By Jay Hirsch
The 1967 Lincoln Continental four-door convertible has a heritage going back to 1961, when the various Lincoln models were consolidated into one: the Lincoln Continental. This came following the $60 million in losses to develop the 1958–1960 Lincoln line, which was comprised of the Lincoln and Lincoln Continental, both of which had a four-door hardtop, and two-door hardtop. The 1958–1960 Continental was defined by its rear glass window, which could be lowered for ventilation. In addition to the two- and four-door 1958–1960 Lincoln Continental there was also a two-door Continental convertible with rear glass window that could be lowered with the top up for “flow thru ventilation.”
The new-for-1961 Lincoln Continental had only one model, the four-door Lincoln Continental, which was produced as a four-door sedan and, for the first time since 1941 in the United State, a four-door convertible. The sedan and convertible had a rear door that opened from the center of the car rearward, also called “suicide doors.” This was due to the fact that cars built before WWII had no safety latches on doors, and if the door faced the rear and became “ajar,” the force of the wind would take the door to a full open position and anyone who may been leaning on the door. In 1961 this was no longer a safety issue.
The four-door Lincoln Continental convertible was made from 1961 to 1967. The 1961–1963 models were 212 inches long. The 1967 Continental was 220 inches long with the additional length going to increased rear-passenger legroom and a larger trunk. The 1967 Continental convertible differentiated itself from the 1961–1965 Continental four-door convertible by eliminating the rear plastic window with a rear glass window that folded with the top when lowered.
The 1966 Lincoln Continental convertibles were the same body. The four-door sedan was made until 1969.
The 1961–1969 Lincoln Continental’s slab-sided body style was originally intended to be a four-door added to the new-for-1961 Thunderbird model line by Elwood Engel, Ford vice president of design.
The 1961 slab-sided Continental, which looked expansive, was in reality 14 inches shorter than the 1958–1960 Lincolns and at the same time weighed more. The doors alone were bank-vault thick!
The 1967 Lincoln Continental was devoid of the ornamental chrome on cars from the 1950s. The design of the car conveyed a sense of dignity, power and authority, whether parked or moving,
The convertible top’s mechanism was an engineering marvel for the time (or a nightmare, depending on who owned the car). The top was completely automatic — there were no latches to do or undo. With the touch of a switch, the trunk lid, which was hinged at the rear of the body, would open to the rear. When the lid was facing skyward the top would then unlatch itself from the window frame and begin to fold and lower itself into the trunk. When the top was completely tucked into the trunk, the trunk lid would then lower itself back down, leaving the look of the one-piece deck lid with no convertible boot sticking out to mar the design of the car. This clean expanse of sheet metal may have contributed to the disappointing sales of the four-door convertible. When the top was down the trunk was basically useless for carrying anything. When the top was up, to put anything in the trunk you had to begin the process of putting the top down but stopping just as the trunk lid was open. Any object that then was to go into the trunk had to be lifted over either rear fender of the car. Try lifting a couple bags of golf clubs over one of those fenders and then once they are in trying to lift those bags out!
Among the many items available on the 1967 Continental: front power disc brakes with dual master cylinder, first introduced in 1965; front and rear seat belts; remote-control side mirror; impact absorbing steering wheel; reclining front passenger seat; automatic climate control temperature system; windshield washer; power windows, including vent windows; six-way power front seat; dual aluminized and stainless steel exhaust system; automatic parking brake release; tilt steering wheel; and an AM/FM signal-seeking radio with tape deck. That is just a short list of the equipment available on the 1967 Continental Convertible.
With its OHV V-8 462 cid/7.2 liter engine and 340 hp, this 5,712-pound luxury cruiser could go from 0 to 60 in nine seconds, with a top speed of 124 mph.
To put this in perspective, a 1967 Porsche 911 S, which weighed 2,341 pounds went from 0 to 60 mph in 8 seconds, with a top speed of 137 mph.
As for the ride, there are very few if any cars that can compare with the 1967 Lincoln convertible. The sheer weight of the car makes one feel the car is on a “track” in the pavement. The rock-solid stability of the car is the same whether doing 20 mph or 85 mph. Riding on modern day 235/75 x 15 radial tires, the car does not quiver or shake even with strong cross winds. With those high, deeply-padded leather seats, the driver and passenger can almost forget that they have been riding for hours without checking the clock.
The Continental seen here has relatively low miles car for its age, with only 96,000 miles The original owners only used the car in warm weather and mainly to “make an impression.” They also had a 1966 Ford Country Squire for “carrying things” and a 1967 Mercury as an every day car. In 1991 they sold the Lincoln to a neighbor who always admired the car
In 2011 this couple sold the car to their friend Alvin the current owner. Alvin is a “certified car nut” who always wanted a four-door Lincoln convertible
The Royal Maroon paint and matching leather interior are original. The wood panels on the doors have been re-lacquered. The two hydraulic pumps for the convertible top have been rebuilt, and the “miles” of electrical wiring replaced with a new harness featuring much improved circuitry. On the engine, the oil pump was rebuilt and at the same time new pistons and piston rings were installed. This was performed by Alvin, more so due to the car’s age and “low miles,” as he and his wife wanted to take the car on long, trouble-free road trip for vacations. •
