Shed Find: Dusty 1973 Lincoln Continental Mark IV Surfaces in Arizona

A 1973 Lincoln Continental Mark IV has emerged from an eight-year slumber inside a shed in East Mesa, Arizona, now offered for sale at $18,000. According to the seller, who describes themselves as the car’s second owner after acquiring it from their mother-in-law, the vehicle retains its original Dark Brown Metallic finish beneath a thick coating of dust, paired with a contrasting white vinyl roof. Despite the grime, the panels are said to be straight and the body free of rust, a benefit of the car’s long residence in a dry climate.

The Mark IV arrived in 1972 as the replacement for the highly successful Mark III, and it quickly outpaced its predecessor at dealerships. While the Mark III peaked at just over 27,000 units in 1971, the Mark IV moved nearly 48,600 cars in its debut year and then climbed to 69,437 during the 1973 model year — the nameplate’s best result. This particular example is one of those record-year cars, which helps explain continued interest in the model decades later.

Inside, the cabin carries dark brown cloth and leather upholstery that reportedly remains in good shape, along with carpet that still looks serviceable for a survivor-grade vehicle. The seller characterizes the interior as fully loaded, listing climate-controlled air conditioning, power windows and locks, a power front seat, cruise control, a rear defogger, remote mirrors, a tilt column, and what appears to be an AM/FM radio with an 8-track player. The steering wheel shows some marking, though the dashboard and woodgrain trim are described as holding up well.

Mechanically, the 1973 Mark IV came with few choices. Buyers could select a 3.25 rear axle ratio, but the rest of the drivetrain was fixed: a 460-cubic-inch V8 paired with a three-speed C6 automatic, power steering, and front disc brakes. Output stood at 208 horsepower and 338 lb-ft of torque, slightly below 1972 figures, yet still enough to deliver the silent, effortless cruising the model was built for. The odometer shows 39,000 original miles, and the seller suggests service records may exist to back that up, though it remains unclear whether the engine currently runs.

Because the car has been idle for eight years rather than decades, a revival could prove less daunting than typical long-term storage cases. Even so, the seller’s asking price looks ambitious next to recent sales of similar cars, especially with unanswered questions about hidden rust and what mechanical work a return to the road would require. For a buyer willing to invest elbow grease rather than a fortune, a thorough cleaning might reveal a genuinely tidy survivor — or uncover problems the dust has been hiding all along.