Back in 1959, when Norman Hoskins was 12, his father won a Continental Owners Club event and forever cemented Norman’s love for watching his father care for and show his Lincoln Continental. Now, 55 years later, Norman owns a nearly identical version of his father’s winning car.
First produced in 1940, the car wasn’t branded under the Continental name until 1941, marking Norman’s as one of the earliest of its kind. Featuring a V12 flathead engine, the car also has polished aluminum heads and manifold for the carburetor, which are more commonly made of steel. The long, sleek hood is topped by an Art Nouveau hood ornament, a feature unique to the 1940 and 1941 models.
The Lincoln Continental was a favorite of Hollywood stars, thanks to 14-karat gold detailing in the dash and whitewall tires. For Norman, though, his father’s legacy is what makes it special. That legacy also makes him think long and hard about the car’s future. “I haven’t decided yet if I’m going to keep it preserved or if I’m going to restore it,” he says. “There have been some things done to it over the years, but we’re working on it little by little.”, Norman savors each step in the process, because they bring back memories of his father.
To learn more about our the Lincoln vehicles and services, visit our showroom in Fairfield.