America is an enormous place, and it was as soon as populated with commensurately huge automobiles, as demonstrated by as we speak’s Good Value or No Cube Lincoln. Let’s resolve if this huge automobile calls for a contrastingly small worth.
In Ode on a Grecian Urn, Keats wrote, “Magnificence is fact, fact magnificence,–that’s all.” Reality be instructed, automobiles just like the 1980 BMW 635CSi we thought of final Friday are arguably stunning. At $6,750, our magnificence’s worth proved very engaging as nicely, incomes the big-boy coupe a strong 76 p.c Good Value win.
OK, I would like you to maintain Friday’s BMW in thoughts for only a second longer. Now examine that automobile to as we speak’s 1979 Lincoln Continental. It’s fairly a definite distinction, isn’t it? Contemplate: these have been up to date choices. And whereas the 635 was huge for BMW requirements on the time, the Lincoln was simply plain huge. Not solely was this version of the Continental the longest commonplace manufacturing vehicle in Ford’s historical past, it was the most important automobile available on the market, bar none.
Along with being huge—233 inches lengthy on a 127-inch wheelbase—this Lincoln can be ostentatious and audacious. The outside design is pretty clear, though the half-landau roof, opera home windows, and Doric column fender caps do give the automobile a wholesome dose of ’70s gravitas.
It’s the inside, nevertheless, the place the automobile’s excesses are allowed to run rampant. This was the period of color-coordinated interiors, and this Continental doesn’t disappoint with its full-send bordello-red trappings. The throw-pillow seats look alarmingly snug and are as flat as Kansas, so the one difficulty getting out and in can be emotional. Faux wooden and many silver trim add to the old-school vibe.
Most all the things on the automobile is claimed within the advert to be authentic, and if the images are to be believed, it’s all in amazingly good situation. There’s even a manufacturing facility 8-track stereo within the sprint and a period-correct Citizen’s Band radio mounted beneath that.
The one discordant component of the inside is an aftermarket triple gauge unit mounted subsequent to the CB. That’s a sensible addition, so we shouldn’t ding the automobile an excessive amount of for that.
This was the final yr for this era of Continental. The mannequin noticed important shrinky-dinking for the 1980 mannequin yr with the swap to the extra trendy Panther platform. That additionally spelled the top for large block engines within the Continental.
For this swan track, nevertheless, huge was all you would get as the usual and solely engine providing for 1979 was Ford’s 400 CID (6.6 liter) 335-Sequence V8. Sapped of its energy by emissions and gas financial system calls for, the 2-barrel-equipped engine supplied 179 horsepower and, extra notably, 315 lb-ft of torque. That’s paired with a three-speed C6 computerized with set-it-and-forget-it column shift.
The whole lot seems full underneath the hood, proper all the way down to the espresso can vacuum canister for the headlight doorways and the GM-sourced Delco AC compressor.
Based on the advert, this Lincoln has simply 83,062 miles underneath its baroque belt and, based mostly on its presentation, ought to be thought of a “9 out of 10 situation traditional.” It comes with a clear title and what look like present plates. The asking worth is $8,200.
Sure, that’s greater than was requested for our comparability BMW, however then with this, you’re getting a heck of much more automobile. I imply, this factor weighs half once more greater than the 6 Sequence and has two extra doorways, so rightfully, it ought to price a bit extra, proper?
Nicely, that’s simply what we’re right here to seek out out. What’s your tackle this authentic gangster of a Lincoln and that $8,200 asking? Does that really feel honest, at the least on a price-per-pound scale? Or is that asking nothing however an enormous dud?
You resolve!
Denver, Colorado, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
H/T to RevUnlimiter for the hookup!
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