79 Continental Coupe

[Dave 92 LSC]

I am looking at a 79 Town Coupe, 44k miles 1 owner. garaged most of its life.
My dad had a 79 4 door once, and I always loved those monsters.

Any info on the 400ci motor, is the tranny c6?<-- what too look out for.
Only rust on the car is from the garage roof leaking and making a small hole on top of the fender, and a bit on the bottom, just one fender.
Cartier clock works, radio works, lights go up and down, and antenna works.
Not a high option car, lacking leather plus seats, sunroof, and landau roof. But its so straight and no oil leaks, with 44k miles I think I want to get it. What would it be worth?

Feel free to chime in!

[pro-five-oh]

There is almost nothing to worry about on these cars, aside from everything that goes wrong on older cars. Finding one with a steel roof is pretty hard to find, makes it way more appealing to me...either it was a special order car (Town Coupes were supposed to be all with vinyl roofs, I thought!) or someone has repainted it and removed the vinyl roof.

The market for these cars isn't that great, and you can take advantage of it. With that mileage, anywhere from $2000-6000 is fair depending on condition. This one has paint/body issues, so I'd ask $3500 and go up to $5000 if you really, really want it.

[Dave 92 LSC]

There is almost nothing to worry about on these cars, aside from everything that goes wrong on older cars. Finding one with a steel roof is pretty hard to find, makes it way more appealing to me...either it was a special order car (Town Coupes were supposed to be all with vinyl roofs, I thought!) or someone has repainted it and removed the vinyl roof.

The market for these cars isn't that great, and you can take advantage of it. With that mileage, anywhere from $2000-6000 is fair depending on condition. This one has paint/body issues, so I'd ask $3500 and go up to $5000 if you really, really want it.

I dont care for landau taop that much, but what pisses me off is that it doesn't have those big leather seats. Its a basic cloth/vinyl bench. And wheels are simple Lincoln Hub Caps. Not the turbine wheels that I love on those cars. Wheels is not a problem, but interior might be hard to change.
So $1600 is not a bad price to pay for it.

[pro-five-oh]

Hmm, it sounds like a Lincoln Continental Coupe, not a Town Coupe. No biggie, I guess.

If you want the better seats (I understand) you should really wait for one that has them. You can get a real Town Coupe for the same price, if you look hard enough. Trust me on that.

[Dereck]

Hi Dave 92 LSC

I reckon that car is a crock.

That small rust hole in the front fender by the turn signal lamp is actually a huge rust hole that rotted its way through from the underside and there is probably one on the other side as well its just you can't see it through the bondo.

There will most likely be some more rot behind the tail lights.

I thought all Town Coupes came with a roof it hides the window channels for the rear window.

Give it a thorough checkover dude.

Regards

Dereck

[Dave 92 LSC]

Why a crock? Explain more please.
I checked under the car, and it is dry, no rust, panels are solid, no bondo work. Doors no rust, no rust in quarters either. Last registered in 2004, but ran twice a month around the block.

The only part that really sucks is that it has a bench seats, not those super nice leather seats, but its so clean!! I am gonna go drive it on Tuesday and go over it in great detail.

[Dave 92 LSC]

Hmm, it sounds like a Lincoln Continental Coupe, not a Town Coupe. No biggie, I guess.

If you want the better seats (I understand) you should really wait for one that has them. You can get a real Town Coupe for the same price, if you look hard enough. Trust me on that.



Wow, thanks, I didnt know there were Continental coupes, I thought all 2 door Townies were Town Coupes.
Yeah, it looks like a no option car. Not even auto lights. It just the clean body and 44k miles sounds special to me. Once I drive it, Ill be able to better judge the car.

3 hours of research later. Apprently Town Car and Town Coupe where an option on all Continentals.

So this car does appear to be bare bone Continental. In reality, if I added turbine wheels that would make it look a lot better.

I just missed a 79 Town Coupe white with green leather, for only 2000. :(

[pro-five-oh]

Wow, thanks, I didnt know there were Continental coupes, I thought all 2 door Townies were Town Coupes.


Remember the Town Car was a trim package back then, just like an LSC. If you look on the passenger side of the dash, it will say Lincoln Continental, not Continental Town Car.

[Dave 92 LSC]

Interesting. Well thanks for pointing this out.

At this point, do you think its worth 1800? I dont think I want to pay more than 1200. Not exactly my color/option combo.

[pro-five-oh]

You are picky. I think you should wait for a Town Car or Town Coupe.

Seriously.

Don't settle when you can have what you want for not much more...or even the same price.

[Dave 92 LSC]

Ill sleep on it.
Thanks!

[Hensley]

My grandfather had several of these. Try and find a '78 or earlier with the 460. The 400 was a dog.

[pro-five-oh]

My grandfather had several of these. Try and find a '78 or earlier with the 460. The 400 was a dog.

I totally forgot about that. Definitely pass on this one.

[95pres]

The 400 can be a good engine,but the draw backs for a 79 lincoln are: 2barrel carb- you'll never get the "ramming speed" sensation when you mash the pedal like you would with a 460.
It is also a less smooth engine than the 460-
A well factory tuned 460 is SOOO smooth, you could set a wine glass on the air cleaner and rev it all day long without it tipping.--- and very little engine noise.
With that said,
Personally,I think some of the best color schemes and options were only available in 79. AND, only year of the digital radio with foot controlled seek button.......cool old school.
If you looking for something to do cookies in the highschool parking lot than get a 460 car(pre-1979), but if you're looking for a smooth riding lincoln to float down the highway with, you'll never really notice the difference. .....IMO
Good luck hunting,
Brad

[Dave 92 LSC]

Thank you for your inputs.

I am gonna offer him 1000 and see if he goes for it.
Considering the car is not my favorite color/ option combination. The ones I want are 3000 and up. And at this time I dont want or need to spend this much on a 70's car.

The reason I like this car so much is, its clean and very straight. no door dings and interior is also very clean. It is not all tired and run down.

Will update as soon as I know something.

[ericpmarkIII]

Just an idea, if ya have some space and cash- get the 79 for $2000or less- 45 cence a pound. When ya can, get a 460 car with your choice of seats. You can always sell the 79 for what ya paid and you may even move a few tidbits from 79 to other car w/o hurting 79 value. Lastle, experiance ya get with 79 will really pay if ya still want other car. No real down side, unless $ ya tie up in 79 would STOP ya from getting a $3500, + 460 car.
I figure, best time to look for car (or job) is when ya really dont need one. That way ya dont buy what you dont really want for full retail. Check compression on 400 before you buy.

[jase386]

there is a 72 continental on ebay, needs a little work but could be a fun car, its a 4 door though, which is my preference.. but i know alot of you fellas like the coupes.. they are aggravating to me. if i ever run across a Town Car this body style againk, im gonna scoop it up.

[Wojo]

Hi, I own a 77 Towne coupe with a 460 ( It was in the December isssue of Collectible Automoble). It runs great with the Edelbrock 600cfm carb and performer manifold. I also have a couple of 72 Ford LTDs with the 400 engine. Check them out at http://www.shadetreesavior.com/photo2.html . One is stock and the other was built to approx 375 HP ( http://www.shadetreesavior.com/ltdeng.html ). I think if you installed an Edelbrock performer manifold and carb on the 400 you wouldn't be able to tell the difference in the performance compared to the 460 but you would get better gas mileage. The 460 seems to be a quieter engine. The 400 actually has a longer stroke than the 460 so it has a lot of low end torque. I like them all but the I got about 18 mpg with the 400.... In 79 the 460 was not available. It would be a good deal for 1K and bring you lots of enjoyment. Another advantage of the 400 is that I built my 375 HP engine for about $2500.00 ....thats parts and labor.