To be distinguished from the 1958 Continental Mark III
Motor vehicle
Continental Mark III
1969 Continental Mark III
Overview
Manufacturer
Lincoln (Ford)
Production
1968–1971
Model years
1969–1971
Assembly
Wixom Assembly, Wixom, Michigan
Body and chassis
Class
Personal luxury car
Body style
2-door coupe
Layout
FR layout
Related
Ford Thunderbird (fifth generation) Lincoln Continental (1961–1969)
Powertrain
Engine
460 cu in (7.5 L) V8 (385 family)
Transmission
3-speed C6 automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase
117.2 in (2,977 mm)[1]
Length
216.1 in (5,489 mm)
Width
79.4 in (2,017 mm)
Height
53.0 in (1,346 mm)
Curb weight
4,866 lb (2,207 kg)
Chronology
Predecessor
Continental Mark II
Successor
Continental Mark IV
The Continental Mark III is a personal luxury car marketed by Lincoln from 1969–1971 model years. The namesake successor of the 1956–1957 Continental Mark II, the Mark III again served as the flagship vehicle of Ford Motor Company. Offered as a two-door hardtop coupe, the Mark III was noted for its hidden headlights, rear spare-tire trunk bulge recalling the Mark II and its Rolls-Royce styled grille.
The Mark III was developed as a direct competitor to the Cadillac Eldorado, creating a three-decade market rivalry between the Continental Mark series and the Eldorado.
To lower development and production costs over its largely hand-built predecessor, the Mark III shared its chassis underpinnings with the four door Ford Thunderbird. Model-specific design elements, including hidden headlamps (with body-color covers) and the Rolls-Royce-style grille distinguished the Mark III from the Thunderbird and Lincoln Continental — while borrowing the same roof structure and rear windows, retractable into the C pillar, from the two door Thunderbird. Later models featured genuine walnut interior accents and a Cartier-branded clock. In a first for an American car, the 1970 Mark III was fitted with Michelin "X" Radial Tires as standard equipment.[2]
Ford manufactured the Continental Mark III at its Wixom Assembly Plant facility (Wixom, Michigan) alongside the Thunderbird and the Lincoln Continental. For 1972, in alignment with the redesign of the Thunderbird, the Mark III was superseded by the Continental Mark IV.
^"Lincoln Continental Mark III @ carfolio". Carfolio.com. 2008-04-03. Retrieved 2011-11-20.
^Vaughan, Daniel Conceptcarz.com 1969 Lincoln Continental news, pictures, specifications, and information September 2008 Retrieved July 26, 2015
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