The Lincoln Continental is a luxury-mid and full-size automobile made in the United States by Lincoln, the luxury division of Ford Motor Company.

The first-generation Continental was produced from 1939 to 1948, with a pause between 1942 and 1945, owing to America's involvement in World War II. Between 1940 and 1945, Ford produced a little over 400 Continentals. Most of these vehicles were cabriolets, a cross between a convertible and a coupe; however, Lincoln also made coupes.

Eugene T. Bob Gregorie handled the car's design. Starting with the Zephyr lines, he lowered the body and roofline, resulting in a much more streamlined vehicle. Edsel Ford drove the first model on his spring vacation in Florida in 1939. The car was into total production as a convertible and hardtop for the 1940 model year not long after.

Let’s dive in and see the price and other features of this vehicle.

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Auction Sales And The Cost Of The Lincoln Continental

Deep Blue 1940 Lincoln Zephyr Continental Cabriolet
Via: Wikimedia commons

In 2012, the 1940 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet H100711 was auctioned for $200,750. In 1940, 350 models were developed, with a Striking Color Combination, designed by Ford Guru E.T. Bob Gregorie. The New York Yankees bought it and gave it to Babe Ruth, a baseball legend.

The Continental from 1939 to 1948 has been certified as a classic, making it one of the last autos to get this title. The two-door Lincoln Continental had an original MSRP that costs $2,727 (equivalent to $48,000 in 2020).

For $2,480, four hundred 1940 Lincoln Continental units were sold. As production ramped up in 1941, sales increased to 1,250. Rival companies like Packard had their Darrin, but only around 40 Victorias were produced in 1940, at an exorbitant price of $4,570.

Up until 2020, Lincoln provided a variety of great Continental models. Sadly, Ford Motor Company announced that the Continental brand would be phased out of production.

The Continental has a long and illustrious history with American automotive enthusiasts, dating back to 1940. The Lincoln-Zephyr Continental inspired 75 years ago and continues to inspire now, which is a remarkable achievement for any car.

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The 1940 Lincoln Continental Was A True Beaut

Blue 1940 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet
Via: Flickr

When the Continental was first released, famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright declared it the most beautiful car ever. He invented the carport as a result of his obsession with automobiles. From 1939 through 1941, Lincoln Continentals had essentially the same body design. The Continental had only minor changes from year to year.

Though constructed upon the Lincoln-Zephyr, the Continental was lower (by seven inches) and longer to give it that truly luxurious appeal. The instrument panel was taken from a Lincoln-Zephyr Town Limousine, and the hardware and interior décor were finished in gold.

The car featured aluminum heads and manifolds with chromed acorn cylinder head nuts in the engine. The Zephyr was available as a two- and four-passenger coupe, sedan, and town sedan, whereas the Continental was only available as a Cabriolet or coupe.

It had a modest V12 in place of the Caddy's big V8. The 292-cubic-inch engine produced 125-hp towards the conclusion of the Continental's manufacturing run in 1948, which was adequate for the time. The engine was pleasant but not wholly reliable.

History Of The 1940 Lincoln Continental

Black 1940 Lincoln Continental
Via: Hemmings

The Continental is the epitome of Lincoln's grandeur and luxury, and no other Lincoln vehicle embodies these values quite like it. The Lincoln Continental, which first appeared in 1939, has had various design changes and upgrades throughout the years, yet it remains an embodiment of the Lincoln brand.

The Continental started its origins as a personal automobile for then-Ford president Edsel Ford. Edsel Ford, Henry's son, willed the Continental into becoming one of the best cars in the world. In 1922, Edsel bought the Lincoln brand with big plans in mind. It was built partly on the recently retired Lincoln-Zephyr, though the Continental came with a convertible top, a lower profile, and eliminated running boards.

Following an inspirational trip to Europe in the 1930s, Edsel Ford teamed up with designer E.T. Gregorie to create a stylish Lincoln prototype for his personal use. The vehicle had a spare tire hidden inside the trunk, which was a feature he admired on automobiles from the old continent.

The car drew such a large amount of attention from the public that Edsel ordered it to be built as Lincoln's flagship starting with the 1940 model year, dubbed the Continental after the location that inspired it.