The most recent iteration of the Continental, a midsize sedan by trade, came about in 2017, but as America shifted its attention from this body style to SUVs of all sizes and pickup trucks of various capacities, the model didn't last for more than three years, being discontinued in 2020.
Before this latest, tenth generation, the Continental burned through various iterations, with repeated gaps in production telling the story of an everlasting, yet very troubled family of cars.
Just consider this: between the time the first Continental came about before the start of the Second World War and the time the tenth generation was discontinued, 81 years have passed.
Yet the model was in production for just 54 of those years, as it was absent from the market between 1942 and 1946, 1948 and 1956, and 2002 and 2017.
A reality that would have you believe the Continental did not make an impact outside its main production years. But that's not the case.
There are Continentals out there who continue to exchange hands for impressive amounts of cash, offering their buyers a blend between the native capabilities and appeal of the model with modern-day touches that have been added at the end of long and expensive customization processes.
Not all Continentals ever made are suitable for this. The custom industry and the collector's market that depends on it seem to have a real hot spot for the models of the fourth generation, the ones produced between 1961 and 1969.
It was the generation that finally brought the entire, rather fragmented Continental range into a single model, which was sold as either a four-door sedan or a convertible with the same number of doors.
The reason for the above trip down the Lincoln memory lane is a fourth-generation convertible put together by an unknown crew with little regard to cost. We found the ride on the lot of auction house Barrett-Jackson, which intends to sell it next month during an event in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Like most other Continentals of its kind customized by talented people, this one too dons a complete black overall. Not a simple one, but a triple-black covering that shines in a way you probably never knew darkness could shine.
A restomod by trade, the luxury machine was at the receiving end of extensive modifications, many of which remain hidden from sight under that (mostly) original-looking bodywork. That's because, with the exception of the new LED headlights with halo rings installed at the front, and the staggered 20-inch chrome wheels made by Isotope, there's not much to tell you about what this beast really hides underneath.
A beast whose beating heart is a supercharged 5.0-liter Coyote made by Roush, tuned by Lund Racing and controlled by means of a performance management system. We’re not told how much horsepower is controlled by the Ford 10-speed transmission as it screams out through the Continental’s custom exhaust system.
The dark body of the convertible also hides an impressive suspension setup that comprises Murray Kustom Rods control arms at the front, QA1 double adjustable coilovers, a strengthened crossmember front clip, and a 4-link kit on QA1 double adjustable coilovers at the rear. Even the rear end has been tampered with and replaced by a Currie Sportsman 9-inch axle.
The interior of the Continental, continuing the dark design theme of the exterior, is completely covered in Nappa leather, from the factory bucket seats and the Isotope steering wheel to the door panels and center console.
The dashboard of the convertible is now home to a set of Dakota Digital gauges, while front and center there are controls for the new air conditioning system and the sound setup of the car. This one, a RetroSound assembly capable of supporting Bluetooth, consists of ten speakers, amplifiers, and a JL Audio subwoofer.
Finally, the top that can be pulled over all that leather to protect it from the elements has been remade as well, with all major parts, from the pistons to hoses, having been replaced, while the top itself is now a black canvas affair.
As all other cars going under the Barrett-Jackson hammer in Scottsdale next month, this one too is selling with no reserve. That makes it impossible for us to estimate how much it could fetch, and there's no sale history available for this Continental for us to fall back on either.
We will tell you, though, just to give you a point of reference, that a car of this kind in councours condition is valued by Hagerty at $54,500.
