Lincoln Continental Mark III

Continental Mark III
1969 Continental Mark III
Overview
ManufacturerLincoln (Ford)
Production1968–1971
Model years1969–1971
AssemblyWixom Assembly, Wixom, Michigan
Body and chassis
ClassPersonal luxury car
Body style2-door coupe
LayoutFR layout
RelatedFord Thunderbird (fifth generation)
Lincoln Continental (1961–1969)
Powertrain
Engine460 cu in (7.5 L) V8 (385 family)
Transmission3-speed C6 automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase117.2 in (2,977 mm)[1]
Length216.1 in (5,489 mm)
Width79.4 in (2,017 mm)
Height53.0 in (1,346 mm)
Curb weight4,866 lb (2,207 kg)
Chronology
PredecessorContinental Mark II
SuccessorContinental Mark IV

The Continental Mark III is a personal luxury car marketed by Lincoln from the 1969–1971 model years. The namesake successor of the 1956–1957 Continental Mark II, the Mark III likewise served as the flagship vehicle of Ford Motor Company. Offered as a two-door hardtop coupe, the Mark III was noted for its hidden headlights, Continental spare recalling the Mark II and its Rolls-Royce styled grille.

The Mark III was developed as a direct competitor to the Cadillac Eldorado, creating a three-decade market rivalry between it and the Continental Mark series.

To avoid the exceptionally high development and production costs of its largely hand-built, extremely low-volume predecessor, the Mark III shared its chassis with the four door Ford Thunderbird. Model-specific design elements, including its hidden headlamps and large chrome grille distinguished the two — while sharing the same roof structure and rear windows, retractable into the C pillar, of the two door Thunderbird. Later models featured genuine walnut interior accents and a Cartier-branded clock[clarify]. In a first for an American car, the 1970 Mark III was fitted with Michelin "X" Radial Tires as standard equipment.[2]

Ford manufactured the Mark III at its Wixom Assembly Plant facility in Michigan alongside the Thunderbird and the Lincoln Continental. For 1972, in alignment with a Thunderbird redesign, the Mark III was superseded by the Continental Mark IV.

  1. ^ "Lincoln Continental Mark III @ carfolio". Carfolio.com. 2008-04-03. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
  2. ^ Vaughan, Daniel Conceptcarz.com 1969 Lincoln Continental news, pictures, specifications, and information September 2008 Retrieved July 26, 2015