Lincoln Continental, Yellow, for sale in Charlotte, North Carolina, for $17,995.

If untouched, original cars are your thing, this 1969 Continental Mark III should get your attention. With a 100% original interior, 90% original paint, and a known ownership history from new, it's an incredible survivor that still delivers luxury and style like few other cars can.

Aside from an old repaint of the driver's side quarter panel, the code W Yellow paint on this car is original, and it looks spectacular. The combination of the bright paint and dark green vinyl roof is a striking contrast, giving the big luxury cruiser a sporty flair that easily masks its size. For 42 years old, the finish is astounding, and the only way I can explain it is that it has led a pampered life with constant washing, waxing, and no inclement weather. The folding headlamps, which were new on the Mark III, are fully functional, and the chrome is bright and clear. Even the padded vinyl top shows no signs of age. Amazing!

Dark green leather makes the interior a very luxurious, upscale place and complements the vinyl roof perfectly. Diamond-tufted seats show a nice patina and a few comfort marks, but the leather itself remains supple and smooth, without any dryness or cracking that seems inevitable on older luxury cars. Perhaps it was the quality of the original materials, but this car looks maybe five years old, not 42, and the back seat has to be seen to be believed. Both the door panels and dashboard are similarly well preserved, and it seems that a set of floor mats since new has kept the carpets looking fresh. This car is also loaded with every luxury and convenience item Lincoln could come up with, including A/C, power windows power locks, and a tilt wheel, making it easy to get comfortable behind the wheel.

Power for the Mark III came from Ford's biggest V8, a 460 cubic inch monster making a stout 365 horsepower thanks to a four barrel carburetor and dual exhaust. This one starts and runs easily with just the turn of the key, and idles with a muscular hum that suggests great power waiting in reserve. And the engine bay is simply astounding, even on a car as clean as this. I don't think I've ever seen another 42-year-old car this clean. The Ford Blue paint on the block, heads, valve covers, and air cleaner is vivid and bright, and all the hoses and other soft parts are supple and undamaged. It's still wearing original tower hose clamps! There's no trace of rust or deterioration anywhere underneath, either, with lightly undercoated floors and OEM components throughout. Wearing original turbine wheel covers and relatively recent whitewall radials, it cruises effortlessly down the road.

Documentation includes the original owner's manual with warranty card, and a factory shop manual.

Survivors simply don't get much nicer than this, and few restored cars can duplicate the feel of an unmolested, original vehicle. With a gorgeous color combination and astounding preservation, this one is special. Call today!