Which Ford luxury sedan used the name “Continental” from 1939?

The Lincoln Continental used the Continental name from 1939.

The first Lincoln Continental was developed from a personal car designed for Edsel Ford, Henry Ford’s son. Its formal production version appeared for the 1940 model year and was based on the Lincoln-Zephyr, but it received distinctive styling and a long, elegant profile.

Early Continentals became known for their clean design and externally mounted spare tire. The model helped establish Continental as a prestigious Lincoln name, although the name was also used in different ways across later decades.

The Continental line was not continuously produced in one uninterrupted form. Lincoln revived the name for several generations, including a four-door sedan in later years. Consequently, “Continental” can refer to different Lincoln vehicles depending on the period.