Lincoln's Rare 1942 Convertibles: Basic and Continental

The 7 December 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor triggered the entry of the United States into World War 2.  Domestic automobile production ceased before the following March, making model year 1942 a drastically shortened one.  For example, Ford Motor Company's Lincoln built only 327 convertible coupes, 191 of which were basic Lincoln-Zephyrs, the remaining 136 were classic Lincoln Continentals.

Today's post compares the Zephyr and Continental convertibles.   The Wikipedia entry for Lincoln-Zephyr is here, that for the Continental is here.

Both models were built on 125 inch (3175 mm) wheelbases, but Continental's proportions differed, as can be seen in the Gallery.  The Zephyr convertible's list price was $2150, Continental's was $3000.  So the Continental was 40 percent more expensive than the Zephyr alternative.  Put another way, a Zephyr convertible could be had for 72 percent of the price of a Continental.

Lincoln-Zephyrs, launched for model year 1936, were redesigned for 1940, and the '40 design was given a significant facelift for 1942.  When car production resumed after the war ended, 1942 styling was retained until the 1949 redesign.  With one major exception: grille bars were completely revised, making '42 Lincolns distinctive as well as rare.  I wrote about the 1942 Lincoln facelift here.

The Lincoln-Zephyr images are via BaT Auctions.  Lincoln Continental photos are from Mecum Auctions -- likely the same car, but via publicity for different auctions.

Gallery

1942 Lincoln-Zephyr Convertible Coupe
Showing the new, wide, grille design promoted by Ford's styling chief Bob Gregorie, who later felt that it made the rest of the car seem a bit diminished (see my link above).

1942 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet
The Continental is lower, but doesn't seem much different from the Zephyr at first glance from this perspective.

Now differences show up.  A minor instance: the door and lower body sides flow over the running board, a very early-1940s American thing.  The Continental's running boards are tucked in below the doors and body sides: no flow.

The Continental's passenger compartment is shifted aft of the Zephyr's.  The result is a long hood and longer front fenders.  The hood and beltline are slightly lower, creating a more elegant appearance.

Greatest differences are at the rear.  Here we find a rounded trunk lid related to previous Zephyr practice, and contrasting the new, more angular front.  The rear fenders were redesigned for 1942, largely in the form of the raised tail light assemblies.  This is another contrast that seems a trifle odd given its juxtaposition with the nearby trunk.

Rear fenders are shared with the Zephyr, but the rest of the car's back end is standard Continental design.