Lincoln is best known for massive luxury sedans, elegant Continentals, and enormous Town Cars, but the brand has produced plenty of forgotten models along the way. Some were short-lived, some were unusually styled, and others simply disappeared as collectors focused on better-known Lincolns. These 19 are uncommon enough that many enthusiasts have probably never seen one outside a photograph.

Lincoln Zephyr

The original Lincoln Zephyr was one of the company’s most distinctive prewar designs. Its streamlined body looked dramatically different from the upright luxury cars that surrounded it, while its V12 engine gave it genuine performance for the period. Surviving examples are highly collectible today, but their rarity means most people will never encounter one on the road.

Lincoln-Zephyr Convertible

The convertible version of the Zephyr combined the model’s futuristic styling with an open-air body. It was never a common sight even when new, and surviving examples are now considerably harder to find. The smooth fenders, low profile, and long body make it an especially striking Lincoln for anyone lucky enough to see one in person.

Lincoln Continental Cabriolet

The early Continental became one of America’s most important luxury cars, but surviving Cabriolets are far less common than the name suggests. Their elegant proportions and distinctive spare-tire treatment made them instantly recognizable. Today, a genuine original or properly restored example is more likely to appear at a major concours than parked on an ordinary street.

Lincoln Continental Coupe

The Continental Coupe offered the same clean, understated styling as the better-known convertible while presenting a more formal profile. It was elegant without relying on excessive decoration. Because many surviving Continentals have been restored to particularly high standards, finding an authentic example in person can be a rare experience for anyone who isn’t a dedicated collector.

Lincoln Capri

The Capri was positioned as a more affordable Lincoln, but it still carried plenty of the brand’s traditional luxury character. It has largely disappeared from public view because so many examples were used as ordinary transportation and eventually scrapped. Today, the Capri is one of those forgotten Lincolns that can surprise enthusiasts simply by still existing.

Lincoln Premiere

The Premiere represented Lincoln’s attempt to compete with Cadillac and other high-end American brands during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Its enormous body, lavish chrome, and dramatic styling captured the era perfectly. While it was once a recognizable luxury car, surviving Premières have become scarce enough that many younger enthusiasts have never seen one outside a collection.

Lincoln Continental Mark II

The Continental Mark II was an entirely different kind of luxury car. Built as an ultra-premium personal coupe, it carried restrained styling rather than the huge fins and excessive chrome becoming popular elsewhere. Its limited production makes it particularly rare today. Seeing one in person reveals just how carefully Lincoln approached this ambitious experiment.

Lincoln Continental Town Car

The Town Car name became famous later, but earlier versions represented Lincoln’s idea of formal luxury at a time when American sedans were becoming increasingly extravagant. These cars featured spacious interiors and distinctive styling, yet many were used heavily. A beautifully preserved early Town Car is now much harder to encounter than its once-common name suggests.

Lincoln Continental Mark III

The Mark III brought back the Continental personal-luxury formula in a much larger and more imposing package. Its long hood, hidden headlights, and formal grille gave it tremendous road presence. It sold reasonably well when new, but decades of use and neglect have reduced the surviving population. A clean example can still attract plenty of attention.

Lincoln Continental Mark IV

The Mark IV was a huge luxury coupe that embodied the excess of the 1970s. Its enormous dimensions, formal styling, and plush interior made it unmistakably American. Although these cars were once relatively common, good survivors are becoming much less frequent. Many people today recognize the name but have never actually stood next to one.

Lincoln Continental Mark V

The Mark V took the personal-luxury formula to an even larger scale. Its long body and sharply creased styling made it one of the most recognizable American coupes of the decade. Production numbers were significant, but many cars disappeared through neglect and rust. Original examples with excellent interiors are now increasingly interesting to collectors.

Lincoln Versailles

The Versailles was Lincoln’s attempt to enter the smaller luxury-car market during the late 1970s. It shared much with the Mercury Cougar and Ford Granada, but Lincoln added its own formal styling and luxury appointments. The car never achieved the reputation of larger Continentals, which makes surviving examples surprisingly uncommon today.

Lincoln Continental Givenchy Edition

The Givenchy Edition was one of several designer-inspired Continentals that helped Lincoln capitalize on the personal-luxury market. Its distinctive trim and upscale appearance separated it from ordinary versions. These special editions were once fashionable but weren’t necessarily treated as collectibles. Finding an original, well-preserved example today can therefore be quite difficult.

Lincoln Continental Cartier Edition

The Cartier Edition became one of Lincoln’s most recognizable luxury packages, particularly during the 1970s and 1980s. Special trim and a more luxurious interior gave the cars extra presence. While the name remains familiar, clean early examples are much harder to find. Many have disappeared after years of daily use, leaving only a small number of survivors.

Lincoln Continental Signature Series

The Signature Series gave the Continental a more upscale identity while retaining the familiar full-size sedan formula. These cars were comfortable, formal, and loaded with equipment for their time. They were never considered especially rare when new, but years of ordinary use have dramatically reduced the number of well-preserved examples available today.

Lincoln Continental Mark VI

The Mark VI arrived during a period when American luxury cars were finally being downsized. It retained the formal Continental identity while becoming noticeably smaller than the enormous Mark V. The transition made it an important Lincoln historically, but it never developed the same following as earlier Marks. Clean examples are now surprisingly difficult to spot.

Lincoln Continental Mark VII

The Mark VII represented a major shift for Lincoln, combining European-inspired proportions with American luxury. Its sharper design and more modern chassis made it considerably different from the huge Marks that came before it. Although enthusiasts have rediscovered high-performance versions, ordinary examples remain relatively obscure and are rarely seen in excellent original condition.

Lincoln Blackwood

The Blackwood was one of Lincoln’s strangest experiments, combining luxury-car appointments with a pickup bed. It was expensive and highly unconventional, which limited its appeal. Production lasted only briefly, leaving relatively few examples behind. Today, the Blackwood’s unusual concept and limited numbers make it one of the easiest forgotten Lincolns to identify at a gathering.

Lincoln LS

The LS was Lincoln’s attempt to attract buyers who wanted something sportier and more European in character. Rear-wheel drive and available V8 power gave it a different personality from traditional Lincoln sedans. It never became a major collector car, but surviving examples are becoming less common. Its importance to Lincoln’s early-2000s transformation is easy to overlook.

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*Research for this article included AI assistance, with all final content reviewed by human editors.