Lincoln Continantal Mk IV Cabriolet - 1959
3rd Generation
The products of Ford-owned Lincoln have for years rivalled those of General Motors' Cadillac division in their exclusivity and luxury, in particular the range-topping Continental. Nowadays synonymous with Lincoln, the 'Continental' model name was first used in 1940 for Bob Gregorie's masterly styling exercise on the existing V12 Zephyr chassis. A sportier, top-of-the-range companion to the Zephyr, the Continental had started out as a personal, custom-bodied one-off commissioned by Lincoln boss Edsel Ford, and would be hailed as a classic of automotive design by authorities as diverse as the Museum of Modern Art and the Classic Car Club of America. The demise of the V12 engine at the end of the 1948 season meant that there would be no more Continentals for seven years, but when it did return the new Continental caused just as much of a sensation as the original. Premiered at the Paris Salon in October 1955, the Continental Mark II was a sublimely styled hardtop coupe created by a team that included Gordon Buehrig, William Clay Ford and John Reinhart. Priced close to the then breathtaking $10.000 mark, the Continental MkII was necessarily a most exclusive automobile. Nevertheless, Ford is reputed to have lost around $1.000 on every Mark II sold, an unsustainable situation that prompted the introduction of the heavily revised and considerably cheaper Mark III for 1958. Changes to the successor Mark IV were mainly confined to external styling details, the most obvious of which was a reverse slant rear window. Lincoln's 430 ci (7.049 cc) overhead-valve V8 engine continued to power the Continental range, its 350 bhp more than sufficient to propel these huge cars well past 100 mph.
One of only 2.195 Continental Mark IV convertibles made in 1959, this example was restored between 2012 and 2016 (invoices available) and is presented in generally excellent condition, complete with working soft-top. The paintwork is new (2016) and the bumpers will be re-chromed for the sale. Finished in blue with black/white interior, this ultimate American soft-top is offered with French Carte Grise de Collection and Contrôle Technique.
Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais
Bonhams
Sold for € 29.900
Estimated : € 35.000 - 55.000
Parijs - Paris
Frankrijk - France
February 2017
Lincoln Continantal Mk IV Cabriolet - 1959
3rd Generation
The products of Ford-owned Lincoln have for years rivalled those of General Motors' Cadillac division in their exclusivity and luxury, in particular the range-topping Continental. Nowadays synonymous with Lincoln, the 'Continental' model name was first used in 1940 for Bob Gregorie's masterly styling exercise on the existing V12 Zephyr chassis. A sportier, top-of-the-range companion to the Zephyr, the Continental had started out as a personal, custom-bodied one-off commissioned by Lincoln boss Edsel Ford, and would be hailed as a classic of automotive design by authorities as diverse as the Museum of Modern Art and the Classic Car Club of America. The demise of the V12 engine at the end of the 1948 season meant that there would be no more Continentals for seven years, but when it did return the new Continental caused just as much of a sensation as the original. Premiered at the Paris Salon in October 1955, the Continental Mark II was a sublimely styled hardtop coupe created by a team that included Gordon Buehrig, William Clay Ford and John Reinhart. Priced close to the then breathtaking $10.000 mark, the Continental MkII was necessarily a most exclusive automobile. Nevertheless, Ford is reputed to have lost around $1.000 on every Mark II sold, an unsustainable situation that prompted the introduction of the heavily revised and considerably cheaper Mark III for 1958. Changes to the successor Mark IV were mainly confined to external styling details, the most obvious of which was a reverse slant rear window. Lincoln's 430 ci (7.049 cc) overhead-valve V8 engine continued to power the Continental range, its 350 bhp more than sufficient to propel these huge cars well past 100 mph.
One of only 2.195 Continental Mark IV convertibles made in 1959, this example was restored between 2012 and 2016 (invoices available) and is presented in generally excellent condition, complete with working soft-top. The paintwork is new (2016) and the bumpers will be re-chromed for the sale. Finished in blue with black/white interior, this ultimate American soft-top is offered with French Carte Grise de Collection and Contrôle Technique.
Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais
Bonhams
Sold for € 29.900
Estimated : € 35.000 - 55.000
Parijs - Paris
Frankrijk - France
February 2017