. 😂

    • @phantom0456
      @phantom0456 29 วันที่ผ่านมา

      There’s a reason that both marques build and sell more Navigators and Escalades than any other models, and it’s because that’s what people buy. It’s unfortunate, but it is what it is.

  • @jacoballred
    @jacoballred หลายเดือนก่อน +11

    Reasons people seek to restore Lincoln's. Backthen Lincoln's were something the working class couldn't afford. It's about Luxury Not horsepower.

  • @locustsun
    @locustsun หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    The sound on this was incredible!
    The Continental Mk. II commercial really dazzled my eardrums, I'm not sure what that was, but I need more!!!

  • @josephpiskac2781
    @josephpiskac2781 หลายเดือนก่อน +8

    The Mark 2 a masterpiece and too expensive.

  • @ContiDemo
    @ContiDemo หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Currently own both 1979 and 2017 Lincoln Continental and it's been a learning experience maintaining the older one as it's at 104k miles. Would never give it up because they don't make it no more.

  • @kaharold
    @kaharold 13 วันที่ผ่านมา

    My Aunt Had A 1978 Lincoln Mark 5 AND That is The Only Car I ever Rode in That Was So Quiet AND Smooth Riding...

  • @petertornabeni602
    @petertornabeni602 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    Imagine FoMoCo had Edsel been in charge through the 1960s - the third generation wasn’t attractive however, give Lincoln credit for standing out - you knew that was a Lincoln

  • @2006gtobob
    @2006gtobob หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Honestly, I preferred the bustleback Continental over the bustleback Seville by far. RWD makes all the difference to me. The interior also just seemed better overall. Lincoln may have been late to the game with downsizing, but they got it right.
    Once Lincoln decided to go FWD with the Continental, it was over. The Town Car kept that division alive.

  • @komradkolonel
    @komradkolonel หลายเดือนก่อน +12

    Personally I prefer Lincolns over Cadillacs. I've found that the Lincolns are generally better made. This was especially true back in the 70s and into the early 80s. Cadillac lost a lot of customers to Lincoln during that time.

    • @ThisOldCarChannel
      @ThisOldCarChannel  หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thanks for sharing!

    • @billolsen4360
      @billolsen4360 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I drove limousines during the 1980's and agree with you. The Cadillacs all had very noisy engines, which Lincolns didn't.

    • @TomSnyder-gx5ru
      @TomSnyder-gx5ru หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Cadillac lost a whole lot of customers when the downsized models came out in '85! That was the last year I've stepped foot in a Cadillac showroom - and wanted to vomit as I was leaving!!

  • @Thunder_6278
    @Thunder_6278 หลายเดือนก่อน +10

    Mark V was the most famous and the ultimate threat to Caddy.

    • @edwardskoda2409
      @edwardskoda2409 หลายเดือนก่อน

      If you are talking about the 77 to 79 Mark V you are correct, however, the Mark lV from 72 to 76 also was a huge success and outsold the Eldorado in almost ever year.

    • @AdamWaffen
      @AdamWaffen หลายเดือนก่อน

      No, it wasn't. It's sales were a joke- about 5% of Cadillac sales. Remember, read, THINK, then write. In that order.

  • @annenelson5656
    @annenelson5656 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

    There’s a reason most car services use black Lincoln Town Cars. They’re reliable, comfortable, have understated good looks. The 1970s and 1980s weren’t the best, fortunately designers didn’t give up on it.

  • @RADIUMGLASS
    @RADIUMGLASS หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    People hate the third generation but go look at one in person and it will change your mind. I remember getting to look at one when I was 16 opening the door and getting inside was a thrill.

    • @johndawid8059
      @johndawid8059 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I have looked at one in person. It did not change my mind, LOL! I'm sorry but they look as if a child got ahold of a French Curve ruler and used every shape and curl to design a car! Or it was the first instantiation of the "Design By Committee" protocol. Circles, squares, curves, oblongs, scallops, angles, lions and tigers and bears oh my! But in fairness, I'm a couple generations from the folks who lived at the time these vehicles would have been offered. Tastes were different then. This would have been the choice for those who wished to avoid Cadillac's ugly automotive catfish-in-steel expression, as well as Imperial's Torque Flite Pushbutton cluster smirking from the left side of the dash while the driver groped with their right hand for the non-existent transmission shift lever. Or searched through the clutter of gauges, pods, buttons, dials, callouts, lights, sliders and switches trying to figure out just how to get the Finest Expression Of the Forward Look to actually go forward.

  • @GeeEm1313
    @GeeEm1313 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    The most recent Continentals were beautiful. Its sad that they're hated.

  • @user-bf2ov3ws7o
    @user-bf2ov3ws7o หลายเดือนก่อน

    Fascinating history! The Lincoln Continental really had an impact. We sent you an email, take a look.

  • @fob1xxl
    @fob1xxl หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    I owned a 1984 MARK VII and loved it. Metallic blue w/white interior. A real show stopper !

  • @billolsen4360
    @billolsen4360 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    3:27 I agree that the 2nd generation Continental Mark II looked a lot better vs the 1958-60 3rd generation. However, the 3rd gen Mark looked really stunning with Eva Marie Saint behind the wheel in that Alfred Hitchcock movie "North By Northwest."

  • @honestone490
    @honestone490 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    My dad owned a 1989 Lincoln town car. He only bought V8 engines. He didn't like the 1990 version which won Motor Trend's car of the year. His last Lincoln he bought was the 2000 Town car and when he passed away in 2017 he only had 60000 miles on it.

  • @davewettlaufer7885
    @davewettlaufer7885 หลายเดือนก่อน

    well put together documentary, Thanks

  • @suze816
    @suze816 หลายเดือนก่อน

    My mom had a 1984 Continental.. When my parents learned that the body style for the 1990 Continental was going to be VERY different; rounded, and more aerodynamic, my mom traded her 1984 model for a 1989 "Signature Series"model w/ a Landau top.. The last of the "shoe box" look.. That was her last car as she was getting older and decided on her own to stop driving, herself.. My older brother kept her Continental in excellent condition (including conditioning the leather seats) until 2003 when our family sold it.. My brother would joke, saying the hood ornament was for "sighting in pedestrians".. We were awful 😄

  • @courtneypuzzo2502
    @courtneypuzzo2502 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    my uncle Dan owned a used Mark 7 Continental and then a town car when I was a child in the 90s

  • @johnlentz2193
    @johnlentz2193 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    1959 Continental Mark IV is my choice for beautiful style.

  • @mike-jc9zd
    @mike-jc9zd หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I had a brand new 1981 Lincoln Town car four-door red red leather interior. Wonderful car. I sold it just 2 years ago

  • @EdwinEdwards-cb7ol
    @EdwinEdwards-cb7ol หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Loved the 65!!

  • @nucleargrizzly1776
    @nucleargrizzly1776 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    The 56-57 Continental MkII cost $1000 more to make than the $10K sticker price.

  • @lawrencemartinez8548
    @lawrencemartinez8548 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I have a 2001 Lincoln Continental that to this day looks brand new. My most favorite car in the group. 100,000I miles and still runs great. The only thing I have done is replace the air shocks for regular shocks..

  • @thumperjdm
    @thumperjdm หลายเดือนก่อน

    @5:35 Nice to see a second Continental in that shot. 😎

  • @nolarobert
    @nolarobert หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    I just try to pretend the 3rd Gen (1958-60) didn't exist. They were not attractive vehicles. The 4th Gen aka the JFK Continental was gorgeous. Lincoln made some great land yachts in the 70s. It is a shame that Lincoln stopped making the Continental in favor of going all-in on SUVs. I think they would still be competitive in the luxury car market.

  • @edbarker8636
    @edbarker8636 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Well the 82 Continental signature series was a wonderful car the Mark 7 was a wonderful car so was the Mark 8

  • @madmike2624
    @madmike2624 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    2nd gen. by far was the most attractable of the generations IMHO.

  • @michaelbergschneider2446
    @michaelbergschneider2446 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Second Gen is stunning.

  • @dmandman9
    @dmandman9 4 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I don’t think you illustrated the 1988-1994 Continental exterior . It was essentially a stretched Taurus/sable with air springs. It even had the same 3.8 v6. It sold pretty good for a Lincoln. It was the beginning of FWD in Lincoln’s.

  • @billwashburn8568
    @billwashburn8568 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    2nd gen was amazing and now valuable if you can find a survivor

  • @addiewinnie
    @addiewinnie หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I liked the early to mid 70s model

  • @dominickcarcione8446
    @dominickcarcione8446 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    1969 - 71 Continental Mark III was the best
    model.

  • @majorwilkesjr.5827
    @majorwilkesjr.5827 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I'll take the 8th gen with no hesitation

  • @Argumedies
    @Argumedies หลายเดือนก่อน

    Son yur gunna drive me to drinkin ifin you dont stop driving that HOT ROD LINCOLN!

  • @600wheel
    @600wheel หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Second gen has T-Bird vibes and then again with the seventh

  • @giuliopedrali4794
    @giuliopedrali4794 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I design cars for hobby, Lincoln Continental was beautiful like Cadillac, but not in 1958, 1970 and in the 80s

  • @timothykeith1367
    @timothykeith1367 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Lincolns were the best riding cars

  • @giuliopedrali4794
    @giuliopedrali4794 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Apart the masterpieces 1956 and 1961 Continentals, the 1975, 1977 / 1979 Lincoln Continental 2 door was a masterpiece, but also 70s and 80s downsized Cadillac not was a joke.

  • @MisterMikeTexas
    @MisterMikeTexas หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    YT retro man Charles Phoenix loves the 3rd Gen Continentals. I can't say I blame the guy.

  • @600wheel
    @600wheel หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Love this channel🤘😎🤘🍺🍺

  • @jimbo5728
    @jimbo5728 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I enjoy the videos here. Is the voice AI?

  • @chrislong8986
    @chrislong8986 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    My personal favorite generations are the 9th especially 2000-02 years and 5th

  • @jaybartlett4090
    @jaybartlett4090 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Like all except 80s and 90s, fancy TBirds

  • @giuliopedrali4794
    @giuliopedrali4794 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    1995 Lincoln sedan is a great design

  • @timshelby2324
    @timshelby2324 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Mark ii are the best .

  • @erickriebel4366
    @erickriebel4366 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    The Lincoln Mark III I think was the best car of the entire time of that period of time when they switched over to Mark 4 it started slipping but they are still way better than the Cadillac Eldorado it's not even a fair comparison and I had them both

    • @TomSnyder-gx5ru
      @TomSnyder-gx5ru หลายเดือนก่อน

      The build quality of the MK's - especially the MK III - always seemed better than the Eldorado's!

  • @ThomasWBaldwin
    @ThomasWBaldwin หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    sweet

  • @OLDS98
    @OLDS98 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you for the video. I appreciated seeing this car in this edition. I am a fan of Lincoln. The only one I was not too fond of was Mark VII. It was the headlights as there should have be two headlights on each side of the grille. It was too close to Thunderbird and Cougar. You can see it. Mark VII served its purpose to Ford and Lincoln. I could not deny that. I was so glad when Mark VIII arrived. It was not until years later I learned Mark VI did not do too well. I rode in one of those. I thought it was cool. Mark V was the ultimate. The market changed. Continental changed over time. You covered the Lincoln brand and Continental quite well. The Lincoln Zephyr lives in China. It is not sold in the United State. Lincoln Zephyr: th-cam.com/video/BUjLDEvv6zU/w-d-xo.html

  • @madmike2624
    @madmike2624 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    It's funny. the Lincon was Edsil's idea, but his flagship line named after him was the ultimate flop!

    • @madmike2624
      @madmike2624 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@johnedwards6208 Parden my spelling.

  • @BigWill63
    @BigWill63 หลายเดือนก่อน

    For some reason you skipped over the Mark III and Mark IV, two important cars that saved Lincoln from having Ford close the division.

  • @600wheel
    @600wheel หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    2 door 98 with the 4 valve is a car I gotta have and stick shift swap it

    • @wydopnthrtl
      @wydopnthrtl หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Lots of sensor and trans problems. But they are nice and there still are some high quality cars out there. Keep your eye out for one!

    • @600wheel
      @600wheel หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@wydopnthrtl Rife sensors and a T-56 magnum problem solved

    • @wydopnthrtl
      @wydopnthrtl หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@600wheel Figure out how to power the meter, transmission, and engine with an aftermarket controller and it would be a great car.
      btw, I designed the water pump on those Mark 8's
      Shalom

    • @wydopnthrtl
      @wydopnthrtl หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@600wheel IMO... a "built" trans and either a flash to control or an aftermarket controller... a very good and underrated car... YES.
      Also, some of those early all aluminum engines had significant oil consumption.
      Problem is.. like a Jaguar (which I own) they can be very good cars but due to popular opinion... are not and will not be worth very much to most people.
      (My 03 S-Type is repaired properly and will move properly (130+ mph)... but its value is low)

    • @600wheel
      @600wheel หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@wydopnthrtl my mechanic friend own a shop and a guy pulled up in that same Jaguar with transmission problems and my friend scanned it and told him what the scanner said and the guy just walked away and said “you can keep the car” my mechanic dug into it a little more a month later and ended up fixing it for a few hundred dollars (new filter pan and fluids if I remember correctly) and then selling it as quickly as possible. Sadly yes there are some great cars out there but because of the Internet will never get the recognition they deserve but is good for guys who don’t mind getting their hands dirty

  • @NLJosh83
    @NLJosh83 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I'm not sure why there was so much Mark VII featured in a video about Continentals...

  • @jamesbosworth4191
    @jamesbosworth4191 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Even as a kid, I liked the 58 - 60 Lincoln. I may be in the minority, but I have never been a follower.

  • @AdamWaffen
    @AdamWaffen หลายเดือนก่อน

    Today on "Internet Revisionism For Clickbait.." Only in 1999 did Lincoln outsell Cadillac. Continental sales were a joke compared to Cadillac sales

  • @giuliopedrali4794
    @giuliopedrali4794 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    For an Italian lovers of car design, the question is always : why americans, now in 2024 not make true car yet?

  • @garyv2196
    @garyv2196 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    2nd

  • @marcomoreno8188
    @marcomoreno8188 หลายเดือนก่อน

    You got alot of data missing n u didnt talk about the Lincoln Mark lll

    • @ThisOldCarChannel
      @ThisOldCarChannel  หลายเดือนก่อน

      Yup..There is a time limit. After 5 minutes the average viewer loses interest. There is a lot more I could have talked about. There is ALWAYS a lot more we can talk about but not always worth it. Thanks. We hope you are a subscriber

  • @TomSnyder-gx5ru
    @TomSnyder-gx5ru หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    My favorite MK is the MK 3, one of the most beautiful cars ever to grace the hwy IMO - although I wouldn't turn down a MK 4 or 5 either - after that I think they lost their "uniqueness" and became just Fords! The MK 2 is nice and all but without updates would be impractical and really not safe to drive in 2024 - and can you imagine the cost of repairs if you ever wrecked it??

  • @dannyr9842
    @dannyr9842 23 วันที่ผ่านมา

    You completely skipped the Lincoln Mark-8 1993/1998 !!!!!!!!!

  • @ksandhoff1
    @ksandhoff1 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    I sold it and upgraded to a 1972 Rolls Royce Corniche coup, for $35,000 in 1978 I sold it 1984 for $37,000

  • @ksandhoff1
    @ksandhoff1 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    1 owned a Mark 111 this one looks like a cross eyed kid