Overview
The 1968 Continental arrived without the convertible for the first time in the generation's history. Lincoln compensated with the most comprehensive interior revision the Continental had seen in years, a dramatically restyled rear fascia, and the return of wrap-around turn signals at the front. Meanwhile, the Continental Mark III launched as an entirely separate nameplate — giving Lincoln's two-door buyers a purpose-built model and allowing the Continental to focus squarely on the four-door sedan.

Exterior Changes
The 1968 received notable exterior changes at both ends. The front fenders gained wrap-around turn signals — a feature that had appeared on earlier Continental generations and returned to give the front end more visual width. At the rear, the 1968 Continental received a highly sculpted, dramatically reworked fascia with a concave character that was unlike anything the Continental had worn before. The rear end of the '68 is one of the most distinctive in the generation and is instantly recognizable to those familiar with the series.

Interior: Wood Trim and a New Wheel
Inside, the 1968 received the most significant interior update since 1963. The instrument panel and HVAC controls were revised with wood-tone trim in place of the aluminum treatment used in earlier cars — a meaningful aesthetic shift that gave the interior a warmer, more formal character. A new steering wheel unique to the Continental replaced the prior unit, reinforcing the car's identity at the most driver-engaged touchpoint in the cabin.

The Mark III Separation
The 1968 Lincoln Continental Mark III launched as its own model built on a Thunderbird platform, rather than as a Continental body style. This freed the Continental to be purely a four-door luxury sedan, competing directly against Cadillac's DeVille. The Continental's identity sharpened considerably after 1967.

Ownership Notes
The 1968 is among the more practical choices in the generation for a daily driver. The convertible complexity is gone, the interior upgrades are generally durable, and the 462 engine is well-supported. The wrap-around front turn signals are a characteristic detail that make the '68 easy to identify. Rear trim and lens components are unique to the 1968 model year — worth knowing before you need to source parts.