December 18: Back to the past

The words Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy (with apologies to The Who), might well describe this Lincoln Continental from way back in 1960, the relative Stone Age for cars. Heck, these days, a couple of year old car is technically out of date, but I digress. Lines and angles all over the place, a dying gasp to the design excesses of the late 1950's.

So how do you follow up, one of the biggest and most outrageous cars to ever come out of Detroit? Would you think to go in the exact opposite direction? Most of us wouldn't.

What did the folks at Lincoln do? Behold.......

Not a line out of place and much smaller than it's predecessor. Quite the transformation. But it's remembered for a significant design feature, that in today's market only Rolls-Royce still uses, suicide doors.......

The benefit? I guess they make entry and exit into the back seat a little easier. Anyway, the reason I bring this up, is because Lincoln has just announced an extremely limited edition for 2019, the 80th Anniversary Coach Door Edition Continental. I sure hope that it is spelled out in chrome somewhere on this latest Lincoln land yacht. What makes it so special? Any guesses?

Suicide doors. Absolutely! That one was too easy. This is Lincoln's throw back to the by gone glory days of the early '60's, when presidents rode in (and died in) new Lincolns.

Although this type of door was only used for nine years, it created an image of very distinguished Lincolns, that apparently has lingered until the present day, fifty years further on. They might as well do this, as there is little else to bring back from the past. The vinyl roof? The spare tire hump (Google it, please)?

Of course, this new 80th ACDEC has the prerequisite gorgeous interior, fit for a budding rap star, as Toronto's own, superstar rapper Drake wouldn't stoop to buy something this inexpensive.......

Which brings us to a few small details. How many will they make? Word is that only 80 will be produced as 2019's and maybe 2020's. As an aside, how many optometrists will wait to buy a 2020 vehicle? Moving right along...........Ford hasn't yet released a price, but considering that it is a bigger car than the current Continental, has had a major reworking and only eighty will be built, it has to be considerably more than the "regular" Connie. Guesses? Heck, it's only a Lincoln, so I'd say $100k CDN dollars. Remember this day and that estimate.

 And in case you were wondering, the suspension has three settings........normal, sport and comfort. I could make all sorts of comments, but I'll just leave it at sport??? in a Continental? Maybe the chauffeur has aspirations?

 No question that the Continental is an attractive car and its design does sort of harken back to days gone by, but maybe they should have treated an suv to this feature? Maybe they will.

But while we wait, those with the cash and the desire to have the very latest Lincoln Continental (there must be 80 somewhere) can leave a deposit at their local dealer. And please no fighting in line.

Until next time......