Massive Price Drop: 1941 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet
UPDATE: 03/02/2023: Sometimes, a seller needs to bite the bullet when listing a classic and be prepared to drop their price if they don’t succeed on their first attempt. That appears to be the case with this 1941 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet. After failing to sell in its previous listing, the seller has slashed their price from $28,000 to $19,000 OBO. They seem serious about moving this classic, meaning there might be scope to negotiate further on that figure, respectfully, of course. The listing here on Craigslist suggests there are no other changes to consider, meaning I must thank Barn Finders T.J. for the initial lead and Gunter K for spotting the massive price drop on this Lincoln.
01/09/2023: One of the benefits of being Edsel Ford was having an entire team of auto designers, fabricators, and tradesmen at your beck and call. But that wasn’t quite enough. Instead of being Henry Ford – who tended to be parochial toward his automotive products – being Edsel meant exercising a fertile imagination in the direction of cars. In many ways, Edsel was the innovator of the two. So it was that by 1939, Edsel had already conspired with Bob Gregorie, Ford’s young stylist, to create at least three custom cars on Ford platforms for his personal use. These were two speedsters and a Ford Special Sports (later taken up by Jensen Motors in England for a production run of some eighty cars), fabricated in Ford’s airplane division (Ford made 199 Tri-Motors until Henry decided air transport was much more intimidating than cars and folded the business). Edsel’s next project idea was a custom car suitable for his vacation travels. By now – and a fascinating story in itself – the Lincoln Zephyr was plying the roads and saving Lincoln from the misery of the Great Depression. Edsel and Gregorie chose the Zephyr platform to create what came to be called the Lincoln Continental, with his personal prototype ready in time for the 1939 travel season. Here on craigslist is one of four hundred 1941 Lincoln Continental cabriolets produced that year, located in Willows, California.
This car is an older restoration with good paint, no rust, no dents, and good chrome. The car is said to be 100% complete. The interior is in decent condition. The fabrics and carpet could benefit from cleaning. The steering wheel is present, and this shot shows that the dash could use refinishing. The new owner will need to source a new convertible top.
The Zephyr’s 292ci V12 powered the Continental. The motor was constructed for smooth operation rather than thundering performance. With 120 bhp, the car managed a top speed of about 100 mph. This car has a three-speed manual transmission. A few parts are missing from the engine bay, but since the seller indicates the vehicle is complete, we will assume those are available. There is no word on the condition of the motor or other driveline components.
Design features include a nose like a prow, a shape favored by Edsel, and side-by-side radiator grilles, a solution employed on the oft-overheating Zephyr. The radiator was turned on its side to increase airflow, and these twin grilles were arrayed across the nose. The hood ornament was inspired by the Trylon and the Perisphere, two buildings at the 1939 World’s Fair. For all this luxury, 1940s cars are losing favor in the marketplace. These cars tend to sell in the $30k to $40k area in average condition and about double that in excellent condition. What’s the right price on this one if it can be made to run easily?
Comments
I’ve always thought the first-gen Continentals were flat-out gorgeous. The revised fronts of the later cars looked too heavy and overdone in my eyes.
Assuming the car is as advertised, it should be a nice deal for someone. The only drawback to the earlier V12 — through 1946, I believe — was a tendency to overheat. If I had the resources, I’d think about installing one of the later engines (while keeping the original, of course).
I was drawn to these cars when I was a lot younger, and still am. Edsel and Bob Gergorie hit this one out of the park.
Great looking car! Is this the same year as the one that is wrecked/toasted at the beginning of “In Harm’s Way”?
the movie shows a continental at the top of the rise the car going over the edge is a ford check the movie close and you will see
Right you are Norman. However, in the 1957 Movie Oh Bernardine staring Pat Boone, Dick Sargent puts his ’41 Convertible on its side after losing his girl played by Terry Moore. Last I checked you can still catch it on Utube for free.
These are BIG cars, at least compared with today’s sedans. The V-12 makes a wonderful exhaust sound. I wanted one as a kid, the prices have come down, compared with other collectable cars, but, like the dog that chases a bus, what would I do with it if I had it? The only flaw in the design, to my mind, was that heavy surround on the flat windshield. Many had the engines replaced with Caddy V8’s back in the late ’40’s and early ’50’s, and there are enough in the museums, so put in another engine, and drive it – antiquated suspension and all.
Where are the vise grips for steering the car?
Not unusual on the South African mini taxis as many of them have vice grip steering operation.
Don’t take the vice grips lightly. After graduating high school took a pretty girl to a drive in movie in my ’32 Ford coupe. Not a lot of room to fog up the windows with so I hung the steering wheel out on the left outside door handle. Got ready to leave and no wheel to be found. Wound up driving my date 21 miles to her house with a set of vice grips that turned a Ford pickup steering box with at least a 10 full lock to lock range. No fun at all.
With friends like you had Bob, you didn’t need enemies! Did you ever get the wheel back?
The People who bought these cars when they were new, were retired by 1979, and the” Last “ grandiose, “True Touring” cars of that generation were the 1979 Lincoln’s. The “Town Coupe” and the Lincoln “MarkV”. The Lincolns of 1979 were direct descendants of this gorgeous 1941 Lincoln. I hope it goes to a great home. The price? Without driving and looking at it in person, I would reluctantly put it at 20-25K tops.You really have to think twice these days before you jump in on a classic car purchase.
Maybe the same model as Baby Jane Hudsons’ car? Sorry, but even being a flathead Merc guy (1940 & 41) This was the ugliest car that FOMOCO ever rolled off the line, although GRANDIOUSE in todays world, it needs a license plate that says BLANCHE ;-))
Baby Jane’s continental was a postwar one,
“Don’t you remember me?, I’m Baby Jane Hudson!….Who the hell was Baby Jane Hudson?” LOL!! :-)
The rear end is definitely Fugly whereas I think the front is absolutely beautiful. Maybe it was designed by one guy that took from Monday to Thursday to design the front and another guy that only had Friday to do the rear!
Ls6 or 572? Decisions, decisions
Hi Richard, thanks for the tip re Oh Bernadine. I remember watching the movie back in the fifties so figured I would go on You Tube and find the Lincoln Zephyr wreck section. The first thing that stood out for me was right after the opening credits there is a traffic scene where there is a black 1955 ENGLISH Ford Zephyr Six turning right at the traffic lights. I wonder if that was done deliberately or not? Probably not, but great to see as one of my first cars was a 1955 Ford Zephyr Zodiac, same car but two tone paintwork and gold script badges. Glad the ’41 Lincoln didn’t suffer too much. Great cars. (Sorry about the lousy picture)
I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it. A body that looks cobbled together with three different stylists, one doing the front, one the middle, the other the rear. Add Fords buggy spring suspension (suddenly it’s 1916). And it’s mutton dressed as mutton.
The person that bought this car must have been color blind. Of all the colors they had why cardboard brown and tan interior and what ever is that body color?
I love the car, but no way!
I just noticed, does this car run? The rad has no hoses and no cap?
How is it 100% complete when it needs a top?