The Complete Lincoln Continental Evolution: 1940–1979
The Lincoln Continental is one of the few American cars that earned a place in design history rather than merely automotive history. It began as a personal project for Edsel Ford, who wanted an elegant European-influenced car for his own use, and the public response turned a one-off into a production model. Over four decades the Continental name covered several very different cars, from a prewar coachbuilt coupe to an ultra-exclusive hand-built flagship to the clean, slab-sided sedan that became a symbol of the early 1960s. Understanding the Continental means understanding it not as a single model but as a series of statements about what an American luxury car could be.
Lincoln Continental — Generation by Generation
1940–1948
Original Continental
"Edsel Ford's coachbuilt classic"
The first Continental grew out of a personal car Edsel Ford commissioned for himself, with a long hood, a low roofline, and the exposed rear-mounted spare that became the Continental signature. Built as a coupe and cabriolet on the Lincoln-Zephyr V12 chassis, it was elegant in a way no other American car of its moment matched. Production paused for the war and resumed afterward through 1948. These are recognized as full Classics by the Classic Car Club of America and sit at the top of prewar Lincoln collecting.
Key Changes
- → Developed from Edsel Ford's personal car
- → Lincoln-Zephyr V12 power
- → Exposed rear-mounted spare tire
- → Coupe and cabriolet body styles
- → Recognized as a CCCA Full Classic
Specs
| Engine | Lincoln-Zephyr V12 |
| Body styles | Coupe, cabriolet |
| Signature | Exposed spare tire |
| Status | CCCA Full Classic |
Lincoln Continental for Sale — 1940–1948
Dealer
United States
1941 Lincoln Continental
$38,495
Dealer
United States
1948 Lincoln Continental
$98,995
Dealer
United States
1946 Lincoln Continental
$23,495
1956–1957
Mark II
"The hand-built flagship"
The Mark II revived the Continental as a separate marque, a hand-assembled personal luxury coupe priced near a Rolls-Royce and built to a standard of finish unusual for an American car. Its styling was deliberately restrained, free of the chrome and fins of its contemporaries, and each car was carefully inspected before delivery. Built in small numbers and sold at a loss, the Mark II is among the most exclusive postwar American cars and demands close scrutiny of originality.
Key Changes
- → Sold under the separate Continental Division
- → Hand-assembled to high standards
- → Restrained, chrome-free styling
- → Priced near a Rolls-Royce
- → Small production, built at a loss
Specs
| Engine | 368 V8 |
| Body style | Two-door coupe |
| Build | Hand-assembled |
| Value | Among the most exclusive Lincolns |
Lincoln Continental for Sale — 1956–1957
Dealer
United States
1956 Lincoln Continental
$45,900
Dealer
United States
1956 Lincoln Continental
$45,900
1958–1960
Unibody Era
"The largest Lincolns"
For 1958 the Continental moved onto an enormous new unitized body shared with the Lincoln line, among the largest American cars ever built. The styling was heavily detailed in the manner of the late Fifties, with canted headlamps and a reverse-slant retractable rear window on some models. These cars are the most flamboyant Continentals and a counterpoint to the restraint that came before and after, with a dedicated following among collectors who appreciate the scale and the era.
Key Changes
- → New unitized body construction
- → Among the largest American cars
- → Heavily detailed late-Fifties styling
- → Retractable rear window on some models
- → Shared body with the Lincoln line
Specs
| Engine | 430 V8 |
| Construction | Unibody |
| Scale | Very large full-size |
| Character | Flamboyant period styling |
Lincoln Continental for Sale — 1958–1960
Dealer
United States
1959 Lincoln Continental
$73,495
Dealer
United States
1958 Lincoln Continental
$14,995
1961–1969
Suicide-Door Landmark
"The clean design icon"
The 1961 Continental is the design landmark, a clean, slab-sided sedan with rear-hinged back doors and an absence of fins or excess chrome that won industry awards and influenced styling for a decade. The four-door convertible was unique in the postwar American market. Lincoln backed the design with quality, including a long warranty unusual for the time. The car grew slightly through the Sixties but kept its character. These remain attainable classics, and the convertibles are especially sought after.
Key Changes
- → Clean slab-sided award-winning design
- → Rear-hinged suicide doors
- → Four-door convertible body style
- → Long factory warranty for the era
- → Modest growth through the decade
Specs
| Engine | 430, then 462 V8 |
| Body styles | Sedan, four-door convertible |
| Doors | Rear-hinged rear doors |
| Most wanted | Four-door convertible |
Lincoln Continental for Sale — 1961–1969
Dealer
United States
1963 Lincoln Continental
$34,495
Dealer
United States
1964 Lincoln Continental
$12,995
Dealer
United States
1961 Lincoln Continental
$17,495
1970–1979
Big-Body Era
"Imposing comfort"
The 1970 redesign returned the Continental to a separate body-on-frame platform and grew it into a large, comfortable luxury car aimed squarely at Cadillac. The styling was formal and upright, and the model coexisted with the personal-luxury Continental Mark coupes that ran alongside it. These big-body cars are the most accessible way into Continental ownership, with strong presence and the kind of comfort the name had always promised, before the downsizing of the 1980s changed the formula.
Key Changes
- → Return to body-on-frame construction
- → Larger, formal styling
- → Aimed directly at Cadillac
- → Coexisted with Mark personal-luxury coupes
- → Last of the full-size Continentals before downsizing
Specs
| Engines | 460 V8 |
| Construction | Body-on-frame |
| Body styles | Sedan, coupe |
| Value | Most accessible Continental |
Lincoln Continental for Sale — 1970–1979
Premium
Dealer
United States
1971 Lincoln Continental
$51,000
Dealer
United States
1977 Lincoln Continental
$5,195
Dealer
United States
1978 Lincoln Continental
$15,995
Legacy & Impact
The Continental rewards a collector who values design as much as machinery. The original 1940 to 1948 cars are coachbuilt classics recognized at the highest concours level, the 1956 to 1957 Mark II is among the most exclusive postwar American cars and demands careful originality assessment, and the 1961 to 1969 sedan is a design landmark that remains attainable, particularly the four-door convertibles that are unique in the postwar market. The later cars offer presence and comfort at accessible prices. Across every era, the Continental was Lincoln's argument for craftsmanship over excess, and the best examples make that argument convincingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
The 1961 Continental introduced clean, slab-sided styling with rear-hinged "suicide" back doors and was offered as a four-door convertible, the only one of its kind in the postwar American market. Its restrained design won industry awards and influenced car styling for years.
The Mark II, built 1956 to 1957, was a hand-assembled flagship sold under the separate Continental Division at a price near a Rolls-Royce. It was understated and exclusive, built in small numbers, and is among the most collectible postwar Lincolns.
The 1961 to 1969 Continental used rear-hinged rear doors, often called suicide doors, to ease entry into the back seat on its unitized body. The design became a signature of the car and a defining feature of 1960s Lincoln styling.
📖
Thinking of Buying One?
Read our Lincoln Continental Buyer's Guide — pre-purchase checklist, common issues, and pricing.
Have a
Lincoln Continental
for Sale?
Reach thousands of serious classic car collectors across the US.
Sell It Here →
Are You a Classic Car Dealer?
List your full inventory and connect with targeted classic car buyers.
Join as a Dealer →
Find a Continental for Sale
Browse active Lincoln Continental listings on Classic Cars Arena.
View Listings →
Newport, Rhode Island