A continental kit is an automotive accessory that features an externally mounted, often covered, spare tire assembly at the rear of a vehicle. This design, popular in the 1950s, has largely been discontinued as a factory option on modern mass-market cars due to changing consumer tastes, styling trends, and practical considerations.

Description and History

Origin of the Name: The term "continental kit" comes from the 1940 Lincoln Continental, which featured a stylish, factory-integrated rear-mounted spare tire due to a lack of trunk space.

Design and Function: The accessory involved extending the rear bumper to create a platform or shelf for the spare tire assembly, often covered with a metal or fiberglass shell to match the car's aesthetic. This freed up trunk space and contributed to the desirable "long and low" look of the era.

Popularity: While some cars, like the 1956 Ford Thunderbird, included the feature as standard equipment, it was most popular as an aftermarket add-on. Third-party suppliers made kits available for a wide variety of models throughout the 1950s and early 1960s.

Discontinuation and Modern Status: The continental kit fell out of favor for several reasons:

Changing Styles: The muscle car era of the late 1960s ushered in different design priorities, and the aesthetic of the continental kit faded.

Practicality Issues: The kits added significant length to vehicles, making parking difficult and hindering trunk access.

Safety and Regulations: Evolving safety and bumper regulations likely contributed to their decline.