The Lincoln Continental was introduced in 1940, just prior to the onset of World War II. The Lincoln Marquee had weathered The Great Depression and the Continental signaled to the world a desire to compete in the luxury car segment. The Continental was designed in 1939 especially for Edsel Ford to show off to his high society friends in Palm Beach. The design was modern, elegant, and slightly European with a long front bonnet that gracefully concealed a potent V12 engine. The interior was lavishly appointed and amenities were offered as standard equipment. The exterior was simple, with little trim or chrome, to rely on the beauty of the design instead of trying to attract attention with bright eye-catching pieces. The rear fenders were covered with skirts over the wheels. This was stretched to match the rear trunk. Located in the rear of the vehicle was a covered spare tire. This was an afterthought; as production came to a close, the designers noticed there was little room for a spare, so they covered it and incorporated it into the vehicle's trunk. This would become a signature design for the Continental series. 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 wonderful example, of a true hand built American classic, is one of the last domestic production vehicles built with a V-12 engine in 1948. The amazing V-12 runs but needs carburetor work as the gaskets have gone bad so it leaks gas. It has been sitting garaged for the last 8 years and ran/drove fine before storage. It was assembled January 9th 1948 and I have some historical documents to go with it. This was the last year of production for the Mark I. It was originally fully restored in 1978 and is complete except for the original air cleaner. It has always been properly stored in a garage and covered. The exterior is in Good condition and has been well maintained, for last being restored in 1978. It was painted with 14 coats of lacquer but has some cracking on the roof. There are no major dents or damage, except for a few scratches/dings and some pitting/flaking in the chrome. All of the electrical system, like lights, horn, wipers ect. are functioning and original. The only thing known that doesn't work is the radio. It has hydraulic power windows that work and the Wonder Bar works but no sound.
The interior is in Very Good condition and has been well taken care of. The seats are black leather with grey cloth and the carpet is black. All interior control knobs, things like window cranks, radio controls ect. are original and work.
