1947 Lincoln Continental Convertible (Blue)

Although many of them seem to have a bad reputation, the post-war Continentals are pretty darned good road cars for touring. This 1947 Cabriolet is a mostly original car that's led a good life and apparently had any service and repairs it needed along the way. The Grotto Blue paint still shows well, although up close there's some age-related micro-blistering and the usual scratches and chips, but it's every bit as nice as my 1941 Cadillac 60S was, and that car won an AACA HPOF award in 2012. This is not a rusty car and even the chrome is quite good, with some of it having perhaps been re-plated at some point in the distant past--it's just too nice to be original. Or perhaps I'm wrong, but either way it's got really nice brightwork. Hood, doors, and deck lid fit well and the pushbutton doors pop open easily without any wrestling like on cars that have been hit or poorly restored.

The blue leather interior is also original and in great shape, the way your favorite old chair might look. It's not perfect, but I prefer to call the wear "comfort marks" rather than cracks, because they don't go through the leather and the surfaces are still supple and not split or decaying. The carpets are very good for their age and not threadbare like those in my Cadillac were, and the door panels are excellent. Hydraulic windows and top work properly, although the clock and radio, as usual, are taking a break from their jobs. Original steering wheel in red plastic is exceptionally nice and all the gauges appear to be functional. The tan canvas top is an older replacement that looks OK, but it has a bit of staining and discoloration that comes from age. There's also a matching boot.

The 292 cubic inch V12 starts easily and purrs like 12 cylinders should. I personally think the rumors of the V12's overheating problems are due to incorrect maintenance and neglect rather than design faults, and this particular car was happy to idle in 80+ degree temperatures without getting cranky. Looking at the engine, I'm guessing the heads have been off, since the paint is just too nice to be original, and the sucker certainly does run well. It pulls smoothly and has a solid feeling going down the road, with easy shifting, good clutch take-up, and a functioning overdrive for highway speeds. The chassis is crusty and grimy after nearly 70 years, but there's no structural rust or perforation in the floors and as a survivor, I think I would just leave it alone. There's plenty of evidence of conscientious maintenance, and it isn't a leaker like many of its siblings. The bias-ply wide whites are of unknown age but look OK for use.

These cars are all over the map, and this is but one of three I have in stock (red, white, and blue). It's the nicest of the bunch and I think its originality is a big plus. If you're looking for a trailer queen, you'll spend a lot more, but I don't know that it'll run or drive any better than this one. A worthy Full Classic convertible for only $47,900 and we're always open to offers. Thanks for looking!