The Lincoln Continental is recognised as one of America's
most influential cars. Lincoln, the up-market division
of Ford created a vehicle with clean lines that was
very European in feel but American in size.
It earned the name "clap door" because of its back door
rear-hinging and became a very trendy car for the rich
and famous in the United States and was even the White
House car of preference - it was a stretched version
of the Continental that President Kennedy was assassinated
in Dallas in 1963.
Realising they were making a winner, Lincoln only marginally
altered the Continental during its nine-year run (new
chrome, grille, wheelbase) but essentially it stayed
the same.
As well as the saloon there existed a power-top four-door
convertible model and a hard top coupe version from
1966.
Its engine was always huge - 7.0 liters initially,
this growing in size to a whopping 7.5 liters. The Continental also came standard with auto
transmission, power seats, air-conditioning, power-steering,
electric windows etc.
It was a fast mover (365 bhp)
and capable of reaching 201 km/h but was really best
driven on flat straight roads. Americans loved it - the boot was large enough to fit
their golf clubs, it was very posh in appearance and
almost never broke down.
