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Car Of The Day: September 26, 2010; Johnny Lightning '69 Lincoln Continental Mark III
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Topic Started: Sep 26 2010, 01:18 AM (1,298 Views)
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NoirGuru
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Sep 26 2010, 01:18 AM
Post #1
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The All Original Gentleman
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Today's car of the day is Johnny Lightning's 1969 Lincoln Continental Mark III.

- Wikipedia
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The Lincoln Continental was an automobile produced by the Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company from 1939 to 2002. Despite often sharing underpinnings with less-expensive Fords, the Continental was usually a distinctively styled, highly equipped luxury car.
The flagship Lincoln model during most of its run, the Continental name conveyed special cachet in the product line. It was largely replaced by the Lincoln LS.

For more information and pictures of the real car please visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Continental_Mark_III

There's someone who owns this exact car down the street from my apartment. He shows it off often at the local Show N Shine, and has one of these models taped to his dashboard.

- Wikipedia
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Intended to compete head-to-head with Cadillac's heavily redesigned front wheel drive Eldorado, the Mark III made its debut a clear notch above less expensive, less well-appointed personal luxury cars such as the Ford Thunderbird, Buick Riviera and Oldsmobile Toronado. As the Eldorado was built upon the Toronado frame, so the Mark III was the Thunderbird's. While the side-rail frame was identical to the Thunderbird's, the Mark III bore almost 300 lb (140 kg) more bodywork. demanding all the power Lincoln's all-new 460 cu in (7.5 l) 365 bhp (272 kW) V8 could generate.
In style, the Mark III was squarer and more upright than the sleek Thunderbird, featured a faux Rolls-Royce grill, hidden headlights, and a classic albeit ersatz Mark II spare tire bulge on its trunk.
As befitted a true luxury car the Mark III was sumptuously equipped. Everything was power: steering, brakes, windows, headlamps, and both front seats. The instrument panel and trim panels on the doors featured simulated wood appliques in either English Oak or East-Indian Rosewood. After a few months, a Cartier-branded clock took pride of place among the instruments. The upholstery was expertly done, either the standard vinyl with cloth inserts, or the optional leather.
A vinyl roof in cavalry twill pattern was technically an option, but they were so popular that a plain-roofed car is the rarity. One reason for the rarity of the plain-roofed version is the fact that the roof was made in two pieces and required extra preparation at the factory to conceal the seam; consequently, its availability was not widely advertised. Other options included the aforementioned leather interior, air conditioning, further power adjustments for the front seats, a variety of radios and 8-track tape players, tinted glass, power locks and all the rest. A limited slip differential could be ordered, as could anti-lock brakes, called "Sure Trak". Cruise control was also an option. Finally, an automatic headlamp dimmer that dimmed the headlights for oncoming cars without driver intervention was available.
Despite some bad reviews by the automotive press, the public took to the car, with some 7,000 built during the remainder of the 1968 model year, and another 23,858 cars for the 1969 model year, a respectable showing; Lincoln had always trailed Cadillac in production numbers, but the Mark III almost equaled the Eldorado, which tallied 23,333 for 1969. This was the start of a long, successful run for the Lincoln Continental Mark Series.
Because of its early introduction and extended production year, the 1969 model had several running changes made. Cars produced prior to July 1968 had a steering wheel pad with a much larger wood applique and Continental star logo than later cars. Cars produced prior to July 1968 featured a decorative stitching pattern on the face of the rear seat above the center arm rest. After July 1968 the seat belt detractors were relocated and eight additional exterior color choices were added. Cars produced before the second week of December 1968 had white indicator needles for all instruments and controls, and an electric clock with Arabic Numerals was used. Cars Produced after the second week of December 1968 utilized orange indicator needles for all instruments and controls, and a Cartier Chronometer with Roman Numerals was installed. All cars produced after December 31, 1968 were equipped with driver and front passenger head rests per Federal mandate.
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Swifty
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Sep 26 2010, 01:24 AM
Post #2
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
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Outstanding choice!
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accobra64
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Sep 26 2010, 09:54 AM
Post #3
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Minivan
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Thanks NoirGuru for featuring this specific casting. I like the colour and your images. An interesting read of an interesting automobile.
Cheers. Cobra
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ivantt
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Sep 26 2010, 12:33 PM
Post #4
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New casting? Quick! Take it apart!
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I hope JL would reissue this one with the body sitting lower on the wheels. Note the axle centers are below the body line, making it look donked. The wheels/tires are, however, very nicely done. The width proportions look better than many other large sized cars done by JL, a big plus.
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JustDavid
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Sep 26 2010, 02:00 PM
Post #5
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SUV
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Very nice! I really like the wheels.
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be77bt
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Sep 26 2010, 07:27 PM
Post #6
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be77bt
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nice car
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Sak
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Sep 27 2010, 07:32 AM
Post #7
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Ezekiel 25:17
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I love the detail, but I thought it was a few degrees too small in scale. This was such a nice car- by far the most comfortable, plush interiors on the planet (an Iacocca trademark), and a bespoke presence. Later on, like everything else in Blue Oval Land, it kind of lost something.
Hot Wheels had made one for the Redline Line back in 1969- I'm a poet, and, yes, I know it- and I had one at the time in hot pink. I'm truly sorry I let that one slip through my fingers.
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