Johnny Lightning 1961 coupe and Hot Wheels 1964 Lincoln Continental convertible

Lincoln is at a stage where it has an identity crisis that it can never get over.  For years so far all of their vehicles are nothing but fancy upmarket Ford vehicles, and even when Lincoln tried to diversify, such as the LS sedans, they ultimately end up failing.  For 2017 the Continental name, a long-serving name in the Lincoln line, returns to give some spice to the Lincoln line.  Still, nothing can beat the legendary 1960's Continental sedans and convertibles with the suicide-opening rear doors.

The Continental name was used for a prestige line of Lincoln cars staring in 1938.  Then the styling and purpose started to get out of hand and the car disappeared by the beginning of 1950.  In 1955 the car returned as a two-door coupe based off the Ford Thunderbird and started the Mark series of coupes.  That was followed shortly by the return of a passenger vehicle, but so far it's identity was anonymous.  That changed in 1961 when the Continental adopted a clean, edgy, traditional look that was not to be mistaken for anything else than a Lincoln.  The front-end adopted a look more in like with the Ford Thunderbird and would square off more over the years.  The rear has a slight fender look with taillights and a silver valence panel on the trunk.  The interior featured seating for six with access made easier with rear-opening rear doors that also contributed to the Continental's sleek coupe profile.  The engine is a 460 CID V8 and a three-speed automatic transmission to the rear wheels.  Convertible models have a similar opening rear trunk to the Ford Skyliner, but instead drops a typical fabric top over a metal hardtop into the trunk.  The Continental was also famously used as Presidential limo's over the years, including the early open top versions that proved fatal to President John F. Kennedy in 1963 after an assasination attempt.  Since then all Presidential limo's are closed-top models.

While sleek I really never got into the Continental style, but that changed when Johnny Lightning released this gorgeous Velvet dark Green 1961 coupe.  The look is amazing and with the tan interior the color combination really works well with this car.  The front has that Thunderbird look with the round grille that incorporates quad headlights and a lower bumper with signal lights.  The side profile is clean with silver trim along the upper edge of the body and the lower edge as well.  Continental is on the rear fenders, the badge on the C-pillars, and the connected door handles mounted high in the door.  The whitewall rubber tires on chrome hubcaps works well with this car.  The rear has the rounded curve of the fin taillights, the lower bumper with reverse lamps and a yellow Florida license plate, and an area that seems often neglected in small scale (especially the Hot Wheels version) is the silver valence panel with a Thunderbird-like logo in the middle.  The metal base shows off the simple drivetrain layout and front control arm and live rear axle/leaf springs rear suspension.

The Hot Wheels version arrived in 2000 and goes for the droptop look.  It has a lowered stance outlined with lace wheels.  In 2007 a coupe also arrived with the same lowered stance.  The front has the same grille work and headlight design as the Johnny Lightning casting, but as part of the chrome base.  Out back the taillights and rear valence panel is part of the chrome base, but the latter doesn't seem as dramatic and separate as the Johnny Lightning version does.  The sides are clean and even lack the outside door handles.  The chrome base has the same details but adds dual exhausts to the rear.  Both cars feature four doors, front and rear bench seats, detailed door panels, and the deep-dish steering wheel just ahead of a detailed dashboard that has all gauges and controls angled toward the driver.  Johnny Lightning gets a higher nod here, but only slightly as the Hot wheels version is pretty well done, too.  The Johnny Lightning version has a plastic roof to allow convertible versions while sharing the same tool as the coupe.  Sadly this Hot Wheels Continental convertible (and coupe) have suffered the fate of maniac graphics all over the vehicle in recent releases, making a clean version like the First Editions release hard to comeby.  Want more Continental?  Check out Greenlight who is releasing the boxy 1967 Continental for The Matrix movie and gives a unique look to the earlier examples by Hot Wheels and Johnny Lightning.