It was an innovative solution resulting in more space in the interior and a cool design. Mercury used a reverse C pillar design for the concave profile of the car and a retractable tilted rear glass window. So in 1963, they introduced the innovative, interesting Breezeway option as their top model. Learning from the Continental, Mercury decided to offer something new to customers, hoping to raise the sales numbers.

During the 1960s, this brand offered class and style for reasonable prices, making it a formidable opponent to Oldsmobile, Buick, and Chrysler. They placed Mercury between their inexpensive Ford products and high-class Lincolns. 1963 Mercury Monterey BreezewayĪlthough Mercury is now gone, for decades it was Ford’s affordable luxury division. Interestingly, Lincoln offered a cool-looking four-door convertible model which proved to be popular and unique on the market. This wasn’t the best solution, but it only added to the charm of the Continental. The best exterior feature was the suicide doors with the rear doors opening towards the traffic. Image via Īll of a sudden, sales doubled and the new Continental became the official car of the White House because of its stately appearance and restrained elegance. The beautiful styling, elegance, conservative use of chrome, straight lines, and futuristic design transformed the four-door luxury model into a work of modern art.

When Lincoln showed the new model, the automotive public was stunned. Ford decided that had to change, so the 1961 Lincoln Continental was born. Despite building big luxury cruisers with powerful engines, those late ’50s Lincolns just weren’t as nice looking as the Cadillac. 1961 Lincoln Continentalīack in the late ’50s, Ford’s luxury division Lincoln was way behind Cadillac in sales numbers, popularity and style.

70s thunderbird