My high school Government teacher had one of these behemoths in his garage in the mid 70s that he was hoping to restore. He let me look at it one day because he knew I was an old car geek (plus he was running for the House of Delegates and my twin brother and I were making campaign signs for him in his driveway on weekends). Anyway, I had never seen a 40’s era Continental up close and personal before. Its styling was just so unconventional (should I say “bizarro” in a Godfather movie kind of way?), and its size and presence and bulk was quite intimidating. They only made 847 of these distinctive luxury coupes in 1948 (and only 452 convertibles) and here’s your chance to own one of them. I’d place a wager that the next owner probably won’t confront another one of these at his or her local car show. It’s currently located in the Seattle, Washington area and for sale here on Craigslist in its current condition for $5,500.
The seller must be a man of few words because only 29 words are listed in describing this rare vehicle. To sum it up: it just came out of storage and ran when parked. The flathead v12 engine isn’t currently running and the brakes need to be gone through. That’s about it other than “the price will go up to $7,500 when I get it up and running.”
I must admit, although the black paint is splotchy at best, the wide whites, dual spotlights, and old school hotrod wheel covers give it a cool 50’s hotrod vibe. There doesn’t appear to be any rust, it looks rather complete with straight body panels, a few minor dents, and the chrome and glass look presentable. This photo makes the Continental actual look longer than its 218″ length (and seeing the wood chocked behind the rear tires probably reinforces the fact that the seller says the brakes “need to be gone through”).
From the posted photos, the interior looks mostly original but the seats, headliner, and dash are definitely showing their 74-year-old age. Based on the front and rear seat stains, maybe Poppie from Seinfeld owned this Continental at one time. Nothing is mentioned of the condition of the floor pans under the cranberry colored carpet.
The currently not-running Lincoln flathead V-12 engine, connected to a three-speed column-shift manual transmission, made its last appearance in the 1948 Continental. When new, it was listed at 125 horsepower. (In 1949, the V-12 would give way to a 337-cubic-inch V8 in the new slab-side styled Lincolns.) This 1948 Lincoln, like all Continentals produced from 1939-1948, is recognized as a “Full Classic” by the Classic Car Club of America. On the surface, this “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress” appears to have a lot of potential, but a lot of questions still remain about its current condition and history. Still, this rare Continental Club Coupe oozes a certain kind of West Coast Hotrod cool. Can ya dig it?
Ok, you go ahead and get it running, I’ll wait…
It might be worth the 2 grand, if only you could wait that long.
Air filter must need frequent service:-)
From a design standpoint things always looked cobbled-together. The portion from the cowl forward belongs on something else…
Agree. Even the much praised original looks like a cut ‘n’ shut. And underneath, it’s pure 1930s. To me, these illustrate the bankruptcy of ideas at Ford. Buggy springs, side valve engines, and a no automatic.
Great recall on the famous “Poppie” episode on Seinfeld!
These aren’t high-buck cars but even so, this seems well priced. It’s remarkably original and intact. I even like the hot rod look. Judging from what’s in the background of the pictures, the seller knows his rods, too.
For a couple grand extra, the seller will get it running and driving. I think I would hold out for that!
Really cool car! I like it a lot.
This is one ugly car !!!! Yuck !!!
Is that an alternator on the front of the engine? Definitely not stock if so
But more dependable than a generator.
And yet my alternator on my 2006 BMW 320 tdi Estate left me waiting for a tow truck for 5 hours, 3 days ago!
Yes, looks to be an alternator— to go with the 12v battery. Cranking a V12 with a 6v battery is ‘I wish, I hope, puleez…..’
This would be fun to have just to ride around in and let everyone wonder what it is. My take on the design is I like the rear end treatment but the front was designed by someone who didn’t know what the rear end looked like. I’d also fix up and clean up the little things that need attention, like the wiring (maybe done by the GNX guy?), and drive it.
Fair price for this Continental. And almost worth the uptick price of $7500 when he gets her running and stopping again. You guys have had a few like this last year and this one, IMO, is a good find.
My cousin just sold one of these recently on BaT for $26k. Not a car I’m naturally drawn to but having one close to the family I notice them now and know a little more about them.
In the 50s, my mother dated a real estate man who drove one of these. I thought he was a loser. Now i’d think he was pretty cool!
Might be a bargain, but these have peaked in value relative to inflation, us 80 year olds who dreamed of owning one are not buying anymore. These are BIG cars. For the time they were, styling wise, advanced. This one has been lowered, grill painted black (rechroming costs a lot), if a ’48 the V 12 should be salvageable, bugs had been worked out by then, and won’t get stolen since kids do not know how to use that third petal. Know a kid (22 or so) driving a semi who never learned how to use a clutch pedal. Good driver but when faced with an old pickup had no idea what to do.
I would definitley wait for him to get it running and stopping and pay the extra$$$ rather than take the risk myself. Agree with the styling but would still love it. Weren’t these just ” Continentals” not “Lincolns”? I’m more of an old Caddy guy ( had a lovely 56 Coupe de Ville for nearly 20 years)
I have a 1948 Continental cabriolet, body is #1 as is chrome and top.
Fresh paint .
But it’s a restomod 502 crate engine, everything from Vintage air to cruise control, and remote control sound system, wouldn’t let it go for $85000
Re chroming the grill would be upwards of $7000 alone
I this car will be a considerable investment
Buy this for his $5,500 (its worth it), but pull the V12 and put it on the shelf. You’ll spend another $10k just getting it rebuilt.
Drop in a 300 6cyl from a late 70’s Ford F150 and Kennedy adapter bolted up to the stock 3spd. Go through the brakes stock or up to to point of swapping out the fronts for mid-60’s Galaxie or T Bird disc brakes up front and a booster/disc/drum master setup from the same Galaxie/Bird. For less than another grand or two, you’ve got a good runner/driver. Paint it if you want to, do upholstery if you want to.
There is one in almost identical shape in East Tennessee at the moment (Maryville or Townsend, I believe). Similar price, but the seller has other Lincolns and could help you with spares and probably get it running upon purchase. Similar price, too!
Wow, I’d love to drive that!
It’s a -labor of love- these kinds of cars. You can still find parts but it takes a lot of time. You’ve got to be -really patient!
I doubt anyone here has attempted the restoration of a classic Continental , but you better have deep pockets
The labor alone can bankrupt you, this is no home project
The coupes are worth less than half of what a fully restored modernized convertible costs.
There are virtually no aftermarket parts due to the low production numbers
A well done restoration will be a standout at any show
These cars are great drivers when brought up to modern standards
Larry,
My Dad restored a 48 coupe back in the early 90’s. All in he had almost $25k in it and after several years managed to sell it for about $16k. He had half that in the engine rebuild. There was a guy up in Dalhart TX the was a V12 “guru” back in the day and even after getting it running/driving he still pulled the engine and took it to him (16 hour drive round trip) to be rebuilt. It took that guy a bunch of months to do the rebuild. Body was straight except for the bullet holes. That and the rear lights had been converted to 53 Ford units for some reason (pretty sure we know why given where the car came from out of country). But yes it was a challenge to find ANYTHING for the car. I do believe the slow/reduced sales price was partly due to color. He took it back original which was yellow over brown leather. Not exactly a ‘marketable’ color in the mid 90’s.
I took a yellow Alfa Spider as a trade in against a Merc 450sl and it hung around for months because nobody wanted a yellow car. I had it resprayed red and it sold for double the price I was asking for it when it was yellow.
fantastic model along w/2nd (smaller) & 4th (Kennedy Limo). I’d take this 1 w/i8 (nother fav motor of mine) too but love to wrk ona bent 12 (hop it up).
In English, please?
Someone’s gonna steal this 48 Continental beast for a fair and great price. Wish it were me just don’t have the space. But someone’s gonna be loving her and hopefully getting her driving again soon.
“This posting has been deleted by its author.”
I’m not surprised.
Are those gauges of some kind above the battery? And isn’t there another on the other side by the brake master cylinder?
I remember all the old school guys saying these V12s were temperamental, but when rebuilt right were fine. Pre MEL 430s. But lots of people back in the day replaced them with correct Caddy V8s. If I were to restore this one I would keep and rebuild it’s original V12. Such a tribute to its history
My Pappy said “Son, yer gonna drive me ta drinkin’ if ya don’t quit drivin’ that Hot… wait… oh, it’s sold.
A cabriolet is always worth more than a coup
Mine was done in 2000-2002 in the south where labor cost only $30/hr and it racked up $165,0000 in bills, that included a ram jet engine that cost almost $20/k plus all new chrome and every modern convenience, even has USBports.
Since iVe gotten it I spent thousands more, just turret wheeels ans WW tires cost $3/k
If you have a car like this you want it to look perfect.
BTW that 500hp engine blows most newer muscle cars away, don’t mess with grandpa
And the V-12 had a mellow exhaust sound unlike anything else. BMW should record one and put it as a choice in their fake exhaust sounds that are piped into the passenger compartment. CVT’s with fake shift points, BMW’s with fake exhaust sounds – maybe that is where Tesla is headed – get the sounds of a gasoline engine – and fake shift points to go with it! And a 3rd pedal just for the looks of it. Maybe it could control the dimmer switch.
A beautiful Full Classic automobile. Sour grapes stating that it’s an ugly car, just shows that there is no accounting for taste, or lack of it. My father in law had one for a daily driver in the ‘50s. Had a V8 flatly. Not really up to the task at hand.
I was watching a Youtube Film Noir detective movie a few days ago. The female detective drove a convertible of the car shown here. The car had a lot of screen time and as it was a light grey colour (black & white film) I guess it was a light colour possibly yellow or red to suit the flapper style of the character.
A godawful ugly car, it looks like a customizer with absolutely zero taste cut up a bunch of cars and slapped the parts together to build the body. Horrible, horrible styling
Speaking from England. I’m drooling over this big, beautiful beast. I’d love it.
beauty is in the eye of the beholder, keep the shell, chop it and put on monte carlo chassis & go cruising in style with reliability
Nice idea
Nice idea to try, like old cars