By Robert Tate, Award-Winning Automotive Historian and Researcher
Images Courtesy of Henry Ford Media Center Archives and The Henry Ford
Published 6.11.2025
A 1941 Lincoln Continental on display at The Henry Ford
The original Lincoin Continental conceived in 1939 was built initially as a great-looking personal car for Edsel Ford. He was the only heir to Henry and Clara Bryant Ford and president of Ford Motor Company from 1918 until his untimely death in 1943.
Edsel Ford in 1916 (Henry Ford Media Center Archives)
The new Lincoln Continental design was introduced to the public on October 2, 1939. The stretched hood and its hallmark spare tire along with fitted luggage and custom interior were all a part of this timeless design that automotive enthusiasts have enjoyed for years.
Bob Gregorie (Henry Ford Media Center Archives)
The project started in November 1938 when Edsel Ford walked into Bob Gregorie office to see an automotive design sketch proposal and said “Don’t change a line on it! How soon can we build it?” Bud Adams made a small 1/10-scale clay model that was about 20 inches long painted in silver with white wall tires that took the project from drawing to three dimensions.
Ford Motor Company's Design Department in 1939 (The Henry Ford)
Eugene T. “Bob” Gregorie became Ford Motor Company’s first design department chief in 1935 and guided the golden age of design for the popular Lincoln Continental models that created increased sales. The Continentals were powered by a newly designed V-12 engine and had a sticker price of $2,840 with the Continental Club Coupe models selling at $2,783. The upholstery was designed with leather and other great looking fabrics which customers enjoyed. Only 350 of the Coupes were built for the 1940 model year.
A 1939 Lincoln Continental prototype (Henry Ford Media Center Archives)
In 1941, the Continental name plate became a brand series of its own. These body designs are considered to be great-looking cars even today. Many automotive historians still refer to the Continentals as a timeless work of driving art, considered one of the best designs of all time.
The first Lincoln proposal design (Henry Ford Media Archives)
For 1941, only 400 Continental Convertible models were produced, priced at $2,778. Ford stated that Continental production was limited to less than 100 units per month. 1941 was also the year that the Continental name plate was no longer part of the Zephyr line. The Continental Model 57, a beautiful car, attracted 850 buyers that year, but some buyers had to go on a waiting list at purchase. I always thought the 1940 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet was one of the few convertibles that actually looked great with its top raised rather than lowered.
A 1941 Lincoln Continental (Henry Ford Media Center Archives)
The image of the Ford Motor Company Design Department from Dearborn, Michigan included with this story was taken in March 1939 and shows several full-size modeling bridge work areas to provide insight on how these Lincoln automobiles were designed.
A 1941 Lincoln ad (Henry Ford Media Center Archives)
In conclusion, after Edsel Ford’s death in 1943, Gregorie continued at Ford’s design center to design future Ford and Lincoln products. The 1940 and 1941 Lincoln Continental models will always be a part of automotive history highlighting great designs for many generations to come.
Bibliography
McLellan. Dennis. “Eugene Gregorie, 94, Key Designer in the Golden Age of Ford and Lincoln.” Los Angeles Times, December 5, 2002.
Dammann, George H. “Fifty Years of Lincoln Mercury.” Crestline Publishing, 1971.
Lamm, Michael & Holls, Dave. “A Century of Automotive Style: 100 Years of American Car Design.” Lamm-Morada Publishing Co. Inc., 1997.
Hoadley, Frederick E. “Automobile Design Techniques and Design Modeling.” TAH Productions,1999.