The Lincoln Motor Company was originally founded in 1917 and since 1922 has been the luxury vehicle division of the American Ford Motor Company. The Lincoln Continental was first introduced in 1939 and the model is still offered today. From 1939-60 the Continental was Lincolns top model. Also available in 1941 was the base model Lincoln Zephyr and long wheelbase Lincoln Custom. The first generation started out as a sportier version of the Lincoln Zephyr, built from 1939-48, only 2 dozen were built in 1939 and 400 in 1940, these cars had hand hammered body panels. Machine pressed panels were introduced in 1941. identical to the 39-40 cars, except for pushbuttons instead of handles on the '41 doors The styling changed in 1942, the Continental got a squared up look at the front, the grille now with horizontal bars. When production was restarted in 1946 after the war, the Continental got a facelift, the grille now an egg crate style and updated trim. Production ended in 1948, the 2nd generation introduced in 1956.