1940 Lincoln Continental CabrioletEdsel Ford returned from Europe in 1938 inspired to have a new car that was "strictly continental" in its design. He chose designer E.T. "Bob" Gregorie to lead the development of this car that was initially to be a one-off for Edsel to drive on vacation in Florida. Upon seeing the enthusiastic reception from his friends, Edsel chose to put it into production. The result was the legendary Continental, acclaimed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright to be "the most beautiful car in the world" and, in 1951, chosen by the Museum of Modern Art in New York City as one of eight cars to be exhibited for "excellence as works of art." With the end of the K-Series Lincolns in 1939, the Continental continued Lincoln's V12 heritage with a 292-cubic-inch engine producing 120 horsepower. As production commenced, Edsel Ford owned the 20th Continental produced. The car displayed here is No. 24, shipped on Jan. 4, 1940. George Gehrig, cousin of baseball legend Lou Gehrig, owned it for many years.
Owner: Elliott Jones, Huntington Beach
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