When the 1961 Lincoln Continental was introduced the automotive trade press was stunned. The car's look was a dramatic departure from the styling of the 1960 Lincoln - in fact, it was a complete break from the fins, fat chrome trim and dog-legged windshields which were so characteristic of all cars of the prior five years. It did show some hints of fine cars of the past - the Continental Mark II influence could be seen in the mesh grille, the wraparound taillight design and the rise in beltline just ahead of the rear wheel cutout.

The new Lincoln Continental was a clean, elegant design which influenced the look of many of the cars of the 60's including the '63 Pontiac Grand Prix, '63 Buick Riviera and '64 Imperial. But the Continental was more than just a pretty face. It was a highly engineered product as well. It offered a host of features and engineering improvements to make it a luxurious, quiet and dependable automobile.

Continentals of this era are considered among the most handsome large American cars ever offered. The simple, classic lines penned by Elwood Engel stayed the same for the first few years except for minor grille insert and rear panel changes.

These Lincolns were superbly engineered with a rigid unit body/chassis, extensive sound insulation and very close machining tolerances.

The 1963 model represented a gradual improvement over the '61 original. The deck was made taller and more boxy to substantially improve trunk space. The front seat was redesigned to improve rear-seat legroom. In front, there was a return to the mesh front grill, with hints of the old Mark II. For the first time AM-FM radio was offered and all models had alternators, replacing the less-effective electrical generators of prior years.

The engine acquired a four-barrel carburetor, raising advertised horsepower from 300 to 320. The 1963 model was 213 inches long, rode on a 123 inch wheelbase and was 54 inches tall. Sedans were priced at $6,270; the convertible model carried a $6,916 price tag.

For the 1963 model years, 31,233 of these beauties found buyers - 28,095 sedans and 3,138 convertibles. Sales were up slightly over '62.

Cadillac still outsold Lincoln by more than fivefold. It was a brand which had maintained a more consistent identity over the years and offered a variety of body-styles and trim lines, not available from Lincoln. Two-door Caddies sometimes represented 20% of total sales and the availability of factory 75 Series limousines with corresponding commercial chassis models for hearses, flower cars and other special bodies gave Cadillac additional luxury caché, something Lincoln did not offer. But the handsome lines of the early-1960s Lincoln slabsides served as the foundation for the Lincoln's later conquest of the American luxury car market. (posted 5/30/12)