The Lincoln Continental Story: From Zephyr To Mark Ii
The complete story of the original Lincoln Continental air suspension, as told in the pages of Continental Comments, the authoritative publication of the Lincoln and Continental Owners Club. Loaded with insightful stories never before published outside of this award-winning magazine. Read about the development of the Lincoln-Zephyr and its evolution into the original 1939-40 Lincoln Continental, along with quotes from people who originally designed the car. Includes stories on the 1949 Lincoln Continental rear suspension that was never produced, and the 1949-51 era Lincoln flathead V-8s that succeeded the original Lincoln Continental. Concludes with the development of the $10,000 1956-57 Continental II, why it missed the mark, and was discontinued after only two years. Also included are stories about movie star and other celebrity owned Lincoln Continental cars including Rita Hayworth, Mickey Rooney, Jack Benny, Babe Ruth and Frank Lloyd Wright.
Our editors appreciated the fact that this Lincoln offered a wealth of gadgets and features to use and enjoy. Strong acceleration was another impressive point. Still, this big car had its flaws. In reviews of the Lincoln Continental, we criticized its lack of maneuverability and dearth of interior storage. The sedan’s gravest shortcoming, though, was its lack of refinement relative to its competitors. Though the Continental was perfectly adequate, cars in this price range from Germany and Japan offered a driving and ownership experience that was more polished and engaging. The previous-generation Continental airbags ran from 1988-’94. The car was less grand than later-model Continentals — not surprising, since it shared some design cues with its platform-mate, the humble Ford Taurus. As this generation drew to a close, power was provided by a 3.8-liter V6 good for 160 hp and 225 lb-ft of torque, with two trim levels being offered — the Executive and the top-of-the-line Signature. Those looking for trademark Continental opulence are advised to skip this model for more recent versions of the sedan.
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