Rita Hayworth’s classic Lincoln for sale

Star quality

Yes, you read that right. This classic 1941 Lincoln Continental Coupe that was owned from new – and then for several decades – by American-born actress Rita Hayworth is for sale.

What’s more, when Worldwide Auctioneers offers it on Saturday 23 April 2022 in Auburn, Indiana, it will cross the block with no reserve.

We had to find out more.
 

Power couple

Rita Hayworth was born Margarita Carmen Cansino in October 1918 and went on to become one of Hollywood’s most glamorous film stars of the 1940s.

Her movie credits include 1946’s Gilda, Pal Joey of 1957 with Frank Sinatra, 1941’s You’ll Never Get Rich where she starred with Fred Astaire, plus Cover Girl in 1944 alongside Gene Kelly. Another film you might know her from is 1947’s The Lady from Shanghai, where a co-star was Orson Welles.

Birthday surprise

Welles became her second husband in 1943 and with this classic you get a double dose of celebrity cachet, because he gave Hayworth this car.

It was a present to mark her 24th birthday and was delivered to the film set in Georgia where she was working, not long before the couple married.

The look of love

She must have been quite a fan of this car, because she kept it for around 30 years.

Which, incidentally, was far longer than she was married to Welles.

Famous form

This Lincoln Continental Coupe is chassis number H127443.

Throughout Hayworth’s custodianship of this classic she was photographed with it a great many times, including one in which she’s sat on the rear of the car when it’s clear the bumpers have been removed – she donated them to America’s WW2 scrap-metal recycling campaign.

Colour correct

This, we think, fabulous colour is called, appropriately enough, Paradise Green, and it is the shade in which this now classic car was finished when new, 81 years ago.

Of course, rear-wheel spats add a certain effortless elegance, while the whitewall tyres don’t disappoint when it comes to Hollywood glamour.

Delicious dozen

Under that long bonnet lies this large V12 engine. It is a 292cu in unit – that’s 4785cc – with 118bhp.

Easy, understressed wafting was surely the order of the day for Hayworth, then, aided by this car’s three-speed manual gearbox.

Luscious lines

Two years before this car came to be, in 1939, the Lincoln Continental story started with a one-off design for Ford’s president Edsel Ford.

So successful was its design that the production car’s significance has been recognised by The Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Charm offensive

Lincoln was a luxury division of Ford and the first-generation Continental, of which this is one, was built before and after WW2.

It certainly is loaded with pre-war charm.

Same as it ever was

The good news for anyone who’s considering bidding on this car during Worldwide Auctioneers’ 23 April sale is that not only is it one of the most powerful luxury classic cars of its era, and it is not short on links to celebrities, but it also has a very well documented history throughout its 80-plus years.

It has even been refitted with what are thought to be its original Georgia numberplates.

Sitting comfortably

Just imagine the tales this cream-upholstered interior could tell. Many a famous face could have ridden in this classic Lincoln.

Inside and out it certainly oozes Hollywood glamour.

Stretch out

The Lincoln’s rear-seat accommodation hardly looks shabby, either, does it?

Two generously proportioned chairs with a fold-down armrest between them would doubtless be the perfect place from which to enjoy being driven in this smooth, V12-engined car.

Star struck

Just one look at this dashing coachwork and it is easy to see why this model appealed to so many celebrities.

According to Worldwide Auctioneers, others to choose these included comedian Jack Benny, and actors Mickey Rooney and Clark Gable.

Power house

The Lincoln-Zephyr V12 engine has a 75-degree angle between the cylinder banks, two water pumps and also aluminium alloy heads.

And thanks to this car’s professional restoration, it’s in great working order.

In the detail

The attractive period script on the dashboard dials is another sweet feature of this classic Lincoln.

Its odometer reads a little more than 49,000 miles.
 

Strong start

For many, these first-gen Continental Coupes are the best, most sought after of all versions.

The model officially hit the road for the first time in 1939 – and this example was gifted to Hayworth in 1941 – but after the US entered WW2 after the Pearl Harbor attack on 7 December ’41, production stopped until 1946.

Going down in history

Another claim to fame for this first-generation Lincoln Continental is that in 1946, the year production resumed, one performed as the pace car at that year’s Indianapolis 500.

What’s more, when the final cars went on sale in 1948, it became the last American car to be powered by a V12 engine.

Moving on

As we said earlier, Orson Welles gave this car to Rita Hayworth for her  24th birthday and she hung on to it for around three decades.

Eventually, she gifted it to her secretary, Frita Wolfe.

The next chapter

This classic Lincoln’s next owner was Aspen Pittman, who bought it from Wolfe for $2000.

However, Pittman was establishing a new business, Groove Tubes, so sold this green coupé to the Art Astor Collection.

In safe hands

It was while the car was with the Art Astor Collection that it was carefully restored.

And, as you can see, today it appears to be in fine fettle.

Cream of the crop?

That description applies both inside and out.

Looking into the Lincoln’s cabin you can see that its tan cloth bench front seat and the rear accommodation look to be in lovely condition – Worldwide Auctioneers describes them as being ‘like new’.

Green queen

And it may be those bright studio lights, but that Paradise Green paintwork appears to have a great shine and lustre.

Plus the auction house says that the panel fit and the condition of the chromework are first rate.

In working order

For our final peek inside, you can see that handsome ​​mahogany-style woodgrain dashboard that stretches the width of the cabin.

And any prospective bidders will be pleased to learn that the dials and the dashboard-mounted clock, the floor heater and the AM radio all work.

The time is now

So if this classic 1941 Lincoln Continental Coupe, first owned by Hollywood actress Rita Hayworth, appeals, you’ll need to be quick.

It is being sold with no reserve at Worldwide Auctioneers’ The Enthusiast Auction in Auburn, Indiana, on Saturday 23 April 2022. Find out more and check out the other lots here.