Project Rita Hayworth - 1965 Lincoln Continental Convertible

[bd94s10]

I am here to introduce a 1965 Lincoln Continental Convertible that I purchased from a fellow TLF member Robert. I made the announcement on Ep. 19 of Lincoln Addict Podcast (https://lincolnaddict.podbean.com). Thank you so much Robert for the opportunity to own this amazing car! I scoured the site for posts Robert had made with pics of the '65 so I could start a thread here to document the work he has already put into the car + what I end up doing with the car. "To Be Updated" in the title will be updated to the name of the car when I decide to share it in the coming weeks/month. Below pics were all taken/posted by Robert in the past.

‘65 Lincoln Continental by Jason Ballard, on Flickr

‘65 Lincoln Continental by Jason Ballard, on Flickr

‘65 Lincoln Continental by Jason Ballard, on Flickr

‘65 Lincoln Continental by Jason Ballard, on Flickr

‘65 Lincoln Continental by Jason Ballard, on Flickr

‘65 Lincoln Continental by Jason Ballard, on Flickr

‘65 Lincoln Continental by Jason Ballard, on Flickr

‘65 Lincoln Continental by Jason Ballard, on Flickr

‘65 Lincoln Continental by Jason Ballard, on Flickr

‘65 Lincoln Continental by Jason Ballard, on Flickr

‘65 Lincoln Continental by Jason Ballard, on Flickr

‘65 Lincoln Continental by Jason Ballard, on Flickr

‘65 Lincoln Continental by Jason Ballard, on Flickr

‘65 Lincoln Continental by Jason Ballard, on Flickr


‘65 Lincoln Continental by Jason Ballard, on Flickr


‘65 Lincoln Continental by Jason Ballard, on Flickr

‘65 Lincoln Continental by Jason Ballard, on Flickr

Much more to come!

Thanks,
Jason ODB the "Lincoln Addict"
Listen to Lincoln Addict Podcast via your fav podcast app or the link above to the website

[bd94s10]

Here is the information I've compiled of the car including what has been done (to my knowledge) of the '65.

1965 Lincoln Continental convertible which resided in Southern California for 51-years after it’s purchase. It spent the last 5-years tucked away in a stellar garage in Lake Stevens, WA with an amazing owner Robert. He purchased the car from a US Congresswomen Mimi Walters (my understanding).

Fiesta red paint (resprayed at some point)
Red interior which was redone (front/rear seats)
White (possibly original) top that came with a New Jim Wallace white top I will have installed by TC in Clearwater
Original MEL 430 & rebuilt trans (same guy rebuilt a trans for his other '65 and both were flawless)
John Cashman worked on the rear auto drop windows & added top remote
Upper back panel switch rebuilt by John Brewer which includes new gear
Convertible top upgrade with new lines
Sound deadening used on the floor prior to a a new Jim Wallace carpet kit installation
Factory tilt column works flawlessly + extra tilt column to be rebuilt & installed or rebuild one in the car
Factory A/C which needs to be recharged and/or upgraded (condenser/dryer)
Factory AM/FM radio + extra AM/FM upgraded with new internal (needs to be installed)
#SealedWithSteele already which of course is Steele Rubber products
Dual master cylinder upgraded with CPP proportioning valve
Rebuilt booster by Booster Dewey
Spare rear drum brakes already machined
Kick panels added
Quartz clock upgrade which needs to be installed
‘65 rear seat belts added (taken from another '65 parts car)
Tons or literature included including a ‘65 Master Parts Catalog & Jim Brewer convertible diagnosis banner/poster
Vacuum lines in engine bay replaced; all vacuum related items operate as expected
NOS blinker lenses installed
Rebuilt 3 port fuel pump & fuel sender + extra 3 port fuel pump
Spare steering pump
Backup camera installed (owner had small monitor near dash) on or near license plate bracket
Many NOS & extra parts included (some not listed here)
Energy Suspension strut arm bushings
New floor mats

I will be using this thread to document anything I end up doing to the car. I'm currently looking for a nice Southern California license plate bracket for the right price that will go on the car.

[bd94s10]

Here is the video of the car arriving!

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH4qnTos3Ps

Screen Shot 2021-10-28 at 1.56.07 PM by Jason Ballard, on Flickr

[bd94s10]

Here is a video of me demoing the top up/down remote. In this video I demo using the remote to put the top down!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdjQ1bapwyw&t=5s

Screen Shot 2021-10-28 at 1.57.58 PM by Jason Ballard, on Flickr

[defrang]

That is the coolest red convertible on the planet. That list is accurate. Though needs an addition or two if I think about it. I replaced the bronze coolant junction block and all the coolant hoses about 4 years ago because there was a leak in the old rusted junction block. Here is my other red convertible. Not as cool as a Lincoln. Smaller package. Lots of the same problems as the Lincoln. But this forum is so helpful compared to the forum for the r107 450 SL.

[bd94s10]

Robert, thanks so much for chiming in. Great adds which I will update the list! This forum is definitely awesome. We've been enjoying the car and plan to drive it more the next 2 weekends. This weekend is a local hangout / cruise-in and the following weekend is our Tampa Kennedy Cruise. I will say this about the car... it is truly amazing. It feels so original where as my blue car has had the engine rebuilt etc. I look forward to getting the steering column rebuilt, AC working and the top installed as we move into 2022. Thanks again Robert for selling me the car!

My cousin caught my buddy Marlon and I at Lead Foot City get together recently

Project Rita Hayworth by Jason Ballard, on Flickr

Tony "Boss" Bolin took this one the same day

Project Rita Hayworth by Jason Ballard, on Flickr

I took this one later that day closer to my place

Project Rita Hayworth by Jason Ballard, on Flickr

More to come!

[mge825y]

She's a beauty! Glad your PO found a good home for his car - which is good for you too!

[bd94s10]

Mark, thanks again. No doubt! Its been fun driving it so far. It is finally cooling down a tad in FL!

[bd94s10]

Quick video I made at night before a cruise showing the LED in the trunk and LEDs in the doors. The car is so nice! I thank Robert again for selling it to me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ogT5YaP6bE&t=21s

[defrang]

You are most welcome Jason. Take Rita to the next level.

[bd94s10]

New video! Tilt steering column explanation the best I could! Let me know if I got anything wrong!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFsV5lJ9wq0

[bd94s10]

My visited Florida from California this past week. He runs a Facebook Group and Instagram Page @allaboutlosangeles - check it out if you get a chance! This was the last photo we took when he dropped me off. Friday we did 4 Disney parks in Orlando lining up famous celebrity photos taken in the park. Saturday he drove to Tampa and we did some cool locations including right where JFK was on 11.18.63 when he visited Tampa.

64_65 by Jason Ballard, on Flickr

[bd94s10]

Here is one of the shots we did. I wanted to do it with one of the convertibles but decided we had too much planned to really make that happen. Maybe one early Sunday morning I'll get my buddy to go with me and make it happen with the car. This is the exact spot. In person is is easier to figure out. The windows on what is now the Police Station.. in the old photo where you see the "Jack" portion of the sign that is almost level with the top of the building to the left of it. We then counted the windows and could have cropped more but you get the idea. This is Twiggs and N Franklin street. It is one block over from Eddie & Sams pizza in Tampa. The JFK land marker that was unveiled on 11.22.13 (50th anniversary of his assassination) is 2 blocks away over at Lykes Gaslight Park. This is not the one that is at the University of Tampa.

JFK Tampa 11.18.63 • line up by Jason Ballard, on Flickr

[bd94s10]

New video alert! Recorded and edited this video yesterday on 3.27.2022 plus fixed the small issue I mentioned in the video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSV2c2FPH8s&t=24s

Check it out and please consider subscribing!

[bd94s10]

Not many updates on Rita Hayworth. I have fell in love with Griot's Garage products. I booked a couple of wedding rentals 1 of which I already did. The Griot's Garage products made the car look wonderful. I have another wedding rental this week. With my rentals I only offer the chauffeur option so they are not able to just "rent" the car and take off lol.