My Classic Car: Phil’s 1970 Lincoln Continental Mark III

My father had three of these cars as I was growing up.

I remember his first Mark III being a pale yellow with black interior and vinyl roof. I must have been about 4 or 5 years old, which would have been 1970-71.

We weren’t rich by all means. My father owned a bar and the guys that used to come that were not always on the up and up; my father told me this years later, and neither was he. What I mean is these cars were $10k loaded back in the day and I don’t think my father bought it if you know what I mean.

Anyway, these cars were the best built cars of that era. To this day there is no mistaking the sleek lines that still surpass the cars of today.

A man’s personal luxury car as they were promoted in the day. Total luxury from real wood inlays on door and dash, hideaway headlights, cigar and smoke remover, radials as a standard tire, leather from England, dehumidification system with the auto temp, 460 motor at 365 horsepower on paper (more like 400 hp for insurance reasons/government), 6-way power seats, tilt wheel, power locks and trunk, top speed of 130 and 500 foot-pounds of torque. This is a luxury boat and a Detroit muscle car all wrapped into a low sleek-looking almost sinister at times luxury car.

— Phil Melito, Drexel Hill PA

Do you have a classic car with a story to share? It’s easy. Just go to this link, fill in the information and submit your story.