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April 26, 2023

CONTINENTAL

Continental Automobile Co. (1933-1934)
Grand Rapids, Michigan


This is a Continental radiator emblem (1933-1934)    mjs
Size: 36mm diameter    MM: Bastian Bros

Continental Motors was a major producer of engines used by automobile manufacturers, including De Vaux-Hall Motors Company, which produced the De Vaux automobile (see De Vaux). De Vaux-Hall collapsed in 1932, owing Continental Motors $500,000 for engines supplied for the De Vaux. Continental took over the De Vaux plant and continued production of a revised version of the De Vaux called the Continental-De Vaux until the end of 1932.

The Continental De Vaux Company was reorganized as Continental Automobile Company in November 1932 and three models of a new car called the Continental were ready for 1933. These new Continental cars were a 45 hp four-cylinder Continental Beacon, a 65 hp six-cylinder Continental Flyer and an 85 hp six-cylinder Continental Ace. The Beacon was advertised as America's lowest priced, full-sized car. 

But sales were disappointing and only the four-cylinder Beacon was offered in 1934. By the end of 1934 Continental returned to its former business of supplying engines only.

Emblems

Continental Motors had a logo used in advertisements and as emblems mounted on its engines, see example shown below:

This is a Continental emblem (date unknown)    mjs
Size: 64mm diameter    MM: None

The Continental Automobile Company cars appearing in 1933 carried a round, red and blue enamel radiator emblem, which was flat for the Beacon and Flyer models, see example shown above at the top of this post. This Continental radiator emblem is scarce. 

The "Beacon" and "Flyer" model designations were displayed on small blue enamel nameplate emblems mounted in chrome hood ornaments with a flying nude lady located immediately above the radiator emblem, see the examples shown below:

Continental Beacon hood ornament and emblem (1933) conceptcarz

Continental Flyer hood ornament and emblem (1933) conceptcarz

Examples of the blue enamel "Beacon" and "Flyer" nameplate emblems are shown below. These nameplate emblems are scarce.

This is a Continental Beacon nameplate emblem (1933-1934) mjs
Size: 57mm wide 13mm high   MM: None

This is a Continental Flyer nameplate emblem (1933)  mjs
Size: 57mm wide 13mm high   MM: None

The Continental Ace had a slight v-shaped radiator and carried a curved, round red and blue enamel Continental radiator emblem mounted in a chrome base together with a red enamel "Ace" nameplate emblem and located at the top of the radiator grille, see example shown below:

Continental Ace radiator emblem & nameplate (1933) iowahawkblog

The following are examples of the red and blue enamel Continental radiator emblem and the red enamel "Ace" nameplate. These Continental Ace emblems are scarce.

This is a Continental Ace radiator emblem (1933)   mjs
Size: 36mm diameter (flat)   MM: Bastian Bros

This is a Continental "Ace" nameplate emblem (1933)   mjs
Size: 58mm wide 17mm high    MM: Unknown

The following red enamel Continental Ace radiator emblem is believed to have been mounted on the radiator grille on some models. This Continental Ace radiator emblem is rare.

This is a Continental Ace radiator emblem (1933)    mjs
Size: 106mm wide 42mm wide     MM: Bastian Bros

The following red painted Continental emblem is believed to be a Continental Ace steering wheel center emblem. This Continental emblem is rare.

This is a Continental steering wheel center emblem (1933)  mjs
Size: 70mm diameter    MM: None

 








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