Lincoln Classic Cars

The suicide-door Continental — one of the most important American automotive designs of the 20th century.

The 1961 Lincoln Continental is universally recognized as one of the most significant American automotive designs of the 20th century. Designed by Elwood Engel's team, it discarded the fin-era excess for clean, slab-sided elegance with reverse-hinged rear 'suicide' doors and a convertible that used a fabric top with no external body-colored sail panels. President Kennedy was assassinated in a Continental convertible in 1963.

Personal luxury at its most confident — and a technological pioneer.

The Continental Mark III was Lincoln's personal luxury coupe, designed to compete with the Cadillac Eldorado at the top of the American market. Its long hood, short deck proportions, Rolls-Royce-influenced grille, and hidden headlights established the visual language that defined American luxury coupes through the 1970s. The 1970 Mark III was among the first American production cars to offer four-wheel anti-lock brakes as an option.