Continuum Luxury Automobiles, co

[Designs]

Continuum is a car manufacturer based in Hereford, England.

They specialize in luxury sedans and coupés, that they have been making since 1947.

Created by Walter O. Orwell, Continuum was, at first, an aircraft manufacturer for the R.A, since 1919.

Seeing a rising desire of well built cars, emerging from rich industrials that made money off war, Orwell directed its company towards automobiles.

Yes, you could say that Walter was somewhat of an opportunist. Because he was.

Anyway, CLA did not have enough money to hire car designers, and anyways, there were not many designers left after 2 world wars.

Orwell made a partnership with Owen R.S. Thompson, a weapon manufacturer that had made more money than all soldier families reunited. Owen, for 46% of the company, assured that he would finance the debut of CLA.

First Car, First foundacion stone.

The Marquis. What a hint to who it’s targeted at…

Featuring the latest in technology and luxury, the Marquis was a quite compact yet veeeryy luxurious sedan, released in 1949.

Specs:

146hp V6, with Single barrel, quad carb. engine, 4400 redline (9:1:1)
4 Gear manual, locked diff.
1207kg, Galvanized steel ladder chassis with aluminum panels.
184km/h max, 0-100 > 10.9s
Premium interior and premium AM radio.

Car’s base price was 4481£, approx 155000£ today.

As planned, the car sold fairly well, selling 4303 cars.

The year after, CLA launched the Specter, what they described as “the pinnacle of luxury, an object truly unique and pleasing to the eye”.
Consider it as an evolved version of the Marquis.

The 1415kg Steel/aluminum Specter was powered by a 228hp Atmos I6. Talk about evolved version.
A luxurious hand made interior coupled to one of the best AM radios, and the first Continuum to feature suicide doors.

The Specter was also the last car to be sold with a manual gearbox.

Base price was 5200£, approx 183000£ today.

This car will be the only car that Orwell would drive, and be driven in, from 1950 to it’s death, because it represented everything he had in mind when conceiving the company.

[Designs]

Changed the topic’s subject.

[Designs]

With the two main cars selling well, it was time for a car that changed from the classic linup.

The Aurore, available in solid or drophead configurations, is a sport coupé, released in 1954.
Or, as Orwell said, “the reinvention of the luxury coupe”.

Featuring a 150hp Atmos I6, coupled to a 2spd auto gearbox, and weighting 1100kgs, the Aurore had a max speed of 220km/h.
As a tradition, it featured a hand stitched interior, and an AM Radio.

Available only in a 2/3 seat configuration, it was not as comfortable as its bigger sisters, but still a lot better than most cars sold at the time.

Base models was sold for 3690£, or 98000£ today.

Despite its good looks that made it sold well, it was not appreciated as much as other cars in the line up, because of its horrible handling.

The Aurore marked the company, as it was the first car made on demand, allowing for a higher level of customization by customers.

[FitRS]

Very unique designs.

[CorsicaUnknown]

I think the rear bumper doesn’t really match the car. Other than that, great design!

[Designs]

1957, the year the successor to the Specter came by.

The Silver Specter. The mythic.

It was one of the most luxurious cars of it’s decade, with a phonograph, a hand stitched interior, assisted direction, and progressive suspensions.

It was also an impovement on security, because the car featured 2LS drum brakes on front.

With technological improvements concerning the chassis, the car was now corrosion resistant and lighter than the Specter, weighting 1303kg.

Powered by a 204hp I6, it could maintain a top speed of 198km/h. As always, the car was equipped by a 2spd auto gearbox.

2821 cars were ordered.

Base price was 8000£, or 198000£ today.

In 1960, the Marquis also made its return. It changed its aesthetic quite a lot though, and that did not appeal to everyone. Only 954 exemplaries were sold. That caused a hole in CLA’s incomes, which would not have been a problem, because they were backed up by Owen Thompson. Unfortunately, the businessman had died the same year, and his son refused to continue investing in the company. The actions were then sold to a low price, saving Continuum from going down.

Powered by a 160hp I6, the Marquis had a 3spd automatic gearbox, and assisted direction.

It was not as comfortable as the Silver Specter, though. The Marquis II, for a long time, has been considered the ugly duckling in the Continuum family.

[Designs]

Continuum’s sales are doing well, having, in 15 years, made itself a place in the luxury cars business.

It was time for the Aurore to make a come back. The Aurore II featured a 185hp I5 engine, and a top speed of 185km/h. Not fast. This was caused by the 3spd auto gearbox that lacked quality.

It was the first Continuum to feature adaptive hydropneumatic dampers.

It sold less than the other models, but that’s to expect, when the Aurore differs from the classic car range (1903 ex).

Base price was 3361£, or 80000£ today.

5 years later, the Specter II made its appearance.

It was the car that represented the brand at the Brussels motor show.

It was also the car that introduced the two tone body, the dropdown variants, and the new grille design.
Powered by a 200hp I5, that introduced Continuum to the direct injection world.

The specter II is probably the car that represents best Continuum in the 20th century.

The drophead version is the coupé variant of the Specter. The Aurore was therefore discontinued. It launched 2 years later, in 1962.
It was faster, boarding a 230hp engine.

Unfortunately, after the launch of the Drophead Specter II, Walter O. Orwell died, in a car crash, in its Silver Specter. His daughter, Mary, who was 33 when it happened, took the head of the company immediately. She kept the same teams.

[Designs]

In 1975, Continuum launched their biggest, most luxurious sedan yet. Their first limousine was named after the hometown of Orwell’s native town, Ledsbury. It also featured a 255hp V6.

The Specter III was a facelift of the Specter II, although it did upgrade to disc brakes, and a 240hp I6.

[Designs]

1983, the Ledbury was replaced by the V. II.

The Ledbury II is moved by a grandiose Twin Turbo V8, making 362hp.

Quite a big facelift, indeed. But quite needed too. Weight reductions were made, the II weighs 1583kg.

(The Continuum Museum could not provide photos,so we asked a Ledbury II owner to provide them.)

A second super sedan was added to the lineup, while the Ledbury II was still in production.

In 1985, The Ingham, and later Ingham type S, were one of the most popular cars of Continuum. In fact, more than 6300 ex. were bought.
An Atmos Aluminum V8 producing 315hp was sitting inside it.

(The museum did not possess an Ingham either, and photos were provided by the same owner that has the LII).

[Designs]

A bit late for a follower to the Specter… The Specter III adopts a very 90s style.

1895kg, the super sedan was not light. But it did had a 447hp V6 Twin Turbo.

The most powerful Continuum car yet also had the best interior never seen before, with a premium CD player.

[Designs]

1995

The Specter III’s title of most powerful continuum was crushed by the Continuum Soaring Arrow, 1695kg for 560hp. Too much, some will say. And it was. The car caused a lot of crashes.

Base price was 95600£, 160 000£ today.

(Not too proud of this one’s design, but had to find a body that matched the year…)

[Designs]

The Specter IV. The entry of Continuum into the 21st century.

2,1tons, 590hp.

Hand stitched interior as always, and infotainement.

The car to inaugurate Continuum’s design language throughout the 21st century.

[Designs]

The year later, Continuum unveiled the Crossway, a concept SUV, made for the Detroit Auto Show.

Powered by the same engine as the 2006 Specter, it offered quite basic offroad capabilities, but stayed a very urban SUV.

The car when leaving the factory.

[abg7]

@Designs

590hp

That should be enough to give contemporary supercars a fright - at least in a straight line. But what engine exactly is responsible for this immense power, and to what gearbox is it paired with?

[Designs]

Atmos v12 with an advanced auto gearbox (8 gears). Quite a big v12

[Knightophonix]

The Ledbury II and the specter IV are gorgeous designs :3

Though the 90s stuff feel a bit off probably the lights

[Designs]

Thanks, and yeah figured that out… Although I like them a lot on the Specter III