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/ Wednesday, February 9, 2022
1963 Lincoln Continental convertible. >Courtesy Ford Motor Company
The 100th anniversary of a historic merger and a car that refuses to die
Movie stars and world renowned performers have driven Continentals
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Juan A. Hernández, The Weekly Journal
n Feb. 4, 1922, Henry Ford, with encouragement from his wife Clara and his son Edsel, purchased The Lincoln Motor Company from distinguished inventor and automotive engineer Henry Leland for $8 million. The transaction set in motion the creation of an iconic American luxury brand. “Father made the most popular cars in the world; I want to make the best,” Edsel Ford is credited to having said once. The quote will later become synonymous with the company’s success. It took Ford a little less than 20 years to achieve his goal. In 1940 the Lincoln Zephyr Continental was introduced to the public to a chorus of rave reviews. Renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright
Edsel and Eleanor Ford to Europe in 1938. Edsel considered it “the most beautiful car in the world” was impressed by the design and elegance of the and bought two of them. The first 25 Zephyr European automobiles he saw. Continentals had rolled out of the When he returned from the trip, factory before 1939 ended but he challenged Eugene Gregorie, were designated 1940 models. whose expertise up until 1932 The ‘40 Zephyr Continental, had been designing yachts, to with its streamlined profile and In its first work with him to create a new iconic hood and grill, debuted as production year and stylish Lincoln. a personal-use vehicle, instantly 404 Continentals The car became a passion point becoming a design classic, and were produced, 350 for Ford as he stopped by the quickly established the personal Cabriolets and 54 design studio daily to monitor the luxury car segment in America. Coupes, and prices progress and offer suggestions. In its first production year 404 began at $2,640 for “He had the vision. I did the Continentals were produced, 350 either model. work of translating his vision Cabriolets and 54 Coupes. Each into workable designs,” Gregorie car was essentially hand built would later say about Ford’s using Lincoln Zephyr branded passion. trim pieces with the upholstery a combination of leather and whipcord. The cars featured a Model H V-12 engine A Prickly Merger and prices began at $2,640 for either the Cabriolet But, while much of the success the company or the Coupe. experienced early on is credited to the influence of Edsel Ford, who served as president of Lincoln European Influence from shortly after acquisition to his death in 1943, According to Ford Motor Company’s website, the the transaction itself and the relation between the inspiration of the Continental began with a trip by Fords and the Lelands was “rocky” at best.
In fact,
