Well, after owning three of theses beasts, I've finally decided that '77 was the year I wanted. I had it in my mind that I'd eventually own a '77 because I prefer the newer vertical grill of the '77- '79 series to the horizontal grill of the earlier cars. I also like the older style dash better. Only the '77 offers this combination.
This particular example I found on Ebay. I was immediately interested because it had no vinyl top, no opera windows, was a plain Continental without the Town Car package and was, of course, black. This, I thought was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to own such a strangely unequipped car. And because of that I was willing to spend a bit more money than a car in this condition would otherwise merit. Come auction end and with the aid of E-snipe, I owned it for $1500 - plus shipping from Florida.
Now with a car from Florida you'd expect surface rust all over. This car has that and plenty underneath too because this car seemed to have started its life in Pennsylvania. Its definitely going to be a money-loosing challenge.
The car arrived about a week after the auction closed on a Saturday that happend to coincide with a Lincoln meet in Salado, Texas. As soon as the car was off the trailer, I checked the fluids and headed off to the meet. Pehaps that was a bit hasty for a car that hadn't gone anywhere since 1998 according to the Florida inspection sticker, but I was anxious to show my new, that is to say 2 hours old, acquisition. The car had wicked vibrations and got quite hot on the 30 mile trek. We made it though.
Over the next week I set about doing the usual routine to new acquisitions: new fluids, filters, plugs, pcv, thermostat, hoses where required etc. The car is running a bit cooler but needs a re-core. There was still the bad vibration and an occastional bout with one of the rear wheels locking up easily. I wouldn't pass inspection like this so I decided to do a brake job. Come to find out that the brakes were fair, but the locking up not from sticking brakes but from a rear wheel that was nearly off the car. The lugs had backed off the the wheel was moving back and forth under acceleration and deceleration. It ovaled out the holes in the brake drum and the wheel. So, I replaced the drum, the wheel, and gave it new shoes and all is well for now.
While I was under there, it also got shocks and new rear springs, as one of the coils had snapped causing the car to list to one side. Unfortunately this took over a week to do. I tried three different pairs of springs before I found one that gave me the correct ride height. As a result of this experience I can now say I'm an expert at removing and installing rear springs and can do it in minutes.
This is all that has been done now. The car has been moved over to the storage unit in order to stop the insane spending on this car. I've located a parts car that will help with some of the rusty bits, but haven't purchased it yet. Perhaps another round of improvements can be made this winter. 5/31/02
I sold the car 2/28/05. I slowly realized the car was too rusty to save. It basically sat around primarily functioning as a storage container for the interior. I figured I'd save its insides for another car, if ever the right one came along. After missing an opportunity to acquire other cars for lack of storage space, I decided it was finally time to let it go. I listed it on ebay as an engine and transmission for sale with a free car thrown in, minus the interior. After all, the car was mechanically sound. I drove it 3300 miles over the years just to keep everything functioning. In short order, I had an ebay buyer. I quickly came home and tore the interior out and the buyer came and drove the shell away the next day. The body will be crushed, but the heart will live on in a '62 Ford F-100.
