1937 Lincoln Model K Tourer

By 1937, sales of the Lincoln K, introduced in 1931, had dwindled as the era of big V12 and V16-powered luxury cars was coming to an end. However, Edsel Ford commissioned custom body builder Francis Willoughby of Utica, New York to produce a large, 7-passenger open touring car for their most elite clientele. The end result was a sleek 145 inch wheelbase, aluminum bodied phaeton with V-shaped windshield, geometric shaped side vent windows and hidden jump seats. Combined with Lincoln's new integrated, tear drop headlamps, the striking car sold for $5,500. Weighing in at over three tons, its price tag far exceeded the cost of the average American home at the time. Not surprising, given that the nation was still in the grips of the Great Depression, only seven of these automobiles were produced in 1937 - two are known to survive. This one was equipped as a 'parade car' for the Governor of California.

By 1937, open cars, such as this seven-passenger touring car, were being built in very small numbers. The public's taste had definitely switched to closed cars. And, a declining number of luxury automobiles were being sold as the depression deepened in the United States.

This Lincoln, which features a custom body by the Willoughby Body Co. of Utica, New York, was sold new to the state of California, to be used by its governor as a parade car.

For 1937 only 977 Lincoln Twelves were built and that number was spread over 21 different body styles. The lower-priced Lincoln-Zephyr was keeping the Lincoln name alive.

All Lincoln Twelves were built on the 145-inch wheelbase and were powered by Lincoln's 414 cubic-inch V12 that offered 150 horsepower.

The current owner acquired the car with only 16,000 original miles on it, commissioned a full restoration from top-to-bottom, and installed 'high-speed' gearing for touring. This car remains a parade car and is annually featured as the 'lead car' of the Grand Marshal of the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, DC. It also served as 'the platform' for Vice President Dick Cheney during his campaign swing through Ohio in 2004.