1958 Lincoln Continental Mark III

The first generation of Continentals began with a prototype in 1939. It was a personal project for Ford Motor Company President Edsel Ford with styling by Chief Stylist Eugene T. 'Bob' Gregorie, with the streamlined Lincoln-Zephyr used as starting point. Its popularity was rewarded with it entering the market as a production vehicle, produced from 1942 through 1948 (paused during World War II). The name became dormant for several years until William Clay Ford Sr., Edsel's youngest son, was determined to revive the Continental name. Working with the newly formed Special Products Division to envision the appearance of the new car. Outside proposals were solicited, but ultimately it was an internal design that was selected. The drawings moved to full-scale lay renderings, then prototype, then car. In October of 1955, at the Paris Auto Show, the new Continental Mark II was introduced after an eight-year hiatus.

When Continental ended production of the Mark II in 1957, it was the end of America's most expensive production car. Replacing the Mark II became a monumental task, as it set new standards for restrained elegance. The Continental Mark III that followed was a more versatile car that sold for a more reasonable price. It too set new standards in luxury that was long and low, and like its predecessor, its design was unique and thoroughly modern.

The all-new unibody Continental Mark III was introduced in 1958 and its design would continue through 1960. The 1958 version was sold through the Continental division while the 1959 and 1960 models were sold through the Lincoln-Mercury division.

The Continental Mark III rested on a 131-inch wheelbase platform and initially had an overall length of 229 inches, shrinking slightly in 1959 to 227.1 inches. It had an overall width of 80.1 inches and stood 56.5 inches tall. The 1958 Continentals are the longest-wheelbase sedans ever built by Ford Motor Company. Power was sourced from a 430 cubic-inch (7.0 liter) V8 engine paired with the three-speed Turbo-Drive automatic transmission. The 1958 model was rated at 375 horsepower before it was detuned slightly to 350 horsepower for 1959, then to 315 horsepower for 1960.

The four-door sedan with seating for six had a factory base price of $6,000 and 1,283 examples were built. The two-door hardtop coupe was priced at $5,765 and 2,328 were built; the four-door hardtop sedan was $6,000 and $5,891 were built. The most expensive body style on the Continental Mark III was the two-door convertible priced at $6,223 and 3,048 were produced.

Despite the astronomical price of the Continental Mark III (the Lincoln Capri was priced at $4,800 to $4,950 and the Lincoln Premiere was $5,260 to $5,500), a total of 12,550 examples were sold which represented approximately 73 percent of the company's total production.

by Dan Vaughan

Hardtop Coupe

The 1958 Lincoln was longer, wider, and heavier than any American production car ever built. It was designed to make a statement. For the convertibles, the rear glass was electrically controlled and the entire unit folded well forward of the trunk.

The 1958 Lincoln Continental was the biggest car in American built between 1958 and 1960. They truly epitomized the 'big' cars Detroit was building during the 1950s and early 1960s. They were also very luxurious. All Lincolns came equipped with power brakes, power steering, radio, heater-defroster, clock, windshield washer, padded dash, center armrest, dual exhausts and undercoating - plus many additional options such as air conditioning, power seats and remote control trunk lid.

The big Lincoln was powered by a Lincoln 430 cubic-inch V8 that offered 315 horsepower. Only 2,328 coupes were built in 1958. Base factory price was $5,765.

Convertible
Chassis number: H8YG414445

The 1958 Mark III Continental line was large, riding on a 131-inch wheelbase. It was one of the longest, widest, and heaviest American car ever built. In total, the Lincoln Company built just 3,048 examples.

These vehicles were luxurious and fitted with many amenities. The rear glass was electrically controlled to create a breezeway through the passenger area. The convertible body styles had a top that folded into an area far ahead of the trunk. The body was created from heavy all-steel panels stamped by the Budd Company and the chassis was built at Lincoln's Wixom plant using multi-layer unitized construction. The 430 CID engine breathed through a large 4150 Holley carburetor and offered 375 horsepower. Along with the help of a Turbo-Drive automatic transmission, these Lincolns were capable of a top speed of 116 MPH.

This particular example was formerly part of the Jim Rogers collection. It has a quality older restoration. Options found on this car include power windows, a power top, fender skirts, and chrome wire wheels. Insider, there are tri-color leather upholstery.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible
Chassis number: HBYG418810

Departing from body-on-frame models, the Continental Mark III - which was entirely new for 1958 - employed advanced unibody construction, a new transmission, suspension, and engine.

This unrestored Starmist White Continental Mark III Convertible was optioned from the factory with tinted glass, power steering, brakes, windows, vent windows, convertible top, six-way power seats, Town and Country signal-seeking radio, and power Breezeway rear window. It was also ordered with factory dual-zone air-conditioning, which features dash-mounted vents for front-seat occupants and sends cool air through the car's doors to comfort rear-seat passengers. Air conditioning on convertibles in 1958 was very uncommon.

This car has received on professional repaint. The engine is a 430 cubic-inch overhead valve V8 unit that offers 375 horsepower. There is a twin-range turbo-drive automatic transmission and four-wheel hydraulic power-assisted drum brakes.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible

Following weak sales of its gorgeous and hugely expensive Continental Mark II, Ford Motor Company built the successor Mark III on 1958 Lincoln bones and launched it at about 60% of the Mark II's eye-watering price. Built alongside lesser Lincolns in a new Wixom, Michigan plant, it shared the Lincoln Premiere's new unibody structure and most of its exterior, but with a specific Continental grille, different trim and an unusual reverse-slant rear roof with a retractable 'breezeway' window. Its 375-horsepower 430-cubic inch V-8 and three-speed Turbo-Drive automatic transmission were shared with Ford's Thunderbird and other Lincoln and Mercury models.

The 1958 Mark III was built in four body styles: two-door hardtop and convertible, four-door sedan and four-door 'Landau' hardtop sedan. Longer than a Ford Excursion SUV on a 131-inch wheelbase, the sedans are the longest (pre-five-mph bumper) cars ever produced by Ford. And – except for Cadillac's very rare 1934-1937 V-16 convertibles – the Mark III convertible is the longest soft-top car ever mass-produced in the United States.

While far less expensive than the Mark II, the Mark III was almost as well-equipped. Air conditioning remained an option, as was Ford Motor Company's first FM radio and a unique 'Auto Lube' self-lubricating system. The Mark III's back-slant roof and power rear window (even on convertibles) ran from 1958 through 1960, and this is one of 3,048 '58 convertibles built. Ford dropped its Continental Division in 1959, but the Mark III lived on through 1960.

Convertible

The Lincoln Division of the Ford Motor Company introduced an all-new unitized body for 1958, and its Continental line, then referred to as the Mark III, was one of the longest and widest cars ever produced. With inspiration coming from the 3/8 scale concept model called 'La Tosca,' the Mark III convertible was designed by Lincoln Division stylists Alex Tremulis, John Najjar, and Elwood Engle. The new Continental line, including the convertible, featured a unique reverse-slant glass rear window, which, when lowered, disappeared into a special compartment covered by a steel panel.

This Mark III sits on 131-inch wheelbase and is just over 19 feet in length. Fitted with a 430 cubic-inch V8 engine, one bought a lot of vehicle for $6,223.