A 2002 Lincoln Continental V12 Concept That Predicted The Future Was Just Sold For $110,000
The 1948 Lincoln Continental was the last car made by an American brand that was powered by a V12 engine, but there was almost another one in the 21st century.
Lincoln brought a Continental Concept to the 2002 Los Angeles Auto Show that was meant to preview “the future of Lincoln design.”
The sedan featured slab sides, blunt ends and crisply peaked front fenders that were a modern interpretation of the most iconic Continentals of the 1960s, as were its quad round headlights and the rectangular grille between them.
At 214 inches, it was longer than today’s Lincoln Navigator SUV and Lincoln said the entire cabin was fit within its epically long wheelbase. Entry was provided through suicide doors with no central pillar.
The interior was outfitted with a crystal glassware-equipped bar, laptop tables, briefcase holders in the backs of the front seats, umbrella slots and a cigar humidor.
The trunk had a lid that lifted on arms and a drawer that slid out and carried custom-fit set of Zero Haliburton luggage.
Under the hood was a 6.0-liter V12 borrowed from Aston Martin, which Ford owned at the time. It was rated at 414 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque that was sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.
As it turns out, 2002 was the last year for the ninth generation Continental and a new one wouldn’t arrive until 2017. In between, it never launched any new models like the concept. The closest that any of its exterior styling came to fruition during the era was the design of the 2006 MKX’s taillights and the 2007 MKX SUV’s front end.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE AMERICAN CARS AND RACING NEWSLETTER FOR MORE AUCTION NEWS
Lincoln also released a limited availability stretched Continental Coach Door Edition in 2019, but it had central pillars and was a custom car collaboration with limousine builder Cabot Coach, rather than a factory production car.
One other idea from the Continental Concept has now made its way into Lincolns, however. It had an instrument cluster and infotainment system screens that spanned much of its dashboard, with the displays using OLED technology that was just starting to make it into high-end consumer products at the time. The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus debuted the brand’s new interior design which has a full-width OLED display that is also now used in the Navigator.
The Continental Concept is a rare example of a show car that was sold to the public and was auctioned at the RM Auctions Monterey event in 2010 for $56,100. A body shell without a drivetrain or interior was also created and last auctioned in 2014 for $27,500.
MORE COLLECTOR CAR NEWS FROM AMERICAN CARS AND RACING
In recent years, the complete concept had been on display at Chicago’s Klairmont Kollections Automotive Museum. The museum’s owner, Larry Klairmont, died in 2021 and the museum closed this summer and offered its collection at a Mecum Auctions event on Saturday, Sept. 20, where the Continental Concept sold for $110,000.