After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Continental production was suspended. It re-started in 1946 and continued until 1948. Like the other post-war Lincolns, the post-war Continentals were basically a 1942 model with similar bits of trim added to make them look improved. The 1939–1948 Continental is considered to be a "Full Classic" by the Classic Car Club of America, one of the last-built cars to be so recognized. This 1941 Lincoln Continental - Twelve, Model 56 is equipped with a 75 degree V, L-head, 12 cylinder engine that displaces 292 cubic inches and delivers 120 Hp at 3500 rpm. It sits on a 125 inch wheelbase and carried a factory price of $2778.

The custom car for the boss was duly produced on time, and Edsel had it delivered to Florida for his spring vacation. Interest from well-off friends was high, and Edsel sent a telegram back that he could sell a thousand of them. Lincoln craftsmen immediately began making production examples, both convertible and sedan. These were extensively hand-built; the two dozen 1939 models and 400 1940-built examples even had hand-hammered body panels, since dies for machine-pressing were not constructed until 1941.

Lincoln introduced the Lincoln Zephyr for the 1936 model year. Zephyr was almost a distinct brand name, rather than just a model. It was produced from 1936 until WWII stopped production in early 1942. From the 1939 Zephyr on, Edsel Ford began his efforts to create the Lincoln Continental, which eventually became the most important car ever made by Lincoln. It began as a one-off project car for Edsel Ford to drive around on his vacations in Florida. Edsel wanted a European-style car unlike the boxier designs his father's company currently produced. It was basically a chopped up Zephyr with new design lines.

1941 Lincoln Continental Mark I