1940 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet
The legendary Lincoln Continental began life not as a production model, but as a one-off personal vehicle custom-built for Edsel Ford in 1939. Designed by Bob Gregorie on the existing V-12 Zephyr platform, Edsel’s new coupe caused such a stir that Lincoln approved a production version for 1940.
Just 404 examples left the factory that year, but the elegant Continental’s impact resonated for decades as the aesthetic foundation of the Lincoln brand.
This particular ivory-hued cabriolet rolled off the Long Beach line on May 22, 1940, originally painted Beetle Green over tan leather with matching convertible top. Nicely equipped from new with whitewalls, glass-mounted antenna, clock, overdrive and other refinements, it exudes the style which captivated period luminaries like Frank Lloyd Wright.
Though restored some time ago, the Continental still reportedly performs admirably, completing several Classic Car Club tours to date.
From its hand-crafted progenitor to the most recent incarnation, Continental served as Lincoln’s flagship for most of nine decades, the postwar convertible enduring as an American icon. As the 19th of just 350 first-year examples, this cabriolet remains a direct link to the model’s patrician origins and Edsel Ford’s personal vision of the perfect luxury car.
Credit: Bonhams|Cars
