Lincoln Continental Convertible Classic Cars Part 1

Picture Of 1941 Lincoln Continental Convertible Classic Cars

Think "classic" and one of the cars you're likely to envision is the original 1941 Lincoln Continental. Dozens of other models have been assigned that designation by the Classic Cars Club of America, of course, but nearly all are from the 1920s and '30s. Most classic cars are rarely seen, but despite their relatively small numbers, plenty of people have spotted a Continental on the street, as well as in movies from the Forties.

Picture Of 1941 Lincoln Continental Convertible Classic Cars

Continentals were produced in coupe and convertible form from 1940 to 1948, extending into the start of the postwar era. Yet, they earned and deserve full classic status on the basis of their trend-setting, timeless design.

Picture Of 1941 Lincoln Continental Convertible Classic Cars

Styling was conceived by Edsel Ford, based on the Lincoln Zephyr and executed by E.T. "Bob" Gregorie. Edsel wanted his one-off convertible to be "thoroughly continental" including the use of an externally mounted spare tire. In the 1950s, when outside spares became popular add-ons for more prosaic makes, they were called "Continental kits" borrowing their name from this Lincoln.

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Cadillac Series 90 Convertible Classic Cars Part 2

Picture Of 1939 Cadillac Series 90 Convertible Classic Cars

All that bulk to transport a pair of passengers for a $5440 price at that might have seemed excessive in the late Depression years. And so it was. After all, Cadillac also offered convertibles in Series 61 and 75, with a marvelous 140-horsepower V8 engine. A Series 75 convertible coupe could be obtained for a mere $3380, and 27 of those were built.

Picture Of 1939 Cadillac Series 90 Convertible Classic Cars

Only 134 Series 90 cars were produced this year, divided among a dozen body styles. But these mighty machines were on the way out. The V16 lasted only into 1940, a final relic of a more glorious era of motoring.

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Cadillac Series 90 Convertible Classic Cars Part 1

Picture Of 1939 Cadillac Series 90 Convertible Classic Cars

Just seven 1939 Cadilac Series 90 convertible coupes with the V16 engine were built in 1939 a hard sell by then, compared to Cadillac's smooth V8.

Picture Of 1939 Cadillac Series 90 Convertible Classic Cars

Massive, mighty, and defiantly magnificent. Those are just a few of the words that might be used to describe one of the last Cadillac V16 convertibles. Riding a lengthy 141-inch wheelbase, this convertible coupe tipped the scales at close to 5000 pounds.

Picture Of 1939 Cadillac Series 90 Convertible Classic Cars

The convertible Model 9067 flaunted its enclosed, sidemounted spare tires and reaching-ahead hood ornament, the latter of which sat atop a burly barrel-shaped grille and still-separate headlamps. But the main attraction lay beneath the hood: a 431- cubic-inch V16 engine making 185 horsepower. Like Cadillac's companion V8, the V16 engine featured dual carburetors, as well as separate water pumps and distributors for each cylinder bank.

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Oldsmobile L-38 Convertible Classic Cars Part 2

Picture Of 1938 Oldsmobile L-38 Convertible Classic Cars

Each line again offered a convertible coupe, but this was the last year for Olds droptops with rumble seats and optional sidemount spare tires. Both features were by then out of fashion with buyers and out of production at most other automakers. It's odd that Olds was so slow to drop them, considering its growing renown as General Motors' "innovator" division.

Picture Of 1938 Oldsmobile L-38 Convertible Classic Cars

The L-38 convertible coupe pictured here is one of only 68 with the factory sidemount, this out of 475 cars total. The six-cylinder version managed 1184 copies in all. Unlike later years, however, ragtops are not the rarest '38 Oldsmobiles. Though integral trunks had become popular for closed body styles, Olds also persisted with passé "trunkless" sedans. These, too, would vanish after 1938 and very low production in eight-cylinder form: just 200 of the four-door model and 137 of the two-door.

Picture Of 1938 Oldsmobile L-38 Convertible Classic Cars

Typical of late-prewar GM cars, the '38 Olds dashboard was rather "Buck Rogers," but put most instruments and controls directly ahead of the steering wheel. Such affairs may look quaint to modern eyes, but they were real "hep" at the time.

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Oldsmobile L-38 Convertible Classic Cars Part 1

Oldsmobile L-38 Convertible Classic Cars

Picture Of 1938 Oldsmobile L-38 Convertible Classic Cars

Rumble-seat ragtops and sidemout spares were old news by 1938, but the 1938 Oldsmobile L-38 still offered both plus a forward-thinking transmission with no clutch pedal.

Picture Of 1938 Oldsmobile L-38 Convertible Classic Cars

The Depression seemed to be lifting in 1938 when the stock market snapped, creating what Republicans gleefully called the "Roosevelt Recession." Sales slumped throughout the American auto industry especially at Oldsmobile, which turned out half as many cars as it had the year before.

Picture Of 1938 Oldsmobile L-38 Convertible Classic Cars

The '37 Oldsmobiles had been heavily redesigned, so the '38s were little changed. Still, all models sported more prominent grilles flanked by new "catwalk" trim in the inner front-fender aprons. Back for a second year was the "Automatic Safety Transmission," a clutchless manual gearbox presaging fully self-shifting Hydra-Matic in 1940. For '38, AST was newly optional for six-cylinder Oldsmobiles as well as Eights. Unchanged were Lansing's two L-head inline engines: 95-horsepower 230-cubic-inch six for F-38 models and 110-bhp 257-cid eight for L-38s.

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Ford Cabriolet Convertible Classic Cars

Picture Of 1933 Ford Cabriolet Convertible Classic Cars

Four-cylinder Fords made their final appearance in 1933, but V8 models got all the attention, and none moreso than the 1933 Ford Cabriolet.

Picture Of 1933 Ford Cabriolet Convertible Classic Cars

Ford's "flathead" V8 engine had debuted in '32, shoving aside the popular four-cylinder Model A and reaching past Chevrolet's six-cylinder cars.

Picture Of 1933 Ford Cabriolet Convertible Classic Cars

Now, stylists -- directed by Edsel Ford, Henry's only son -- tucked that V8 into a more stylish machine, with a jauntily slanted grille and windshield. Sharp corners were rounded, and the hood mated with the windshield. Wheels shrunk to 17-inch size for a lower stance. Streamlining was in vogue, and Ford determinedly followed the trend.

Picture Of 1933 Ford Cabriolet Convertible Classic Cars

Engineers redesigned the Ford's frame and injected an extra 10 horsepower into the V8, for a total of 75. Hot rodders later grew to love that flathead engine, praised for its power by none other than bank-robber John Dillinger.

Picture Of 1933 Ford Cabriolet Convertible Classic Cars

One of 16 V8 models, the Cabriolet cost $585. A total of 7852 were built, plus 24 that used the four-cylinder engine. Model-year volume rose by 100,000 cars, but Ford trailed Chevrolet in total sales.

Picture Of 1933 Ford Cabriolet Convertible Classic Cars

In its second season with V8 power, Ford offered a long list of body styles and trim levels -- none more appealing than the Cabriolet, flaunting a rakish new profile.

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Oldsmobile Convertible Classic Cars Part 2

Picture Of 1930 Oldsmobile F-30 Convertible Classic Cars

All Oldsmobiles used a six-cylinder L-head engine, displacing 197.5 cubic inches and sending 62 horsepower to a conventional three-speed manual transmission -- long floor lever, of course. "Syncro-mesh" would not arrive until 1931.

Convertible roadsters came in all three price levels: Standard Six, Special Six, and Deluxe Six. Rarest was the $1070 Special Six (shown), with only 233 produced. Oldsmobiles could be equipped with either wood or wire wheels. Dual-sidemounted spare tires and a rear-mounted trunk were fitted to upper models.

Picture Of 1930 Oldsmobile F-30 Convertible Classic Cars

Conservative styling actually helped Oldsmobile weather the Depression better than most companies, as did some daring technical moves later in the decade. After ranking ninth in the industry in 1929, sales sagged in 1930; but so did those of nearly every manufacturer.

Picture Of 1930 Oldsmobile F-30 Convertible Classic Cars

Only 233 F-30 Special Six convertible roadsters rolled off the line in 1930, enticing shoppers who did not yet feel the impact of the Depression. Dire days lay ahead, but Olds had a long history of survival.

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