Lincoln Zephyr Continental
The 1939 Lincoln Continental Zephyr was born from Edsel Ford's desire for a stylish personal car for his European vacation. Designer Bob Gregorie created an elegant design based on the Lincoln Zephyr, featuring a long hood, short deck, and distinctive exposed spare tire mounted on the rear. Powered by Lincoln's smooth 292 cubic inch flathead V12, the Continental offered refined performance and exceptional build quality. Each car was largely hand-built, making it one of America's first true personal luxury automobiles and establishing the Continental name that would become legendary.
Verify authenticity as Zephyrs were sometimes modified to Continental specifications. V12 engines require specialized maintenance. Parts availability limited but reproduction items exist. Convertibles command premium over coupes. Original, documented cars most valuable. Engine should run smoothly without excessive oil consumption.
Only 404 Continentals were produced for 1939, all essentially hand-built. Available as coupe or convertible cabriolet. Production was limited due to hand-assembly methods and high price. Each body was individually fitted and finished. The exposed spare tire became a Continental signature design element.