American Cars Are Odd: '64 Lincoln Continental

"RooWills" (roowills)
08/15/2013 at 15:00 • Filed to: LINCOLN, NEW ZEALAND, AMERICA, CRUISING, ROO WILLS

I know this headline may cause some fuss but I never really understood American cars. The majority aren't overly fast, don't handle well and guzzle a lot of gas. But this Lincoln Continental changed everything.

DISCLAIMER: My experience with American cars is relatively limited and is mostly with older Mustangs, Camaros and the odd newer Lincoln & Chrysler.

I just didn't know where they were supposed to fit in. The build quality isn't that of a German or even a Japanese car. The fast ones can't corner, although they go great in a straight line. And they aren't (at least in New Zealand) priced very competitively.

I don't think like that any more though and realize I had it completely wrong. They're not meant to be any of those things. They are American. They are solid. They are patriotic. And they make you feel damn good when sitting in the front seat. I don't think I've had a bigger grin on my face than when I was sitting in this thing with all four windows down, cruising around the waterfront of Auckland City on a sunny day.

After a trip on the motorway (highway) with the sun beaming into the car and receiving constant stares from other motorists it all began to make sense. This is exactly what this car was made for - cruising. The large sofa-like seats felt similar to riding on a cloud as we navigated New Zealand's coastal landscape. I reminded myself that this car was built in America, for America - the home of the road trip.

The afternoon I spent in the company of this vehicle completely changed my outlook on cars. They don't have to be fast. They don't have to handle perfectly. They don't have to be advanced, gadget-filled, life changing machines. They need to look good and make you feel like the coolest kid on the block while doing it. And this car, America, does the last two things very well.

DISCUSSION (6)

Jid M > RooWills
08/15/2013 at 15:11

The older Continentals like this are are my dream car list. I've always loved them. There is just something about how the ride, and are built just for cruising. And, I mean... SUICIDE REAR DOORS. What's not to love about that?

I'm not a huge fan of the wheels / tyres on this one, but it's still beautiful.

Dusty Ventures > RooWills
08/15/2013 at 15:14

I love the early 60s Contis. They look so sinister and yet so cool, and those suicide doors are awesome

A Self Loathing Mustang Guy > RooWills
08/15/2013 at 15:23

Your pictures are great, the car looks fantastic, and you're pretty much spot-on about its appeal. It's an unwieldy barge with no blatant advantages over, well, anything else, but it's just so damn cool that it doesn't matter.

CobraJoe > RooWills
08/15/2013 at 16:07

"The afternoon I spent in the company of this vehicle completely changed my outlook on cars. They don't have to be fast. They don't have to handle perfectly. They don't have to be advanced, gadget-filled, life changing machines."

Halleluiah. Another person has seen the light.

I've been trying to tell people something similar to this for a long time: Cars don't need to be everything to everybody, they don't need to be superlative in any specific category, they don't need to have any specific suspension or drivetrain setup, they don't even need to be a certain design to become a desirable car. They only need to have a personality.

GRawesome > RooWills
08/15/2013 at 16:43

Great pictures ROOWILLS!

'64 Lincoln is one of my favorite cars ever, best dash of all the suicide door lincolns, very clean and not busy like some of the later years.

I shall own one some day...

herald > RooWills
08/16/2013 at 12:28

Its a pity they ruined it by lowering and putting those idiotic super low profile tires on it - I bet it rides like crap. Makes me want to punch whoever did that in the face. Still, its a beautiful car, I'd love to own it - and fix those defects ASAP.