Lee Iacocca's brief for this car was one sentence: put a Rolls-Royce grille on a Thunderbird.
Median 172 hp across 116 similar cars
Lead trim: Continental Mark III 460 cu in V8 (365 hp gross)
Lincoln Continental Mark III1969–1971
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Lincoln Continental Mark III yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactLee Iacocca's brief for this car was one sentence: put a Rolls-Royce grille on a Thunderbird.
The Continental Mark III is a personal luxury car marketed by Lincoln for the 1969–1971 model years (production 1968–1971), the namesake successor of the 1956–57 Continental Mark II and, like it, the flagship of Ford Motor Company. Offered as a two-door hardtop coupe with hidden headlights, a Continental spare and a Rolls-Royce-styled grille, it was the brainchild of Lee Iacocca, who told design VP Gene Bordinat in September 1965 to "put a Rolls-Royce grille on a Thunderbird"; it was developed as a direct competitor to the Cadillac Eldorado, sharing its chassis with the four-door Ford Thunderbird (the side-rail frame identical, with almost 300 lb more bodywork) and based on the fourth-generation Lincoln Continental (1961–1969), for about $30 million. Power was Lincoln's Ford 385-based 460 cu in (7.5 L) V8 at 365 bhp gross with a 3-speed C6 automatic; on a 117.2 in wheelbase, 216.1 in long, 79.4 in wide, 53.0 in high and 4,866 lb. It was unveiled at the 1968 12 Hours of Sebring and was a significant financial success: Iacocca said it outsold the Eldorado in its very first year. In 1970 it became the first American car with Michelin "X" radial tires as standard; the vinyl roof became standard, interior wood accents changed from simulated to genuine walnut, and horsepower remained unchanged at 365 with Thermactor air injection added for emissions; for 1971 tinted glass, automatic climate control and Sure-Trak anti-lock brakes became standard. The Mark III was sold only as a "Continental" — the Lincoln name did not appear on the vehicle, VIN plate or factory paperwork — creating branding confusion until 1986. It was built at Wixom, Michigan (27,091 sold in 1971, the third and final year) and was superseded by the Mark IV for 1972.
Collectors Spotted in the Lincoln Continental Mark III Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Lincoln Continental Mark III yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
One published trim in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental Mark III 460 cu in V8 (365 hp gross) | 1969–1971 | 7.5 L V8 | 365 hp | — | — | RWD | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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