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Henry Martin Leland is inextricably linked as the brilliant engineer who not only founded Cadillac, but was also responsible for many innovations during his tenure. He was 74 years old when he quit General Motors after a quarrel with Billy Durant. Following his departure, Leland set up a company to produce Liberty aircraft engines receiving a $10 million advance contract. As the war ended, Leland was beset with a huge factory, 6,000 employees, and mounting debt. Building an automobile was what he knew best, and that's what he did. Within three hours of announcing his new automobile, Leland had raised $6.5 million in stock. The automobile was named Lincoln, in honor of the first president for whom Leland had voted. After 17 months, just 3,400 had been sold and Leland's board of directors acted quickly to stem the red ink. On February 4th of 1922, Ford Motor Company bought the Lincoln Motor Company for $8 million. Leland departed just four months later.
By 1938, the luxury automobile market was disappearing. Lincoln was one of the last companies building these cars and in 1938 with total sales of only 416 cars, the company offered 19 different body styles, including 13 different custom bodies - more than any other American luxury car builder.
Lincoln had recognized the decline of the luxury car market by introduced its medium-priced Lincoln-Zephyr in 1936. An immediate hit, nearly 20,000 were sold in 1938.
Thanks to Edsel Ford's personal interest in the marque, Lincoln was a rare survivor of the Great Depression. This long wheelbase Model K Seven Passenger chassis carries a 3-window semi-collapsible cabriolet body custom built for Elizabeth Cates of Ohio. Mrs. Cates ordered the Brunn body with an enclosed roof for the chauffeur and extra headroom to accommodate her husband's tall silk hat. It was given numerous special touches dictated by Mrs. Charles H. Cates of Youngstown, Ohio. The list includes the extra-tall town car body to accommodate Mr. Cates' top hat, along with a solid roof over the chauffer's compartment so that Leonard Prather, her chauffer of 30 years, was protected. She requested black medallions on the wheel covers in lieu of the normal blue cloisonne, and key locks in the hood to prevent intrusion into the engine compartment. The car remains in nearly original condition with just 30,000 miles on the odometer.
By 1938, the luxury automobile market was disappearing. Lincoln was one of the last companies building these cars and in 1938 with total sales of only 416 cars, the company offered 19 different body styles, including 13 different custom bodies - more than any other American luxury car builder.
Lincoln had recognized the decline of the luxury car market by introduced its medium-priced Lincoln-Zephyr in 1936. An immediate hit, nearly 20,000 were sold in 1938.
Thanks to Edsel Ford's personal interest in the marque, Lincoln was a rare survivor of the Great Depression. This long wheelbase Model K Seven Passenger chassis carries a 3-window semi-collapsible cabriolet body custom built for Elizabeth Cates of Ohio. Mrs. Cates ordered the Brunn body with an enclosed roof for the chauffeur and extra headroom to accommodate her husband's tall silk hat. It was given numerous special touches dictated by Mrs. Charles H. Cates of Youngstown, Ohio. The list includes the extra-tall town car body to accommodate Mr. Cates' top hat, along with a solid roof over the chauffer's compartment so that Leonard Prather, her chauffer of 30 years, was protected. She requested black medallions on the wheel covers in lieu of the normal blue cloisonne, and key locks in the hood to prevent intrusion into the engine compartment. The car remains in nearly original condition with just 30,000 miles on the odometer.
No auction information available for this vehicle at this time.
1938 Lincoln Model K Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Lincoln Model K
(Data based on Model Year 1938 sales)
1938 Lincoln Model K Victoria Convertible Sold for USD$472,500 2023 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction | |
1938 Lincoln Model K Victoria by Brunn Chassis#: K9224 Sold for USD$151,250 2022 RM Sothebys : The Hershey Auction | |
1938 Lincoln Model K Coupe Coachwork by LeBaron Chassis#: K9314 Sold for USD$201,600 2018 Bonhams : Quail Lodge | |
1938 Lincoln Model K Limousine Sold for USD$60,000 2016 Mecum : Dallas | |
1938 LINCOLN MODEL K ROADSTER Chassis#: K9059 Sold for USD$123,200 2016 Scottsdale, The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa | |
1938 Lincoln Model K LeBaron Coupe Roadster Chassis#: K 8193 Sold for USD$99,000 2015 Dragone Auction - Fall | |
1938 Lincoln Model K Coupe by LeBaron Chassis#: K9314 Sold for USD$231,000 2015 RM Sotheby's : The Andrews Collection | |
1938 Lincoln Model K Convertible Sedan with Partition Coachwork by LeBaron Chassis#: K9181 Sold for USD$81,400 2014 Greenwich Concours D'Elegance Auction | |
1938 Lincoln Model K Convertible Victoria by Brunn Chassis#: K-9139 Sold for USD$176,000 2013 RM Auctions - Amelia Island | |
1938 Lincoln K Semi-Collapsible Cabriolet Coachwork by Brunn & Company Sold for USD$152,500 2012 Mecum - Dallas, TX | |
1938 Lincoln Model K Convertible Victoria by Brunn Chassis#: K-9139 Sold for USD$203,500 2011 RM Auctions - Hershey | |
1938 LINCOLN MODEL K CONVERTIBLE VICTORIA Chassis#: K90002 Sold for USD$214,500 2011 Worldwide Auctions - The Auburn Auction | |
1938 Lincoln Model K Convertible Victoria by Brunn Sold for USD$200,750 2010 Auctions America : Auburn Collector Car Auction | |
1938 LINCOLN K LIMOUSINE Sold for USD$60,500 2010 Barrett-Jackson - Scottsdale 2010 | |
1938 Lincoln Model K Convertible Victoria Chassis#: K9002 Sold for USD$192,500 2008 Sports & Classics of Monterey by RM Auctions | |
1938 Lincoln K Brunn Semi-Collapsible Cabriolet Chassis#: K9189 Sold for USD$143,000 2006 Jerry Capizzi's Cappy Collection | |
1938 Lincoln Model K V12 Touring Cabriolet Sold for USD$64,200 2005 The Florida Collector Car Auction | |
1938 Lincoln Model K Willoubhy Limo Sold for USD$37,400 2003 J.C. Daniels Estate - Lincoln Collection |
Lincoln Model Ks That Failed To Sell At Auction
1938 Lincoln Model K's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1938 Lincoln Model K Convertible Victoria | K9002 | 2011 Gooding and Company Pebble Beach Auctions | $300,000 | $350,000 | |
1938 Lincoln K | 2011 Branson Collector Car Auction | $260,000 | |||
1938 LINCOLN K BERLINE | 2001 Kruse Auction Auburn, IN | $17,100 |
Vehicles With Comparable Market Values
Similar sales to the $159,156 range.
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1938 Lincoln Model K
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