The words Edsel and styling rarely come out together without prompting memories of the motorcar that proved an embarrassment to Ford Motor Company almost three decades ago . But Edsel , as in former company president Edsel Ford , was creditworthy for one of the most revered automotive intention of all time : the timeless 1940 - 1941 Lincoln Continental .
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From the moment it seem it was a railway car that turned heads and made people eager to part with lots of money just to own one . Today , more than 40 years later , it still does .
Edsel dreamed of making Lincoln the best machine in the world . Blessed with an unerring sense of style , he was enamored with the look of sure European railcar , with long hood and cowcatcher , narrow grilles , and other elements he thought of as " continental . "
In 1938 he commissioned a particular tradition exchangeable incorporating such trait , establish on the yield Lincoln Zephyr . Built with the assistance of E. T. " Bob " Gregorie , the young chief of Ford Motor Company ’s design department , it was delivered to Palm Beach , Florida , where Edsel used it on his annual wintertime vacation . It right away attracted enquiry from over 250 people as to when it might be declare oneself for sale .
Encouraged by this reaction , Edsel O.K. a product version as an addition to the 1940 Zephyr line of business , and his personal elevator car reached Lincoln showrooms with only minimum change .
Powered by the Zephyr ’s 292 - cid , 120 - horsepower V-12 , the Continental appeared without any identifying nameplate as Edsel ’s four - seat cabriolet and as a closed coupe . exemplary year output was 54 and 350 units , respectively .
The 1941 was little changed but became a distinguishable model separate from the Zephyr and pick up appropriate name hand . Though it librate nigh to two tons , the Continental was agile for its time , extremely refined , and simply matchless in its beauty . Production was 400 cabriolets and 850 coupes .
The 1941 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet feature is own by Harry Wynn of Antioch , California , who buy it in original status in 1975 and reestablish it five years subsequently . No , it ’s not for cut-rate sale .
