1976 Lincoln Continental

This 1976 Lincoln Continental Town Coupe is, in the simplest terms, a time capsule. This is not a restored car. It is an original car that was barely used, stored well, and has survived nearly five decades in the condition it left the factory.

The Town Coupe designation matters. The Town Coupe featured upgraded leather seating, additional interior chrome detailing, and a higher level of standard equipment. It was positioned as the more formal, more luxurious of the two coupe variants — closer in character to the Mark IV than to a plain Continental coupe. Buyers who wanted the Continental's longer wheelbase and larger cabin but didn't want to give up the formal coupe roofline typically chose the Town Coupe.

The 1970s Continental occupied a specific place in American luxury. While the Mark series — particularly the Mark IV and Mark V — got more of the press coverage, the Continental sedan and Town Coupe were the workhorses of Lincoln's lineup. They were bigger, heavier, and more formal. The 1976 model year was the last year the Continental rode on the longer 127.2-inch wheelbase before Lincoln downsized the line for 1977. That makes the 1976 Continental Town Coupe the final expression of this particular generation — the biggest, heaviest, most fully realized version of that long-wheelbase platform. It is also the last year Lincoln used the 460 cubic inch V8 in the Continental before transitioning to smaller displacement engines in subsequent years.

The VIN on this car decodes to confirm it was built in Wixom, Michigan — Lincoln's primary assembly plant for Continental production during this era. Wixom-built Lincolns have a strong reputation for build quality, and the condition of this particular car supports that reputation entirely.

Key details
Exterior: Cream
Transmission: 3-Speed Automatic
VIN / chassis: F6Y81A910996F

Offered by Skyway Classics, 10420 Portal Crossing, Bradenton, FL 34212. Taxes, title and fees not included.

Photos courtesy of Skyway Classics.