This 1948 Lincoln Continental cabriolet is said to have remained in the care of its original owner until 2013, when the seller’s father purchased the vehicle. Powered by a 292ci V12 paired with a three-speed manual transmission with overdrive, the car is finished in tan with a tan convertible top over red leather upholstery. Equipment includes body-color 15″ steel wheels, hubcaps, whitewall tires, hydraulic drum brakes, a hood ornament, a rear-mounted spare-tire carrier, push-button door handles, and fender skirts. The vehicle was mechanically refurbished between 2019 and 2022 with work that involved repairing and replacing wiring; rebuilding the transmission, ignition tumbler, steering gear, carburetor, fuel pump, ignition coil, distributor, oil pump, water pumps, starter, and generator; replacing the engine mounts, voltage regulator, spark plugs, and radiator core; repairing the clutch linkage, radio, and wiper vacuum lines; overhauling the suspension and the rear end; and cleaning the fuel tank. The seller acquired the car from his father in 2024. This Continental is now offered with an operator’s manual, a service manual, service records since 2019, tire-changing tools, and a clean Ohio title in the seller’s name.
Lincoln built 452 examples of the cabriolet for the 1948 model year. This car is finished in tan and features a replacement power-operated tan convertible top and a top boot plus a hood ornament, front vent windows, push-button door handles, quarter-panel stone guards, rear fender skirts, dual side mirrors, chrome bumpers with overriders, a third brake light, and a rear-mounted spare-tire carrier. The windshield-wiper vacuum lines were repaired under previous ownership, and the system for the windshield-washer fluid is missing.
Body-color 15″ steel wheels wear chrome hubcaps with Lincoln script as well as chrome trim rings. The American Classic whitewall tires measure 7.60R15 and were replaced most recently in 2013. Braking is provided by hydraulically assisted four-wheel drums. In 2019–2020, the brakes were cleaned and adjusted, the rear brake lines were replaced, the handbrake linkage and cables were reinstalled, and the steering gear was rebuilt. In addition, the front suspension was updated with replacement of the bump stops, radius bushings, track-bar bushings, king pins, and the outer tie-rod ends as well as the rear shock absorbers and the rear leaf-spring U-bolts.
The interior features split front and solid rear bench seats trimmed in red leather. An analog clock is positioned at the center of the painted body-color dashboard, and other appointments include bright metal trim, an AM radio, hydraulically operated power windows, sun visors, and a glovebox. The hydraulic pump was rebuilt in 2013, and components for the associated power windows and power top were replaced. The ignition tumbler also has been rebuilt. The seller notes that the vacuum-powered radio antenna does not work, the channel tuner for the radio is inoperable, and the clock does not keep time.
The two-spoke steering wheel has a chrome horn ring and frames a 110-mph speedometer and gauges for water temperature, oil pressure, amperage, and fuel level. The five-digit odometer shows 63k miles, approximately 200 of which were added since 2013.
The 292ci flathead V12 was the last such engine offered by an American carmaker and was factory rated at 125 horsepower. Between 2019 and 2022, the following work was performed:
- Remove V12 to install replacement engine-mount bushings
- Rebuild carburetor and fuel pump
- Remove and clean fuel tank
- Rebuild ignition coil, distributor, and condenser
- Replace spark plugs and plug wires
- Rebuild oil pump and clean oil pan
- Rebuild water pumps
- Replace belts and hoses
- Rebuild generator
- Rebuild starter
- Replace voltage regulator
- Replace battery
- Replace radiator core
- Repair and replace wiring
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a column-shifted three-speed manual transmission with an overdrive function. Corrosion is noted on the underside and the exhaust system. In 2019–2020, the transmission was rebuilt, the clutch linkage was repaired, the rear-differential axle bearings were replaced, and the rear-end housing was resealed.
The chassis number shown above aligns with the sequence listed on the title, which is 8H181110.
Service records since 2019 will accompany the vehicle along with an operator’s manual, a service manual, and tire-changing tools.