The 1960s Lincoln Continental Launched a Whole New Era of Car Design

Truly legendary automotive designs are as rare as finding buried treasure. For every museum-worthy masterpiece there are hundreds of other vehicles that miss the mark or fall woefully short.

The Bugatti Type 57 SC, Jaguar E-Type, Lamborghini Miura and Mercedes-Benz 300SL are but a few of the automobiles that almost no car designer or automobile enthusiast would protest including in the pantheon of greats, but there’s another that stands toe-to-toe with these icons, one hailing from Detroit.

Lincoln’s Continental from the early 1960s is easily one of the most beautiful cars ever designed. Whether you prefer the four-door sedan or the convertible’s added drama, this machine is truly one of the all-timers. But it’s a vehicle that also has an aura of mystery around it.

Unlocking the secrets of this iconic automobile, Jason White, car designer and professor at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit walks AutoEsoterica host Craig Cole through the ins and outs of this jet-age Lincoln Continental in a very special episode of “Drawing Conclusions.”

AutoEsoterica is home to the under-appreciated and fantastical in car culture. Frontman Craig Cole is a life-long car enthusiast whose videos range from the restoration progress of his vintage Fords to design analysis and industry insights from contributors Jason White and Jim Hall.

The TTAC Creators Series tells stories and amplifies creators from all corners of the car world, including culture, dealerships, collections, modified builds and more.