Nick's 1971 Mark III

[LithiumCobalt]

I was lucky enough to be reading through the Mark III Facebook group last summer when I noticed this car for sale. Not advertised anywhere, but the current owner said he would sell. I scheduled to take a long weekend last fall and make the trek out to western Pennsylvania where the car was. I was standing in the driveway and as the garage door went up, it revealed more and more of the car, which turned out to be extremely nice. Unfortunately, I could not drive it because the carburetor was not installed. Not having the time to get it done right then and there, I had to wait on the current owner (Jim Brown) to schedule someone to install it. I would check in with him every month or six weeks to see if any progress, but nope. The car sat for almost a year not drivable.

Fast forward to May, Jim said the car was ready and he snapped a photo of it downtown Pittsburgh.

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The shipper took a bit before they came to pickup the car. He happened to pick it up on the hottest day of the year so far at nearly 100 degrees. Loaded up and getting strapped down.

He had it overnight and delivered the next day. I was very concerned because we had a very nasty storm go through the night the car was out somewhere. Lots of damage and power out for days around here. You can still see the debris in the street when the car arrived. I was relieved that the car was delivered unscathed. The driver was even courteous enough to remove the wheel covers for transport so that they wouldn't be damaged by the straps. Delivery day.....

This car was purchased by Earle Brown, LMCF trustee and long-time LCOC member in 1988 in Florida. He brought the car back to Pennsylvania and only accumulated approximately 15,000 miles in 34 years. Many comments have been made about the trophies this car has won through the years at various LCOC meets. I even have one of the Continental Comments issues that pictures the car several times and winning first in its class. After all these years, it still looks pretty damn nice, but there are things here and there to address as always.

Paint is a very good respray in the original 1971-only light pewter metallic. Very unique and exquisite color, similar to Florentine Gold used on the 60's Continentals. In the shadows, it appears like a grayish-green-gold. In full light, it looks like gold. Interior also presents well. I have been cleaning and conditioning. Man, vacuuming the shag carpet is a PITA! Finally had a chance to get the exterior cleaned up and the vinyl top conditioned....

Engine bay looks like your typical 100k mile car, maybe a little nicer, so that is on deck for this coming winter.

Amazingly, the vacuum system is so tight that the headlight doors stayed down for almost an ENTIRE YEAR! Here you can see one finally open and the other creeping after eleven months of sitting and not being run. I'm glad I won't have to shell out to have these repaired as it is super salty for the job.

First thing I had to address when the car arrived was that none of the windows worked, driver seat barely moved. After jumping the motor directly, noticed that was not the problem. Moved on to switch cleaning. Those things were nasty. Probably have never been apart. Cleaned with electronic solvent and cleaned the contacts and reassembled everything. Works great!

[LithiumCobalt]

My next project is getting the radio converted to modern guts like I did with my '67 sedan. I've got it about 90% of the way out, but cannot find the rest of the wiring plugs that is likely holding it up. I am going to have to lay on the floor on my back and look up behind there to figure it out. Super frustrating to remove. Of course, did not help that it was 100 degrees here yesterday and I was drenched in sweat. I will get it eventually.

[LithiumCobalt]

For those that like NOS parts, feast your eyes on this. An original Mark III grille shell still in the box. He has four of five of these grille shells, of which, one I bought.

Jim said his dad Earle has hoarded an entire garage full of Mark III parts in boxes stacked to the ceiling! If you are interested in getting into the Mark III parts business, this would be a good start! I would consider it, but I do not have the space unfortunately. I am going to go out this fall and pick through things

[LithiumCobalt]

Plans for the car involve getting the front seat cushions replaced, converting to electronic ignition, making the speed control work and doing a real engine bay detailing to bring it back to new status. I've got stacks of service records where thousands have been spent keeping the car in top condition.

I hastily ordered new rear springs because I thought the rear appeared to sag only to find out that after I measured that the car is astonishingly still within spec with the 50 year old springs so will send those back.

I may also rebuild the front suspension this winter, as I see no record of that being done.

Doesn't leak much and runs well. Cold R-12 AC for these 100 degree Indiana summers...

[sv66]

Nick, Congrats on the new ride! Looks like you got a good one! Now what if that 69 sedan shows up at your door?

[LithiumCobalt]

Oh my gosh. If a ‘69 sedan shows up that is worthy, I will be sick about it.

[frasern]

Great find Nick! I think the Mark III was the best looking car of it's era, and I really like the colour.
If that '69 presents itself, nothing a little more storage space won't cure.