Simon Cars - Lincoln Continental MkI 1940

Lincoln Continental MkI 1940

Edsel Ford was the catalyst behind the 1940 Lincoln Continental MkI when he asked his friend Eugene T. 'Bob' Gregorie to design for him a custom car based on a lowered and lengthened Lincoln Zephyr cabriolet. The Continental was built on a 125-inch wheelbase (the Zephyr was on 122-inches), and measured 209-inches (202.5-inches for the Zephyr). Power was given by the 4,785cc L-head 120 bhp V12 (the Zephyr had 4,380cc 110 bhp). The design was said to have been inspired by the cars that Edsel Ford saw on a trip to Europe and his Continental trip gave the new Lincoln its name. The upright spare wheel in the rear bumper was a trade mark of the design and when copied by other makers was only referred to as the 'Continental' option. Lincoln Continentals were sold as two-door coupes or cabriolets. The 1946 facelift was done by Raymond Loewy.

ac Lincoln Continental 1940 Cabriolet head

Lincoln Continental 1940 Cabriolet. V12 4,785cc 120 bhp power for this stylish drophead. Actually one and a half Flathead V8s combined into one block

Lincoln Continental 1940 Cabriolet front

Lincoln Zephyr Continental 1940. Eugene T. 'Bob' Gregorie was commissioned by Edsel Ford to build him a lower more sporting convertible out of the Lincoln Zephyr; the result was so liked that it became the first Lincoln Continental.

Lincoln Continental 1940 Cabriolet rear

Lincoln Continental 1940 Cabriolet. There wasn't really any room to put the spare wheel in the trunk so Eugene T. 'Bob' Gregorie came up with the idea of mounting it vertically by the bumper. This was soon copied by other makers and became known as the 'Continental' kit.

Lincoln Zephyr V12 1939 front

Lincoln Zephyr V12 1939. The original concept design by John Tjaarda, which at one time was going to be rear-engined, was reworked by Bob Gregoire with input at the front from Holden Bob Koto.

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