1941 Lincoln Continental
Born from Edsel Ford’s fascination with European automotive design during his 1938 travels, the Lincoln Continental introduced a distinctly American interpretation of continental elegance.
Designer E.T. “Bob” Gregorie transformed Ford’s vision into reality, creating a low-slung profile with extended front fenders and a signature rear-mounted spare tire that became the model’s defining characteristic.
The Continental’s sleek proportions and refined styling attracted Hollywood stars and celebrated designers, including Frank Lloyd Wright and Raymond Loewy.
Production began in 1940 with 404 units, followed by 1,250 examples in 1941 (850 coupes and 400 convertible cabriolets).
Built on the Lincoln-Zephyr platform, the Continental featured a 292 cubic inch V-12 engine paired with a three-speed manual transmission.
The car’s cultural impact extended well beyond its production years, earning recognition in the Museum of Modern Art’s 1951 “8 Automobiles” exhibit as a significant design achievement.
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