1963 Lincoln Continental

Sedan

430

Automatic

Clear

Award-winning, beautifully restored Continental sedan. Show quality black paint, show-chromed bumpers, professionally polished stainless trim, new, correct "Pearl Gold Crinkle Leather" with gold piping (trim code 88), recovered door cards, new wood, new carpet and custom made mats and trunk kit from Jim Wallace at Leather Restorations. Rebuilt engine and transmission, rebuilt steering gear box and pump. Mostly new suspension rubber, shocks, bushings, center link, etc. While the original AM/FM radio works, the car is pre-wired for a custom stereo of your choosing so its not necessary to tear the car apart to add a great stereo. Pre-wiring includes power from the battery, speaker wires to four corners of the interior, power and IPod connectivity to the console interior (that's what all the wires are in the trunk pic).Won "First Place" in its category last year at Lincoln Continental Owners Club Texas State-wide meet last year.Just returned from this year's Salado event last night. The car is known to the president of the National LCOC club, and the heads of the Lone Star Region and the Texas Gulf Coast Region. I encourage anyone interested to come and see/drive the car in person, or hire a professional to inspect it. A note about style: If you're interested in a "slab-side" Continental, you may be familiar with the various characteristics of the different models. However, if you just like the look and have not researched the year-by-year changes, this is for you. This "Milestone" car was introduced in 1961 to almost universal acclaim with the "Thunderbird" grill. The car was a radical departure from the baroque designs of the late-50's; lean, athletic, austere in its decoration with minimal use of chrome and artifice. The original design called for inward sloping "C" pillars and curved side glass (an industry first) to produce more a more radical "tumblehome" (inward slope of the "greenhouse" above the beltline). In the first three years ('61-'63) it was all about the style...and, if a car this large can be considered "sporty", it looks it from many angles. Due to customer preferences for a larger back seat, these essential elements were dropped in 1964, when the side glass was straightened, the rear doors lengthened and the top was made bigger and more rectangular...no more Tumblehome. Everyone has their preferences, but the first three years ('61-'63) only have the elements of style that made this a ground-breaking design.On Apr-22-13 at 05:22:34 PDT, seller added the following information: UPDATE: A friend of mine from the Lincoln Forum reminded me that I forgot to mention the car has bucket seats and a console, not the original bench seats. Buckets were a very rare special order option in '63. I found a set from a parts car and had them trimmed in the '63 style. They are both electrically operated. Also, he asked me about the Autotronic eye (the little thing mounted above the speaker in the center of the dash). My car did not have this option, so I added it from the parts car that I bought with the buckets seats. It is not functional, just for looks. Feel free to contact me with any specific questions about the car's history or current state. Thanks!On Apr-23-13 at 14:18:50 PDT, seller added the following information: UPDATE #2: I've had a few questions like "What needs to be done?", "What doesn't work?", etc., so I thought a little more information might be in order. This is not a "fixer-upper"! Its a fully sorted car, ready to drive or show.Everything works as designed with the exception of the vacuum door locks, which are kind of temperamental. I think a vacuum line is loose. And, like every old car I've ever owned, it has a few minor oil leaks. But, that's it. It looks perfect, it runs great, drives great and all the mechanical and power equipment (windows, vent windows, both 8-way power bucket seats, antenna, interior and exterior lights, A/C, well, everything) works as designed. I drove it 200 miles to the State-wide LCOC last weekend with confidence.A little more detail on the history of the car as I know it: I bought this completely rust-free car in 2010 from its second owner, who bought it from the elderly couple who bought in new in Dallas and drove it there from 1963 until 2008. The engine, drivetrain and braking system were rebuilt by second owner at about 47,500 miles at a cost of more than $10K. The rebuild included new crank, drive shaft, main bearings, pistons, valves, and a rebuilt transmission. At the same time the brakes were completely renewed. I have lots of pics of the car before the restoration so anybody interested can see the before (which was actually quite presentable) as well as the "after", which is truly stunning.I began the restoration shortly acquiring the car and finding the most talented painter in my area (also the slowest). The paint work involved removing the doors, hood, trunk, all of the chrome/stainless, all the rubber, the complete interior (but not the perfect original dash and steering column, and not the original headliner which was still in good shape). The interior was Dynamatted. The paint was removed from the very straight exterior and the process of painting proceeded with multiple "guide coats", primer coats and finally PPG Base (color) coats followed by three coats of clear, color sanding and buffing, etc. All the the door jams, the interior of the trunk and hood and any visible parts inside the trunk and engine bay were painted black. After Dynamatting the interior, jute backing and high-quality original-style gold loop carpet made by Jim Wallace of Leather Restorations was installed along with the original heel pad (which is in excellent condition) that Jim sewed onto the new carpet. I also had Jim make matching mats with beautifully serged edges for the front and back seat.The Bucket seats (a very rare special order option in '63), rear seat and door cards/arm rests were recovered by a true craftsman who made the seat covers and door cards with leather and vinyl custom made by SMS in the original "Pearl Gold Crinkle Leather". The color is actually more of an off-white with a pearlescent sheen and contrasting gold piping, as original, Trim Code 88. The console was refurbished. Windlace was custom-made in matching pearlescent vinyl. Rubber door treads were renewed, Anodized Aluminum door sills polished, New walnut inserts installed on glove box and on all four doors. Interior chrome and stainless polished. There is some very light pitting on some of the interior chrome, but you have to look pretty hard to notice it.The bumpers were done by Superior in Houston, but through the son of a Lincoln Club member who was able to get "show quality" plating at a reasonable price. The stainless exterior trim, including all peak molding, rocker panels and grill surrounds was professionally polished by Steve Small, of "Trim Polish", a well-known craftsman. Anything not polished by Steve was done at the paintshop or by me. While reassembling the doors, all the windows were re-greased and several of the switches were replaced. New tail light lenses and other lenses as needed and mostly new rubber seals and weather stripping were installed. After the paint/interior work was complete, I re-did all of the HVAC vacuum lines using color-coded tubing, had the A/C serviced and replaced the expansion valve and recharged the system, which blows cold. The car comes with a new (extra) receiver dryer I bought but didn't need as the current one is fairly new and working properly. The exhaust was new, but too loud for my liking so I installed new mufflers (the car is quiet with a very slight throaty sound...I wanted it to sound like a luxury car, not a hot rod).Most of the front end components were replaced at this time, including the ball joints, control arm bushings, strut bushings center link, most of the rubber components, all the shocks (replaced with heavy-duty), rear bushings and spring isolators, etc. I replaced the Steering gear box (twice) before I was satisfied that the car drove as good as it could. Also, while it was apart for the second gear box, I had the steering pump rebuilt and the unit re-sealed, also had the transmission resealed.Pertronix electronic ignition and "Flame-Thrower" coil installed. Original carburetor replaced with Edelbrock. New tires on 15" wheels (original 14" wheels/tires come with the car). My goal was to create the very best '63 sedan in existence. I think I succeeded, but I'm kinda biased. Don't take my word for it...ask around...Get in touch with one of the many folks in the Austin, Gulf Coast or National Lincoln Continental Owners Club who know this great car and have seen it in person. I don't think you'll find a nicer one anywhere at any price.