The Lincoln Motor Company was organized in 1917 by Henry Leland when he received a contract to build 6,000 Liberty aircraft engines for World War I. When the war ended shortly thereafter he converted his idle plant into production of automobiles and the first Lincolns began rolling down the assembly line in 1921. By 1922 the firm was in financial trouble and in February it was purchased by Henry Ford for 12 million dollars.

Lincoln production for 1922 totaled 5,767 cars with only 255 of those built during Henry Leland's ownership.