As far as classic cars go, the Lincoln Continental is one of the industry’s longest-staying vehicles. With its origin around the late 1930s, the Continental has carried Lincoln’s prestige and heritage for up to 10 generations, over a period of more than 70 decades.
The sixth-generation Lincoln Continental became the most desirable option for anyone who wanted to have the feeling of driving in luxury. It rolled out of the assembly line in 1980 and only sold through 1981. The Continental wore a new exterior styling, featuring hidden halogen headlamps. Some models also came with luxury wheel covers. Another highlight of the Mark VI Continental was the adoption of the new panther platform. Inside, it offered an LED display and computer in its interior, with enough room for five occupants. The 1980-1981 Lincoln Mark VI Continental sold for $16,291 during its short-lived production period.
The 1981 Lincoln Mark VI Continental debuted as a sixth-generation release of the popular Continental vehicle. Today, the classic Mark VI Continental can be had for just a fraction of the original MSRP.
How Much Does The 1981 Lincoln Continental Costs In 2022?
As of 2022, the average price of the 1981 Lincoln Mark VI Continental is $8,579, based on the price trend over the last five years. For that price, you could get a vehicle that is both in a good condition and has a rational mileage on the odometer. If you’re looking for a Lincoln continental that hasn’t accumulated much mileage, you could be paying north of $20,000. The priciest classic Lincoln Mark Continental ever sold, at least in the last 5 years, was the signature series coupe. It sold for up to $34,650. And in case you’re wondering, the 4-door 1981 Lincoln continental version costs more than the 2-door version.
If you don’t plan on spending more than a few thousand bucks on a classic Lincoln Continental, you could opt for a cheaper one. There are many low-priced Lincoln Continental models available for sale out there, particularly on auction sites. But, keep in mind that cheap options come with a lot of hidden costs. Some of the most inexpensive classic options come with huge maintenance problems. In worse cases, other models may be in need of parts replacement entirely. Most times, such deals aren’t worth the effort because you’ll end up paying more to get the car in functional condition. The lowest sale ever made of the 1981 Lincoln Continental was $1,100, auctioned at the Auction Indy in 2018.
It's clear that the Lincoln Continental’s value may rise with time. So, the older these cars get, the more they’ll cost. So, 2022 is undoubtedly the best year to buy the classic Lincoln Mark VI Continental.
Here’s Why The 1981 Lincoln Mark VI Continental Is Worth Your Garage Space
Lincoln revamped the Mark VI Continental’s shape. Its redesigned 1980 model year adopted Ford’s debuted Panther platform, with the FR layout. With the adoption of this platform, the Lincoln Continental underwent changes. Not only was it more compact in dimensions, but it also lost close to 1000 pounds of curb weight. The Continental shared this panther platform with the Ford LTD. Still, it carried on the body-on-frame from the preceding generation model, along with the grille design. The brand added hidden halogen headlamps to Mark VI, which improved its style. The Continental had a stylish and bold appearance. It went on and became the standard choice for anyone who fancied Luxury. As an option, the luxurious car offered a vinyl roof cover.
The inside of the Lincoln Continental was over-the-top, at least when compared to its competition. The most outstanding feature of the interior is the dashboard, which features an LED display instead of the typical analog buttons and knobs. The interior also came with an onboard computer. This system analyzed and displayed the average fuel consumption and driving range. Aside from this, the Lincoln Continental’s interior occupied up to five people. It featured lots of cabin space, partly thanks to its 117.3-inch wheelbase, and up to 22.4 cu-ft of cargo volume. Its seats came upholstered in a fine foam to keep its occupants comfortable, even in the longest journeys.
Speaking of travel, the 1981 Lincoln Continental came with Ford’s Small Block, 5.0-liter V8 engine. This newly-made engine produced 130.8-hp at 3,600 rpm and 231 lb-ft at 2,000 rpm. It paired with a four-speed automatic transmission to power the rear wheels. Owing to its powertrain, the 1981 Lincoln Continental propelled from zero to 62 mph in 15 seconds and had a top speed of 101 mph. Unlike most rivals, the Lincoln Continental had an impressive fuel economy stat, thanks to the small block engine. It delivered 17 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway.