1933 Lincoln Model KB Convertible Sedan

In 1933 the Lincoln KB, with its new smooth-running 447.9 cubic-inch 65-degree L-head V12 engine, was the flagship car for Ford Motor Company. Lincoln offered a staggering 26 different body styles built by 17 different coachbuilders. Lincoln used an abundance of brass and bronze in lieu of pot metal while most of the castings on the car are brass.

This particular KB-2005, with its fashionably raked, V-windscreen and rear hinged 'suicide' doors, is one of just 15 Dietrich Convertible Sedans produced, and it is believed to be the earliest of only six examples that remain and the only one to have the early style open fenders. It was restored to perfect condition in 1991 by marque expert Fran Roxas and was then acquired by Otis Chandler in 1997. It has just been freshly restored.

Among the list of owners of this Lincoln were Jack Pope, Art Graver, Lee Gurvey, Otis Chandler, and Scott Kriens before entering the care of John Shibles in 2013. Along the way, the car was nicknamed 'Abe.' After the car was restored in 1992, it was shown at the Pebble Beach Concours where it won its class and was named the Most Elegant Convertible. Mr. Shibles had Steve Babinsky restore the mechanicals and the top, then drove the car on the 2015 Pebble Beach Motoring Classic and shared it again at the Pebble Beach Concours, earning the Lincoln Trophy.

Lincoln offered more custom bodies in their catalog than any other manufacturer. Unfortunately, the era of the true custom body car was nearing the end. This car sits on a 145-inch wheelbase and it weighs 5,700 pounds. Cost was $6,400 when new.

The KB was the ultimate Lincoln. It was typically offered as a chassis for custom coachwork. Inspired by Edsel Ford, Lincoln was committed to a custom coachwork car. The quality of the KB chassis and engine combination made the marriage of a custom body a perfect match. The Dietrich-styled design is evident in the windshield and door lines. With the convertible sedan, the ability to go top down, with the power of the V12, and the beautiful lines of the Dietrich design makes this KB one of the most desirable and beautiful cars Lincoln has ever produced.

With a variety of companies throughout the world in the custom body business in the 20's, only a few established themselves as the cream of the crop. Dietrich was certainly one of them.

Dietrich, Inc. was an American coachbuilder founded in 1925 by Raymond H. Dietrich, who was also the co-founder of LeBaron Incorporated in New York. He was known to be a close friend to Edsel Ford, who introduced him to Fred Murray, owner of the Murray Body Corporation. Ford was able to convince him to partly finance Dietrich to start his own body company. Murray had hoped for an in-house source for designing and building custom bodies for luxury cars. It is said that Dietrich himself held 50% of the stock.

Dietrich, Inc. did styling work for standard bodies for Packard, Franklin, and Erskine. Dietrich, Inc. also built custom bodies to single orders, and proposed semi-customs for Lincoln, which was then headed by Edsel Ford.

By September 1930, Dietrich was out of his company and Dietrich, Inc. was closed in 1936. In 1932, Raymond Dietrich became the first head of design of Chrysler (until 1938).