Ford Motor Company. Continental Division

Richard G. Morris was the public relations manager for the Special Product Division, later called the Continental Division.

William Clay Ford was born March 14, 1925 in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Edsel and Eleanor Ford and grandson of Henry and Clara Ford. He joined Ford Motor Company in 1949 after graduating from Yale University. He served in various capacities at the company before being promoted in 1952 to manager of Special Product Operations, later known as the Continental Division. In 1955, William Clay Ford was named group director of both Lincoln and Continental Divisions. In 1956, Continental Division was integrated into Lincoln Division, headed by Ben D. Mills. William Clay Ford was promoted to vice-president of product planning and styling in 1957.

In 1952, Ford Motor Company organized a committee to design a new Continental automobile called Special Product Operations, managed by William Clay Ford. In 1953, the name Special Product Operations was changed to Special Product Division, not to be confused with the Special Products Division formed in 1955 to produce the Edsel automobile. A year later Special Product Division was changed to Continental Division. Production of the new Continental Mark II automobile began in 1955. The Continental Mark II was initially a huge success, but demand for this expensive luxury car soon faded and sales dropped tremendously. By mid-1956, the Continental Division was consolidated into the Lincoln Division, and production of the Continental Mark II ceased in 1957.