I love em, but only on certain cars. Those GM bumper baskets like on that 58 Chevy are awful. Mid 50s fords look great with them. So do Oldsmobiles
Another variation is the Ford Accessory Cordoba Deck lid sold in 54 and perhaps 52-53? It is simply a deck lid with the bump at the back like the Continental Mark II and later ones. Sorry, no picture.
My friends 54 Packard Caribbean, and it just took it first ride today after sleeping for 20 yrs. Iceman
I've always wondered if these were for giving you more trunk room (and less access) or just a styling exercise?
The car definitely needs the lines for it. I always thought they were a good way to add length to bring the car into proportion front to back, especially if you have a car with a shortish trunk. I think a good size wrap-around style rear bumper is necessary too if you're going to pull it off. That Mercury, the first one posted, looks great with the kit while most of the others don't. That said, while I think a kit can add to the look of some cars, nothing can screw it up worse if not executed properly. Some of 57Joe's cardinal rules of continental kits: 1 - No air-brushed murals of your car or the name of some lame *** doo wop song (they never name the cars after any of the really good doo wop, just some ****ty Dion song or the like) on the face plate. 2 - No bumper baskets. Full extended bumpers only 3 - The spare should lean forward. It looks ridiculous when it sticks straight up 4 - THE WORST OFFENSE - Van trim rings. Seriously. You spend how many thousands of dollars on paint, chrome, interior, and you can't spring an extra hundred bucks for the correct ring? ********. They're immediately identifiable by the flat portion across the middle. The correct ring is a constant radius. Seeing a van trim ring on a beautiful kustom is like meeting the girl of your dreams and finding out she has AIDS... keep the pics coming guys
What kind of ***hole parks on the lawn? Look at her father looking out the front door... you can tell he's pissed
I've always wondered... in the event you need to change out the spare... how much of a pain in the *** is it to get the tire out of the Continental Kit??? My mom had a '56 'bird with one, but i'm not sure if they ever used the tire. They got rid of it when I was 5 years old. Dammit! haha...
my old man had a 54 nash amb***ador with a continental kit. we thought it was pretty spiffy back then.
Got the car about 5 years ago with the kit. No van band here. The original is so narrow I had a tough time finding a tire to fit inside. Was thinking about mocking something up as a spacer and relieve some weight. But I like the look. I've since painted the lid white.
I never understood the reasoning for adding a conti-kit. Invariably you'll see them on cars which already have a trunk large enough to hold a complete set of spare tires. But hey, that's just me; I think removing unnecessary bits from a car usually improves the styling.
we bought a kit from the guys in Kelowna, B.C., going on a 56 Ford, any idea what size 15" radial fits?
Continental kits only look good if the car has a lighted swan hood ornament and red jeweled mud flaps.
beeeeeeeeeep We're sorry. The 4 year old thread you are trying to revive is dead. Please check the thread ***le and try again.