1941-1942 started a major new styling direction in Detroit: out with the graceful and delicate streamline-era front ends; in with the Wurlitzer juke-box look out front. As much as I can appreciate some of the fanciful front ends in their own right, they typically overpowered the rest of the cars, which with few exceptions were still mostly the same bodies as the ’39s. In the case of the exceptionally graceful 1939 Continental, the results of its facelift in 1942 were rather exceptionally jarring.
TheProfessor47 posted these shots of this very fine 1942 Continental, which also had elongated front and rear fenders compared to the original. Obviously, still a very attractive car, and the front end was still much better then the really heavy one that came along in 1946.
These Continentals were appreciated for their uniqueness right from the get-go, and I suspect their survival rate is perhaps the highest of any American car of this era. But they were saddled with what was undoubtedly the worst engine ever built by Ford, the Zephyr V12. Many or most had their engine replaced with the big Lincoln flathead V8 that came along in 1949, or even the later Lincoln Y-block.
Apparently, there were plans for a Continental coupe based on the new 1949 body, but it was nixed due to it just not working on that big, bulbous body shell, as well as anticipated low sales. Or perhaps it was out of respect to Edsel Ford, who died in 1943, and didn’t want his reputation sullied by something less than worthy. Good call.
That is kind of jarring. The front looks almost early fifties, but the rest of the car is sort of frumpy and “old fashioned.”
Sonny’s ride from The Godfather?
Sonny got shot up in a 1941. I saw that car years ago at Auburn. It was covered with holes that charges had been set in, and covered with the shittiest black paint job I have ever seen.
And now the car is in the louwman museum in Den Haag Netherlands ,
Still with the shitty paint job 😉
But my father owns a rare ’42 continental coupè as the pictures above here .
We are restorating it.
The ’42 Connie is an exceedingly rare car. I agree, as bold as this one is, it is positively delicate compared to the 1946-48 edition.
My car-mentor Howard owned several V-12 Lincolns in the late 40s and early 50s, and became quite an expert in keeping them running. He told me that Mercury flatheads (slightly more powerful than the Ford versions) were the swap-in of choice in the early 50s.
One other note, only the 1942 model used a 305 cubic inch version of the engine, which had been a 292 cubic inch version in 1940 and 41. It turns out that the cylinder walls were too thin, leading to high scrappage rates, plus it was impossible to bore out in a rebuild, a common situation with these. Lincoln reverted to the 292 version for the rest of the engine’s life.
From what I have read, the oil pumps were undersized for lubricating the thing and keeping the hydraulic lifters in 12 cylinders pumped up, particularly the way most people never got the revs up in these. Also, the tendency to overheat (inherited from the Ford flathead) coupled with the compromised lubrication caused sludging.
I can testify, however, that a properly running V12 was one smooth, quiet engine.
Besides the ’49-’51 Lincoln Flathead V-8s being swapped in (which was really a big Ford truck engine); Buick Nailheads and Caddy OHV V-8’s seemed to be popular swaps (from what I saw in 1950s car mags, such as Motor Life, Motor Trend and Hot Rod).
I can attest to the smoothness. A friend of the family has a ’41 Continental coupe in dark green, all original (yes, ALL original–paint, exhaust, upholstery etc.). My dad and I got to ride in it about 15 years ago and it was remarkably smooth, quiet and comfortable, even at 55.
Very nice, but not something ever seen here a small matter of a world war from sept 39 prevented any new cars being available for private use and the few that did land were small British sedans with painted over brightwork for military purposes and of course the lendlease Fords and Chevys all in olive drab.
“Or perhaps it was out of respect to Edsel Ford, who died in 1943, and didn’t want his reputation sullied by something less than worthy. Good call.”
Ha, I see what you did there…
It’s unusual to see all the front end stuff aligned properly; this is the best I’ve seen in years.
The 1946+ models did have an even heavier front end. The 1947 that Bette Davis/Jane Hudson drives in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? is a good example:
http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_55758-Lincoln-Continental-76H-56-1947.html
Quite a tank but I do like the convertible top. Always enjoy seeing that car each time the movie comes around.
The first Continentals did indeed have a very good survival rate, as people were already collecting them in the mid-1950s. If I recall correctly, for many years the postwar Continentals were the only postwar cars accepted by the Classic Car Club of America.
One guy imagined what if Lincoln had continued the Continental for 1949-51
http://www.whatifcars.com/gallery/What-If-Cars/1950_Lincoln_Continental_new