Listed here on Craigslist in Roanoke, Virginia is a highly sought-after classic car, a 1942 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet with V-12 power. It’s a restoration in progress, being sold due to health issues, with an asking price of just $5,000. Someone should snap this up if it’s real. Thanks, Beyfon, for the listing.
Only 136 of these cabriolets were made in 1942, for obvious reasons. These handsome luxury models picked right up after World War II. The car, originally painted Sheldon Gray Metallic, is numbers-matching and clean-titled; the engine turns freely, and much work has been done. The body has been soda blasted and primed. The frame is reported to be “in great shape.” The car comes with a plethora of parts, the hubcaps, and all the missing chrome.
The hydraulic power top has been refurbished, as have the speedometer and window motors. The front bumper was replated. From the photos, the car looks like it’s been sitting for quite a while since it was primer-painted. But from what we can see in these not-so-great photos, it’s pretty straight. The hood fit is off, so the bonnet may just be sitting in place. And the interior looks serviceable, too. The new owner would have to get it running, paint it, and go through the brakes and suspension. The transmission is of unknown quality, as is the top canvas. So there are unanswered questions, but it could be a really great result when it’s all done.
The Continental was commissioned for Edsel Ford, company president in 1938. Eugene T. “Bob” Gregorie used the Lincoln Zephyr as a starting point and designed a one-off convertible—the sketch reportedly took an hour. Edsel got the car in Florida, loved it, and declared he could sell a thousand of them. Most of the early 1939s are cabriolets, but there were a few coupes, too. Only two dozen were basically hand-built in 1939, and another 400 in 1940, when production started in earnest.
The body didn’t change much over the years, though pushbutton door releases debuted in 1941. For 1942, though, the grille was revised and the fenders somewhat squared off. Production resumed in 1946, but that’s another story.
Power in 1942 came from a slightly beefed-up 306-cubic-inch (five-liter) flathead V-12, producing 130 horsepower. The same engine, known for its exceptional smoothness and quiet operation, powered the Zephyr that inspired the Continental. It connected to a three-speed manual, with an optional Columbia overdrive.
These cars are quite rare. In addition to the 136 cabriolets, only 200 club coupes were produced in 1942. Many of these cars got V-8 engine swaps, because the V-12 had thin cylinder walls and cooling issues. So finding one with its original powerplant is quite welcome. One of these ragtops, fully restored, sold for more than $112,000 last year. Classic.com puts an average 1942 at $20,676, but convertibles are worth much more.
It’s hard to know how a buyer could go wrong with this car. Even if getting it back on the road doesn’t work out, it’s worth $5k as a parts vehicle.
Short production run as tooling had to go to war production. Back when all of American felt the war on a personal level so our leaders could only go to war if it was truly needed. No war since has met that criteria. Perhaps that explains so much of our world today.
That ramcharger in the background looks neat
I believe it would look great if it gets restored. The $5 million question (for inflation), is there anyone that has the time and money to finish it, assuming all the parts are there.
At 5 grand I think the seller is being very realistic. From the looks of things they have more than that in it. If someone knows how to put it together and can do a lot of the work themselves it could be a worthwhile project. One question I have though, if you drop something in the back of that trunk, how do you get it out? Maybe just drop one of your kids in there? Definitely style over utility.
E.T. Gregorie was my Uncle and he actually sketched the original design on an envelope over lunch in that hour. He was able to have a ungraded car during the war years as he remained with Ford until just after the war and he had completed the concept for the Mercury. Actually he preferred a station “woody” wagon for his daily use.
A lot of these got Oldsmobile and Cadillac V8s installed …. probably with a hydramatic transmission
Coffin nose, like A Cord. That’s what I thought it was for a quick second when I saw the picture. I had to go to the web for videos of that V12 running but it sounds sweet. Don’t know if I’d put up with the overheating though.
I think the overheating and oil pressure problems these V12s had was largely due to lack of maintenance by the second and third owners. Properly maintained, they were good engines.
A very fair price for an honest looking early Cadillac. I wonder how many younger guys could deal with getting this V12 running again. It would be a blessing to get it’s engine running without having to rebuild it completely. I’d do that first and then get the brakes rebuilt. I would worry with cosmetics last. A preservation approach compared to a faithful, full restoration is what I would do.
At one time a great car. But a millionaire’s project now.
The Admiral ordered it new. When he was posted to WestPac his wife insisted that their new beauty must be brought along to explore Hawaii. He drove it onto the dock. It was lifted by crane onto a spare area near the fantail and was crated in place. The voyage was uneventful with fair weather and following sea conditions mostly. Uncrated and lifted off and the Admiral’s wife present, she took command to see it to their new quarters where it was bathed and lightly waxed. It remained there for the duration, well enjoyed for many sunny miles, top down. After the War, it was returned to the States and gently driven until the mid 50s until it was traded for a more aerodynamic winged Cadillac.
I saw a beautifully restored convertable V12 one of these. Sitting on the side of the road.with hood up and nicley dressed older couple in it.
As I was a restorer of vintage cars. And maybe might have offered help.
But as it was over 100°f and everyone knows these have an over heating issue. I really thought, no, he was a fool to think he could get to where ever he was going. On such a hot day. Why should should I suffer for his poor decisions. So drove on by.
Drive a vintage car, at least play smart
Darryl, I drove a 1946 Ford Super Deluxe V-8 for years, and I would do this on a hot day — not BECAUSE it was over-heated, but to let it cool off before it DID overheat and boil-over. These all had a temperature gauge, and you knew when things were getting warm. So you pulled off, opened the bonnet, and waited an hour or more, then proceeded on your way. That flathead had an over-sized radiator and two water-pumps for a REASON! Those flatheads were ultra-smooth and ultra-quiet — AND… they were BOILERMAKERS on a hot day! If you owned one, you KNEW that, and you made way for it.
A rare, at least mostly complete, super rare, Full Classic for $5k? That’s a bargain for the right person. Very narrow market, but still a deal.
It probably won’t happen, but this car deserves a museum quality restoration, i.e, complete frame off and into pieces and parts. At current shop rates, it’s unlikely to occur unless some car lover with deep pockets takes it on. The Guild would do a great job and I’m sure that there are many others. All it would take is a lot of money. Underwater would have to not matter.
Definitely a car to be saved!!!! For that price it looks basically all there. A serious collector would do a complete frame off concourse restoration, But a talented person could, with reasonable funds, reburbrush this rare car into a very showable vehicle. Then drive it, show it, and enjoy it..
Is the V-12 in this car similar to the V-12 that Cadillac had ? I believe it too was a flat head design.
Is this flat head V-12 related to the flat head V-12″ that Cadillac used at one time ???
If I had the time, space, know how and deep pockets I’d be all over this car like bees in clover.
I wish the buyer luck.
She’s a grand ol gal and a wonderful example of American ingenuity, engineering and design of the era. You had to be pretty affluent to own that automobile back in the day. If i had the funds and the space, I’d restore it to just look at.
I meant to say an honest looking early, Lincoln Continental, instead of Cadillac, in my earlier post. In any case, its a fair price for what appears to be a true survivor. Hopefully the V12 engine doesn’t need a complete rebuild. If it did, H&H Flatheads could do the job I’m sure.
Uhhh….FYI! The Craigslist Hot-Link brings up a ’67 Alfa Romeo :-(