1962 Lincoln Continental

The Continental was birthed from a Thunderbird styling exercise created by Elwood P. Engel. Ford Motor Company Group Vice President Robert McNamara was impressed and asked that it be expanded to Lincoln's proportions. The process began in late 1958, was quickly approved by Ford management, and rushed to completion to meet model changeover deadlines. The rush to production helped preserve the clean and elegant design that Engel, John Najjar, and the 'stiletto studio' team had created.

During the late 1950s, Ford's design team was led by George Walker, Ford's Vice President of Styling. Walker had consulted with Edsel Ford and Bob Gregorie before coming to Ford full-time in 1946. He brought Eldwood Engel with him, who would later become Chrysler's Design Vice President. The team included Najjar, Eugene Bordinat, Jr. (later to be Walker's successor as Ford Design Vice President), Bob Thomas, and Don DeLaRossa.

Lincoln introduced a new version of the Continental for 1961. It had quad headlights, rear-hinged rear doors, and low-riding coachwork. The wheelbase was 10 inches longer than the new unit body 1961 Thunderbird and compared to other four-door cars of the era, it was short. Since there was not enough room between the wheel wells for four doors, the doors were hinged at the rear.

For 1962, the Lincoln Continental was modified to be slightly longer and lower, with minor modifications to the front trim. Standard features included power windows, power steering, power brakes, an electric clock, folding center armrests, and a radio with a rear speaker. The engine remained the 430 cubic-inch V8 with a single dual-throat carburetor and dual exhaust, producing 300 horsepower. The engine was installed at a seven-degree angle to drop the back of the transmission. Dana engineers worked with Ford designers to develop a special universal joint at the transmission to accommodate the constant angular difference. Each engine was dyno-tested for three hours and the completed car was driven on the streets and expressways near the Wixom assembly plant and then returned for defects to be corrected. They were then given high-pressure water testing, followed by being put on a lift to check for leaks.

To help reduce noise and vibration, refinement such as sealed electric window-lift motors and a crankshaft-driven pump for the power steering and hydraulic systems were installed.

The majority of 1961 and 1962 Continentals were bodied as sedans, with a small percentage being vinyl-upholstered convertibles whose power tops effortlessly retracted into the trunk. Convertible bodies accounted for just over 10 percent of total production for 1962.

by Dan Vaughan

Sedan
Chassis number: 2Y82H414337

In 1961, Lincoln made history with the all-new Continental model, which was a dramatic departure from previous designs. The Continental's distinctive suicide-style rear door design was dictated by the constraints of the relatively short wheelbase. The overall appearance of the luxurious and stylish Continental Sedan and Convertible was remarkably restrained compared to most American luxury cars with their huge fins and exuberant chrome, and the Continental was soon adopted by the style-conscious Kennedy family while in the White House.

This Continental was owned for over 30 years by the same family and was maintained in very original condition, and its current owner has continued that effort.

Sedan
Chassis number: 2Y82H409448

This 1962 Lincoln Continental Four-Door Sedan was offered for sale at the 2007 RM Auctions held in Amelia Island, Florida. The car was estimated to sell between $50,000 - $70,000. The car has been treated to a re-paint and the installation of a sunroof; it has never been restored. It is equipped with power steering, power windows, and air conditioning. At auction, bidding reached $40,000 but failed to meet the reserve; the vehicle was left unsold.

In 1962, there were 27,849 four-door sedans constructed and 3,212 examples of the four-door convertible. Under the hood was an eight-cylinder, overhead valve engine capable of producing 300 horsepower. Optional equipment included air conditioning, power vent windows, electric radio antenna, special interior trim, tinted glass, directed power differential, speed control, and automatic headlight dimmer. Most of the cars were equipped with air conditioning and nearly 97% were equipped with power seats. An automatic gearbox was standard, as were the power brakes. Other standard equipment included power steering, power windows, a radio with a rear speaker, power door locks, electric clock, dual exhaust, folding center armrests, and carpeting.

by Dan Vaughan

Sedan
Chassis number: 2Y82H422379

This 1962 Lincoln Continental is powered by a matching numbers 430 CID V8 engine backed by an automatic transmission. Currently it has 41,000 miles on the odometer. There are power windows and the back power vent window option.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible
Chassis number: 2Y86H420622

Most of the 1961 and 1962 Continentals received sedan bodies. Just over 10% of the cars were finished as vinyl-upholstered convertibles whose power tops retracted into the trunk.

The current owner of this example acquired it in 2012 and had reportedly been completely restored, including a refinish in its original color of Bermuda Blue metallic. It is fitted with a correct engine and three-speed automatic transmission. It rides on proper whitewall tires and features all the standard power amenities.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible
Chassis number: 2Y86H414346

Lincoln bestowed a more restrained redesign on its chrome-laden Continental in the early 1960s. Its overall length was 15 inches shorter than its predecessor, with an 8-inch shorter wheelbase. The industry rewarded the new design with a bronze medal by the Industrial Design Institute (IDI) of New York, NY, and it won Car Life's 1961 Engineering Excellence Award. Buyers agreed with the new styling and gave the Continental a healthy increase in sales (34,762 examples of the '3rd Generation' were built from 1958 to 1960, compared to 25,160 sold in 1961 and 31,061 the following year. 4th Generation peaked in 1966 with 54,914 units built, followed by 45,667 built in 1967.)

Styling elements included the rear-hinged 'suicide' rear doors paired with its pillarless hardtop or impressively engineered power soft top. The novel-for-its-time four-door convertible was priced $646 higher than its hardtop sibling and was produced in significantly fewer numbers than the sedan. Beneath the lengthy hood (bonnet) was a 430 cubic-inch 'MEL' V8 engine carried over from the previous generation, offering 300 horsepower through a three-speed automatic transmission.

This particular 1962 Lincoln Continental Convertible is finished in a triple-back color scheme featuring Presidential Black paintwork, a Black leather interior, and a Black power-retractable soft top. Amenities include standard power brakes, power steering, power locks, an AM radio, and leather upholstery. Optional extras installed at the factory include an electric radio antenna and air conditioning.

During the 2000s, under previous ownership, the car was given a high-quality restoration. It retains a number of original interior details, such as its wood grain accents, gauges, and radio, which indicate just over 75,000 miles.

The Academy of Art University in San Francisco, CA, acquired this Lincoln from the Michael Dingman Collection in 2012. In 2022, it was awarded Second in Class (E3: Lincoln Zephyr & Continental through 1962) at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible
Chassis number: 2Y86H414346

For the model year 1961 and the virtually identical 1962, Lincoln Continental took a totally new styling tack. Reflecting European influences, designer Eldwood Engel created a timeless look with simple elegance, devoid of excess chrome and gadgetry, which took the American luxury market by storm. The new car was 15 inches shorter than the previous version and had completely clean side contours and unique curved side glass creating a sleek, more personal look. It was offered in only two styles, a four-door sedan and a remarkable four-door convertible, both of which featured rear-hinged rear doors. These smaller, lighter cars were still powered by Lincoln's big 430 cubic-inch V-8, now rated at 300 horsepower. The convertible was the first such body style offered by an American marque in many years and featured an electrically operated trunk lid that completely swallowed the folding top. Just 3,212 convertibles were built for 1962, versus 27,849 of the companion sedan body style. Price when new was $6,720. These cars were favorites of the Kennedy family and were often seen during John F. Kennedy's presidency.