Always a Story to Share
GOLD DUST: This 1962 Lincoln Custom Convertible Is A Real Jewel
January 17, 2022
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
Written by independent automotive journalist Tom Jensen
Lot #1404 – 1962 Lincoln Continental Custom Convertible “Gold Dust” will be selling with No Reserve at our 2022 Scottsdale Auction.
When it comes to cruising, it doesn’t get much cooler than hitting the streets in a vintage luxury convertible that has ample room for your entire crew.
One particularly fine example of a droptop is this impeccable custom 1962 Lincoln Continental convertible (Lot #1404) nicknamed “Gold Dust” for its eye-catching White Gold metallic paint. This beautiful ride can be found at the 2022 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction, January 22-30, at WestWorld, where it will cross the auction block with No Reserve.
In its day, this model represented a bold design departure from the big-finned luxury cars of the late 1950s. Ford Motor Company completely restyled the Lincoln Continental, creating the first four-door convertible produced by one of Detroit’s Big Three automakers since World War II.
The most striking design feature of the fourth-generation Continental was its so-called “suicide doors.” The front doors operated in a normal fashion, but the rear doors were hinged in the back and opened forward.
The suicide doors gave the early 1960s Continentals a distinctive appearance. Some 60 years later, the model is a perfect subject for customizers to work their magic on.
In this case, Apache Junction, Arizona-based Weld County Kustomz went all in on this project, choosing to conserve the classic elegance of the Lincoln body, while completely revamping the mechanicals to make the car fun and reliable to drive, with modern performance characteristics.
Under the hood, the engine bay got a heart transplant in the form of a 2017 Ford Performance 5.0-liter Coyote V8 engine paired with a Ford 4R70W 4-speed overdrive automatic transmission. Fuel flows through a custom intake manifold and exhaust gases exit through Pro Tuning Labs headers and a fully polished stainless steel MagnaFlow exhaust system with H-pipe for low-end torque.
To make sure that ride and handling is as good as straight-line acceleration, the builders incorporated a full Weld County Kustomz chassis front to back with rack & pinion power steering and suspension that’s been heavily upgraded on both ends of the car. A set of massive 14-inch, 6-piston Wilwood disc brakes front and rear ensure stopping is straight and true.
The detail work on the chassis is especially impressive. Ride height and control are adjustable, thanks to a Mittler Brothers hydraulically controlled coilover Hydroshox damper system in the front and rear.
Custom rear inner wheel tubs and other body modifications were made in order to accommodate a fat set of Pirelli tires mounted on 20×10-inch Raceline Billet Manhattan custom one-off deep-dish wheels. This wheel-and-tire combination gives the big Continental convertible the ideal low-slung stance for street cruising.
The all-steel body is painted White Gold and the builders preserved and rechromed all of the original brightwork that came with the car.
Likewise, the custom interior from Armando’s Upholstery is a work of art. There are custom brown leather bucket seats front and rear, with a custom console that runs from the dashboard all the way to the rear seat backs, as well as a Mercedes Chocolate Brown convertible top that perfectly sets off the gold paint and brown interior.
There are many modern technology updates in the interior, including Dakota Digital gauges in the factory Lincoln bezels, Vintage Air, a Colorado Customs steering wheel and a Flaming River column. The 2,500-watt custom sound system includes a Retrosound vintage-style Bluetooth head unit, and 10 MB Quartz HiFonics speakers.
Add it all up and this is one beautiful and functional custom, ready to find a new road.
For up-to-date information on this vehicle, click here.
To register to bid at the 2022 Scottsdale Auction – a celebration of 50 years of The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions – click HERE.