I have worked on vehicles my whole life. I am 62 now and grew up doing body work and today own my own shop. The cars that you own keep taking me back due that my mother and father drove so many vehicles like you own. Mostly large Mercury's and Ford's. Keep up the good work. I always love it when you post a new video. I also have seen all your older videos.
@@bigblockelectra you are right I believe the term was Astroroof for the mid 70s-80s full-size rwd cars and they used the name until the end of the early 90s Cadillac Brougham. The early years you could choose the tint color.
Since it’s Indy 500 weekend- In my 20’s I belonged to the Lincoln Continental Owners Club (I owned a ‘65 Continental convertible- thank you, Dad!) and we held a National Convention at Indy one summer… I drove a mint 34K-mile Continental Mark III at good speed around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (over the bricks)…what a thrill! I remember that spectacular car was mostly Turquoise- great day!
Was it a 1971 and do you know if it was the car at Meadowlands? Theres a Utube video with a man that resembles Frank Cannon who made an excellent video show casing the Mark lll and its a beautiful Turquoise color with low mileage and looks pristine.
A great overview, Adam. FYI, the gentleman standing next to Lee Iacocca and the Mustang was Donald N. Frey, the Mustang's engineering program manager. (See page 208 of Jim & Cheryl Farrell's Lincoln Design History for a photo of L. David Ash.) BTW I'm impressed that you were able to find a recorded interview! The power electric sunroof was first introduced on a Ford product as a regular factory option on the 1968 Cougar and featured in the only magazine advertisement for the XR7-G model. There is a white example of this car at The Henry Ford that was donated by ASC.
Love these cars. I was eleven when they first came out. The grill and hump became so iconic for Lincoln. It’s nice to look back on these glory days of automotive design. Thanks Adam.
All of 19 when the Mark III's came out, I was skeptical of a design with throwback elements, and associated them with white shoes and belts worn by my parents generation; I couldn't resolve the contradiction of mixing a Mark II hump on back and a 1930-ish radiator on front. But Iaccoca knew his market; he was of the generation who were children when Packards, Pierce-Arrows and the like represented the epitome of luxury, and the market for these cars was his contemporaries, who might have kids out of college and a nice upper management position. Those earlier stages you showed at the end of the video could have been mistaken for Mopar fuselage renderings. Another great video, Adam! Nobody else is doing anything like this.
Cadillac and others also featured these metal power operated sunroofs in Eldorados, and other models. Just an FYI even Mercury Cougars offered this option on the first Gen Cougars (1967-68)! Granted the panel was a bit smaller but still HUGE and power operated. Thunderbird offered this in 1969 as well. The 1958-60 Square Birds offered a sunroof but if memory serves me correct it was manually operated not power.
I always thought the Mark III absolutely blew the Eldo away as far as elegance and quality. Fit and finish was top notch and the car just looked right.
I ran across a warehouse in Las Vegas from a old car collector who is long passed. I got invited for a private tour of this 100 car collection. In the collection is 4 Bricklins, but like wow, 29 Mark iii ranging from 1969 to 1971, well preserved. I mean they were in excellllleeeent condition. I'm in contact with the widow in the hope to pick up one of these beauties.
Thanks for another great insight into the cars of the wonderful era in which I was lucky to be a boy. I enjoy the memory lane, plus I've learned more and more! Thanks, Adam! - Greg in California
Wish to suggest a small correction; the person standing to Iaccoca's left and behind the red Mustang in the pic is not the designer Dave Ash but Donald Nelson Frey (pronounced Frī ) (1923 - 2010), a product manager at FoMoCo at the time of Mustang development
Great video Adam! When I was just a kid, Mrs. Ung across the street had a black 1969 Mark III. I Loved it. She went on to get a Mark IV and a 1977 Seville.
Great video, Adam! Thank God for Lee Iacocca or the Mark III would never have turned out the way that it did! I remember when these were introduced and they were nothing less than jaw droppingly gorgeous!
I can vouch for this. A high school friend picked me up for a ride in his dad’s black one and It left the impression of smooth power as I felt it pushing me into the seat effortlessly, no noise or down shifting jolts. The doors had counter balances in them.
Wow talk about a design getting changed around , All the mixed bag ques from other auto manufacturers Rolls Royce, Cadillac, Packard, Lincoln's MKII, Mercury as it's changes from the first proposal to the finished product. I had one 25 years ago and it was a well built great fit and finish automobile . I really liked the non cordovan top version your image was the first time I have ever seen one that way. Very interesting and learned something new thankyou for this video.
Adam, the Mark III Introduced the Power Sunroof. The Power Moonroof was introduced on the 1973 Continental Mark IV and only on the Silver Luxury Group edition. A gold moonroof became available in 1974 but there were no glass moonroofs on Mark III other than a prototype or two done by ASC.
This is correct. It wasn't until 1975 that you could order a (glass) moonroof in any Mark. The metal sunroof option was still available through 1976 as well. The '76 Mark IV brochure states the metal sunroof could not be ordered with the Landau vinyl roof, which I am guessing is also true in 1975 when the Landau roof was first introduced. Great video, Adam, like always.
@@owlnswan4016 I've read that it was the availability of the moonroof, and the extra thickness required by it, that prompted Ford to switch from a full-vinyl-roof to a "halo" vinyl top for the car. That's unfortunate; I've always thought "halo" tops looked like the work of Earl Scheib.
@@owlnswan4016 You meant 1973, not 1975. 1975 was when the fabulous landau roof option with the thick chrome molding was introduced. Made every Mark IV look much better. I always wondered what a Mark IV w/o a vinyl roof would look like. The Mark V looked great without one!
@@pcno2832 No, the Moonroof came out in 1973 and came in two colors in 1974 (gold and silver) where the mark IV only came with a full vinyl roof. The extra thickness caused them to make the roof a little bitter taller than the 1972 model year.
@@viciouspoodle5543 No, '73...you described it correctly in how the '73 only had the moonroof available on the Silver Luxury Group cars, and then in '74 in Gold Luxury Group cars as well. Finally in 1975, the moonroof was available in any Mark IV. www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/lincoln/74linc/bilder/15.jpg
The roofline looks good from a distance, but the perfectly vertical rear door gap that cuts into the C-pillar looks a bit odd. I'm sure it was dictated by the rear-hinge arrangement, but it does look like the work of an expertly guided circular saw.
Adam, thank you for doing your research on obtaining these recordings and videos. It’s so interesting to hear these bosses and design engineers talk about the great cars of the 60’s-70’s. That they worked on.
Is it just me, or does the tail of the "Launcelot" styling exercise at 7:35 look somewhat like some higher end GM full size cars from the late 60s/early 70s?
Thanks for another wonderful video of one of my favorite cars. The styling of the earlier design proposals, before Lee Iaccoca insisted on adding the Rolls-Royce grill, were all handsome ideas. What they lacked was anything distinctly Lincoln or Mercury, and what they all shared were Cadillac and Buick styling cues. The production version was distinctive and immensely popular. I'd love to get my hands on one of those 95 cars from the 1969 production run that were delivered without the vinyl top, just a much cleaner look overall. Thanks Adam, excellent content as always 😁
15:30. I had the factory sunroof by ASC in my 69 Mercury Cougar. The components (Motor with worm gear and two cables)were same ones used by BMW. There was a pan that the sunroof panel slid into, and there were drain/nipples in the A-pillar corners with plastic tubes that drained down through the A-pillars and out behind the front wheels.
I think the four-door T-bird should have gotten an even longer wheelbase considering how short the rear doors are, even though they cut into the sail panels.
I always liked the cars Frank Cannon drove in the tv series. He mostly drove a mk4 but did have a mk3 in some shows. I can't believe no one else mentioned him.
@@dj33036 As far as I know they were all steel. My 1954 Sunbeam Talbot had one as standard. I just sold it two years ago. Morris 8's had them in the 1930's as an option. Ford as you will probably know, had a canvas centre panel on the roof which was not able to be opened and was either a cost saving move or to stop drumming or maybe both.
I believe you're correct and they are very, very rare. Sunroofs weren't a "thing" back then probably because a lot of men still wore hats and the ladies with their "bouffant" hairdo's.
Yes, he was definitely a "car guy" unlike the accountants and sports car guys that run the show now - everything has to look like a pod and do 0-60 in 3 seconds now.
I confess I am one of those guys confused about sun / moon roof. Thank you for the explanation refresh. My favourite design point would be the raising of the rear deck lid and the difference those 2” made. So glad they decided against the Cadillac rear end! The horizontal light theme combined with the continental trunk is infinitely classier on this body style.
Out of the three years of the continental Mark three 1971 was the best year because more things that were optional were standard. The early models came with high back seats, which are the most comfortable seat you ever going to sit in all the wood is real on 70 and 71 instead of tape and 69 also the 70 was the first year for radial tire, and the Mark was the first car to be mass produced with the radial tire
Love the clean looks of that Mark III w/o the vinyl roof. It reminds me of my 1969 T'bird Sports Coupe (Medium Lime Green, bucket seats, console, A/C) that I bought new... it too sans vinyl top. My Dad loved it so much that he traded in his 1969 Grand Prix that summer for a great deal on an end-of-the-year 1969 Thunderbird 4-door Brougham. I was just glad to unload my '67 Toronado. My 2-door got pummeled in a Texas hailstorm whilst we keep Dad's 4-door for 29 years. Still running and looking almost as good as it first came home to roost. JJS
One of the most beautiful cars ever produced, unmatched to this day - I'll take a '71 with the real wood on the dash and high back seats please! I didn't really like the original hubcaps (17:12) and thought they stuck out too far, prefer the later model hubcaps (6:53) myself. I'm usually a fan of vinyl roofs but that smooth top at 12:15 is stunning. The back end of the model at 7:44 looks like a Buick Electra 225 the front at 22:22 and 23:48 looks like a '71 Mercury Marquis.
Off topic and I've never heard you discuss trucks, but the 1994 Dodge Ram is a story that I think needs to be explored and told. This vehicle was a raging success (taking Dodge from 7% to 21% of the pickup market) and yet I've never really heard it discussed or anyone attempting to take credit for it.
My beloved uncle Curt had a '71. As a young kid I remember how UTTERLY silent the world became when the windows were up and the a/c was on, in Florida on a summer day. That, and the fantastic heft of the doors.
The Lancelot rear looks like Caddy lights as you said but also Delta 88 trunk lid and bumper. The L on the front nameplate looks like the L on Laverne's blouse (Laverne and Shirley). I think I would have to always defer to engineering when they state something although at that point perhaps it was too late.
Yes, the early color shot of the Launcelot (spelled that way on the car) definitely has some Delta 88 (or is it more Buick?) look to it. Large GM top end look, for sure.
Adam, At 3:20 you chose a photo of a 4 door Thunderbird which includes a portable outhouse or 'Go Hut' in the background. Is this intended as a sly editorial comment? 🤔
I was just wondering about whomever took that photo. Cropping in frame wasn't a thing for them, or just making sure the background on a hopefully nice shot of a car you love didn't have crap (literal or figurative) showing up.
Hmm. I'm a 3rd generation Lincoln owner and the power glass moonroof option first appeared on the '73 Continental Mark IV and it also required the Silver Luxury Group option to be ordered as well. I have seen plenty of Mark III's with the sunroof but not the moonroof.
You are correct. The Mark III introduced the power sunroof and I believe it wasn't available in the 1969 model year. There are no factory Mark III's with moonroofs.
I wonder if Chrysler ever floated the idea of an imperial luxury coupe. To compete with this and the Eldorado. In this time period. It would be interesting to see the designs if they did.
Here is a design specifically meant to say that the owner is not climbing up-- he has already gotten there and is now looking down at you. I love this channel and appreciate so much of the discussion, but one thing I don't love: the automobiles that were always meant to state decadence and supremacy. Haughty, they are. Everyone have a wonderful Memorial Day holiday.
Well, if we take that second paragraph to it's end, we shouldn't enjoy a lot of art, architecture, and music that was originally created perhaps in a context/milieu of decadence or ostentation. (though admittedly, I'm not a fan of Baroque or Rococo art and architecture. Baroque music on the other hand? Sublime. But, I digress...)
@sergioleone3583 So. Ah. Since classism has produced things beautiful to see, classism is all right with you? Well. How impressive. As long as the current state of things continues, yes? We can peaceably allow for the continued brutalization of ordinary people all over the world because those who brutalize produce fine designs and objects as a side effect, true? Ha ha! Sure.
@sergioleone3583 I'm happy that at least you can be honest. Why apologize for being exploitative? Since much of the world believes it to be absolutely necessary and absolutely justified and, besides, big fun? Never hesitate to take advantage of anyone or anything you can, friend! Am I right? 'Tis the way of things, yes?
I thought it cool how they raised the deck lid and that in doing so without raising the roof, it squeezed the roof line. I would never have thought of that being the result. And in regards to the front overhang…if they could have seen a few years ahead and look at what the Eldorado became in the 1970s, they’d have had no qualms. Those Eldon’s had huge front overhang as did the Lincoln Town Cars.
Excellent video and some new to me info. One mention.......the 'in process" Mark was called "Launcelot" no "Lancelot", which is quite visible in a few shots.....very strange name.
I consider the four-door Thunderbird to be a masterful execution on a difficult platform. The interior and especially the rear were and are very comfortable. I guess beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.
Yes, the vinyl roof looks good. But DAYUM...the slick-top is SVELTE! That "Lancelot" proposal looks waaayyy Cadillackie from the rear. Merlin, Lancelot: remember that (late) Kennedy administration was referred to as "Camelot" from the musical from the early 60s period of that proposal. Interesting how it was so much of it's era.
I like the lines of this Mark III, except for its lights, grill, and the spare tire hump unfortunately (as opposed to the original 58 Mark III, which I like all of). That said, if the prototype pictured at 8:00 was the model actually produced, I would be hunting for one now in a heartbeat!
The MK III never had corning lights, not even as an option - would've looked good in the lower front fender in the blank spot between the front wheel arch and bumper.
The 61 Linc is my favourite but these are pretty nice as well.They look even better without the vinyl roof. The Lancelot with the sword emblem was great! Too bad they scrapped it.
Another great episode. The car shown in the commercial is an interesting color. Brown? Amber? Regardless, when they show the side view, the front cap seems to be a shade off. Did Lincoln paint the front-ends separately? I would have thought on a prestige car, all panels would be shot together.
Thank you Adam. The facts and the design story and proposal was interesting to see. The video was well explained and broken down. A lot of inspiration came from the past. The other thing that was interesting how it got is own unique features. The most interesting thing was the fact Mercury was against this car and they later copied aspects of the design. The other interesting thing was the inspiration from Europe and they later did it again in the 1980's where the Mark VII was inspired by European cars. That early design proposal looks like a early 1970's Mercury Marquis.
Masterful re-working. Doubt the average customer in 69 had any idea. I like the 4dr T-bird, but it only works in dark colors which somewhat hide the cut line. Another (perhaps) little known fact is that Hermann C Brunn was largely responsible for the very elegant interior - son of Hermann A Brunn whose firm had bodied a number of Lincolns back in the marque's Classic heyday.
I have worked on vehicles my whole life. I am 62 now and grew up doing body work and today own my own shop. The cars that you own keep taking me back due that my mother and father drove so many vehicles like you own. Mostly large Mercury's and Ford's. Keep up the good work. I always love it when you post a new video. I also have seen all your older videos.
I have owned a 74 Continental four-door, 86 Grand Marquis & 1997 Town car. Great cruisers
My favorite Lincoln of all time.
It’s amazing how many”car guys” on RUclips don’t know the difference between a sunroof and a moonroof.
Adam set them straight in this video!
Absolutely good topic
I think some of the GM cars called them "astroroofs" as well.
@@bigblockelectra you are right I believe the term was Astroroof for the mid 70s-80s full-size rwd cars and they used the name until the end of the early 90s Cadillac Brougham. The early years you could choose the tint color.
I remember my father getting excited about his new 03 Ford Escape, proclaiming to me, “and it even has a window in the roof !!
Because it's a distinction without a difference.
Since it’s Indy 500 weekend-
In my 20’s I belonged to the Lincoln Continental Owners Club (I owned a ‘65 Continental convertible- thank you, Dad!) and we held a National Convention at Indy one summer…
I drove a mint 34K-mile Continental Mark III at good speed around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (over the bricks)…what a thrill!
I remember that spectacular car was mostly Turquoise- great day!
Was it a 1971 and do you know if it was the car at Meadowlands? Theres a Utube video with a man that resembles Frank Cannon who made an excellent video show casing the Mark lll and its a beautiful Turquoise color with low mileage and looks pristine.
A great overview, Adam. FYI, the gentleman standing next to Lee Iacocca and the Mustang was Donald N. Frey, the Mustang's engineering program manager. (See page 208 of Jim & Cheryl Farrell's Lincoln Design History for a photo of L. David Ash.) BTW I'm impressed that you were able to find a recorded interview! The power electric sunroof was first introduced on a Ford product as a regular factory option on the 1968 Cougar and featured in the only magazine advertisement for the XR7-G model. There is a white example of this car at The Henry Ford that was donated by ASC.
Terrific! I top like the non-vinyl roof.
I always hated vinyl roofs, looks so out of place might as well put a ski rack up there
Love these cars. I was eleven when they first came out. The grill and hump became so iconic for Lincoln. It’s nice to look back on these glory days of automotive design. Thanks Adam.
These were and still are Beautiful Cars.
All of 19 when the Mark III's came out, I was skeptical of a design with throwback elements, and associated them with white shoes and belts worn by my parents generation; I couldn't resolve the contradiction of mixing a Mark II hump on back and a 1930-ish radiator on front. But Iaccoca knew his market; he was of the generation who were children when Packards, Pierce-Arrows and the like represented the epitome of luxury, and the market for these cars was his contemporaries, who might have kids out of college and a nice upper management position. Those earlier stages you showed at the end of the video could have been mistaken for Mopar fuselage renderings. Another great video, Adam! Nobody else is doing anything like this.
The car at 12:00 is the first non-vinyl roof model I've ever seen and is the ultimate.
Cadillac and others also featured these metal power operated sunroofs in Eldorados, and other models. Just an FYI even Mercury Cougars offered this option on the first Gen Cougars (1967-68)! Granted the panel was a bit smaller but still HUGE and power operated. Thunderbird offered this in 1969 as well. The 1958-60 Square Birds offered a sunroof but if memory serves me correct it was manually operated not power.
I always thought the Mark III absolutely blew the Eldo away as far as elegance and quality. Fit and finish was top notch and the car just looked right.
Yeah a truly gorgeous design by comparison
Always think of Dean Martin as Matt Helm when I see these beauties.
I ran across a warehouse in Las Vegas from a old car collector who is long passed. I got invited for a private tour of this 100 car collection. In the collection is 4 Bricklins, but like wow, 29 Mark iii ranging from 1969 to 1971, well preserved. I mean they were in excellllleeeent condition.
I'm in contact with the widow in the hope to pick up one of these beauties.
Best of luck with that! I'll bet he had some non-callvary twill top cars, sunroof cars, Marks with ALL options, Marks with NO options, etc..
@jakereal3604 he had 4 bricklins...
Always loved this car. Beautiful car. Truly miss this design. It is sorely needed today.
You knew what it was a mile away. Absolutely distinctive.
Elvis Presley, James Brown and Isaac Hayes loved the Mark III!
Yes, it's 1969 and Wixom is just rolling along ! A t-bird with a tux!
Thanks for another great insight into the cars of the wonderful era in which I was lucky to be a boy. I enjoy the memory lane, plus I've learned more and more! Thanks, Adam! - Greg in California
I really, really, really LOVE the quality, detail, and content of your videos. Just amazing! Please continue the amazing work!
Wish to suggest a small correction; the person standing to Iaccoca's left and behind the red Mustang in the pic is not the designer Dave Ash but Donald Nelson Frey (pronounced Frī ) (1923 - 2010), a product manager at FoMoCo at the time of Mustang development
That front end styling was a huge change for the good back in 1969. It made people want it! Pimps too.
Hey man, pimps are people too! 🐸
Your videos are so well put together excellent work
Great video Adam! When I was just a kid, Mrs. Ung across the street had a black 1969 Mark III. I Loved it. She went on to get a Mark IV and a 1977 Seville.
Great video, Adam! Thank God for Lee Iacocca or the Mark III would never have turned out the way that it did! I remember when these were introduced and they were nothing less than jaw droppingly gorgeous!
They still are gorgeous, and if you see one now, you know what you are looking at.
Thanks Adam. Great insight into how Product Development works, including the involvement with Finance, in new vehicle development.
I just love these behind the design episodes! ❤👍🏻👊🏻🇺🇲
One of my good friends owns the silver 1969 Mark III without the vinyl top you used in the video!
I can vouch for this. A high school friend picked me up for a ride in his dad’s black one and It left the impression of smooth power as I felt it pushing me into the seat effortlessly, no noise or down shifting jolts. The doors had counter balances in them.
Beautiful car.... and worthy of the Continental Mark III name
Wow talk about a design getting changed around , All the mixed bag ques from other auto manufacturers Rolls Royce, Cadillac, Packard, Lincoln's MKII, Mercury as it's changes from the first proposal to the finished product. I had one 25 years ago and it was a well built great fit and finish automobile . I really liked the non cordovan top version your image was the first time I have ever seen one that way. Very interesting and learned something new thankyou for this video.
I love those cars . Nice job.
The Mark III is beautiful!!!! GOB BLESS LEE IACOCCA ! (That 1965 model proposal looks more like a Cadillac than a Lincoln!)
Adam, the Mark III Introduced the Power Sunroof. The Power Moonroof was introduced on the 1973 Continental Mark IV and only on the Silver Luxury Group edition. A gold moonroof became available in 1974 but there were no glass moonroofs on Mark III other than a prototype or two done by ASC.
This is correct. It wasn't until 1975 that you could order a (glass) moonroof in any Mark. The metal sunroof option was still available through 1976 as well. The '76 Mark IV brochure states the metal sunroof could not be ordered with the Landau vinyl roof, which I am guessing is also true in 1975 when the Landau roof was first introduced.
Great video, Adam, like always.
@@owlnswan4016 I've read that it was the availability of the moonroof, and the extra thickness required by it, that prompted Ford to switch from a full-vinyl-roof to a "halo" vinyl top for the car. That's unfortunate; I've always thought "halo" tops looked like the work of Earl Scheib.
@@owlnswan4016 You meant 1973, not 1975. 1975 was when the fabulous landau roof option with the thick chrome molding was introduced. Made every Mark IV look much better. I always wondered what a Mark IV w/o a vinyl roof would look like. The Mark V looked great without one!
@@pcno2832 No, the Moonroof came out in 1973 and came in two colors in 1974 (gold and silver) where the mark IV only came with a full vinyl roof. The extra thickness caused them to make the roof a little bitter taller than the 1972 model year.
@@viciouspoodle5543 No, '73...you described it correctly in how the '73 only had the moonroof available on the Silver Luxury Group cars, and then in '74 in Gold Luxury Group cars as well. Finally in 1975, the moonroof was available in any Mark IV.
www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/lincoln/74linc/bilder/15.jpg
I'm surprised to hear you dis the 4-door T-Bird. That is my absolute favorite.
Not a bad car. Just prefer the 2 door
Yes, I thought the 4-door looked classy.
The roofline looks good from a distance, but the perfectly vertical rear door gap that cuts into the C-pillar looks a bit odd. I'm sure it was dictated by the rear-hinge arrangement, but it does look like the work of an expertly guided circular saw.
Yes, but that sail panel that continues into the door frame certainly adds a very formal touch to the styling.
Adam, thank you for doing your research on obtaining these recordings and videos. It’s so interesting to hear these bosses and design engineers talk about the great cars of the 60’s-70’s. That they worked on.
Nice video. I've always loved the final design.
Be sure to ask your salesman about the extra storage capacity in the rocker panels.
Come on, Irv. What the hell is that ?
Is it just me, or does the tail of the "Launcelot" styling exercise at 7:35 look somewhat like some higher end GM full size cars from the late 60s/early 70s?
Thank you Adam, great pictures and information. Your video has made me curious about the 4dr Tbird.
Chris Schenkel of ABC sports narrating the video.
The voice of PBA's Golden Era.
I can't understand why, but I just had to click to resubscribe to your channel. I've been watching for years as a subscriber.
Strange
Thanks for another wonderful video of one of my favorite cars. The styling of the earlier design proposals, before Lee Iaccoca insisted on adding the Rolls-Royce grill, were all handsome ideas. What they lacked was anything distinctly Lincoln or Mercury, and what they all shared were Cadillac and Buick styling cues. The production version was distinctive and immensely popular. I'd love to get my hands on one of those 95 cars from the 1969 production run that were delivered without the vinyl top, just a much cleaner look overall. Thanks Adam, excellent content as always 😁
Thar body and color combo is absolutely beautiful. Damn that's nice!!
15:30. I had the factory sunroof by ASC in my 69 Mercury Cougar. The components (Motor with worm gear and two cables)were same ones used by BMW. There was a pan that the sunroof panel slid into, and there were drain/nipples in the A-pillar corners with plastic tubes that drained down through the A-pillars and out behind the front wheels.
I think the four-door T-bird should have gotten an even longer wheelbase considering how short the rear doors are, even though they cut into the sail panels.
I always liked the cars Frank Cannon drove in the tv series. He mostly drove a mk4 but did have a mk3 in some shows. I can't believe no one else mentioned him.
In one episode, Frank ran out of gasoline when a baddie shot a hole in his gas tank.
I never remember him driving a Mk3 - it was always a MK4.
FYI Ford was the first post war company that introduced the sunroof on the 1960 Thunderbird.
Yup. I recently saw a thunderbird and was amazed that it had a sunroof
Perhaps this was the case in the USA, but VW Bug, Sunbeam Talbot 90, Peugeot 403, etc all had sunroof or the option of one in the 1950's.
@@flatheadV8 Were those all canvas tops?
@@dj33036 As far as I know they were all steel. My 1954 Sunbeam Talbot had one as standard. I just sold it two years ago.
Morris 8's had them in the 1930's as an option. Ford as you will probably know, had a canvas centre panel on the roof which was not able to be opened and was either a cost saving move or to stop drumming or maybe both.
I believe you're correct and they are very, very rare. Sunroofs weren't a "thing" back then probably because a lot of men still wore hats and the ladies with their "bouffant" hairdo's.
Keep up the great work, Adam. Your new video is always welcomed.
Iacocca was a genius!!
Yes, he was definitely a "car guy" unlike the accountants and sports car guys that run the show now - everything has to look like a pod and do 0-60 in 3 seconds now.
I confess I am one of those guys confused about sun / moon roof. Thank you for the explanation refresh. My favourite design point would be the raising of the rear deck lid and the difference those 2” made. So glad they decided against the Cadillac rear end! The horizontal light theme combined with the continental trunk is infinitely classier on this body style.
You do such an awesome job with your videos. Have to say I was unaware of the Lincoln Mark until seeing the detective show 'Cannon' as a kid.
Out of the three years of the continental Mark three 1971 was the best year because more things that were optional were standard. The early models came with high back seats, which are the most comfortable seat you ever going to sit in all the wood is real on 70 and 71 instead of tape and 69 also the 70 was the first year for radial tire, and the Mark was the first car to be mass produced with the radial tire
Michelin X radials with a 40,000 mile warranty.
Hey would love to know more about roof designs. Such as sunroof, T tops, convertible, etc. evolution.
Love the clean looks of that Mark III w/o the vinyl roof. It reminds me of my 1969 T'bird Sports Coupe (Medium Lime Green, bucket seats, console, A/C) that I bought new... it too sans vinyl top. My Dad loved it so much that he traded in his 1969 Grand Prix that summer for a great deal on an end-of-the-year 1969 Thunderbird 4-door Brougham. I was just glad to unload my '67 Toronado. My 2-door got pummeled in a Texas hailstorm whilst we keep Dad's 4-door for 29 years. Still running and looking almost as good as it first came home to roost. JJS
One of the most beautiful cars ever produced, unmatched to this day - I'll take a '71 with the real wood on the dash and high back seats please! I didn't really like the original hubcaps (17:12) and thought they stuck out too far, prefer the later model hubcaps (6:53) myself. I'm usually a fan of vinyl roofs but that smooth top at 12:15 is stunning. The back end of the model at 7:44 looks like a Buick Electra 225 the front at 22:22 and 23:48 looks like a '71 Mercury Marquis.
Excellent video didn’t know they planned it initially to look like a 67 coupe deville from 3/4 of the car
#11 pimps loved it
As did Ballers!
Very interesting insights.
Off topic and I've never heard you discuss trucks, but the 1994 Dodge Ram is a story that I think needs to be explored and told. This vehicle was a raging success (taking Dodge from 7% to 21% of the pickup market) and yet I've never really heard it discussed or anyone attempting to take credit for it.
My beloved uncle Curt had a '71. As a young kid I remember how UTTERLY silent the world became when the windows were up and the a/c was on, in Florida on a summer day. That, and the fantastic heft of the doors.
The Lancelot rear looks like Caddy lights as you said but also Delta 88 trunk lid and bumper. The L on the front nameplate looks like the L on Laverne's blouse (Laverne and Shirley). I think I would have to always defer to engineering when they state something although at that point perhaps it was too late.
Yes, the early color shot of the Launcelot (spelled that way on the car) definitely has some Delta 88 (or is it more Buick?) look to it. Large GM top end look, for sure.
Excellent video. Lancelot! Sword logo. Brilliantly nuts
The Mark 3 is Beautiful!!!! Great Ride and Plenty of Power!!! 💪
Yeah, loads of smooth quiet non-jerky power.
The Mark III always reminds me of the 1971 movie The French Connection.
Thanks to Adam for helping to keep automotive history alive...
The one with the optional sill storage!
@@stephenholland5930 LOL LOL LOL LOL
Was sad to see one of those taken apart for the movie The French Connection. That car was a luxurious tank.
Adam, At 3:20 you chose a photo of a 4 door Thunderbird which includes a portable outhouse or 'Go Hut' in the background. Is this intended as a sly editorial comment? 🤔
I was just wondering about whomever took that photo. Cropping in frame wasn't a thing for them, or just making sure the background on a hopefully nice shot of a car you love didn't have crap (literal or figurative) showing up.
@@sergioleone3583 We may never know.......😉
Hmm. I'm a 3rd generation Lincoln owner and the power glass moonroof option first appeared on the '73 Continental Mark IV and it also required the Silver Luxury Group option to be ordered as well. I have seen plenty of Mark III's with the sunroof but not the moonroof.
You are correct. The Mark III introduced the power sunroof and I believe it wasn't available in the 1969 model year. There are no factory Mark III's with moonroofs.
I wonder if Chrysler ever floated the idea of an imperial luxury coupe. To compete with this and the Eldorado. In this time period. It would be interesting to see the designs if they did.
thanks for posting I started buying cars in 1972 so I remember most of your videos
Here is a design specifically meant to say that the owner is not climbing up-- he has already gotten there and is now looking down at you.
I love this channel and appreciate so much of the discussion, but one thing I don't love: the automobiles that were always meant to state decadence and supremacy.
Haughty, they are.
Everyone have a wonderful Memorial Day holiday.
Well, if we take that second paragraph to it's end, we shouldn't enjoy a lot of art, architecture, and music that was originally created perhaps in a context/milieu of decadence or ostentation. (though admittedly, I'm not a fan of Baroque or Rococo art and architecture. Baroque music on the other hand? Sublime. But, I digress...)
@sergioleone3583 So. Ah. Since classism has produced things beautiful to see, classism is all right with you?
Well. How impressive.
As long as the current state of things continues, yes?
We can peaceably allow for the continued brutalization of ordinary people all over the world because those who brutalize produce fine designs and objects as a side effect, true?
Ha ha! Sure.
@@bretfisher7286 Yes, that's exactly what I said. 🙄
@sergioleone3583 I'm happy that at least you can be honest. Why apologize for being exploitative? Since much of the world believes it to be absolutely necessary and absolutely justified and, besides, big fun?
Never hesitate to take advantage of anyone or anything you can, friend! Am I right? 'Tis the way of things, yes?
I had a 69 and 70 mark 3 in the early 80s .
Awesome ride
The name "Lincoln" is not on the vehicle. Even the info plaque when raising the hood is "Continental Mark III".
I enjoyed the whole show 👏
I thought it cool how they raised the deck lid and that in doing so without raising the roof, it squeezed the roof line. I would never have thought of that being the result. And in regards to the front overhang…if they could have seen a few years ahead and look at what the Eldorado became in the 1970s, they’d have had no qualms. Those Eldon’s had huge front overhang as did the Lincoln Town Cars.
Excellent video and some new to me info. One mention.......the 'in process" Mark was called "Launcelot" no "Lancelot", which is quite visible in a few shots.....very strange name.
One gorgeous sled.
The prototypes look more like Cadillac than Lincoln
Those styling proposals are really fascinating, with some definite shades of the 70s Grand Marquis coupes on display.
I consider the four-door Thunderbird to be a masterful execution on a difficult platform. The interior and especially the rear were and are very comfortable. I guess beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.
very nice car.
To me, the '65 proposal looks like Cadillac styling
Yes, the vinyl roof looks good. But DAYUM...the slick-top is SVELTE! That "Lancelot" proposal looks waaayyy Cadillackie from the rear. Merlin, Lancelot: remember that (late) Kennedy administration was referred to as "Camelot" from the musical from the early 60s period of that proposal. Interesting how it was so much of it's era.
I like the lines of this Mark III, except for its lights, grill, and the spare tire hump unfortunately (as opposed to the original 58 Mark III, which I like all of). That said, if the prototype pictured at 8:00 was the model actually produced, I would be hunting for one now in a heartbeat!
I noticed that one of the later design prototypes had cornering lights.
Did any production Mark IIIs ever have them?
The MK III never had corning lights, not even as an option - would've looked good in the lower front fender in the blank spot between the front wheel arch and bumper.
Is that Chris Shenkel doing the voice over on the commercial at the start of the video?
Nice
Good video 😀
Very cool
The 61 Linc is my favourite but these are pretty nice as well.They look even better without the vinyl roof.
The Lancelot with the sword emblem was great! Too bad they scrapped it.
Another great episode. The car shown in the commercial is an interesting color. Brown? Amber? Regardless, when they show the side view, the front cap seems to be a shade off. Did Lincoln paint the front-ends separately? I would have thought on a prestige car, all panels would be shot together.
Ford Australia's LTD 1976 to 1979 had a similar front and grill without the hidden headlights
Interesting… how are you able to use the commercial without getting flagged for copyright? I thought you can only use 5 seconds. Thanks!
It’s probably because the ads are almost 55 years old?
@@EvilTwinRC51 nah… they are very strict with copyright
Why would someone take a picture with a porta john in the background?
Yeah, if only they'd moved a few feet to their left...
That close-up front view of the prototype looks like the production Mercury of that era.
Wow, that big, red and black "Launcelot" looks like a '69-'70 Caddy!
The rear end made me instantly think of a mid-60s Electra...
Thank you Adam. The facts and the design story and proposal was interesting to see. The video was well explained and broken down. A lot of inspiration came from the past. The other thing that was interesting how it got is own unique features. The most interesting thing was the fact Mercury was against this car and they later copied aspects of the design. The other interesting thing was the inspiration from Europe and they later did it again in the 1980's where the Mark VII was inspired by European cars. That early design proposal looks like a early 1970's Mercury Marquis.
Masterful re-working. Doubt the average customer in 69 had any idea. I like the 4dr T-bird, but it only works in dark colors which somewhat hide the cut line. Another (perhaps) little known fact is that Hermann C Brunn was largely responsible for the very elegant interior - son of Hermann A Brunn whose firm had bodied a number of Lincolns back in the marque's Classic heyday.
With the 1956 Mark II trunk hump, it looks like a re-envisioned Mark II tail light came along for the ride.
My favorite years
Video good. Excessive commercials/ads NOT GOOD.
I am fairly certain that ASC was also contracted by General Motors to turn the W-Body Cutlass Supreme into a convertible.