A continental tire or a continental kit is an upright externally-mounted spare tire located behind an automobile's trunk, made popular by the Continental Mark Series, which carried a simulated continental tire until 1998. The term also describes a non-functional bulge stamped into the trunk lid or a cosmetic accessory to the rear of the car giving the impression of a spare tire mount. Early spare tire mounts The pre-mounted spare tire and wheel combination on early automobiles typically meant an external mounting because motorists would often need to change tires. Automakers often mounted a spare tire, or two, on the rear of the car. Some cars featured side-mounted spare tires in the fenders behind the front wheels. Automakers also offered side-mounted spare tires as an option. Early European sports cars had their spare tire attached to the back of the automobile since their trunk or storage space was often minimal. These rear or side mounted spare tires were not described as continental tire. The development of the enclosed trunk on automobiles meant the spare tire could be placed out of sight. This arrangement used up valuable space for carrying luggage. Manufacturers offered the sidemount option to increase trunk capacity. Some sports cars accommodated the spare tires inside the trunk resulting in a tight fit and it even projected a portion of the tire into the passenger area necessitating a vinyl cover. The continental tire mount Edsel Ford had a special car built after returning from a trip to Europe that would have a "continental look" – including a spare tire mounted on the trunk. The 1939 Lincoln Continental's short trunk with its external rear spare tire mount became a distinctive design. While this was not the first car to either carry its spare above the rear bumper or integrated it into the rear bodywork, it was the first to do it so elegantly and thus this feature became known as a "continental tire" even if the design was found on other brands. Similar external spare tire placements were added as standard or optional to popular mass-market and also described as a "continental kit", borrowing their name from the production Lincoln Continental. Consumers were also able to have aftermarket "continental kits" installed on almost any vehicle. There is a legend that Henry Ford II complained that the trunk of his personal Ford Thunderbird did not have room for a set of