The name ‘Continental’ was inspired by the 1940’s Lincoln Continental powered by a large 12-cylinder engine. Bentley had used the name Continental on their model line, adding to the ambiance and prestige. The 1946 through 1948 Lincolns were the only post-WWII American cars powered by a V-12 engine. The 305 cubic-inch L-head twelve-cylinder unit was rated at 130 horsepower and backed by a standard three-speed manual transmission. The 125-inch wheelbase chassis used rigid front and rear axles supported by transverse leaf springs and Monroe double-acting shock absorbers.