Lincoln Continental

Lincoln Continental
1998–2002 Lincoln Continental
Overview
Manufacturer	Lincoln (Ford)
Production	1939–1948 1958–1980 1981–2002 2016–present
Model years	1939-1942 1946-1948 1958-1980 1982-2002 2017-present
Body and chassis
Class	Personal luxury car luxury car
Related	Lincoln Mark series
Chronology
Predecessor	Lincoln MKS (2017)

First generation
1941 Lincoln Continental coupe
Overview
Model years	1940–1948
Assembly	Lincoln Assembly, Detroit, Michigan
Designer	Eugene T. "Bob" Gregorie
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupe 2-door convertible
Layout	FR layout
Related	Lincoln-Zephyr (1940) Lincoln Zephyr (1941–42) Lincoln H-series (post-war)
Powertrain
Engine	292 cu in (4.8 L) Lincoln-Zephyr V12
Dimensions
Wheelbase	125.0 in (3,175 mm)
Length	1940–41: 209.8 in (5,329 mm) 1942–48: 218.1 in (5,540 mm)
Width	1940–41: 75.0 in (1,905 mm) 1942–48: 77.8 in (1,976 mm)
Height	1940–41: 62.0 in (1,575 mm) 1942–48: 63.1 in (1,603 mm)
Curb weight	4,000–4,300 lb (1,800–2,000 kg)

Second generation
Continental Mark II
Overview
Model years	1956–1959
Assembly	Wixom Assembly, Dearborn, Michigan, United States
Designer	Bill Schmidt
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door hardtop
Layout	FR layout
Powertrain
Engine	368 cu in (6.0 L) Y-block V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	126.0 in (3,200 mm)
Length	218.4 in (5,547 mm)
Width	77.5 in (1,968 mm)
Height	56.3 in (1,430 mm)
Curb weight	5,000 lb (2,300 kg)

Third generation
Overview
Model years	1958–1960
Assembly	United States: Wixom, Michigan (Wixom Assembly)
Designer	John Najjar
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door hardtop 2-door convertible 4-door sedan 4-door Landau hardtop 4-door Town Car sedan 4-door Limousine
Layout	FR layout
Related	Lincoln Mark series Lincoln Premiere Lincoln Capri
Powertrain
Engine	430 cu in (7.0 L) MEL V8
Transmission	3-speed Turbo-Drive automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	131.0 in (3,327 mm)
Length	1958: 229.0 in (5,817 mm) 1959: 227.1 in (5,768 mm) 1960: 227.2 in (5,771 mm)
Width	1958–59: 80.1 in (2,035 mm) 1960: 80.3 in (2,040 mm)
Height	1958: 56.5 in (1,435 mm) 1959–60: 56.7 in (1,440 mm)
Curb weight	5,000–5,700 lb (2,300–2,600 kg)

Fourth generation
1961 Lincoln Continental 4-Door Convertible
Overview
Manufacturer	Lincoln (Ford)
Production	1961–1969
Assembly	United States: Wixom, Michigan (Wixom Assembly)
Designer	Elwood Engel
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size luxury car
Body style	2-door hardtop 4-door sedan 4-door convertible
Layout	FR layout
Related	Ford Thunderbird (fifth generation) (1967–1971) Lincoln Continental Mark III (1968–1971)
Powertrain
Engine	430 cu in (7.0 L) MEL V8 460 cu in (7.5 L) 385-series V8 462 cu in (7.6 L) MEL V8
Transmission	3-speed Turbo-Drive automatic 3-speed C6 automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	1961–63: 123.0 in (3,124 mm) 1964–1969: 126.0 in (3,200 mm)
Length	1961: 212.4 in (5,395 mm) 1962–63: 213.3 in (5,418 mm) 1964–65: 216.3 in (5,494 mm) 1966–68: 220.9 in (5,611 mm) 1969: 224.2 in (5,695 mm)
Width	1961–65: 78.6 in (1,996 mm) 1966–69: 79.7 in (2,024 mm)
Height	1961–1963: 53.6 in (1,361 mm) 1964–1965: 54.2 in (1,377 mm) 1966–1968: 55.0 in (1,397 mm) 1969: 54.2 in (1,377 mm)
Curb weight	5,000–5,700 lb (2,300–2,600 kg)
Chronology
Predecessor	Lincoln Premiere

Fifth Generation
1978-1979 Lincoln Continental Town Coupe
Interior, 1978 Lincoln Continental Town Car
Overview
Model years	1970–1979
Assembly	United States: Wixom, Michigan (Wixom Assembly)
Designer	Buzz Grisinger
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door hardtop 2-door coupe 4-door pillared hardtop
Layout	FR layout
Platform	Full-size Ford
Related	Ford Galaxie/LTD Mercury Marquis/Grand Marquis
Powertrain
Engine	400 cu in (6.6 L) Cleveland V8 460 cu in (7.5 L) 385-series V8
Transmission	3-speed C6 automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	1970–73: 127.0 in (3,226 mm) 1974–79: 127.2 in (3,231 mm)
Length	1970–72: 225.0 in (5,715 mm) 1973: 229.9 in (5,839 mm) 1974: 232.6 in (5,908 mm) 1975–76: 232.9 in (5,916 mm) 1977–79: 233.0 in (5,918 mm)
Width	1970–73: 79.6 in (2,022 mm) 1974–75: 80.0 in (2,032 mm) 1976: 80.3 in (2,040 mm) 1977: 80.0 in (2,032 mm) 1978–79: 79.9 in (2,029 mm)
Height	1970: 55.7 in (1,415 mm) 1971–72: 55.6 in (1,412 mm) 1973: 55.5 in (1,410 mm) 1974: 55.4 in (1,407 mm) 1975: 55.6 in (1,412 mm) 1976: 55.5 in (1,410 mm) 1977: 55.2 in (1,402 mm) 1978–79: 55.4 in (1,407 mm)
Curb weight	4,900–5,400 lb (2,200–2,400 kg)

Sixth generation
1984 Lincoln Town Car; 1980 Lincoln Continental is similar except for badging
Overview
Manufacturer	Lincoln-Mercury (Ford)
Also called	Lincoln Continental Town Car/Town Coupe
Model years	1980
Assembly	United States: Wixom, Michigan (Wixom Assembly)
Body and chassis
Class	full-size Luxury sedan
Body style	2-door sedan 4-door sedan
Layout	FR layout
Platform	Ford Panther
Chassis	body-on-frame
Related	Ford LTD Landau Mercury Grand Marquis
Powertrain
Engine	Ford 5.0L Windsor V8
Transmission	4-speed AOD overdrive automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	117.4 in (2,982 mm)
Length	219.2 in (5,568 mm)
Width	78.1 in (1,984 mm)
Height	56.1 in (1,425 mm)
Curb weight	4,061–4,147 lb (1,842–1,881 kg)
Chronology
Successor	Lincoln Town Car

Seventh generation
1982 Lincoln Continental (Givenchy Edition)
Overview
Model years	1982–1987
Assembly	United States: Wixom, Michigan (Wixom Assembly)
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	FR layout
Platform	Ford Fox platform
Related	Lincoln Mark VII Ford Thunderbird (1980-1982) Mercury Cougar XR7 (1980-1982)
Powertrain
Engine	3.8 L (232 cu in) Essex V6 2.4 L (149 cu in) BMW M21 turbodiesel I6 4.9 L (302 cu in) 5.0L Windsor V8
Transmission	4-speed AOD automatic 4-speed ZF 4HP22 automatic (turbodiesel)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	108.5–108.7 in (2,756–2,761 mm)
Length	200.7–201.2 in (5,098–5,110 mm)
Width	73.6 in (1,869 mm)
Height	55.0 in (1,397 mm)
Curb weight	3,384–3,706 lb (1,535–1,681 kg)
Chronology
Predecessor	Lincoln Versailles

Eighth Generation
1991 Lincoln Continental
Overview
Model years	1988–1994
Assembly	United States: Wixom, Michigan (Wixom Assembly)
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	FF layout
Platform	Ford D186 platform
Related	Ford Taurus Mercury Sable Ford Windstar
Powertrain
Engine	3.8 L Essex V6
Transmission	4-speed AXOD-E automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	109.0 in (2,769 mm)
Length	1988–1993: 205.1 in (5,210 mm) 1994: 205.6 in (5,222 mm)
Width	1988–1993: 72.7 in (1,847 mm) 1992–94: 72.3 in (1,836 mm)
Height	1988–1991: 55.6 in (1,412 mm) 1992–94: 55.4 in (1,407 mm)

Ninth generation
1995–1997 Lincoln Continental
Overview
Model years	1995–2002
Assembly	United States: Wixom, Michigan (Wixom Assembly)
Designer	Fritz Mayhew
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	FF layout
Platform	Ford D186 platform
Related	Ford Taurus Mercury Sable Ford Windstar
Powertrain
Engine	4.6 L InTech V8
Transmission	4-speed AX4N automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	109.0 in (2,769 mm)
Length	1995–1997: 206.3 in (5,240 mm) 1998–2002: 208.5 in (5,296 mm)
Width	73.6 in (1,869 mm)
Height	56.0 in (1,422 mm)
Curb weight	3,868 lb (1,754 kg)
Chronology
Successor	Lincoln MKS

The Lincoln Continental is the marque for a series of luxury cars produced by Lincoln, a division of the American automaker Ford Motor Company. Lincoln automobiles The first Lincoln Continental appeared in 1939, a model which remained in production until 1948. In 1956 Ford somewhat confusingly established the Continental Division to produce its worldwide flagship, the Continental Mark II. After just two years the Mark II was discontinued and the division was absorbed back into Lincoln, with the Lincoln Continental its top of the line.

For 1961, the redesigned Continental became the sole Lincoln model, a role it would serve until the 1977 introduction of the midsize Lincoln Versailles. (A renewed Continental Mark Series, beginning with the Mark III in 1969, was not badged a Lincoln until 1986) In the 1980s, the role of the traditional full-size Lincoln was taken by the Lincoln Town Car (based on a redesigned Continental) as Lincoln sought to both expand its model line and improve its fuel efficiency. Based on the then-upcoming Mark VII, the 1982 Continental was the smallest Lincoln ever built at the time. In 1988, the Continental became based on the Ford Taurus, becoming the first front-wheel drive Lincoln.

Beginning life as one of the first personal luxury cars to enter mass production, the Lincoln Continental has been produced as a two-door coupe and convertible alongside two-door and four-door sedan bodystyles. With the exception of the Lincoln Mark VIII, each generation of the Lincoln Mark Series personal luxury cars are based upon the corresponding generation of the Continental.