The Continental from Lincoln is one of those car names that seems to have been around forever – in fact, the name finally slid out the back door of Lincoln showrooms in 2020, following a production run that spanned 60 years and 10 generations.
Classed as either a mid-size or full-size luxury sedan (saloon us Europeans), the Continental is a slice of true Americana… and they don’t come much more American Made than the 1979 Bill Blass edition.
The fifth generation Continental arrived in 1970, replacing the fourth generation car which we will always remember as ‘the one JFK was in a at the time’. For 1970, the Lincoln Continental lost a little width but gained significant length – it was already a long car, but the 5mph bumpers made it the longest automobile ever produced by Ford Motor Company.
This newer sedan did away with the famed suicide doors of the MK4 – the four door was a ‘pillared hard top’ meaning it had frameless windows with a traditional B pillar. A two door coupe was offered, but no convertible this time. One of the most memorable features of the MK5 is the vacuum operated hidden headlamps, giving the front end a clean, regal and powerful look… that’s just a touch sinister.
1975 saw a major restyling of the MK5, also becoming one of the first cars to offer four-wheel disc brakes as an option. We also saw the use of catalytic convertors on the big Linc for the first time. In 1978 the dashboard was updated from mostly metal to mostly plastic to save weight, and the rear wheel spats were redesigned to expose more of the wheel. There was also now an optional sliding sunroof or a fixed moon roof with sunshade, adding to the luxury experience of being light and airy inside! In 1979 more wood was added to the dashboard, bringing us up to speed with the car currently offered by Wizard Sports & Classics.
The ‘Designer Series’ cars were introduced in 1976 and stayed in dealerships until 1979. American car manufacturers were going through a phase of collaborating with well known designers, and the sales success of these models ensured the collaboration would continue…. meaning buyers in 1979 could choose between Cartier, Emilio Pucci, Givency or Bill Blass.
These cars carried a hefty premium over the ‘standard’ Continentals – even the most affordable Designer package added some 15% to the retail price of the Continental. With their luxurious interiors and distinctive colour ways, the Designer series of Lincoln Continentals have always been sought by buyers. Add to that the fact that many consider 1979 as being Peak Continental, then what we have here is a very alluring and desirable slice of 1970s Americana Excess.
Finished in a nautical theme of Midnight Blue over Pearl White with Gold Pinstripe, the Bill Blass edition Continental has to be the car of choice from the 1979 Lincoln range.
Inside is a delightful place to be, with acres of space and comfort as well as luxuries such as electric windows and air conditioning. Up front the big Lincoln is powered by a 7.0 litre V8 mated to an automatic gearbox, the drive is nothing less than opulent. With plenty of power, all the road presence and looks those bold 1970s looks, the Bill Blass Lincoln Continental really should be on your hit list of classic cars to own.
If you are looking for an unusual, practical, very usable classic car that’s not going to break the bank but will still cause a stir at your local cars and coffee, then look no further. Not only does it overshadow a £160,000 Jaguar E Type in footprint and physical dimensions, it’s sure to steal the moment wherever you take it. A very easy car to fall in love with.