1932 Lincoln Model KB

The 1930s were an exciting time for automotive development, though the true level of achievement would be hindered by the Great Depression. The so-called 'cylinder wars' began in the 1920's and companies that relied solely on style, such as Pierce-Arrow, were eventually out of business. Cadillac had raised the bar with its V12 and V16 engines and Marmon was quick to respond, introducing their version of the massive sixteen-cylinder engine a short time later. Lincoln's response was a seven bearing, V12 engine with separate cylinder blocks, and fork and blade connecting rods. The engine was potent, powerful, and durable. It did have a flaw - its cost of manufacturing. It was so expensive, that within two years it was no longer offered, and had been replaced by a conventional design that was more cost-effective. The engine may have prevailed if not for the Great Depression, which was dwindling the numbers of potential buyers and making competition fierce in the luxury car segment.

The Lincoln automobiles were stylish and luxurious with many receiving custom bodies from some of the era's greatest coachbuilders including Waterhouse, LeBaron, Dietrich, Judkins, and Willoughby. Many of the creations were unique and built specifically for the customer. The most popular designs were group ordered by Lincoln and made available to a wider selection of buyers. This decreased the delivery time while maintaining a high level of quality. The bodies were built in advance with some available to customers to be trimmed to their exact specifications.

1932 Lincoln lineup included the Model KA powered by an L-head, 384.8 cubic-inch V8 delivering 125 horsepower. It rested on a 136-inch wheelbase, rode on 18-inch wheels, and offered in nine factory bodies, plus a bare chassis for outside coachbuilders. The Model KB came equipped with the 447.9 cubic-inch V12 L-head engine that used seven main bearings, mechanical valve lifters, a Stromberg downdraft two-barrel carburetor, and delivered 150 horsepower at 3,400 RPM and 292 lb-ft of torque at 1,200 RPM. Its wheelbase was 145 inches and its length was 214 inches. Along with nine factory bodies, fourteen catalog custom bodies were offered by Murphy, Brunn, Dietrich, Judkins, Willoughby, and Waterhouse.

Lincoln produced 2,132 examples of the Model KA and 1,515 of the Model KB. Factory prices on the model KA ranged from the high $2,000s to the mid-$3,000s. The Model KB pricing ranged from the mid-$4,000s to over $7,000.

Approximately eighteen examples were sold as a bare rolling chassis, plus another example with a larger 150-inch wheelbase platform. An additional ten examples were 150-inch wheelbase chassis with right-hand-drive configuration.

Priced at $4,300, a total of twenty-four examples were the Sport Tourer (4-door, 7-passenger) and thirteen were the Murphy Sport Phaeton (4-door, 4-passenger). The two-door, five-passenger coupe was priced at $4,400 and a total of 83 were built. Thirty examples were the Murphy Double Cowl Sport Phaeton, 123 were the 2-window town sedan, and 200 were the 3-window town sedan - all priced at $4,500. Selling at $4,600, the sedan (4-door, 5-passenger) found 216 buyers. The seven-passenger sedan was $100 more expensive than its 5-passenger counterpart and was slightly more popular with 266 examples built. Two versions of the four-door seven-passenger limousine were built (Series 237-B and 237-C) and both were priced at $4,900. Forty-one examples were the series 237-B and 135 were 237-C.

The Lincoln Motor Company continued to offer a bare chassis to be fitted with fully bespoke bodies along with a range of semi-custom coachwork offered directly from the factory.

Brunn offered two 'catalog custom' bodies, Dietrich had four catalog bodies (including a coupe with or without a rumble seat), the John B. Judkins Company of Merrimac, Massachusetts offered three bodies (including a 2- and 3-window Berline), Willoughby offered two, and Waterhouse had one.

The all-weather cabriolet by Brunn listed at $7,200 and the all-weather Brougham with seating for seven at $7,000. Production was similar for both with 14 of the former and 13 of the latter. Dietrich bodied eight examples of the Sport Berline with a price of $6,500, twenty examples of the convertible sedan ($6,400), and seventeen examples of the coupe ($5,000). The addition of the rumble seat added an additional $150.

Seventy-four examples were the four-door, 5-passenger Berline by Judkins with a price of $5,700. The Judkins Coupe listed at $5,350. Four examples of the Brougham were bodied by Willoughby at a price of $7,100 while the seven-passenger Limousine sold at nearly $6,000. A total of 64 examples were the limousine.

The convertible victoria built by Waterhouse (4-door, 5-passenger) listed at $5,900, and ten examples were built. The Murphy Sport Roadster, priced at $6,800, found three willing buyers.

The 1933 Lincoln K Series
The 1933 Lincoln Model KA received a new 381.7 cubic-inch V12 engine which shared little with the engine powering the Model KB. Styling updates included the return of hood louvers and the removal of the bar linking the headlights. Updates to the chassis included thermostatic shock absorbers and adjustable-pressure brakes.

The 1934 Lincoln K Series
In 1934, both V-12 engines were replaced by a single 414 cubic-inch unit, with the KA residing on a shorter wheelbase platform and the KB on the larger. The hood louvers were short-lived, removed in 1934 and replaced with doors. The grille surround was now body-colored.

The 1934 Lincoln K Series
The KA and KB designation were dropped, with all cars now referred to as the Model K.

The Lincoln K Series
Production of the Lincoln Model K lasted from 1931 to 1940.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2018