55lincoln's video: 1966 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 4 DOOR CONVERTIBLE - BIG LUXURY FOR ALL TO SEE

At its launch, the fourth-generation Lincoln Continental was offered solely as a four-door, as either a sedan or a convertible. For the first time on a Lincoln since 1951, rear doors were rear-hinged, or suicide doors. To alert drivers of open doors, Lincoln fitted the dashboard with a "Door Ajar" warning light (as seen on many modern automobiles). Latching together at the B-pillar with a vacuum-operated central locking system, convertibles used an abbreviated pillar while sedans were "pillared hardtops". In the configuration, a thin B-pillar supported the roof structure while all four doors utilized frameless door glass, in the style of a hardtop or convertible; the layout would become used by several Ford Motor Company sedans during the 1960's and 1970's. For 1966, the fourth-generation Lincoln Continental underwent a second mid-cycle redesign. To better compete against the Cadillac Coupe de Ville and the Imperial Crown Coupe, Lincoln introduced its first two-door pillarless hardtop since 1960. The convertible remained offered solely as a four-door. In an effort to increase sales of the five year-old model range, Lincoln reduced the price of the Continental nearly $ 600 from 1965 while keeping equipment levels identical. The marketing decision proved successful; boosted by the introduction of the two-door body style, the model range increased sales by 36%. While following much of the 1965 restyling (distinguished in '66 largely by a new grille and the addition of "Continental" to the hood), the 1966 Lincoln Continental wore an all new body, growing 5 inches longer (implemented primarily in the rear seats to accommodate more leg room), and nearly an inch taller and wider. Curved side glass made its return with less obvious tumblehome, to increase interior room. To offer an engine sized comparably to those in the Imperial (440 cubic inches in 1966) and Cadillac (429 cubic inches, 472 cubic inches in 1968), the 430 V8 was enlarged to 462 cubic inches. The convertible underwent several equipment revisions for the first time, adding a glass rear window and the top mechanism added a second hydraulic pump for opening the convertible roof and the trunklid making the two systems separate; hydraulic solenoids were deleted from the top mechanism. The interior underwent several revisions, adding a tilt steering wheel and an 8-track tape player as options. This original Lincoln is only one of 3,180 sold this year and had a base price of $ 6,383. Lincoln finally had created a luxury car that was a competitive rival to other luxury makes. What a stunning display with everything opened up - except the trunk, for a viewer to take in. Thanks for viewing.