Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

My dad called last week and gave me the ultimatum to come and get his dad's old Lincoln or he was going to give it away to charity. None of the other siblings or cousins wanted it, even though I asked them repeatedly over the years. So I figured since I already have my grandmother's 1975 Firebird, I should at least reunite them so they can be together once again.

: https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...opics/486411/1

It is a 1971 Lincoln Continental Town Car Golden Anniversary Edition. They made 1040 of them painted in Golden Anniversary Moondust Metallic, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Lincoln Motor Car.

http://automotivemileposts.com/linco...niversary.html

The car is kind of special for a number of reasons. The least of which was that I remember sliding across the back seat with my siblings when he’d drive us around back in the 1970s. The thing was like a luxury liner. It had the neatest speedometer I ever saw – it was like a tube of liquid that would roll from left to right to show you the speed.

The Lincoln was my grandfather's "gold watch" when he retired. His name was Simon and he started out working as an accountant in the 1920s with a company that became Paramount Pictures. When the TV was invented and Paramount wanted to get into television broadcasting, the Federal Government, due to anti-trust laws, forbade a movie company from owning a TV company as well. So Paramount created a separate company called the American Broadcasting Company (ABC Television) and Simon split off to work for ABC.

Over the next 55 years he worked his way up to the executive level, attaining the position of Vice President in 1960. He never wanted to be the president of ABC, as that was a position held by one of his friends and Simon preferred being the guy who ran everything behind the scenes instead of the guy on the podium. He hired and fired many a famous person at ABC (for example Simon was the man who hired Howard Cosell originally). Over the years I have met several people who commented that he was the most formidable businessman they had ever met and that they knew his name well because his signature was on every paycheck they ever received.

As part of his position he met and negotiated with many a bigwig. We have photos of him with every U.S President between Truman and Nixon. He was at every Olympics that ABC covered from 1960 to 1976. He was the ranking ABC person in charge during the Munich games in 1972 when the terrorists attacked the Israeli Olympic Team. He traveled to many foreign countries and met many of the world’s leaders. Though we only got some background “off the record” stories from associates of his after his passing, I do know that he had some connections with some of the “agencies” that kept us safe during the height of the cold war. Most of them revolving around how he was able to place “their people” in locations that normal people would not normally be able to penetrate into.

The Lincoln was ordered for him in 1971 as his business car and was given to him when he retired the VP position in 1972. He went on to join the Board of Directors until 1984. He passed in 1991 and the Lincoln went to my dad. I borrowed it from my dad in 1992, had it painted and gave it back to him. It has traveled only 200 miles since the paint job 21 years ago. Most of the trips were down to the local Lincoln Mercury dealer for issues resulting from not driving the car enough. The final straw was when the service manager at the dealership asked if my dad would like to have the car junked as it wasn’t really worth them working on any more. I had a few choice words for that guy when I called him back.

In any case, here she is:

These are a couple interior shots of the mildew that accumulated from 21 years of sitting in a garage in the dark:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/SDC11840.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/SDC11841.jpg

After mixing up a bucket of hot water, bleach and dishwashing detergent I was able to get rid of all the mildew. It now looks like this:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/P1010007.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/P1010003.jpg

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/P1000994.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/P1000996.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/P1010001.jpg

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

The car has 85,000 miles and EVERY piece of paperwork imaginable.

Here's the kitchen table full of invoices, broadcast sheets, warranty ID cards, even three pairs of my grandfather's prescription sunglasses, running the fashion gambit from the 1950's RayBans to the 1970's Elvis glasses.

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...ln/papers1.jpg

The original bill of sale:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...llofsale71.jpg


And here is a neat archival piece - the big bosses at ABC noting their negotiations with Ford to get Simon a 21% executive discount on the car. Interesting factoid: L Martin Pompadur is a mega-millionaire, media mogul now.


http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t.../ABCletter.jpg

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

Each of the 50th Anniversary cars was built to order. Here is the 24 carat, gold plated plaque and the personalized one next to it with Simon's name:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/placque1.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/P1010006.jpg

Simon was the consummate tinkerer. Even though he wasn't a mechanic, he gathered a ton of materials to really help me with the car, two generations later:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/P1010013.jpg

Here's close up of the trunk lid with the "OK Paint" stamp still in place:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/P1010014.jpg

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

That's cool as heck Steve!!

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

And the engine. It's the 460/365 horsepower, premium fuel 10.5 to 1 compression, 500 Ft/lb torquemonster.

And yes I finally own something that is supposed to have a Ford "CAUTION FAN" sticker on it.

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/P1010018.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/P1010017.jpg

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/P1010016.jpg

Oh, and for you detectives out there. Notice anything strange about the A/C system???

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

Here's some archive photos of Simon:

With Nixon in 1971. (Simon is the one with the suit that fits. He was always an impeccable dresser.)

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...8c/Nixon71.jpg


With Jack Kennedy and a very pregnant Jackie Kennedy before the 1960 Nixon/Kennedy Debates that ABC sponsored.

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...268c/Simon.jpg

Here's a cool behind the scene's shot of a nervous looking Nixon on the teleprompter while a very relaxed Kennedy responds to a question:

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...amerashot1.jpg


In Israel in 1971 drinking martinis with Golda Meir, and Yitzak Rabin

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...GoldaampSi.jpg

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

I have spent the past week, changing the 15 year old oil, replacing the Champion plugs with Autolites and replacing the right hand exhaust manifold gasket which had blown out years ago and the dealer didn't want to fix...Amazingly, every single exhaust manifold bolt came out easily - none broke off.

The funny thing about this car is the reaction you get from people. I am used to driving musclecars and getting the "thumbs up" from the forty-something and younger crowds who see me drive by.

I have had this yacht for less than a week and everywhere I go it is the 60, 70, and 80-somethings that are waving at me. It's hysterical! My mechanic buddy is threatening to find me a "Huggy Bear" outfit to wear while driving it.

http://i599.photobucket.com/albums/t...ar-217x273.jpg

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

The size of that Lincoln, does it even fit into your garage?

Great story and pics [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Dan

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

I had to relocate my daughter's car to my wife's car's spot and leave the wife's car outside (it's the oldest one of the daily drivers). The Linco-saurus is 19 feet long and 5200 lbs. It barely fit in to my 24 foot trailer - with a 1/2&quot; to spare on either side.

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

My mechanic buddy is threatening to find me a &quot;Huggy Bear&quot; outfit to wear while driving it. __________________________________________________ _________________________________

Now THAT, I would love to see.......DO IT Steve [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Dan

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

Good news is, you can use the massive trunk as a workshop since the car will invariably take up your entire garage!

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">the service manager at the dealership asked if my dad would like to have the car junked as it wasn’t really worth them working on any more.</div></div>

Yep, it sure looks like it's ready for the scrap heap to me [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/bs.gif[/img]

I'll bet the service mgr would have been out of a job if his boss ever found out that &quot;it wasn’t really worth them working on any more&quot;.

Cool land yacht there, Steve [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

Oh, and another funny story: You may notice that Simon has something of a large, flat nose. He got that as a Golden Gloves boxer in his teen years.

He met his future wife (my Gramma Rose) on the beach in Brooklyn, NY in the 1920's. She was with a gaggle of her girl friends and Simon was with a bunch of hooligans that were trying to make small talk with the ladies. Eventually the two groups combined and there was a flip of a coin between a couple of the girls (Rose being one of them) over the last two boys. Gramma Rose lost the coin toss and got stuck with Simon, the guy with the busted nose....and the rest is history.

So, in the true-est Forrest Gumpish sense, my entire family wouldn't be here but for a lost coin toss almost a century ago. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

I bet it was HEADS [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/naughty.gif[/img]

Dan

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

That car really cleaned up nicely - gotta keep it in the family!

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

Cool car, it must be a moment for you when you are going to put on that Caution Fan sticker after fixing the engine bay.

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

What's that tin jar on the left inner fender doing there? Is that the A/C thing you ask about?

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

Actually that &quot;tomato juice can&quot; is a vacuum reservoir for the hide-away headlights and the power door locks.

The weird a/c observation is the fact that it is entirely a General Motors Harrison A/C system, and not a Ford system. It is using the GM A6 compressor and the firewall evaporator box and POA valve are the ones used by all GM cars during the 1960's and 1970's.

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

Very cool Steve that you are able to have these cars that have family memories....

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

----For many, many years the GM compressor was the standard of the industry. Nothing else could compare! I guess Ford just realized that if they were to compete with Cadillac they had to step up to world class AC.......Bill S

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: olredalert</div><div class="ubbcode-body">----For many, many years the GM compressor was the standard of the industry. Nothing else could compare! I guess Ford just realized that if they were to compete with Cadillac they had to step up to world class AC.......Bill S </div></div>

Ah, yes, no one else had a compressor that could double as a rust proofing application device by spraying oil from the front seal all over the engine compartment. This car had the same tell-tale oil spray line across the inner fender and on the under-hood insulation that my Firebird(s) have. I had to pull out the four hood pad panels as they were mouse infiltrated and oil impregnated from the compressor.

We will recharge the a/c system with R12. It still has some R12 in the system but needs to be topped off.

Next on the to do list is replacing the front calipers, one of which is sticking. I had to special order the front brake hoses. They were very hard to find. None of the regular suppliers had them. Only one company makes the special steel and rubber lines for these cars. They had them to me in three days. Calipers should arrive on Tuesday.

Then a couple of valve cover gaskets. And then pull the Autolte 4bbl carb and have it redone.....

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

Can you say SUPERFLY? That car is sweet. Back in the day growing up as a teen in Atlanta that would be our cruise to Florida car. My mom had a 65 Continental, with the suicide doors and that long 'LA' mirror and she thought that car was big. I wonder how many people could fit in there. We shoved 18 people in a 65 Impala 4 door one night. I bet at least 22 to 25, maybe more if you used the trunk, but you wouldn't have any place to put the kegs.

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

<span style="font-size: 14pt">SUPER COOL Steve!</span> [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif[/img] [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/worship.gif[/img]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: njsteve</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
He met his future wife (my Gramma Rose) on the beach in Brooklyn, NY in the 1920's. She was with a gaggle of her girl friends and Simon was with a bunch of hooligans that were trying to make small talk with the ladies. Eventually the two groups combined and there was a flip of a coin between a couple of the girls (Rose being one of them) over the last two boys. Gramma Rose lost the coin toss and got stuck with Simon, the guy with the busted nose....and the rest is history.

So, in the true-est Forrest Gumpish sense, my entire family wouldn't be here but for a lost coin toss almost a century ago. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img] </div></div>

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black'"> <span style="font-size: 11pt">Love it!</span> </span> [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

Love it! Now thats a car for cruising in style, AC blowin cubes, soft seats and enough springs and shocks to dampen the crap roads of today. Reminds me of something I'd see on Cannon or The streets of San Fransisco...Catchin air and smoking the tire in a quick getaway ..I cant wait to follow this one!

Rim blow steering wheel correct? Dash is awesome...



BIG

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

Yup, That's the original rim blow steering wheel. And it still works.

Simon's great-grandson (my son) thinks the rim mounted horn element is the coolest thing. If you look closely, you can even see the two noticeable wear marks where my Grandfather would place his thumbs at the junction of the spokes at the 10:00 and 2:00 positions.

When we went back in the house, I showed my son one of Simon's sunglasses from the glove box that still had his great-grandfather's thumbprint on the lens. My son thought THAT was really cool. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

I spent a couple hours with my son detailing the interior. Used half a bottle of leather cleaner. Everything inside is leather except for the door panels and dash.

Here's the results. That rectangular, silver decal on the ashtray door is the original seatbelt instructions that Simon never removed. So it stays put.

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...-p1010022a.jpg

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...2-p1010021.jpg

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...3-p1010027.jpg

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

And I cleaned up and repainted the original dealer emblem that I neglected to install back in 1992 when we repainted the car. Stuck her back on in the original spot.

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...4-p1010025.jpg

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

Sharp Steve!

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

Very cool...looks like a small aircraft carrier [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

Steve, your Charger was a connection between myself, my father, my grandfather and other family member who worked on it at Suburban Dodge. When I came across the folder for your car, I shared it with my dad, grandfather and uncles. The stories they all told were priceless and will never forget the time we had together just sharing a common interest. I am glad to see that your son has the interest in learning about his great grandfather. The time you are spending with him now will stay with him forever.

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: WILMASBOYL78</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Very cool...looks like a small aircraft carrier [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] </div></div>

Handles just like one, too! [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: K code Mustang</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Steve, your Charger was a connection between myself, my father, my grandfather and other family member who worked on it at Suburban Dodge. When I came across the folder for your car, I shared it with my dad, grandfather and uncles. The stories they all told were priceless and will never forget the time we had together just sharing a common interest. I am glad to see that your son has the interest in learning about his great grandfather. The time you are spending with him now will stay with him forever. </div></div>

Thanks John. We all have a lot of good memories with that car. We should have a &quot;family reunion.&quot; We can have it inside the Lincoln. Everyone could fit.

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

I love the whole family connection story. That's too cool!

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

You have some great stories Steve. Thanks for sharing a car that could one-up Steve McGarett ride.

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

There was one on ebay recently. They were available in other colors also, ebay car was green.

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

Do you have the link? They made 1040 in gold and the remaining 535 in other standard colors.

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

Grandpa's car actually fits in the garage...once I moved a lot of stuff out of the way.

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...5-p1010264.jpg

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

Another amazing story Steve.....holy cow, do you guys ever get rid of anything???? Grandpa's car, grandpa's car, Charger you've had for decades...wth??? [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Oh Lordy, I now own a Fordy (a Lincoln actually)..
 

No, we don't throw anything away. My dad was cleaning out my old room the other day and found the original odometer statement from that 1971 hemicuda convertible I sold back in 1987. So I need to send that to the present owner.