1948 Lincoln Continental

Description

One of the most striking designs of the immediate post-war era, the Lincoln Continental set styling trends that we still see echoing today. This 1948 Continental coupe is an elegant personal car that's had an easy life, with a frame-on restoration in the 1980s and a history of being a cherished heirloom.

The flowing lines, penned by Bob Gregorie in the late 1930s, turned out to be one of the finest shapes to come out of Dearborn. Edsel Ford can probably get the credit for inventing the personal luxury coupe when he had a custom Continental made for himself in 1938, and it was such a hit that they put it into immediate production the next year. Even in 1948, the look was dynamic and fresh and this burgundy coupe has the right look. It was repainted way back in the '80s, but after three decades of being babied, it still looks wonderful. Is it perfect? No. But it does have a wonderful patina and a soft glow to the paint that is impossible to replicate in the spray booth; it needs to be earned, and in that regard, this car excels. Fit and finish are quite good, and it's doubly-critical that the doors fit right due to the pushbutton door latches, which spring open with just a touch. Of course, the famous rear-mounted spare tire is there, along with fender skirts, which set a styling trend that lasted a decade or more. Lots of chrome and stainless accents dress up the Continental, but it's worth noting how restrained its use truly is, letting the shape mostly speak for itself.

The beautiful two-tone cloth and leather interior is a bespoke place to enjoy motoring. Luxurious yet sporting, like a high-class hotel in the mountains, it's the epitome of 1940s luxury. It was likely restored at the same time as the bodywork, and as you can see, it's holding up rather well with only light stretching on the driver's front seat. Lovely gauges with ornate faces and metallic finishes highlight the fact that the Continental was all about style. The big steering wheel looks and feels substantial while the center stack holds all the secondary controls, including the AM radio. The back seat is roomy enough for three, but ideally meant for two, and legroom is considerable. There's also a good-sized trunk, hindered by a high lift-over but nicely finished in tan carpet with burgundy piping.

Yes, there are twelve cylinders under the hood. Supremely smooth, the flathead V12 obviously owes a lot to the famous Ford flathead V8. With a single 2-barrel carburetor, it won't win any drag races, but thanks to overdrive and a torque curve as flat as Kansas, it's a wonderful cruiser that will loaf along at modern highway speeds without getting tired. It's been fitted with an alternator so the electrical system is fairly robust. The transmission shifts easily with the "fingertip control" of the column-mounted shifter and the 4-wheel hydraulic drum brakes are more than adequate for the car's performance. The chassis appears to be almost entirely original and well-maintained, once again affirming our belief that original cars just feel different, and we mean that in the best possible way. Steel wheels with hubcaps and trim rings are fitted with correct L78-15 wide whites for a period-perfect look.

A CCCA Full Classic, this elegant coupe is a very affordable way into a very high-end part of the hobby and you'll never get tired of the gasps when people see 12 cylinders living under the hood. Call today!