Detroit-based Mobsteel is one of the most unique customization shops in the world. We love their lowered, blacked-out led sleds. When Mobsteel announced a collaboration with legendary Ford V8 tuner, ROUSH Performance, we were ecstatic.
It is no surprise that the end product is a villain-worthy, murdered out 1968 Lincoln Continental powered by a 700+ horsepower V8. This is one of the baddest vehicles to ever exist. From its custom interior to air-ride suspension, to classic suicide doors, we can't get enough. There is no cooler car to cruise in. But with a custom 4-link suspension and ROUSH supercharged V8, this beast can do more than cruise: This Lincoln can go!
The Fourth-Generation Continental: The Villain Of Cars
The slab-sided, suicide door equipped fourth-generation Lincoln Continental is one of the most iconic sedans to ever roll out of Detroit. By the early 1960s, the Ford company was losing money hand-over-foot on their Lincoln brand. They rolled the dice by consolidating the entire Lincoln lineup to just the Continental sedan and convertible. Then they invested in a major redesign of the car. Ford design vice president Elwood Engel had pitched a dramatic prototype of the Ford Thunderbird, and now Ford turned his idea into the new Continental. They stretched the Thunderbird chassis and fit it with a three-speed automatic and 430 cubic-inch V8. To keep the sleek look of the concept, they installed rear hinges on the rear doors for the first "suicide doors" seen in Detroit in a decade. The final product was a hit, winning multiple design awards. Ford would continue producing the fourth-generation Continental until 1969.
During the fourth-generation Continental's production, it began to earn a reputation as a "villain's car." This was because of the vehicle's imposing size and menacing stance. It didn't help that Ford entered a product-placement deal with the Sean Connery era James Bond franchise, and while the Bond girls usually enjoyed Mustang Mach 1s, the bad guys were chauffeured around in Lincoln Continentals. Anti-heroes in noir films such as The Matrix would continue to prefer the mean-looking Lincoln. Even Dax Shepard's ex-getaway-driver in Hit and Run drives a Continental.
SEMA-Quality, Mobsteel Style
Mobsteel is a Detroit-based car customization shop. The team at Mobsteel modifies vintage Detroit machines into absolute monsters. The company earned its reputation and name by slamming blacked-out Lincoln Continentals. Now Mobsteel's portfolio boasts lifted Dodge trucks, lowered tractor-trailers, and high-powered Packards. The shop also offers aftermarket parts to DIY enthusiasts.
These Detroit builders are happy to return to their roots. When Roush asked Mobsteel about an eye-catching ride to showcase their supercharged Ford crate engine, the team chose a 1968 Conti.
The custom shop always begins with a dramatic stance: The fabricators built a custom 4-link suspension setup, leveraging RideTech control arms and shocks. Instead of springs, the Lincoln rides on air and boasts an AccuAir e-Level Air Management System hooked to a Touchpad Endo VT Tank.
Mobsteel completed extensive body modifications on their Continental canvas. These included a raised beltline and handmade bumpers. They blacked-out the Lincoln and created new "burnt bronze" custom badging. They used Axalta Cromax Super Jet Black base paint and layers of premier clear coat to create a glass-like finish.
The shop turned to their longtime supplier, The Detroit Steel Wheel Company, for 20″ wheels in a custom "Lincoln Park" cut-out pattern, finished in burnt bronze. The Continental wears Continental ExtremeContact Sport Tires (255/35 ZR 20XL). Even the exposed components of the BAER Brake System are finished in burnt bronze. Finally, the Mobsteel team contracted Detroit Interior Works for a complete, custom, black interior. For the driver's console, they installed a Dakota Digital instrument cluster. Premium sound flows through a JL Audio system. Read the story of the Heavy Hitter build on the Mobsteel website.
A ROUSH Fast Coyote-Powered Continental
Since 1976, Jack Roush's ROUSH performance has been THE name in high-performance Ford V8s. ROUSH always rents a booth at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas. But for this SEMA, they intended to do something special. They collaborated with Mobsteel on a 1968 Continental. Then they made the car ROUSH-fast.
ROUSH provided Mobsteel with a Ford XS crate engine. The legendary aluminum V8 leverages technology created for the Mustang Cobra Jet Drag Racing car to make an astounding 580 horsepower stock. But pushing an engine further than stock is ROUSH's specialty. The ROUSH team fitted the new V8 with their signature supercharger and tuned it to churn out 727 horsepower.
Mobsteel hung a custom stainless steel exhaust system by Saldana's Speedshop under the Continental so the new V8 could breathe easy. Then they install the Hellcat-catching ROUSH engine in their car. See Roush Performance's account of its MobSteel collaboration.
Naturally, the villain of a Continental drew a crowd in front of the ROUSH SEMA tent. Today, it is still touring the car show circuit--quickly and in style.