Tim Moore of Richmondville, NY was selected as the applicant with the “Best New Home” for the 1978 Lincoln Continental featured in our LCOC website Classified Ads promotion. The goal of the current owner, William Green, was to find the best home possible for the vehicle, and he entrusted that task to the LCOC.
Tim became hooked on Lincolns as a teen while mowing lawns for a local businessman, Richard Falzarano, in a small town in upstate New York. After Tim’s work was done each week, Richard would give him a ride home in his 1978 Lincoln Continental sedan. It was gray with light blue interior, and riding in it made Tim feel like a million bucks. While he hoped to one day own one, he had to settle for a 1972 Buick Electra as his first car. However, that vehicle allowed him to appreciate American iron from an era where luxury and performance had an entirely different meaning than it has in most cars driven today.
Tim’s love of Lincolns continued to grow over time. Earlier this year he built a new 10-car building that his family affectionately calls the “Garage Mahal.” Once it was completed, he finally had the type of shop/garage he dreamed about for years. It enabled him to purchase his first classic, a 1967 Lincoln Continental convertible in Spanish Moss with a Dark Ivy Gold interior. It has given him great pleasure to give the car the attention it deserves, and he plans to repaint it during the winter. For him, the car is not only an engineering marvel, but also a work of art.
That venture has also brought a surprising benefit: Tim’s 23 year old son, Nick, has been bitten by the Lincoln bug, too. They have spent quite a few hours working on the ’67 which his son admires “because it’s so classy and well built.” He now loves attending shows with Tim and is making plans to have their current Lincoln in two parades next year. Because it seems as though many young people do not have much interest for older cars, Tim feels fortunate that his son has found a passion that provides such a positive influence on him. He is excited about the prospect of them having two Lincolns in shows next year.
The Moores are delighted to provide a home for the 1978 Lincoln. It will have a place of honor in the Garage Mahal. Having the tools and expertise to handle most repairs and preservation, they will immediately undertake a complete servicing: replacing all fluids; checking out/rebuilding the carburetor; draining and cleaning the gas tank; changing the filters; changing the valve cover gaskets and others as needed; and assessing the underside of the car.
Tim is very familiar with this particular car model, and believes that the 82,000 mile engine and the “bullet-proof” C-6 transmission should be okay for the short term. Tim’s basic plan is to make this car a beautiful, fully-functioning original. He believes that the original condition of this car is worth maintaining. He plans to take the car to shows, use it in several upcoming family weddings, and just drive and show the world what original American Iron really is like.
Although intrigued by those who specialize in customization, Tim cannot find any justification for taking wonderful original cars and significantly changing them. Tim shares, “Owning older cars allows me and others to step back to a different place and time when driving meant something very special. It would not be responsible to take that away from future generations by altering cars.” William Green’s 1978 Lincoln Continental has definitely found a terrific home with Tim Moore and his son that insures its legacy will be shared for years to come.
LCOC presented Tim with a plaque and a framed Board resolution lauding his contributions during his 35 years as editor.
Tim Howley was the editor of Lincoln & Continental Comments since 1982, producing more than half of the Comments issues in the 64 year history of the club! He was recently named Editor Emeritus, giving him the freedom to continue contributing his talents and experience for our reading pleasure. On March 18th, the LCOC National Board, represented by Glenn Kramer and Stacy Roscoe, honored Tim and his wife, LaVonne, with a luncheon and a small awards ceremony.
Glenn and Stacy took the opportunity to thank Tim on behalf of the club and enjoyed listening as Tim recounted some of his experiences as both editor and advertising copy writer at several national ad agencies. Tim conceived and created many long remembered TV, radio and print ads for such clients as Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA), Mother’s Cookies and Canon Cameras. His career in advertising and editing has been memorable and long lasting.
LaVonne was also thanked for all her hard work with an engraved vase and flower arrangement.
The ceremony and lunch continued for well over two hours, and after final good-byes, Glenn and Stacy agreed that this enjoyable day of shared stories was fascinating and more importantly, that LCOC is most fortunate to continue having Tim and LaVonne on our team.
As many LCOC members know, my first car was a ’59 Mark IV convertible. After several requests to document the thrill of ownership here goes.
I started looking for a ’58 or ’59 convertible in the spring of 1966, armed with only a psychotic lust for a Mark II and a budget of $600. I found a maroon “58 at a used car lot, but the lot owner (Honest Johnny’s Used Cars) took one look at me and refused to see it. An honest used car salesman!
Next, it was a succession of junkers and worn out examples, or overpriced (all the way up to $1,400 for a Derham bodied ’58, with a top that aped the original ’41, but looked like a pickup truck on the ’58). Finally, my sister Vicki and I were returning from the Baltimore airport on Easter Sunday night after dropping my Dad off for a business trip. We decided to drive through the city. I spotted a ’59 convertible. It was dark. It looked good. I was desperate. I pulled up next to the driver, a large black man and motioned for him to pull over. Now, remember that it was 1966. He thought I was one of Baltimore’s finest. He was not happy. Imagine his surprise when he found that I only wanted to buy his car.
A week later I was the proud owner of a worn, Earl Sheib light blue, black leathered Mark IV. For the next three years, its insatiable need for repairs managed to keep me broke. But, it didn’t seem to matter. I loved the car.
First, it was fast. Like 0-60 in under 9 seconds, near 120 mile top speed. The sight of the Wurlitzer-like Lincoln leaping off the line with a little chirp from the tires and smoking an over-carburetted ’56 Chevy was priceless. Except to the driver of the Chevy.
Long distance drives were great, when I put 9.50/14 Atlas Plycron tires on (a budget killer at $32 each) and fitted extra heavy truck shocks. The car handled like some huge GTO on carefree jaunts through the countryside. Except for the brakes. They were non-existent after the first stop from speed. 5,200 pounds, 14” wheels, full wheel covers and drum brakes were not the best solution. I remember holding both feet on the pedal and pushing as hard as I could to stop it from creeping through a stop sign. There was a practical reason that those cars had two brake pedal supports, one would have snapped. Performance was also enhanced when the real mufflers reached their annual end of life and were replaced with…nothing. Using just the resonators gave the Mark a real Gold Cup speedboat sound.
The combination of an old Lincoln, a young owner, limited funds and a vast desire to drive led to many adventures, only some of which can be documented. Like the time that my then wife and I double dated with my best friend and his girl Sue Agnew, Maryland governor Spiro Agnew’s daughter. We went from Annapolis to Washington D.C. to see a concert. In 1966, the road between DC and Annapolis was pretty deserted. Of course, with the concert tickets, dinner and all, there was precious little money left for gas. Let’s see, 100 odd miles round trip, $2.00 should do it, about 5.5 gallons plus what’s in the tank. Almost. We ran out on the way home, at about 2:00 A.M. Unbeknownst to us, the governor’s security detail noted that we were way overdue and put out an all points bulletin for us. We were found an hour or so later by a state policeman who was none too happy to be looking for a carload of kids. He had a couple of gallons of gas in the trunk and proceeded to dump it into the hungry Lincoln, muttering all the way. I suggested that he leave a few drops for priming, remember that the fuel line was about 20 feet long. He suggested that I desist from making suggestions (or words to that effect). After a few tries to start without success, he removed the air cleaner to prime. Now, he was really mad. Again, I suggested that I prime and try to start (being an expert, since this happened about once a week). Again, he suggested that I shut my pie hole. This was not good. The 430 was a bit grumpy whenever it was reminded of its reduced station in life under its present owner and tended to spit out the carb when prodded. The trooper poured a good bit of gas down the carb and ordered ignition while still `leaning over the engine. OK, I tried. Turn the key, two or three revolutions and then, the mother of all backfires. Not just a backfire, a backFIRE. In the dark surroundings, it looked like Hiroshima, a brilliant flash highlighting the trooper and then nothing. I got out and we silently retrieved his hat as he stood stunned. Unfortunately, we couldn’t retrieve his eyebrows. I quickly started the car while the trio helped the trooper back to his car. We got back to the Governor’s Mansion, where Sue got us $5.00. We never saw the trooper again.
The ’59 convert was an endless source of non-cooperation on dates, maybe she didn’t like competition for my affections. Like the time the radio killed the battery while watching the Saturday night submarine races at the reservoir. Actually, county police helped to jump start the beast, saving all sorts of embarrassment. Or the time that I had a date about 50 miles away and had to get a full tank of gas. After spending the day cleaning the car, waxing the chrome and scrubbing the mildew off the carpets, I got spiffed up and went to the gas station. Announcing the fill up request, the incredulous attendant yelled out “Hey, Kramer’s fillin’ it up!”. Everyone came out to see the miracle. As the pump bells chimed and the gallons climbed, My highly developed sense of impending disaster started ringing, also. Maybe it was the growing pool of gas under the tank that set it off. It had been so long that the tank had seen more than $2.00 that it couldn’t take the strain. Cooly, I screamed “It’s leaking, it’s leaking…do something”. Fortunately, calmer heads prevailed and Mike ran out with a self tapping screw, a rubber washer and some Fels-Naptha soap. All I could see was the dollars reserved for the date going down the station drain. In a few minutes the leak was reduced to a drip. I drove down, picked up my date and she suggested the drive-in. Now, normally, this would top a testosterone laden 19 year old’s list of places to go on a date. This night, all I could think of was the little hill that you drove up for viewing the screen, the hill that would push the gas to the rear of the tank. So, while the movie played and we settled down for the evening, a steady drip kept running through my head. I went to get refreshments about three times, surprising my date with my unexpected largess. Of course, I managed to notice the spreading puddle behind the car each time. She was equally surprised when I wanted to call an early end to the evening. I sailed back home praying that I’d make it, since the extra fuel, extra refreshments and all had totally depleted my finances and I should mentioned that the gas gauge had long since given up the ghost. At about two in the morning, I pulled up to the house and gave a sigh of relief. Concurrent with the sigh, the Lincoln also sighed and ran out of gas. Perfect date.
After meeting my wife, I went through Navy boot camp. We decided that, upon my return, we’d take a long drive to celebrate. July, top down, a long drive, what could be better. Let’s see…how about some hair? I was freshly boot camp shorn and it didn’t take long for nature to discover henceforth undiscovered territory. I did what any 20 year old would do, I ignored the warning signs. Upon waking the next day, I had the headache of a lifetime and little perforated pieces of red skin littered my pillow. Now, I was bald and red. I looked like the light on the top of a state police car. It took weeks to recover.
In December, the Lincoln needed a water pump. I was, as always, broke. I got a rebuilt unit from an auto parts store and went to my friendly service station (remember those?), where they had recovered from the “full tank” repair described previously to allow me space to r&r the pump outside. Remember, it’s December in Baltimore. 28 degrees. Cold. Armed with only a Chiltons general repair manual, two wrenches, a screwdriver and determination, I started. First step, remove the hood. OK. Wait, read the small print…BEFORE removing the hood, mark its location on hinges. Oops. Never mind, keep going. To make a long story short, it took me two days and the hood never fit right again. I still have the scar from the petcock. Saved $15, though.
My first car finally succumbed to old age and incompetent maintenance in 1968. I was returning five other friends to Norfolk from Baltimore after a weekend leave. It was about midnight Sunday when our 75 M.P.H. trip came to a screeching halt with a seized wheel bearing. The car slammed to a halt. We abandoned it and hitchhiked back to Norfolk, arriving just in time for roll call. I immediately asked permission to retrieve the car. I left and hitchhiked back to where we left the Lincoln (about 180 miles) and found it gone! I walked two miles to the next exit, called the state police and found that it had been towed to a junkyard at the next exit, three miles away. I walked down and was greeted by a typical auto junk yard, but there was a lovely little cottage right in the middle, like something out of Disney, white with red shutters, garden, picket fence. I knocked and a grumpy man told me it was $20 towing and $2 per day storage. He tells me it looked like a bad bearing. By now, it’s about 5:00 and the auto store in town is closed. He points to a half buried ’53 Lincoln and snaps, “It uses the same bearing, here”. He hands me a shovel. I’m in my dress whites. I dig out one wheel and the bearing comes right off. I go over to my car and start to get the jack out. He reemerges and says, “I guess you’ll need a decent jack” and produces a big one. I jack the car, pull the wheel and find a fused mess. The bearing and spindle had melted and become one. He looks over my shoulder and growls “Now, you’ll need a grinder”. Which he gives me. It’s getting dark when I start to try to grind off enough metal to fit the new bearing on. After a half hour, it looked close, so I tried to tap the bearing on the mangled spindle. After two taps, the bearing cracked. Wordlessly, the old guy went back and reproduced the shovel. I dug the other wheel up and retrieved the second bearing. His wife, a lovely, grandmotherly woman brought me a sandwich and Coke. It sure tasted good. After further grinding, at about 11 o’clock, I finally got the bearing on, but it wouldn’t turn. I knocked and he said, well, what about the $22? I said that I only had $10. He wouldn’t even take that, but never broke character as I thanked him and started the drive back to Norfolk. Top down, vent adjusted to blow on my face, no sleep in three days, it took forever. I arrived filthy, just in time for roll call, caught hell from the chief, showered and did a day’s work.
Two weeks later, I stopped by to try to repay the folks for their kindness. Maybe I got confused, but I never could find the place again.
Since the ’59 would only go straight without horrible groaning, we babied it that week, only taking it out to Virginia Beach (mostly straight) before the last trip home. On the drive, I found the beautiful ’60 coupe that would become Lincoln #2, but that’s another story.
Tim MacManus was master of ceremonies at the LCOC National 2016 Western Meet in Westminster, Colorado and an important member of the Rocky Mountain Region Committee that organized the meet. He was born in New York City in Forest Hills, just beside Brooklyn.
The family then moved up to Old Greenwich, then down to Montgomery, Alabama where his father had a truck refrigeration company. When his father saw the original story on the Edsel he went to the Detroit Auto Show and saw the car for the first time and fell in love with it because the tail lights went all the way across the back when most of the others just had round tail lights in the fender and the front had a most unusual look and the instruments had a speedometer that rotated. It also had a button that when you pushed it it would lubricate your front end.
So he became an Edsel dealer in Burlington, North Carolina. But right away came the recession of 1958. The Edsel fit into a slot to better compete with General Motors. The Pacer and Ranger were on the Ford frame and the Corsair and Citation were on the Mercury frame. Then in December 1957 an article came out in Time magazine that put the car in ill repute and it never recovered from that. Women stopped coming into the showrooms. This was also the first year that over a million imports were sold in the U.S. The Edsel the wrong car at the wrong time with the wrong design. For 1960 it was given a Ford design but it was too late. While the car lasted, Tim worked in his father’s dealership detailing Edsels and that’s where he learned to love cars.
After college, he went to work for Procter and Gamble. He started out with product goods, Head and Shoulders, Crest, Gleem, Scope, Prell, Secret, and he was so successful in three territories that he was selected to head the introduction of Pampers. It was so successful they couldn’t keep them on the shelves. From that success, he took a course in industrial real estate. He has sold industrial real estate ever since, for forty-six years.
When he was young he had five hearses. He has always had two or three cars, even when things weren’t going so well. He now has a 1957 Cadillac Brougham, two 1958 Edsel Citation convertibles, a1964 Cadillac convertible, a 1979 Continental Mark V, a 1957 Continental Mark II, and a 1957 Thunderbird which is an Amos Minter ground up restoration. All of these cars are kept in a climate controlled facility near downtown Denver.
The 1979 Continental Mark V is a Collector’s Series that is black on black with a leather interior and a moonroof. It has the 400 cubic inch engine. He bought this car in the summer of 2015 from a dealer who had bought it out of a family estate with only 16,000 miles. The car had 22,000 miles at the time Tim bought it in the summer of 2015. At the time of the 2016 Westminster LCOC meet it had 23,000 miles. Only the 400 CID engine was offered for 1979. Most Collector’s Series were either white or midnight blue.
We have never seen a black one before and we do not know how many of this color were built. Four Designer Series were built. There was also a Luxury Group Series. Total 1979 Mark V pro¬duction was 75,939. The Mark V was an enormously successful car. Downsized 1980 Mark VI production was only about half that amount.
