The first Lincoln Continental was developed as Edsel Ford's one-off personal vehicle, though it is believed he planned all along to put the model into production if successful. In 1938, he commissioned a custom design from the chief stylist, Bob Gregorie, ready for Edsel's March 1939 vacation. The design, allegedly sketched out in an hour by Gregorie working from the Lincoln Zephyr blueprints and making changes, was an elegant Convertible with a long hood covering the Lincoln V12 and long front fenders, and a short trunk with what became the Continental series' trademark, the externally-mounted covered spare tire.
The car could be considered a channeled and sectioned Zephyr that did not even have the bulge that in the Zephyr (and in some other cars) replaced the running-board at the bottom of the doors. This decrease in height meant that the height of the hood was much closer to that of the fenders. There was hardly any trim on it at all, making its lines superb. This car is often rated as one of the most beautiful in the world.
The custom car for the boss was duly produced on time, and Edsel had it delivered to Florida for his spring vacation. Interest from well-off friends was high, and Edsel sent a telegram back that he could sell a thousand of them. Lincoln craftsmen immediately began production on the Continental convertible, and even a rare few hardtop models. They were extensively hand-built; the two dozen 1939 models and 400 1940-built examples even had hand-hammered body panels, since dies for machine-pressing were not constructed until 1941.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Continental production was suspended, to be re-started in 1946 to 1948. Like the other Post War Lincolns, however, the Continental had similar bits of trim added to make it look improved. The 1939–1948 Continental is recognized as a "Full Classic" by the Classic Car Club of America, one of the last-built cars to be so recognized.
This exceptional original car is just out of dry storage for the last 26 years. The car was properly put up with the cylinders oiled and the fluids drained, it was then covered and placed in a very dry garage. Since acquisition, we have redone the fuel system including relining the gas tank, installed new line, rebuilt fuel pump, and rebuilding the carburator; The entire brake system has been redone including new master cylinder, wheel cylinders, shoes, springs, and all new lines run; the hydraulic top and window system has been redone including pump rebuilt and all lines and fittings serviced; a new battery and set of blackwall radials were installed with selective new wiring and new cut off switch. The car runs and drives exceptionally well. The car handles straight and true, it runs cool, has great oil pressure and does not smoke. The interior is in very nice condition for its age and the paint buffed out very nicely, as did a good amount of the brightwork. The top, while a later vinyl top with large window is not ripped or torn and is still usable as is. This is a perfect CCCA CARavan car capable of highway speeds with all the power options one could get in 1948. Reportedly originally owned by Mae West, there is no hard evidence of that fact at this point, but we're still researching that claim. We did get the build sheet from Ford which does verify this is the original color scheme of the car.
The car just won a First Place in the Touring Class at the CCCA July 2009 Indiana Grand Classic
It also received the Most Original Car Award!
You arent going to find a better sorted CCCA eligible Convertible for this money!
