Ford Motor Company used dream cars - now referred to as 'concept cars' - to create interest in their standard offerings and to attract people to their displays at auto shows.

The Continental 195X was Lincoln's first postwar dream car and was introduced at the Chicago Auto Show in early 1952. The five-seater two-door coupe was not a running model, rather a fiberglass and plaster pushmobile. The public received the futuristic vehicle with great enthusiasm. Many were fans of the original Lincoln Continental and were excited that a second version might be forthcoming.

The 195X was designed by Joe Oros, assisted by Elwood Engel. Both were employees of style consultant George Walker, who was hired by Ford Motor Company as Vice-President of Design in 1956. The jet-exhaust taillights were inspired by a drawing made by Advanced Design studio Gil Spear in the late 1940s.

Ford Motor Company decided quickly to produce a fully-operational version of the 195X. During the same time, the company was beginning development of the 1956 Continental Mark II and, when it was realized the styling of the Mark II would be completely different than the 195X, it decided that a name change was in order. In mid-1952, the Continental script emblems were removed from the car's flanks and it was rechristened the Ford X-100. Nevertheless, the finished car was titled as a Lincoln and was powered by a modified Lincoln overhead-valve V8 engine with a claimed 300 horsepower.

The 195X/X-100 was built in house by Ford Motor Company on a full-frame chassis with aluminum and steels body panels, at a reported cost of $2,000,000. That's close to $20 million in 2020 dollars. In comparison, the fully-operational 1955 Lincoln Futura show car was produced by Ghia in Italy for the relative bargain price of $250,000 in 1955.

The X-100 rode on a 123 inch wheelbase and was 221 inches long. It was unlike any other FoMoCo vehicle produced to date and forecasted many of Ford's future cars. The chrome hood-scoop-emblem was seen on 1956 and '58 Fords. The front fender with headlight eyebrow would appear on the 1956 Lincoln. The rear of the car inspired the ‘61 Thunderbird. The car offered many technical innovations such as a fully independent front and rear suspension, built-in hydraulic jacks, in-car telephone and heated seats. The roof over the passenger area was clear Plexiglas which could be retracted on sunny days. A photovoltaic 'rain cell' would automatically close the roof if it began to rain. Finished in glossy jet black with a padded white leather landau top, the car was strikingly handsome. The Ford X-100 made the full car show circuit and even appeared at auto shows in London and Paris.

Now retired, the X-100 can be seen in the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. (posted 1/28/21)