Few names in all of American entertainment history carry as much legend as The Great One, himself. Among the biggest stars on television as Ralph Kramden in The Honeymooners and a star of the big screen for the sheriff character from 1977’s Smokey and the Bandit, Jackie Gleason was a larger-than-life personality, both in reputation and appetite. His luxurious tastes in life were more apt to match those of his wealthy, fictional character, Reggie Van Gleason III, than those of his modest Brooklyn beginnings, but when it came to motorized accommodations, there was no such thing as “too much.” Now, Gleason fans and Car enthusiasts can bid on a piece of his own auto paradise with a very special, personal 1969 Lincoln Continental stretch limousine scheduled for sale on Bring a Trailer.

But this finished 1970 vehicle has a price of $65,000 when finished ($500,000 plus today), and a world of sophistication and ingenuity behind it. Although never a big air traveler Gleason would rather be covering miles down the highway on four wheels, so he asked coachbuilders to design him and a car that would be the ideal traveling home. The project was given to Carron and Company of Inkster, Michigan, a coachbuilder who was a specialist at building prototype autos for Detroit’s big automakers; a lot of the car’s structural and cosmetic modifications were done by this specialized coachbuilder, and the results show up all over this one-of-a-kind highway machine.

1. Jackie Gleason

American actor Jackie Gleason was one of the few entertainers to possess his mix of charisma, stardom and a love of the finer things in life. Among his most well-known parts were Ralph Kramden in The Honeymooners and 1977’s Smokey and the Bandit as Sheriff Buford T. Justice. Outside of Hollywood, Gleason’s personal preferences were more like his well-to-do Reginald Van Gleason III self than his modest Brooklyn parents.

The Great One’s Luxury Lifestyle:

• Legendary American entertainer
• Played Ralph Kramden
• Played Sheriff Buford Justice
• Famous for immense appetites
• Preferred travelling by car

That craving for all things opulent extended into his choice of automobiles, too, even when they were intended to be his primary transportation. Gleason had always been a bit of a nervous flyer, preferring to cross the country on the back roads rather than take to the air, and for a long cross-country trip in his new custom limo he went to one of the premier builders in the country. For his money, the business decided to treat him to what was definitely not your average Lincoln Continental, packing more than enough of the luxurious amenities Gleason was used to into a one-of-a-kind luxury car and rolling coach that could make him feel at home and help him keep up appearances at the same time.

2. Carron and Company

Turning the regular Lincoln Continental into the magnificent limousine that Gleason demanded was the responsibility of Carron and Company, a coachbuilder out of Inkster, Michigan. Unlike most of the other limo conversion businesses of the era, Carron and Company had made a name for itself building prototype vehicles for Detroit automakers (Primarily Ford), and was up to the task of modifying the vehicle aggressively without destroying its original personality.

Coachbuilder Credentials:

• Based in Inkster, Michigan
• Built prototypes for automakers
• Particularly experienced with Ford
• Modified structural components
• Created bespoke bodywork

You can see their work all over the finished car, especially the long nose between the front and rear doors. The custom bodywork elongates the Continental without destroying the best-known proportions of the late-1960s Lincoln design. Since the bodywork was carried out by Carron the limousine is particularly interesting, because the body was not merely a run-of-the-mill production car with a coachbuilder’s conversion kit applied but extensively reworked by a company already familiar with the nitty-gritty of Detroit auto design and production. That mixture of coachbuilding and Detroit know-how shaped the Continental’s very odd body structure, and unusual exterior and interior details.

3. Gleason customized Continental

Gleason’s one-off Continental is well-known to a wide audience, but in truth its history goes much further back than its original period owner. After getting to enjoy Gleason’s daily driver, the Blackhawk was on display at the Sarasota Classic Car Museum in Florida, before passing into a private collection and finally the hands of the selling dealer in 2025. The car is now available on a clean Arizona title and with detailed history and memorabilia.

A Remarkable Ownership History:

• Served as Gleason’s transportation
• Displayed at Sarasota Museum
• Entered a private collection
• Acquired by dealer in 2025
• Comes with clean Arizona title

Externally, this extensive attention to detail continues. The exterior paintwork is finished to a high standard in deep burgundy with bright exterior trim, and a full restoration carried out in 2010 ensures the paintwork remains fresh. It sits on 15-inch wheels with Lincoln logo covers shod in period-correct BFGoodrich Silvertown-branded triple-whitewall tyres. The colour, trim and elongated profile all give the car a unique visual presence far removed from that of a standard late-1960s Continental, and with its documented history and preserved condition, it is a unique piece of motoring history with celebrity provenance.

4. 1969 Lincoln Continental limousine

The 1969 Lincoln Continental is easily one of the most identifiable features of vintage American luxury car design: the rear-hinged (or ‘suicide’) coach doors. Lincoln’s 1969 model year was also the last to see the centre-opening doors on a production Continental until an ephemeral reset in 2020. Opening both doors provides a massive, inviting space for those being dropped off in back.

Classic Continental Styling:

• Rear-hinged coach doors
• Final production year before reboot
• Extended wheelbase design
• Elegant original proportions
• Large passenger entry opening

With its longer wheelbase, the original chassis’ graceful stance was preserved by Carron and Company. The coachbuilder filled in the existing spare tyre carrier hole and added a false Mark III-style bumper set into the boot lid which extends into the rear bumper. This styling cue is absent from 1969 production models but was carried through in some form on all later factory Continentals. The combination of the deepened body, suicide doors and revised rear treatment make for a dramatically different appearance, but the example is still obvious as a 1969 Lincoln Continental, albeit an altered one.

5. Dual Power Operated Sunroofs

The black roof of Gleason’s Continental contains dual power-operated sunroofs positioned over the front and rear cabins. These openings allow ambient light to enter the interior at the touch of a switch, although the selling dealer notes that they currently require manual assistance to operate. Along with the other roof modifications, the sunroofs contribute to the limousine’s highly unusual coachbuilt character.

Distinctive Roof Details:

• Dual power-operated sunroofs
• Positioned over both cabins
• Black roof finish
• Currently need manual assistance
• Add ambient interior light

Uniquely, above the front windscreen sits a separate hump seamlessly integrated into the black roofing panel. It contains a periscope-style rear vision mirror assembly for the driver to clearly view rearward over the roof of the limousine, without the division screen up. That setup also meant the driver could see rearwards when the rear dividing screen was up, perfect when the limousine was cruising with passenger privacy maintained. Ford had been experimenting with periscope rear vision mirror plans back in the mid-1960s, and that heritage, along with the two sunroofs and raised rear deck area, makes this roof the most unusual of any body-off model that Ford ever built.

6. Lincoln rear passenger compartment

Along the rear seat compartment is where the Gleason’s Continental lives up to its streetcar-of-a-car reputation. The chauffeur is separated from the VIP passenger compartment by a strong wall that is sliding electric door, so that closing that window converts the rear into a completely separate office on wheels, perfect for Gleason whenever he wanted to get away from his family while traveling from one show to another across country.

A Mobile VIP Retreat:

• Solid partition wall
• Power-operated sliding window
• Reclining rear bench
• Patterned gold cloth
• Burgundy carpeting

Seats arranged to provide a lounge, club-style atmosphere and environment. The dual seat features a reclining rear bench trimmed with patterned gold cloth and individual rear-facing seats, the carpet is burgundy and throughout the body. Each luxury is enhanced at the rear with a modern television, a modern stereo that replaces the standard eight-track system, built-in clock, power-opening bar cabinet, wet bar, power-operated sliding and folding table, which makes a functional table for dining or work purposes and all this shows that the back of the compartment was really constructed as a private space, rather than just another pair of front seats.

7. Rear Compartment Climate Management

Climate control played a major part in the bespoke build of the limousine. Climate control was the proposed reason that two independent systems were fitted into the rear passenger compartment to ensure visitors remained comfortable regardless of weather conditions. Parts of the air-conditioning system can be seen in the photo below on the underside of the rear of the car and accessed directly from the boot.

Advanced Climate Comfort:

• Dual climate control systems
• Modified air-conditioning components
• Components mounted underneath
• Rear trunk access
• 1971 schematic included

Here’s a copy of a schematic diagram from 14 September 1971 describing the engineering of the system, and it reveals the extent of engineering that went into the creation of the limousine’s individually tailored climate system. The emphasis on rear passenger comfort all fits in with the rest of the car’s purpose to function as a moving refuge for Gleason. The rear cabin was not viewed as any ordinary passenger space, but rather a space created with specific systems based around the needs of the limousine’s VIP occupants. The modification to the climate control system is therefore another element of the rare coachbuild history of this unique limousine.

8. Limousine Power Steering

Beneath the long hood is the big-vic engine of the limousine: a 460-cubic-inch V8. Outfitted at the factory with a four-barrel carburettor, it packed 365 horsepower and 500 pounds-feet of torque with the big block engine. The strong and creamy low-end torque delivers high levels of travel in style without stress for this wheelchair-accessible sedan.

Big-Block Power And Control:

• 460-cubic-inch V8
• 365 horsepower rating
• 500 pound-feet torque
• Three-speed automatic transmission
• Rear-wheel drive

The power from the 460ci V8 powers the rear wheels via a 3-speed automatic gearbox. The drivetrain is designed for seamless gear changes and smooth acceleration so as not to disturb rear passengers. Power steering is fitted to the chassis for easy handling with a long wheelbase. The car also has a power-assisted braking system, with disc brakes on the front wheels and drum brakes on the rears so it is suited to being a relaxed, refined cruiser rather than a swift sports car.

9. 1969 Lincoln Continental

The documentation accompanying the 1969 Lincoln Continental adds another important layer to its collector appeal. The sale includes a 2013 Lincoln Continental Owners Club judging sheet, noting that the vehicle was officially approved for judging in 2009. Original correspondence also documents the car’s historical background, build specifications and ownership timeline across the decades.

Documentation And Memorabilia:

• 2013 owners club judging sheet
• Approved for judging in 2009
• Historical correspondence included
• Framed print included
• The Honeymooners DVD set

The new owner will also find an extensive collecting package of Jackie Gleason related items, consisting of a framed print, promotional material, The Honeymooners DVD set and a copy of How Sweet It Is. A matching luggage set is also supplied with the car and fits inside the boot with the air-conditioning equipment. The memorabilia, coupled with the vehicular documents, add depth to the link to the entertainer, and preserve, for those who would appreciate such things, the bond to Gleason who commissioned and travelled the vintage car.

10. Jackie Gleason’s Custom 1969 Lincoln Continental

This custom limousine is being offered for sale on Bring a Trailer, with the auction scheduled to conclude on October 1. The vehicle represents a rare opportunity to acquire a unique motorcar combining celebrity provenance, unusual engineering and distinctive coachbuilt character. Its connection to Jackie Gleason gives the Continental significance that goes beyond its mechanical specification or extravagant dimensions.

A Rare Collector Opportunity:

• Offered through Bring a Trailer
• Celebrity ownership history
• Unique coachbuilt construction
• Extensive historical documentation
• Period memorabilia included

For collectors of vintage American land yachts, the 1969 Lincoln Continental offers a remarkable combination of star power, engineering curiosity and retro charm. The onboard television could even be connected to old episodes of The Honeymooners, turning the enormous limousine into a crowd magnet at a car show. Every custom detail, from the periscope roof mirror and dual sunroofs to the power-operated wet bar, reflects an era when automotive excess was celebrated. The limousine remains a rolling monument to the golden age of American motoring and to a star whose appetite for luxury matched his legendary talent.