An old Lincoln Continental convertible already has enough presence to make most modern luxury look like they’re trying too hard. It’s long, low, square-jawed, and fitted with suicide doors, which is basically Detroit’s version of arriving with a cigar and a tailored suit. This one, though, started as what its owner Forest called an 'old rust bucket,' with trim and hubcaps falling off during the first drive. Four years later, it’s a Ford Raptor-gray, Coyote-powered, air-suspended showpiece with an electric hood, hidden speakers, custom interior work, 22-inch wheels, and just 11 miles on the clock. Better yet, it still stays true to its core: this thing exists purely to cruise. Rust Bucket To Show Car Autotopia LA YouTubeForest has owned the Lincoln Continental for about four and a half years, and the build itself took four of those years. When Lakeside Speed and Shine took it apart and sent it out for blasting, the floors were basically gone. Nathan explained that someone had stuffed fiberglass mesh into holes and covered it with body filler, which is the kind of 'repair' that makes a body shop walk outside and stare at the sky.The builder even suggested starting with a different car, but Forest wanted to save this one because he preferred the '67 body lines. That decision turned a tired luxury convertible into a full top-to-bottom rebuild, with much of the original body reworked, new floors, sectioned front fenders, tucked bumpers, and the kind of panel fit that makes chrome-era Detroit sheetmetal look almost modern."There is not an old part on this car except for the clock." - NathanThe color choice is solid. It wears 2025 Ford Raptor gray, paired with black trim because Forest didn’t want chrome all over the car. The result is subtle from a distance, then crazy detailed up close. Even the original grille remains, but the rest of the car has been tightened, cleaned up, and smoothed until it looks like Lincoln built one perfect SEMA-spec Continental and forgot to tell anyone. The Coyote Swap Keeps It All Ford Autotopia LA YouTubePop the hood and the biggest surprise is how it opens. Forest, who’s an electrician, didn’t want to raise and lower it manually, so the car uses a power-operated hood. In his words, the convertible top was already electric out back, so why not make the front electric too? Fair point. Purposely Restrained Autotopia LA YouTubeUnder that powered hood sits a stock Ford Coyote V8. Forest didn’t want to build a mad engine because he already has fast cars, and this Lincoln’s job is to be a cruiser. The Coyote sits in a clean, fully finished bay with custom shrouding that hides the wiring and gives the whole setup a factory-custom look. The engine's paired with a six-speed auto, which suits the car’s relaxed personality better than some over-caffeinated performance setup would.The Coyote is good for about 425 hp in this Gen 2 form, and while this is still a roughly 5,000-pound luxury boat, it moves with surprising ease. During the drive, the car stays quiet at idle, then picks up that familiar Coyote tone when the throttle opens. It’s not obnoxious, which is by design here. The Special Details Autotopia LA YouTubeThe stance comes from a Devious Customs suspension setup, reportedly the company’s Presidential kit, and it lets the Lincoln lay its pinch weld right down near the ground, which looks great on this car.Inside, the cabin might be the real knockout. Ron Mangus handled the upholstery, and the seat inserts carry a subtle Lincoln logo pattern. The car even took first place for interior at the Grand National Roadster Show, giving Mangus and his son a major award after decades in the business. The 22-inch Colorado Custom wheels also inspired the matching steering wheel, right down to the design. Even the hidden audio keeps the cabin clean, with speakers tucked into the kick panels and a subwoofer hidden in the center. Coyote-Swapped Keeper Autotopia LA YouTubeThe funniest part is that Forest plans to let it go. The host says he wouldn’t sell it after driving it, and honestly, that sounds about right. A Coyote-swapped Continental convertible with suicide doors, award-winning interior work, power everything, and only 11 miles feels like the kind of car you build once, cruise forever, and explain at every gas station until the sun burns out.Source: Autotopia LA (YouTube).