1971 Lincoln Continental Mark III

The Lincoln Continental Mark III was produced from 1969 through 1971 with only a few changes for its final year of production. The 1971 Lincoln model lineup including the Continental offered as a two-door hardtop coupe priced at $7,170 and the sedan at $7,420. The Continental Mark III two-door hardtop coupe was priced at $8,420. Lincoln produced 27,091 examples of the Mark III and 35,551 of the Continental. The Lincoln Continental rode on a wheelbase that measured 127-inches while the Mark III was slightly smaller, at 117.2-inches. The Continental measured 225-inches long while the Mark III was 216.1-inches.

The styling was a natural progression and evolution of the slab-sided design that was advanced in 1961, with a Rolls-Royce inspired grille, open wheel wells, spare-tire bulge on the rear deck, and smooth headlight covers. Unique elements of the early 1970s Lincolns were the 'Coke bottle' styling through the rear fenders.

The standard features were the same as those listed for 1970, plus individual armrests and high-back seats in the front. Other amenities included a two-way power seat, power steering, power front disc brakes, air conditioning, automatic transmission, tinted glass, electric clock, trip odometer, remote-control outside mirror, folding center armrests in the front and back, fender skirts, and carpet luggage compartment. Both were powered by a 460 cubic-inch V8 engine with overhead valves, a four-barrel carburetor, and delivering 365 horsepower at 4,600 RPM.

In 1971, Lincoln's Golden Anniversary, Motor Trend crowned the Continental Mark III the 'King of the Hill' in its annual contest, despite it being a marginally updated version of the 1968 model while the Cadillac was completely new from the group up. The Mark III earned high accolades for its leather interior, ranked as offering a higher level of comfort and luxury over the nylon cloth interior of the Eldorado. Additionally, the editors preferred the Contientnal's real walnut wood dash trim over the Cadillac's simulate. The Mark III won the 1970 and 1971 'King of the Hill' award, both a head-to-head review of the Mark III vs. the Eldorado.

The 27,091 examples of the 1971 Mark III eclipsed the 21,432 examples built in 1970 but less than the 30,858 built in 1969.

Lincoln would continue to offer the Continental in 1972 along with the new Mark IV which gained four additional inches in its length and grew marginally wider. Sales of the 1972 Mark IV were impressive, at 48,591 units.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2009