The Lincoln Continental Mark III was a luxury car offered in Lincoln’s Mark series sold between 1969 and 1971. The Mark III was created when Lee Iacocca, president of Ford Motor Company at the time, directed Design Vice President, Gene Bordinat, to "put a Rolls Royce grille on a Thunderbird” in September 1965. Intended to compete head-to-head with Cadillac's heavily redesigned front-wheel drive Eldorado, the Mark III made its debut a clear notch above less expensive, less well-appointed personal luxury cars such as the Ford Thunderbird, Buick Riviera and Oldsmobile Toronado. Standard equipment included power steering, brakes, windows, headlamps, and both front seats. The instrument panel and trim panels on the doors featured simulated wood appliques in either English Oak or East-Indian Rosewood. A vinyl roof in cavalry twill pattern was optional, and examples without the vinyl roof were rare. One reason for the rarity of the plain-roofed version is the fact that the roof was made in two pieces and required extra preparation at the factory to conceal the seam; consequently, its availability was not widely advertised. This particular car retains its 460-cid V-8 engine and three-speed C6 automatic transmission and is finished in Medium Lime with dark green leather interior.