While Henry Ford generally favored straightforward, utilitarian automobiles, his son Edsel possessed a sophisticated appreciation for European design and coachwork. He found an ideal collaborator in Eugene T. “Bob” Gregorie, a talented young designer whose earlier experience included work with Brewster and Harley Earl’s General Motors Art and Colour Section. After joining Ford in 1931, Gregorie developed a close working relationship with Edsel that would produce some of the company's most memorable designs.

Following a trip to Europe in 1938, Edsel returned with a vision for a low, elegant automobile with distinctly Continental proportions. Gregorie developed the idea using the Lincoln-Zephyr Convertible as its foundation, extending the hood and fenders and sectioning the body horizontally by approximately four inches. At the rear, a bustle-style deck incorporating an externally mounted, covered spare tire provided what would become the design’s signature feature.

The resulting one-off automobile was completed in time for Edsel to use during his winter vacation in Florida. Its reception was sufficiently enthusiastic that Lincoln elected to put the design into production. Named the Continental, it debuted for the 1940 model year in cabriolet and coupe configurations and quickly established itself as one of the most distinctive American luxury automobiles of its era.

For 1941, the Continental became a distinct Lincoln model rather than part of the Zephyr line. Beneath its dramatic coachwork was Lincoln’s 292-cubic-inch L-head V-12, producing 120 horsepower, paired with a three-speed manual transmission. Production remained limited, with just 400 cabriolets and 850 coupes built for the model year.

This Continental Cabriolet was completed on 20 September 1940. Bearing body number 8, it is a notably early example of 1941 production. According to its Lincoln build record, the car was originally finished in Spode Green with green leather and green whipcord upholstery beneath a tan convertible top. Factory specifications also included instrumentation in miles, a radio, stone deflector, and Firestone whitewall tires.

The Continental was refinished at some point to its current color scheme. Importantly, it is accompanied by a copy of its original Lincoln build record from The Henry Ford, documenting its early production and original specifications.

Recognized by the Classic Car Club of America as a Full Classic, this Continental is eligible for CCCA judging and CARavan touring. One of only 400 Continental Cabriolets produced for 1941—and an especially early example with body number 8—it combines rarity, documented provenance, V-12 power, and the unmistakable lines of one of Edsel Ford and Bob Gregorie’s greatest achievements.