There is controversy if Continental and Lincoln were separate makes from 1958-1960.

I went to my library and pulled out the book “American Cars 1946-1959″ by J.”Kelly” Flory Jr. and found Lincoln and Continental listed separately. However each section includes this statement

“The Continental’s all-new body styling was also shared with the Lincoln, and in fact during the model year (1958) the Continental Division would be brought under the umbrella of the newly created Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln (or MEL) division. This was a cost-saving move as the Edsel was not proving to be money maker that Ford thought it would be, it not only saved expenses on the Edsel but also allowed marketing of the Lincoln and Continental to be combined. From 1958 through the Continental’s official demise as a separate entity in 1960, the Lincoln and Continental shared styling and power-trains, and were generally advertised together. Also, beginning with the 1958 model year, serial numbers were kept as a combined unit, with the code 4 designating the Lincoln division for both Lincoln and Continental. However, for this reference the Continental will continue to be kept as a separate division.”

Wow! crystal clear now :) and it reminded me why I usually avoid this territory.

Lincoln & Continental Owners Club

2012 Mid-America National Meet

August 15 - 19, 2012 Park Plaza Hotel, 4460 West 78th Street Circle Bloomington, Minnesota