It wasn’t intended to be a regular production model.  There was no research and development.  But its immediate acceptance was obvious.  And a mere 6 years after going out of production an enthusiasts club was formed to promote its survival.  This was the 1940-48 Lincoln Continental.

                     1941 Continental Coupe                                                                           1941 Lincoln Custom

     January in Michigan is amenable only to the coldest of souls.  Edsel Ford was not one of them.  In preparation for a winter trip to Florida, Edsel asked one of his chief designers, Bob Gregorie, to construct a special convertible coupe from a Zephyr for his personal use.  Edsel added many of his own styling ideas.    It was the fall of 1938.
     At 3 inches lower and 7 inches longer than a standard Zephyr, it was clearly sleeker.  A squared-off roof and trunk gave it an elegant flair.  As it was a convertible it carried a sporty air.  The externally mounted spare gave it a regal bearing.  Though millions of cars had had spares located here this one hallmark would garner the name, “Continental spare”.
     While using the car in Florida in early 1939 over 200 people approached Edsel and said they would sign open checks for a version of it.  He soon contacted the factory in Dearborn and had a second one produced.  In April, 1939, the decision was made to make it a regular production model for the 1940 year.  Announced in October of 1939, it was priced at $2,840 for the convertible.  That made it roughly twice the price of a Zephyr, but half the price of the least expensive K, which was bowing out with the 1939 model.
     The 1940 Continental was powered by the Zephyr V12, now increased in displacement from 267ci to 292ci, with horsepower raised from 110 to 120.  Weight was about 3650lbs and wheel base 125in.  Total production for 1940 would be 350 convertibles and 54 coupes.  Of these 54 coupes approximately 40 still survive.
     Though never selling in quantities anywhere near those of the Zephyr, the Continental (like the Zephyr), received instant acclaim, particularly for its styling.  To complete the Lincoln line, the Custom was added in 1941.  Available as an 8-passenger sedan or limousine, it used the Continental/Zephyr mechanicals but different sheet metal from the cowl back.  At a wheel base of 138 inches it was 13 longer than the Continental/Zephyr.  Price for the Custom was about $2700 (curiously, making it about $100 less than a Continental), and 650 were made for the 1941 model year.  It would be offered again only in 1942, with the new for ’42 front sheet metal.
     The Zephyr continued on in 1940-41 with miscellaneous mechanical changes but retained its basic teardrop styling.  The big design change would come in 1942.

     Regardless of the uniqueness and acceptance of its appearance, a manufacturer cannot remain styling-stagnant.  Front ends with a massive look—in contrast to the somewhat delicate look of the 1940-41Lincoln—were the latest fashion in 1942.  Thus, the Lincoln front fenders and hood would depart from the previous two years in styling and appear to push outward the surfaces of the car.  Added weight necessitated a more powerful engine, so the V12 was bored out to 305ci.  Horsepower rose to 130.  Automatic or semi-automatic transmissions were the latest technological innovation and a few Lincolns were equipped with an optional version of the later, the Liquamatic.  (See the 1942 ad below promoting it.) It proved so poor in operation that cars with it were frequently retrofitted with the manual transmission.  No Liquamatics are know to survive.  Production of Lincolns stopped in February, 1942 for the war effort.
 

                               1946 Lincoln 4-door                                                        1946 Continental Coupe

    After the war, Lincoln resumed production using the same basic pre-war vehicle.  The massive front end introduced in 1942 was mildly face lifted for 1946-48.  Huge consumer demand for new cars did not require radical styling changes.  The basic pre-war car would be just fine.  The 305ci version of the V12 had proved to have cylinder walls that were often too thin, so early in 1946 the bore was reduced, returning the displacement to 292ci and horsepower to 120.  Changes in 1947 would increase output to 125.  Prices had risen since pre-war days.  In 1942 a Zephyr 4-door was $1,801 and a Continental Cabriolet, $3,174.  By 1946 they cost $2,337 and $4,746, respectively.  Production of the first post-war restyled cars would arrive with the 1949 models.

     So “classic” was the styling of the ‘40’s Continentals that by 1954 an organization was founded to promote their survival.  As one of the first car clubs to focus on a single marque, the Lincoln and Continental Owners Club (originally the Lincoln Continental Owners Club, as only the Continentals were the subject of interest) proved invaluable in promoting the popularity and restoration of these cars.  Few if any other cars can claim such a following so soon after going out of production.  But Lincoln’s offering for the 1950’s would make it appear that it had lost its way.