Thanks for stopping by to take a closer look at John's 1948Lincoln Continental Club Coupe. It's Model # 876 H and Body/Style # 57. It sold new for about $5000, he price of three basic Chevys. Total production for the model is listed as 847. As resultof the car's premium price andfashionable Bob Gregorie design, t made a distinctive statement about its owner and was considered therequisite driver among the rich and famous. It was seen in numbers along Sunset Boulevard and at Palm Springs' chi chi resorts. Suspect you would alsohave found a couple parked in the driveway of places like Palm Beach's Mar-a-Lago.The design, y the way, as selected in 1951 by the Museum of Modern Art as one of eight automotive "works of art." Eight years later, ime magazine ranked itin their top ten choice of the 100 best designed commercial products. It is the only postwar car to my knowledge that is accorded 'Classic' status.
At the time (and since WWII)Lincoln has been the only car to offer thesilky smooth performance delivered by a V-12 engine and the only one with innovations such as push-button door latches. The car is at once both SLEEK AND STATELYand the only high-end American car with styling thatretained its four traditional fenders. What it is most recognized for, f course, s its fully encased, ear mounted spare which resulted in duplication by other makes, ike Kaiser, nd a proliferation of "Continental Kits" added to other cars - none of which offered the compelling look of the original.There is sadly no documentation, ut the previous owner related that this car was awarded to Babe Ruth at his final visit to Yankee Stadium in June, 948, hen he appeared atthe 25th anniversary celebration of "The House that Ruth Built". Ruth had also been hired to do promotional work for Ford Motor Company. Following his death shortly thereafter, he car was driven by his wife and issomewhat substantiated by the high heel indentation near the accelerator pedal. (Nice tale fitting within historical record, ut lack of supporting docs leave it adding no additional value to the car.)
Here's the story of thisrare Continental Coupe: I use the term 'rare' because it is one of the remaining few that is an unmolested, o-rust,ORIGINAL SURVIVOR. This one appears to havebeen recoated once in its original black paint colorabout 55 years ago. It was registered in California about that same time and was issued an early "BLACK PLATE" number BCG 859.Odometer shows 18,242 miles andlack of wear on clutch and brake pedals indicate it hasn't rolled over. Unpainted areas show only surface rust, ut no corrosion. Right rear fender has been dented, ut remainder of body presents well. Condition of matching numbers engine and drive train is unknown, ut it is possible with the low miles, he engine is still viable. A significant number of these Continentals have replacement engines of other types (OHV V8's being the most popular), ut I've read that a knowledgable rebuilder can make modifications that result in the V-12 becomminga competent, eliable engine. It IS the engine the car deserves to accurately portray its Edsel Ford heritage.Some chrome like the grill will polish out, ut bumpers and most diecast pieces will require replating. Stainless, ncluding windowtrim and hubcaps still glistens. Hydraulics and upholstery will need attention, ut two hard-to-find NOS hydraulic window lifts are included.Aside from crack in left windwing, lass condition is good.Because Continentals were virtuallyHAND ASSEMBLED, body panels achieved remarkable fit. Take note, or instance, f the narrow gap of the front door, runk lid, nd gas recepticle cover. It's unlikely Rolls Royce's tolerances were tighter. Like RR, owever,it was build quality andcraftmanshipthatwere theguiding production principals. Unlike many other postwar cars, here is nothing 'tinny'about the body and a solid tap on any of thethick vanadium steel panels will result in a resounding thump. As a result this 125" wheelbase car weighs in at two tons.With its optional OVERDRIVE unit supporting the three-speed, olumn-shifttransmission, he long-stoke, 30 horsepowerL-head engine will move the car along quietly and comfortably at freeway speeds. Other options include radio, eater and what looks to be the deluxe interior. You can note expensiveBedford Cordfabric usedon seats, oor panels and headliner. The car's originalelongated fender skirts accompany it.As a longtime eBayer and approaching 80 myself, 'm listing this one for my old (90 years and pictured with 46 Sedan) car buddy, ohn Chabot. John was raised in Detroit and began his lifelong career in the car business polishing diecast partsfor the major manufacturers. As a result, ohn is a well informed buyer of old cars and has always had an affinity for Lincolns. He bought this one and a 46 Sedan (also listed) late in the 20th Century with the intention of bringing them back to life. His physical condition and other interests left his 'barn finds' in his own barn (pictured) mostly unattended to and gathering dust.So if you're looking for an EXCITING PROJECT projectto personalize and onethat willbe a high dollar car when complete, this one may be right up your alley. Cars I've enjoyed working with are those that are BUILT WITH CARE AND INTEGRITY. I've found oldHudson Hornets and SWB Porsches to fall into that category and my assessment of this Continental is that it's more thanworthy as a fun and manageable project. Suspect, ho, t may require buying an occasionallunch for the guys at your local chrome and upholstery shops to stimulate some excitement about this WORTHY PROJECT.As always, ourQUESTIONS ARE ENCOURAGED AND APPRECIATED. This car can be seen in Shingle Springs, A,in pictured barna few milessouthof Hwy 50 between Sacramento and Placerville and inspection prior to bidding is recommended since its easy to get carried away writing a discription of this lovely piece of vintage iron. John is also available to discuss the car with youby phone. He can be reached at 530.677.4125. He has an interest in moving alongthis one as well as his 46 Sedan and would be pleased to make a collector a PACKAGE DEAL FOR BOTH.The car is a 'roller' on its inflatedwhitewall tires and John will assist with loading onto thecarrier of your choice.Successful bidder will make a $500 PayPal deposit within 72 hours of auction close. Balance is due within 7 days and payment instruments must clear before the car will be released.Thanks for wading through all this information and GOOD LUCK BIDDING!
Added note: Apologize for the photos taken in cramped, nside-barn area, ut us two old duffers just didn't have what it takes to remove them into the sunlight. Possible that John may be able to send additional photos to your eMail address.

On Nov-18-15 at 11:49:35 PST, eller added the following information:

Learned today from a diligent eBayer (see Q&A)that the 'Babe Ruth 48 Lincoln Continental Coupe' actually exists and is owned by a collector in Texas. This Lincoln, espite the story that accompanied it, s NOT THE BABE RUTH LINCOLN. While it is the same year and model, he real-deal car is painted a dark blue. Link to the story can be found in the Answer section below.