1947 Lincoln Continental Convertible

The Lincoln Continental was introduced in 1940, just prior to the onset of World War II. The Lincoln marque had weathered The Great Depression and the Continental signaled to the world that they were serious about their desires to compete in the luxury car segment. The design was modern, elegant, and slightly European with a long front bonnet that gracefully concealed a potent V12 engine. On the inside, they were lavishly appointed and with amenities being offered as standard equipment. Exteriorly, there was little trim or chrome which was done to keep the car simple, relying on the beauty of its design rather than trying to attract based on eye catching bright 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 sort of 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 vehicles trunk. This would become a signature design for the Continental series.

Production of the first Continental took a short six months to complete. Most of the design and testing had been completed prior, on the Lincoln Zephyr prototype of 1939.

After World War II, production of the Lincoln Continental continued, with no changes occurring until 1948. They were available in two body-styles, a coupe or convertible.

The Lincoln Continental was replaced by the Cosmopolitan.

This 1947 Lincoln Continental Convertible was offered for sale at the 2007 RM Auctions held in Amelia Island, Florida where it was estimated to sell between $90,000 - $110,000. It is powered by a 292 cubic-inch side valve twelve-cylinder engine capable of producing 130 horsepower. There is a three-speed manual gearbox and four-wheel hydraulic actuated drum brakes. The elegant body rests comfortably on the 125 inch wheelbase.

This car has spent much of its life in California. It has been treated to a complete nut-and-bolt restoration and has been awarded Junior and Senior 1st Place awards. At auction, the car did find a new owner, though it sold for less than the estimated value. With so many exquisite cars offered for sale at the auction, the buyer of this vehicle was able to sneak away with a gem of American luxury history.

The car appeared at the RM Auctions held at Meadow Brook a few months later where its value was set at $80,000 - $100,000. The lot was sold for $77,000 including buyers premium, just under the estimated value.

By Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2007