Best Lincoln Continental Year to Buy
There is no single best Lincoln Continental year: the right one depends on your budget and what you want from the car. Across 277 verified sales, the 1946 is the most affordable at $16,000. The 1979 trades most often (121 verified sales). The 1961 has held its value best, worth 11 times its original MSRP. No sale since Jul 24, 2024, so the 1946's value may not reflect today's market. No comparable sale since Jan 9, 2026, so the 1961's value may not reflect today's market.
Data: DriveIndex. 8 model years with at least 10 verified sales each, latest sale Oct 31, 2026. Methodology
Ranked across the 8 years with at least 10 verified sales. Years with fewer are in the table below but too thin to rank.
Lincoln Continental Value by Model Year
| Year | Value | Vs. original MSRP | Verified sales | For sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Continental | $122,375No sale since Jan 2026 | 2.6× | 3 · too few to rank | 7 |
| 2002 Continental | $13,500No comparable sale since Jan 2024 | — | 1 · too few to rank | — |
| 2000 Continental | $11,155No sale since Feb 2025 | 28% | 2 · too few to rank | — |
| 1998 Continental | $15,000No sale since Nov 2022 | 38% | 1 · too few to rank | — |
| 1979 Continental | $23,690 | 2× | 121 | 26 |
| 1978 Continental | $20,800No comparable sale since Jan 2025 | 2.1× | 10 | 5 |
| 1963 Continental | $40,040No comparable sale since Jan 2026 | 6.4× | 19 | 3 |
| 1962 Continental | $35,000 | 5.8× | 39 | 2 |
| 1961 Continental | $63,945No comparable sale since Jan 2026 | 11× | 22 | 3 |
| 1957 Continental | $34,155No sale since Aug 2025 | 5.6× | 18 | — |
| 1947 Continental | $18,854No comparable sale since Oct 2024 | 4.3× | 18 | 2 |
| 1946 Continental | $16,000No sale since Jul 2024 | 88% | 23 | 1 |
Value is DriveIndex's market value for each year, from verified sales. “Vs. original MSRP” compares it with the sticker price when new, not adjusted for inflation: 100% means it is worth exactly what it cost. Years with fewer than 10 verified sales are listed but not ranked.
Which Continental year is appreciating?
The table shows what each year is worth. Pro adds the direction: the live Value Signal for every year, how confident it is, a 1–5 year projection, and every sold price behind it. Collector adds the best months to buy and an estimated market-bottom date.
Or see the best months to buy with Collector ($39.99/month), or start with a free account.
Best Lincoln Continental Year: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Lincoln Continental year to buy?
There is no single best Lincoln Continental year: the right one depends on your budget and what you want from the car. Across 277 verified sales, the 1946 is the most affordable at $16,000. The 1979 trades most often (121 verified sales). The 1961 has held its value best, worth 11 times its original MSRP. No sale since Jul 24, 2024, so the 1946's value may not reflect today's market. No comparable sale since Jan 9, 2026, so the 1961's value may not reflect today's market. The table on this page lists every model year with its market value, its value against its original MSRP and how many have sold.
Which Lincoln Continental year is the cheapest?
The 1946 Lincoln Continental is the most affordable year with enough verified sales to compare, valued at $16,000. No sale since Jul 24, 2024, so the 1946's value may not reflect today's market. The most valuable is the 1961, at $63,945. No comparable sale since Jan 9, 2026, so the 1961's value may not reflect today's market.
Which Lincoln Continental year holds its value best?
The 1961 Lincoln Continental is worth 11 times its original MSRP of $6,067, the best of the years with enough verified sales to compare. That compares its DriveIndex value with the sticker price when new, not adjusted for inflation. No comparable sale since Jan 9, 2026, so the 1961's value may not reflect today's market.
How much is a Lincoln Continental worth?
Depending on the model year, a Lincoln Continental is worth from $16,000 to $63,945 today, based on verified sales. Mileage, condition and options move any single car's price; each year's page shows its recent sales.
Which Lincoln Continental year is appreciating?
This page shows what each year is worth and how that compares with its original price. Whether each year is appreciating, stable or depreciating is DriveIndex's Value Signal, which Pro members see for every year along with a 1–5 year projection.