1924 Lincoln Model L

Henry Martyn Leland founded Cadillac in 1902 and The Lincoln Motor Company in 1917. Cadillac was built atop the remnants of the failed Henry Ford Company after a dispute between Henry Ford and his investors. Henry Ford and several key individuals left the company of his namesake and formed the Ford Motor Company a year later. Cadillac was acquired by the General Motors conglomerate in 1909. and remained with Cadillac as an executive until 1917, leaving due to a dispute with company founder William C. Durant over producing material during World War I. Durant was a pacifist and decline the invitation bestowed upon Cadillac to build Liberty aircraft engines.

After his departure, Leland formed the Lincoln Motor Company (along with his son Wilfred) and excepted the $10,000,000 contract to build the V12 Liberty engine. After the war and when the contract was fulfilled, the Lincoln Motor Company Plant was retooled to manufacture luxury automobiles.

The first lincoln Automobiles appeared in September of 1920 to an enthusiastic reception by the press. However, a slow start to production compounded by stodgy styling and a nationwide recession soon put Lincoln into receivership. Henry Ford came to the rescue, purchasing the Lincoln Motor Company for eight million dollars in 1922.

Leland's Lincoln was powered by a 358 cubic-inch L-head sixty-degree V-8 engine. Unlike the more conventional V-engines which offset the cylinder banks slightly to allow room for adjacent connecting rod bearings on the crank journals, Leland's Model L used expensive, precision-made fork-and-blade connecting rods and disposed the cylinders directly opposite each other. Another unusual feature for the period was the full pressure lubrication system.

As an engineer, Leland's primary focus was on the mechanical aspects, leaving the body designs to his son-in-law whose only experience was in ladies' millinery. The conservatively styled bodies were uninspired and did not mirror the engineering brilliance that it covered. It did not help that the economy was very volatile at the time, with a post-World War I recession lasting from August of 1918 to March of 1919. It was brought on by severe hyperinflation in Europe and the end of wartime production in North America, along with an influx of labor from returning troops. Although brief, it was followed by another recession in 1921 as the economy continued to struggle with the peacetime economy. It lasted one-and-a-half years and was extremely painful, and the single most deflationary year in American history.

Leland was forced to sell his company and Henry Ford was able to acquire it for $8 million on February 4th of 1922. His initial bid of $5 million was not accepted, as the well-equipped company had assets that were conservatively estimated at $16 million. Henry Leland and his son Wilfred remained with the company after the acquisition, but relations between the two Henrys quickly deteriorated, and Mr. Leland soon resigned.

With the Ford takeover, the Lincon Motor Company became an independent operation with 100 percent of its stock owned by the Ford Motor Company. Changes made during the immediate post-Leland era included the removal of the 130-inch wheelbase in favor of a larger 136-inch platform. The 357.8 cubic-inch L-head V8 engine continued to use three main bearings, mechanical valve lifters, and a Stromberg updraft carburetor. Houdaille hydraulic shock absorbers were added during the model year.

Perhaps the biggest change was Edsel Ford, who had an innate sense of style, balance, proportion, and grace. He was placed in charge of Lincoln and served as its president. The automobiles that followed reflected Edsel's vision, and production initially consisted of the Model L, where the 'L' indicated that it had been designed by Henry and Wilfred Leland. This would remain the catalog designation until the V-8 was superseded in 1931, a measure of Edsel Ford's respect for Leland, who was called the 'Master of Precision'.

Edsel looked to coachbuilders for inspiration, enlisting such custom houses as Brunn, Judkins, Willoughby, Murphy, and Locke to provide bodies, many of which appeared in Lincoln's catalogs.

The 1924 Lincolns wore modern styling with nickel-plated drum-style headlights which had been optional the previous year, a higher radiator with a nickel-plated shell, vertical radiator shutters (the previous year had horizontal shutters), new fenders with a wider and smooth design, and a smoother hood line. Prices ranged from $3,600 to $6,400.

The list of Judkin bodies included a Berline, a four-passenger sedan (with two- or three-windows), a seven-passenger sedan, and a berline. The list of Brunn body styles included seven-passenger sedans, limousines, a six-passenger town car, coupes, and cabriolets.

The 1924 Lincoln Model L rested on a 136-inch wheelbase and its 357.8 cubic-inch engine produced 90 horsepower and was backed by a three-speed sliding gear transmission with multiple disc, dry plate clutch, and floor shift controls. This was the first year that Lincolns had a spark-setting mark on the clutch ring and flywheel. Mechanical brakes were on the two rear wheels except for the police vehicles which had four-wheel brakes.

Lincoln produced 7,053 vehicles during the calendar year.

by Dan Vaughan

Brunn Limousine by Brunn

Henry Martin Leland is inextricably linked as the brilliant engineer who founded Cadillac. He, too, was the founder of Lincoln. Despite brilliant engineering, the cars were rather conservative in appearance and thanks to his tenacious attention to detail, late in getting to the market. After 17 months, just 3,400 had been sold. Lincoln's board of directors was quick to find a solution to mounting costs. On February 4, 1922, Ford Motor Company bought the Lincoln Motor Company for $8 million, and Leland departed just four months later.

This car was sold new in Texas. It was discovered destitute in Colorado, in 2000 (or 2001), and had been sitting outdoors and unprotected for much of the prior four decades. It was totally original, complete, and in solid condition. It has a 358 cubic-inch V8 engine that produces 80 horsepower. It sits atop a 136-inch wheelbase and when new carried a $6400 sticker price.

Little changed in 1924 for Lincoln in comparison to the prior year. The radiator shutters became vertical replacing the horizontal style. The nickel-plated drum-style headlights had been optional in 1923 but became standard in 1924. The 'Ford Detroit' lettering on the grille emblem was removed. Slight updates to the fenders could also be seen in 1924.

The body is by Brunn/Murray and is finished in its original Medium Brewster Green and Black with French Gray pin striping over an interior of brown mohair velvet (as confirmed by Lincoln production records).

925 of these cars were produced and only two are known to exist. The original price of this car was $6,400. The original Medium Brewster Green and Black with French Gray pinstripe were confirmed with lincoln production records, as was the interior material of Brown Mohair Velvet. All owners since 1924 are known. The car was originally sold new in Texas.

Phaeton by American Body Company
Chassis number: 19700
Engine number: 19700

This 1924 Lincoln Model L wears a Sport Phaeton body built by the American Body Company designed by Brunn. The car was owned by a banker named Schaefer, and it may have also been part of the famed Barney Pollard Collection. It wears a two-tone color scheme of red with black fenders, complemented by a black leather interior and black vinyl top. There are naturally-finished, varnished wooden artillery wheels, which are complemented by the wooden steering wheel and the rear wooden dash, which includes dual glove boxes with hand-carved wooden ornamentation and a frosted glass courtesy light. Other details include the simple Art Deco touches gracing the instrumentation, windshield wiper motor, steering column, and cowl lamps.

Currently, the car is in the Ken Pearson collection when it came to auction in 2013 at the RM Auction Amelia Island sale. As bidding came to a close, the car was sold for the sum of $60,500 inclusive of buyer's premium.

The car was restored decades ago, but remains in excellent condition. The engine is an L-head V8 displacing 357.8 cubic-inches and offering 90 horsepower. There is a three-speed manual transmission with two-wheel mechanical brakes.

by Dan Vaughan

Phaeton by American Body Company
Chassis number: 19310
Engine number: 19310

Henry Martyn Leland, the founder of Cadillac, was also the founder of the Lincoln Motor Car Company. The first Lincoln automobiles appeared in September of 1920; production was initially slow due to the nationwide recession, which quickly put Lincoln into receivership. The company was rescued by Henry Ford, purchasing the Lincoln Motor Company for eight million dollars in 1922. It became the flagship of the Ford empire, and its success is largely attributed to Henry Ford's son, Edsel. The Leland-era bodies were replaced by the ones designed by Edsel, who had a fine eye and talent for design. Coachbuilders such as Brunn, Judkins, Willoughby, Locke, and Murphy were enlisted to provide custom body designs, many of which appeared in Lincoln's catalogs.

This particular example is a four-passenger phaeton, Style 123, with its design attributed to Hermann Brunn, the Buffalo, New York, designer and coachbuilder. Brunn was not a volume coachbuilder, so the American Body Company, also of Buffalo, was given the construction contract. The company built tens of thousands of bodies for Model T Fords during the 1910s, along with building bodies for manufacturers like Marmon and Wills Ste. Claire. From 1923 to 1926, the American Body Company built 2,726 bodies of the Lincoln style, with 829 produced in 1924.

This Lincoln four-passenger phaeton was assembled on May 22nd of 1924. In 1996, the Merrick Auto Museum acquired it from John Taylor of North Royalton, Ohio. It was given a $400,000 restoration, and is finished in maroon with black fenders and body molding. The interior is upholstered in black leather and has a matching touring top. It rides on varnished 12-spoke artillery wheels mounted with Gehrig 33 × 5 whitewall tires on 23-inch demountable rims. In the back is a leather-covered trunk with twin spares resting to the rear. The radiator cap bears Lincoln's greyhound ornament, and there is a nickel-plated spotlight mounted on the right-hand running board.

Under the bonnet is a 358 cubic-inch fork-and-black V8 engine, developing 90 horsepower at 2,800 RPM, and backed by a three-speed transmission. The Lincoln speedometer incorporates a Waltham clock. The odometer shows just over 56,000 miles.

by Dan Vaughan

Limousine by Fleetwood
Chassis number: 23484

The Model L was the first automobile produced by the Lincoln Motor Company and was in production for a decade, beginning in 1920. By 1924, the company was in the ownership of the Ford Motor Company.

This Lincoln Model L wears semi-custom coachwork built by the Fleetwood Body Company in Pennsylvania and costs $6,000 when new. It is a restored example from a Pacific Northwest Collection is a CCCA Full Classic and one of only 298 produced for 1924. It rested on a 136-inch wheelbase chassis supported by front and rear semi-elliptic leaf springs. There are white sidewall tires wrapped on red-painted demountable wood-spoke wheels. Stopping is provided by mechanical drum brakes on the rear wheels only. The engine is a 357.8 cubic-inch L-head 60-degree V-8 delivering 90 horsepower at 2,800 RPM, and the fuel from a vacuum system is mixed by a Stromberg 03 updraft carburetor. Power is sent to the full-floating rear axle by a multi-disc dry-plate clutch backed by a three-speed floor-shifted sliding gear manual transmission.

This limousine is finished in maroon with a black roof, gloss black full-crowned fenders, and a maroon fabric-covered windshield visor. The interior is trimmed in black leather in the front compartment and gray cloth in the rear. There is a slanted windshield, distinctive Lincoln front and rear chrome-plated bumpers, a chrome-plated radiator shell with an oval badge, a large Boyce Motometer, and bright finished drum headlights. Resting in the back are a pair of maroon fabric-covered spare tires. The instrument panel features Waltham gauges and a wood-rimmed steering wheel, and red wool carpeting is found on the floor of the front and rear passenger areas.

by Dan Vaughan

The Lincoln Motor Company was founded in 1917 by Henry M. Leland and acquired by Ford in 1922. Leland, one of the founders of Cadillac, had left Cadillac during the First World War to form the Lincoln Motor Company, which was intended to build Liberty aircraft engines. He had left Cadillac due to a disagreement with General Motors boss William C. Durant. When Leland left, he was 74 years old, and chose the name Lincoln after the President he had voted for in 1864. At the conclusion of the War, Leland was forced with the decision to close the plant, or try to find another business for the 6000 employee's and the factories. The factory was retooled to accommodate luxury automobile manufacturing.

The transition period and process was difficult and the company entered financial difficulties. It was bought by the Ford Motor Company, and served as a personal victory for Henry Ford. During the very early years of automobile production, Henry Ford had been forced out of his second company by a group of investors led by Leland. Henry Ford's original company was later renamed Cadillac and later purchased by rival General Motors. This would later become Lincoln's chief competitor.

In 1927, the Lincoln marque adopted the greyhound as their emblem, which was later replaced with diamond, which is still in use in modern times.

The Lincoln L Series was powered by a 60-degree V8 engine producing 80 horsepower and had a guaranteed top speed of at least 70 mph. Those who did purchase a very early Lincoln automobile had to wait nearly a year for delivery, as the company was behind by eight-months and deliveries did not commence until September of 1920. The post-war recession, slow delivery time, and dated appearance all affected sales negatively. The board members put the company up for sale in 1922, and Henry Ford took the opportunity to enter the luxury car segment.

Henry's son, Edsel Ford, was given the responsibility of running the Lincoln Company. Quality and sales improved. The engines were given aluminum pistons and improved cylinder head cooling which greatly increased the vehicles durability, ride, and performance. The wheelbase was enlarged from 130-inches, to 136-inches in 1923. Some of the finest coachbuilders of the time were invited to work their craft. Names included Brunn, Dietrich, Holbrook, Judd, LeBaron and Locke.

By 1928, the engine had been enlarged from 357.8 cubic-inches to 384.8 cubic-inches and horsepower increased to 90.

by Dan Vaughan

Considered to be one of the most elegant of chauffer-driven automobiles of the 1920's, the Lincoln Model L Towncar was introduced in 1924. The Model L was an exclusive portrayal of the brand that represents everything that embodies American Luxury, Lincoln. Founded by Henry M. Leland in 1917, Lincoln Automobiles were operated under the Ford Motor Company. LeLand's favorite President had always been Abraham Lincoln, and at the age of 74, Henry founded the Lincoln Motor Company.

Beginning with the same desire for upscale markets that has carried through the years, the vehicles produced in the 1920's were just as exquisite and they are today. Leland has been recognized for his reputation for quality vehicles for the entirety of his career. Also known for prestige and status, the Lincoln automobile has been produced upon a standard of luxury and excellence.

Leland was an expert at producing cars that were of the greatest care and quality, but he was not adept at adding the finer points of styling to the Lincoln. The tight economic times and the stogy appearance of the Lincolns forced sales to droop. Customers could not afford the $4600-6600 price tag, though it was comparable in size and price to the Cadillac, the amount equaled most annual salaries. The Ford family swooped in at this time and purchased Lincoln at an incredibly low sales price.

Eventually Edsel Ford came onto the scene with his passion and flair for the finer things in life, and soon became responsible for the refined, elegant styling that made Lincoln one of the premier motor vehicles in the world. Hand selected by Edsel and produced by Gorham, an auspicious greyhound mascot was mounted to the Lincoln Model L Towncar in 1929.

Coachbuilder Judkins was responsible for the bodying of the Model L. Powered by a flat-head V8 engine of 358 inches, the Model L was capable of delivering 90 horsepower through a 3-speed manual transmission. By 1923 the 136 in, version was the only one left while the 130in wheelbase was dropped. In 1925 the Model L was being shaped into a truly exquisite vehicle under the skill and direction of Edsel Ford's designs in 1925. Minor styling updates were very apparent.

Edsel also became the first luxury car builder that made custom bodied vehicles during the mid-20's that were directly available in catalogue form that was from the automaker itself. Custom body manufacturers were also used extensively which resulted in the increase of more styling improvements and updates. The most exclusive and expensive Lincoln model cost $7200 in 1925.

Having created a reputation in 10 years which Cadillac, Packard and Pierce-Arrow had attempted for nearly 30, Lincoln rounded out the model run of the L in 1930. A more refined V8 and available 120 HP in the Model K eventually replaced the Model L in 1931. The Model K also featured duo servo brakes and 145 inch wheelbase.

Equal to the finest vehicles in the world, the Lincoln had very clearly established itself as a producer of luxury vehicles. (Ironically enough, the most consistent competitor that Lincoln has faced for decades has remained Cadillac, a company that was also founded by Henry Leland.)

by Jessican Donaldson