Continental Mark V (1960)

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Continental
Continental Mark V Landau Sedan (model 75A) from 1960
Continental Mark V Landau Sedan (model 75A) from 1960
Mark V
Production period: 1960
Class : Upper class
Body versions : Limousine , Pullman limousine , coupé , convertible
Engines: Petrol engines :
7.0 liters
(235–298 kW)
Length: 5771 mm
Width: 2040 mm
Height: 1440 mm
Wheelbase : 3327 mm
Empty weight : 2370 kg
Previous model Continental Mark IV

The Continental Mark V was the last model from the luxury brand Continental, which was part of the Ford Group until mid-1960 . It followed the Continental Mark IV of the previous year and was the last version of a joint design for Lincoln and Continental from 1958. The Mark V is part of the Mark Series .

Despite the close technical relationship to the Lincoln (" badge engineering "), the Continental was initially considered a model of an independent brand analogous to the Imperial at Chrysler . In both cases, however, the population perceived these vehicles as models of the Lincoln and Chrysler brands rather than as independent brands. At Continental, this situation resolved itself by relinquishing the brand during the fiscal year. However, this model should not be confused with the Personal Luxury Car Continental Mark V (1977–1979).

technology

The hardtop coupé (model 65A) was also the cheapest way to drive a new Continental in the Mark V series at US $ 6598. 1461 units were sold

In order to achieve even smoother running, the engine compression has been reduced to 10: 1 and the air filter has been revised. The engine mounting has also been changed and fuel consumption has been reduced somewhat by switching to a double carburetor . The fact that the output fell to 315 bhp (234.9 kW) was compensated for by an optionally available, more powerful engine.

For manufacturing reasons, the Continental Mark III to V were designed as a self-supporting construction. Although the Ford Group had already gained experience with this design with the Lincoln Zephyr from 1936, the gigantic Lincoln and Continental from 1958–1960 - the largest self-supporting automobiles ever built up to that point - made considerable problems with regard to body rigidity. Although reinforcements were constantly being added throughout the entire production period, the problem could not be completely solved until the end - as with the corresponding Lincoln. For this reason, the suspension of both brands was switched to rear leaf springs for 1960. These distribute the energy from road impacts to the construction better than coil springs.

design

While the brand's first model, the Continental Mark II , was designed by a top-class team in its own design department under John Reinhart, the designs for Mark III to V were created in parallel with the corresponding Lincoln models. Lincoln chief designer John Najjar laid the foundation . The facelift of 1959, which "defused" the radical edge look, came from Don De La Rossa . The greatest intervention in the basic shape was made with the Mark V, which was carried out by Elwood Engel . Engel further "calmed" the lines. The bulges around the front wheel arches, which were initially clearly protruding and which in the original design had been visually drawn to the front bumper, were further reduced. While Lincoln got a chrome band across the belt in 1960, Continental got four parallel, short chrome elements in the side behind the front wheel arch instead. At the front, Engel used a grille with a modified pattern, which in turn was repeated in the rear grill. The bumpers have been made simpler and straighter. Her two horns up front were more like a step back to the mid-fifties. Again the temptation to put on pronounced tail fins was resisted. The indicated rear grill lost its pronounced oval shape.

Body shapes

model designation Body shape List price number of pieces
23A limousine Sedan, partition window,
vinyl roof, 4-door 		$ 10,230 34
23B Formally sedan Sedan,
vinyl roof, 4-door 		$ 9,208 136
54A 4-door sedan Sedan,
4-door 		$ 6,845 807
65A Hardtop Coupe Coupé without B-pillar,
2-door 		$ 6,598 1,461
68A Convertible Coupe Cabriolet,
2-door 		$ 7,056 2,044
75A Landau Sedan Sedan without B-pillar,
4-door 		$ 6,845 6,604

The sedan (with separation, model 23A ) introduced in the previous year together with the Formal Sedan (model 23B) exceeded the magical limit of US 10,000 for the first time since the Mark II. The only color in the catalog was black. All versions were 6-seater.

Cadillac sold 142,184 cars in the 1960 model year, most of them of course Series Sixty and De Ville which corresponded to the Lincoln. Imperial sold 17,703 vehicles, Lincoln 13,437 and Continental 11,086. For the latter, the model year ended a little earlier because changes had to be made in the Wixom plant for the new Lincoln Continental and Ford Thunderbird , two upcoming successful models.

custom made

The American rock singer Elvis Presley (1935–1977) ordered a special version of the Town Car in the summer of 1959 during his military service in Germany . The adaptations, mainly in the interior, were made by the coachbuilder Hess & Eisenhardt in Rossmoyne ( Ohio ), where the conversion of the ordinary sedan with B-pillar to a sedan or to the Town Car took place. As a result of the early order, Presley received the 32nd model year car. Another customer wanted a town car in dark blue (with a black vinyl roof) and the same amenities that Continental installed in the rear of the sedan, such as a second control for the radio and air conditioning.

Trivia

A well-preserved Continental Mark V can fetch over $ 50,000 today.

See also

Web links

Commons : Continental Mark V  - Collection of Images, Videos, and Audio Files

literature

  • Paul R. Woudenberg: Lincoln and Continental 1946–1980 - The classic Postwar Years. Motorbooks International, Osceola WI (USA) 1993 (new edition), ISBN 0-87938-730-0 . (English)
  • Ray Hutton, Jürgen Lewandowski: Lincoln - An American Tradition. 1st edition. Delius Klasing Verlag, Bielefeld, (Ed. Lincoln / Ford Motor Company) 2000, ISBN 3-7688-1125-5 . (English)
  • Beverly Rae Kimes, Richard M. Langworth (Eds.): The Golden Anniversary of the Lincoln Motor Car 1921–1971. published by Automobile Quarterly, New York 1970 (English)
  • Consumer's Guide (Ed.): Encyclopedia of American Cars from 1930. Publications International, 1993, ISBN 0-7853-0175-5 . (English)
  • Richard M. Langworth: Encyclopedia of American Cars 1930-1980. Beekman House, New York 1984, ISBN 0-517-42462-2 . (English)
  • G. Marshall Naul, R. Perry Zavitz (Eds.): The Specification Book For US Cars 1930-1969. Motorbooks International, 1980, ISBN 0-87938-068-3 . (English)
  • Jerry Heasley: The Production Figure Book For US Cars. Motorbooks International, 1977, ISBN 0-87938-042-X . (English)
  • Tad Burness: American Car Spotter's Guide, 1940-65. Motorbooks International, ISBN 0-87938-057-8 . (English)
  • Peter C. Sessler: American Automobile Paint Code Interchange Manual 1945–1995. Motorbooks International, Osceola WI (USA) 1995, ISBN 0-87938-977-X . (English)

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Hutton / Lewandowski: Lincoln - An American Tradition (2000), p. 67.
  2. ^ Woudenberg: Lincoln and Continental 1946-1980 (1993), p. 86.
  3. ↑ Naul / Zavitz: Specification Book For US Cars (1980), pp. 192-193
  4. ^ Woudenberg: Lincoln and Continental 1946-1980 (1993), p. 87.
  5. ↑ conceptcarz.com; Continental Mark V Elvis Presley
  6. ↑ conceptcarz.com auction results