Ermine White. 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. The 4th generation Continental was built from 1961-69, all Continentals now would be have 4 doors, either sedans or convertibles, sedans featured a thin B pillar, the design allowed for the use of frameless door glass. The forward look and fender fins of the previous generation were gone, now a smaller, slab sided car with trademark rear hinged rear 'suicide' doors, last used on the 1951 Lincolns (designed this way to make it easier to get in and out). 1961, the convex grille had a small egg crate design with solid central bar. 1962, the grille had floating rectangles and a thin center bar. 1963, back to egg crate grille, thin bar, larger boot. 1964, egg crate grille with definite vertical bars, longer wheelbase and squared off roofline. 1965-69, convex grille gone, now flat, indicators now on fender corners, 2 door introduced in 66.