Most 22-year-olds probably wouldn’t choose a massive 1981 Lincoln Continental as their preferred ride. However, a young Canadian named Raphael is happily cruising around in his grandmother’s beautifully preserved American luxury sedan.
Featured in a recent video from the Magnacars YouTube channel, Raphael explains why he enjoys driving a car that’s more than twice his age. The Lincoln Continental Mark VI has been in his family since it was purchased brand-new in 1981.
The car originally belonged to his grandmother, who received it as a 40th birthday present from her husband and children. The family chose the Lincoln partly because they believed its enormous hood would provide extra protection in a collision.
More than four decades later, the car remains in the family, with Raphael serving as its primary driver and caretaker. He’s responsible for keeping it maintained and recently completed a roughly 600-kilometer (373 miles) round trip in the old Lincoln.
A Remarkably Original Luxury Land Yacht
Raphael’s Continental Mark VI is a four-door Signature Series model, complete with its original paint, plush burgundy interior, and distinctive vinyl-covered roof. Even the dealership badge remains attached to the back.
The odometer shows fewer than 100,000 kilometers (62,137 miles), and the car has never been driven through a Canadian winter. Raphael says the family only takes it out once the snow and road salt have disappeared.
A V8 That Prefers Cruising To Speeding
Under the enormous hood sits a naturally aspirated 302-cubic-inch V8 paired with an automatic transmission. Raphael estimates the engine produces somewhere around 100 to 130 horsepower, making relaxed cruising its specialty.
Fuel consumption is far less relaxing, averaging around 17 liters per 100 kilometers, or 13.8 mpg (US), during city driving. Raphael says he kept his highway speed around 90 km/h (56 mph) during the road trip to conserve fuel.
Surprisingly Advanced For A 1981 Car
Despite its age, the Lincoln has an impressive collection of luxury features, including power windows, an electric sunroof, and a digital instrument cluster. The dashboard can even switch between kilometers and miles, while a power-operated antenna adds another touch of period technology.
The cabin features thick carpeting, generously padded seats, and enough space to make modern cars feel rather cramped. Raphael describes the driving experience as exceptionally comfortable, even over long distances.
Keeping Grandma’s Lincoln On The Road
Raphael says the car has remained largely original, although the tires and carburetor have received attention over the years. Finding replacement whitewall tires required ordering a set from Ontario.
His friends are surprised to see someone his age driving such an unusual vehicle. Raphael, meanwhile, seems perfectly happy maintaining the family Lincoln and enjoying a kind of old-school luxury that’s increasingly rare on the roads these days.