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101 Cars: Lincoln Continental
Named for a President. Fit for a King.
SPEEDtv.com is celebrating the launch of the new program "101 Cars You Must Drive" with a weekly countdown of the vehicles featured in the show. Tune-in to SPEED 9pm ET on Monday nights, and to SPEEDtv.com every day for new "Must Drive" features.
SPEED Staff  |  Posted August 11, 2008   Charlotte, NC
Based on the Book "365 Cars You Must Drive" SPEED will premiere "101 Cars you Must Drive" with Alonzo Bodden on June 23rd at 9pm ET. (Photo: Barrett-Jackson.com)

Lincoln used to be one of America's most desirable luxury brands. During the 1920's and 1930's, many were coachbuilt, similar to Duesenbergs, and in early 1940's Lincoln hit another high point with the original Continental. In spite of the car that later bore his name, Edsel Ford was a man of culture, and he admired the tasteful and elegant cars from Europe. He wanted Lincoln to have something similar, hence the Euro-inspired, Continental. Beautifully proportioned and available in coupe and convertible form, the V-12 powered Continental came to market in 1940, was built through 1942, then came back (with busier, less attractive front-end styling) in 1946 after the war, to be produced through the 1948 model year. This is a proud and graceful car, which always seemed to glide on its wheels. The V-12 was problematic but today's best restoration shops have figured out how to make it run fine and live. Henry Ford II had even more ambitions plans for the Continental nameplate in the 1950's, launching an entire new division around it for 1956. Ford's Continental brand had but one model, the expensive, hand built Mark II. It too was tasteful, well proportioned, low and sleek, especially when compared to other American Luxobarges of the mid and late 1950's. They're a joy to drive even today, as they'll more than keep up with freeway speeds and feel like a high quality machine, if well preserved or restored. Ford came back to the Continental well in 1968, again as a Lincoln model, with the Mark III. Its formal look, Parthenon-inspired grill, and faux spare tire hump on the deck lid (the original Mar carried its spare out back) were aimed squarely at Caddy's Eldorado, in the then-highly competitive personal luxury coupe battle. The Mark III's 460-cubic-inch V-8 cranked out 365 horsepower and nearly 500 ft-lbs of torque, and moved the 4,600 pound land yacht past the country club a lot faster than most would have guessed. The leather was rich, the wood trim was real. The Mark III was a great car at a time when American car companies ruled the marketplace, and Lincoln's were something special - instead of merely being chromed up Fords.

Specifications
Engine: 369-ci OHV V-8
Horsepower: 285
0–60 mph: 10.5 seconds
Top Speed: 120 miles per hour
Price New: $9,695
Value Now: There always seem to be marginal cars for sale in the $25,000-$30,000 range but plan on spending $50,000 for a properly restored, fully operational example.
Lincoln Continental Photos



Claim to Fame

For a change, a carmaker did too good a job. Ford is rumored to have lost at least $1,000 on each one, so hight were its production costs..


Soundtrack

The theme song from "Around the World in 80 Days", which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1956.


Perfect Passenger

Ingrid Bergman, who took home the Best Actress Oscar for that year.


Behind the Wheel

Many Survive, and every major classic car auction seems to have at least one.


Did You Know?

Each Mark II was shipped in a lined container to minimize the potential of damage, vandalism, or scratching of the hand-rubbed paint job..


The Perfect Drive
The power elite of the 1950's drove them on Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills, or on 5th Avenue in Manhatten, to their favorite three-martini lunch jaunts..


Get Your Copy of 365 Cars You Must Drive

Catch 101 Cars You Must Drive on SPEED! Premiering Monday, June 23rd at 9:00pm ET/6:00pm PT.

Check out the 101 Cars Countdown!

What do you think of the Lincoln Continental? Have your driven one or ridden in one? Let us know.

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