The 1961-1963 Lincoln Continental is considered among
the most handsome large American cars ever produced. Chiseled, classic lines
from the pen of Elwood Engel stayed the same through these years except for
minor grille insert and rear panel changes. It was superbly engineered with a rigid
unit body/chassis, extensive sound insulation, very close machining tolerances,
and an unprecedented number of long-life service components such as a fully
sealed electrical system and thorough factory-applied corrosion protection.
The
big Lincoln 430 V-8 from previous years was retained in somewhat detuned form.
Each car was bench tested at 3500 rpm for three hours before installation
(equivalent to nearly 100 mph), and all cars were given individual 12-mile road
tests before shipment, reflecting the strong emphasis given quality control.
This car also reintroduced the convertible sedan body type, the first since Kaiser-Frazer's
1949-1951 model. More compact than its immediate predecessors, this Continental
rode the same wheelbase as the very roadable 1952-1955 Lincolns.
Pluses of the 1961-1963 Lincoln Continental:
- Styling excellence
- High quality
- Fast and remarkably agile for the luxury class
- Poshness
- Convertible sedan's uniqueness, allure
- A Milestone car
Minuses of the 1961-1963 Lincoln Continental:
- Mechanical complexity
- Electrical bothers
- Somewhat rust-prone
Production of the 1961-1963 Lincoln Continental:
- 1961: 4d sdn 22,203; 4d conv sdn 2,857
- 1962: 4d sdn 27,849; 4d conv sdn 3,212
- 1963: 4d sdn 28,095; 4d conv sdn 3,138
Specifications of the 1961-1963 Lincoln Continental:
Wheelbase, inches: 123.0
Length, inches: 212.4 (1961), 213.0 (1962),
213.3 (1963)
Weight, pounds: 4,927-5,370
Price, new: $6,067-$6,916
Engines for the 1961-1963 Lincoln Continental:
Type Size Horsepower Years ohv
V-8 430 cid 300/320 1961-1963
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