
The Lincoln Continental from the 1999 film The Matrix is a dark, noir-style anti-hero car. The filmmakers, the Wachowski siblings, chose a 1965 Lincoln Continental for its timeless, imposing look, which matched the characters' aesthetic of leather trench coats and sunglasses. The car is described as black, but it is rumoured to have been painted a custom colour that would appear black through the post-production green lens used in the film.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of the Lincoln Continental | 1965 |
| Colour | Black, green |
| Type of car | Sedan |
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What You'll Learn
- The Lincoln Continental is a custom-made dark green colour with a green tint
- The filmmakers chose this colour to look black through the post-production green lens
- The car is a 1965 model, which matches the characters' aesthetic of leather trench coats and sunglasses
- The Lincoln Continental has been in every iteration of the Matrix films
- The car has a 7.0-litre V8 engine, producing 324 brake horsepower and 630 newton metres of torque

The Lincoln Continental is a custom-made dark green colour with a green tint
The Lincoln Continental from the 1999 film The Matrix is a custom-made dark green colour with a green tint. This 1965 classic offered plenty of room for much of the Nebuchadnezzar's crew to fit inside. The filmmakers, the Wachowski siblings, carefully selected every element, from costumes to music to movie cars, to pull off the noir aesthetic with heady sci-fi concepts. The Lincoln Continental was the perfect car for the film, and its custom paint job was designed to register correctly in the green colour correction used in the film. Today, this iconic vehicle is a film star, and the Matrix Continental is on display at the Warner Bros. studio.
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The filmmakers chose this colour to look black through the post-production green lens
The 1965 Lincoln Continental in the 1999 film The Matrix was custom-painted in a dark green shade with a green tint. The filmmakers, the Wachowski siblings, chose this colour to look black through the post-production green lens. This colour choice was part of the film's noir aesthetic, merging old and new elements in the costumes and sets. The green Lincoln Continental matched the characters' leather trench coats and sunglasses, lending a timeless feel to the scenes.
The Wachowskis' decision to use a green hue for the Lincoln Continental was a deliberate one. By applying a post-production green lens to the film, they intended for the car to appear black on screen. This visual effect was part of the filmmakers' overall aesthetic vision for the movie, blending noir and sci-fi elements.
The Lincoln Continental's dark green paint job was a custom creation, carefully selected by the filmmakers to achieve their desired visual impact. While the car appears black to the audience, its true colour was a well-kept secret, revealing the attention to detail that went into crafting the film's unique look and feel.
The use of a green-tinted car in The Matrix was not an isolated choice. The filmmakers extended this colour scheme to the motorcycles featured in the film, including Trinity's Ducati 996, which was also painted in a Matrix dark green. This consistency in colour palette contributed to the film's overall stylistic cohesion and visual appeal.
The Wachowski siblings' innovative use of colour and post-production techniques in The Matrix showcases their creative approach to filmmaking. By manipulating colours, they were able to transform the 1965 Lincoln Continental into a sleek and mysterious vehicle, perfectly suited to the film's neo-retro sci-fi aesthetic. This attention to detail in production design enhances the immersive experience for viewers, demonstrating the power of cinematic colour grading and its impact on storytelling.
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The car is a 1965 model, which matches the characters' aesthetic of leather trench coats and sunglasses
The Lincoln Continental in the 1999 film The Matrix is a 1965 model, which matches the characters' aesthetic of leather trench coats and sunglasses. The filmmakers carefully selected every element, from costumes to music to movie cars, to pull off the unique mashup of noir and Sci-Fi. The Wachowski siblings, who wrote and directed the film, aimed to mix visual and plot elements that had never been mixed before. They were heavily influenced by noir films and wanted to bring that aesthetic into a futuristic sci-fi setting.
The 1965 Lincoln Continental was the perfect vehicle for the main characters to drive. Its sleek and timeless design, with simple angles and rear-hinged doors, gave it a classic yet imposing look. The car is described as dark and black in colour, although it is rumoured that this was a custom paint job designed to look black through the post-production green lens used by the Wachowskis. This would explain why some sources describe the car as green.
The Lincoln Continental is one of the oldest badges in Detroit and a perennial Hollywood favourite. The model's 1961-1969 edition is often described as timeless, and it has been featured in many films and TV shows beyond The Matrix. The fourth-generation Continental, in particular, has become an iconic car associated with anti-heroes. In the Matrix sequels, the characters drive around in an earlier fourth-generation Continental, likely a 1963 model.
The 1965 Lincoln Continental in The Matrix is not just a prop but a carefully chosen element that contributes to the film's unique aesthetic and timeless feel. It is a classic car that perfectly matches the characters' style and the film's noir-inspired world.
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The Lincoln Continental has been in every iteration of the Matrix films
The Lincoln Continental has been a staple in every iteration of the Matrix films. The filmmakers carefully selected the car to give the movies a neo-retro sci-fi aesthetic. The car was first seen in the original 1999 film when the protagonist, Neo, was picked up by the crew in a 1965 Lincoln Continental. The car's timeless, imposing style and its ability to offer plenty of room for the crew made it the perfect choice for the film.
The Lincoln Continental has since appeared in the Matrix sequels, with the characters driving around in an earlier fourth-generation model, likely a 1963. The car has become synonymous with the film series, even being referred to as the "poster car" of the franchise.
The Lincoln Continental's association with the Matrix films has added to its iconic status in Hollywood. The car has been described as the "greatest mafia car of all time" and has also been featured in James Bond films, where it is often driven by villains. The car's sleek and timeless design has made it a favourite among filmmakers, and it is sure to be remembered as one of the most famous cars in cinema history.
While the Lincoln Continental in the Matrix films appears to be black, there is some speculation that it was actually a custom-made dark green colour. This theory suggests that the green tint was used to look black through the post-production green lens applied by the Wachowski siblings, who directed the film. Whether it was black or green, the Lincoln Continental's colour added to the noir aesthetic that the filmmakers were aiming for, making it the perfect choice for the Matrix films.
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The car has a 7.0-litre V8 engine, producing 324 brake horsepower and 630 newton metres of torque
The 1965 Lincoln Continental from The Matrix is rumoured to have a custom paint job, which is a gorgeous shade of green. This shade was chosen to register correctly with the green colour correction used in the film.
Now, let's talk about the engine of the Lincoln Continental. While the car in the film is a 1965 model, it did not have a 7.0-litre V8 engine. In fact, the 7.0-litre V8 engine was introduced in various cars in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. For example, the 1966 Chevrolet Corvette featured a 7.0-litre V8 engine, which produced 435 brake horsepower and 624 newton metres of torque. This engine was also used in the Italian Iso Grifo from 1967 to 1969.
In 1977, Cadillac introduced a 7.0-litre V8 engine based on the architecture of their 7.7-litre engine but with a smaller bore. This engine produced 180 brake horsepower and 320 newton metres of torque in the L33 form, and 195 brake horsepower with the same torque in the L35 form.
Another notable 7.0-litre V8 engine was the Vortec 8100 L18, which was introduced in 2001 full-size pickup trucks. This engine had a power output range of 210 to 340 brake horsepower and torque ranging from 441 to 617 newton-metres.
While the Lincoln Continental in The Matrix didn't feature a 7.0-litre V8 engine, it certainly left an impression with its custom green paint job and iconic status in the film.
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Frequently asked questions
The Lincoln Continental in The Matrix is green.
The Wachowski siblings, who directed the film, wanted to merge old and new with costumes and sets. They also wanted to bring a noir aesthetic to a futuristic sci-fi setting. The green Lincoln Continental, with its timeless look, matched the leather trench coats and sunglasses worn by the characters.
The Lincoln in The Matrix is a 1965 Lincoln Continental.
Yes, the Lincoln Continental from The Matrix is on display at the Warner Bros. studio.
Yes, the Lincoln Continental's paint job was customised to look black through the post-production green lens used in the film.







































