Topic: Motoring Memories: Lincoln and Continental, 1958-1960

[Autos_Editor]

Trying to outsize Cadillac, Lincoln produced an even bigger luxury sedan in 1958, but luxury buyers didn't like it.

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[Schmengie]

'Trying to outsize Cadillac, Lincoln produced an even bigger luxury sedan in 1958, but luxury buyers didn't like it'

Yeesh, no wonder. This abomination makes the Edsel look positively graceful.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

'Trying to outsize Cadillac, Lincoln produced an even bigger luxury sedan in 1958, but luxury buyers didn't like it'

Yeesh, no wonder. This abomination makes the Edsel look positively graceful.

Lincolns were usually pretty understated in those days, and usually used better materials than Mercury's or Fords, but they never sold as well as the blingy Cadillacs. I guess this was an attempt to out Caddy Cadillac. Fortunately, they got back to understated styling in '61.

I was always amazed that a 1950's car this big was unibody. The convertibles had a reputation as being very loose. Park on uneven ground and the doors may not open/shut.

[kenm]

I was always amazed that a 1950's car this big was unibody. The convertibles had a reputation as being very loose. Park on uneven ground and the doors may not open/shut.

Waaaay off topic, but I once knew a guy who managed to get his dad's Mercury Marquis, 4 door h/t, airborne over a railroad crossing. When he arrived at his destination, none of the doors would open, and he had to exit through a window. The Marquis was a write-off.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I was always amazed that a 1950's car this big was unibody. The convertibles had a reputation as being very loose. Park on uneven ground and the doors may not open/shut.

Waaaay off topic, but I once knew a guy who managed to get his dad's Mercury Marquis, 4 door h/t, airborne over a railroad crossing. When he arrived at his destination, none of the doors would open, and he had to exit through a window. The Marquis was a write-off.

Maybe it was a Mercury thing. A friend of mine way back in university days had a 1975 or so Marquis and did the same thing over the tracks in Lewisville in Moncton. I can't remember the doors being stuck but both control arms broke and it slid on its frame the rest of the way down the hill.

[ArticSteve]

The Lincoln’s rear leaf springs were replaced by coils in anticipation of air-bag suspension. But Lincoln engineers felt they couldn’t make air suspension reliable enough for production, a decision that was vindicated when General Motors offered it with disastrous results.

Even in 1990 + it was never reliable.

Interesting article.  Never have seen that model year. Crazy.

[dragonfly]

 As a kid, I recall seeing one of these for the first (and perhaps only) time parked on the street of Brooklyn, NY...What a huge beast! It was a convertible, and , as I best recall, it was a two seater, with a cover over the rear seats with head rest looking arrangements built into the cover..
  It was a very attractive car...Rocket-like (in those days)..This was in 1959 or '60...I can still see it in my mind's eye today...Jack

[Arthur Dent]

The very odd styling has to be more responsible for the slow sales than the Lincoln name. Quite rare to see these around now. Once big coupe here locally.