(July 14, 2016) WALWORTH, Wis. —The Mecum daytime auction in Monterey, Calif., on Aug. 18-20 will be headlined by a spectacular array of supercars and sports cars from makers such as Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini, McLaren, Ford, Bugatti and Aston Martin. Classics from such renowned automotive marques as Duesenberg, Packard and Peugeot will also highlight the sale, while a select array of superbly turned out racing cars will be sprinkled throughout.

One very interesting car up for auction is the 1961 Lincoln Continental Convertible loaned to the White House for First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's personal use during the John F. Kennedy presidency.

Assigned to the White House Garage, the car was equipped with all the necessary Secret Service equipment including the under-dash radio, all of which has since long been removed.



When Lincoln introduced the Continental in 1961 it riveted the motoring world and luxury car buyers alike. Incredibly, the iconic Continental design was a rejected Thunderbird design proposal, but both Ford and Lincoln executives took a shining to their upscale offering. With clean bodywork that was devoid of excessive jewelry, the Continental was an instant classic featuring unique suicide rear doors.

More interesting still was the availability of a four-door convertible Continental. The convertible hinted at classics from the 1920s and 1930s, when 4-door convertibles were relatively normal and suicide doors were frequently seen on vehicles.

What was not a throwback was the 1960s modernist styling that Lincoln ushered in by losing most of the superfluous chrome and stainless trim and extensive use of flatter surfaces. It was a big hit when it was new and today is still unquestionably desirable.

Following its White House duties, the car was later purchased later by Steuart Ford in Lanham, Maryland, the car comes with a documented copy of a letter from Ronald W. Young, vice president and general manager of the dealership.

The product of an older restoration, the car is powered by a 430/300 HP V-8 engine backed by an automatic transmission. Power items such as steering, brakes, windows and the convertible top were standard, while this car features optional cruise control. Presented in a dramatically striking white with a black and white interior, it rides on wide whitewall tires and retains full-size stainless steel wheel covers.

An amazing piece of Lincoln and Washington D.C. history that beckons the cliché, if only a car could talk, this is an exciting opportunity to own one of the most interesting examples of the stylish Continental ever built … one personally used by always stylish Jacqueline Kennedy.