"Continental" kit history

I was born in '67 so I wasn't around back in the day.

Went to the Glenmoor Gathering in Canton OH this weekend (might have some pics later of a couple of interesting cars). Anyhow, there was a beautiful '57 olds ragtop with a continental kit in the auction area (and only $60k - what a deal). I have a soft spot for '57 Oldsmobiles - but never seen one with a continental kit before.

Got me to thinking about continental kits and I was wondering, were all the continental kits aftermarket, or did some come from the factory? Were there dealer-installed options?

Seems most I've seen are accomplished by pushing the bumper out and adding a trim panel to cover the gap. Some look well done, others not so much.

Could you guys who were there back then fill me in on the history of the continental kit just for my own curiousity?

 

Not sure about some details, but I think they began by being dressup
for the exterior spare tire mounted on the rear of the 30s cars.

Then were reminiscent of those spares after they were no longer
located there. My uncle purchased a new 1952 or 53 Ford two
door hardtop, and the dealership mounted one of those fake kits
that bolted to the trunk lid......like this one.



I see from other pics that kits must have been abailable on the 50 Fords.

 

I'm looking at a '49 Ford coupe that has one. Owner told me that the continental kit and the visor were dealer installed options. I cant decide if I like it enough to keep it, or sell it to buy some things I actually need.

 

Most of the continental kits were aftermarket;the most notable exception being the one on the 1956 Ford Thunderbird.I believe they were actually named for the 1939 Lincoln Continental that as a styling cue(and likely because the trunk was totally inaccessible)used an externally mounted spare tire which was a throwback to the earlier years when most cars had them because they did not have a trunk.

They were very popular in the mid-50's with several manufacturers offering them.Foxcraft(the fender skirt makers)had a complete line and I believe were sold through J.C.Whitney and other wholesalers.Most used a chrome plated(or stainless steel)ring with either a full face plate(which made an ideal place to paint a name on)or a partial ring with a hub cap in the center.

Some cars looked very good with them installed and some(most)looked hideous.A lot of them used small casters under the bumper to keep it from s****ing the ground when negotiating driveways.I think that is when flat exhaust extensions became popular;most were just round ones that had been flattened by going in and out of steep driveways.

Some people improved the look by extending the rear fenders so that the tire didn't look like it was just hanging off the rear.As an aside there is a 1953 Lincoln running around the Detroit area(painted an ugly shade of yellow and green)that supposedly has a factory installed continental kit with extended fenders.It is a nice job but way out of proportion.

Just my opinion but the only car that it really looks nice on is the original Lincolns and of those the 39-41 is the best looking.The later ones lost some of the great styling.

 

The fake kit on the 52 or 53 is called a Cornoda kit not a coninental kit ,,, a good friend gave my Dad one that was still in the FORD box a few years back for his 54 ford !!