1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan

During the Cosmopolitan's brief production lifespan after the war, produced from 1949 through 1954, it served as the company's flagship model. Styling features included frenched headlights and taillights, rear-hinged suicide doors on the sedan body styles, was devoid of running boards, and fenders and doors enclosed together.

The entire Ford Motor Company lineup had introduced new styling for 1949, with the Lincoln model lineup including a Mercury Eight-based model and the larger Cosmopolitan resting on an exclusive wheelbase and wearing a unique body. Along with the four-door body style, the Cosmopolitan included a two-door coupe in both standard and Capri trim levels, and a two-door convertible with seating for six. Prices in 1950 ranged from $3,190 for the two-door club coupe and rose to nearly $4,000 for the convertible. The Capri Coupe was approximately $200 more expensive than the club coupe and added a padded leather roof, additional chrome trim, and custom interior.

The 337 cubic-inch Ford Flathead V8 used to power the Lincoln and Lincoln Cosmopolitan were shared with the Ford heavy truck line. It had a 7.0:1 compression ratio, a Holley two-barrel carburetor, and delivered 154 horsepower at 3,600 RPM. A three-speed manual transmission was standard. Ford had experimented with an automatic known as Liquamatic in 1941, but as it entered post-War production, it was without an automatic. They approached Packard about using their Ultramatic transmission but Packard was unable to satisfy production levels, so instead, Ford purchased GM HydraMatics. The Hydra-Matic became optional mid-1949, and available on Ford and Mercury automobiles for 1951. Lincoln continued using the Hydrmatic until 1955 and 1951 was the final year that Lincolns were offered with manual transmissions until the 2000 Lincoln LS.

The 1951 base Lincoln had a 121-inch wheelbase and the Cosmpolitan had a 125-inch wheelbase. At 222.5 inches in length, the Cosmopolitan was 7.7-inches longer than its sibling. Styling between the two was similar, with the Cosmopolitan occupying a larger footprint and wearing more chrome trim, especially on the front fenders. Electro-hydraulically operated windows and front seat was standard equipment on the Cosmopolitan and optional on the standard Lincoln. Options included a radio, power antenna, heater, and whitewall tires. The three-speed manual was standard and the overdrive system and Hydra-Matic were optional.

The four-door sports sedan body style was the most popular Cosmopolitan in 1950, with 8,332 examples built. The club coupe was the second most popular with 1,315 examples sold, followed by 536 of the convertible and 509 of the Capri coupe.

Mild updates were applied to the Cosmopiltan a year later, mostly removing some of the trim on the front fenders before they received a complete restyling for 1952 and the list of body styles dwindled to two - a sedan and hardtop sport coupe. Mechanical changes included a ball joint front suspension and an overhead-valve 317 cubic-inch Lincoln Y-block V8 with high-compression backed by a single transmission - the four-speed Hydra-Matic. The 317.5 CID V8 of the 1953 Lincoln delivered 205 horsepower, an increase of 45 hp over the prior year, and for its final model year, the Cosmopolitan grew an inch in length and width.

In 1952 and 1953, Lincoln won the top four spots in the Stock Car category of the Pan American Road Race. In 1954, they took first and second place in the grueling race. They won two of the 19 NASCAR Grand National Races in 1950.

by Dan Vaughan

Sport Sedan
Chassis number: 50lp147064

The Lincoln Cosmopolitan had recessed head and tail lights, and limited, yet effect amount of chrome trim. There was a one-piece windshield, sweeping lines, and rested on a longer, 125-inch wheelbase. The interior featured a newly re-modeled dash with the speedometer placed directly in front of the driver. Under the bonnet was a power 337 cubic-inch V8 engine with horsepower in the neighborhood of 152 bhp. The Cosmopolitan could achieve speeds greater than 100 miles per hour.

In the first Mexican Road Race, commonly known as the Carrera Panamericana, the Cosmopolitan proved its capabilities as a high-quality, fast automobile by finishing ninth overall in the capable hands of long-distance driver Johnny Mantz.

This Cosmopolitan has been driven a mere 19,000 miles since new. It is painted in black, has black painted steel wheels with full chrome-plated hubcaps, trim rings, and period correct whitewall tires. The interior is beige upholstery and carpeting and remains period correct throughout. There are power windows, a pushbutton-operated AM radio, heater, and Hydra-Matic automatic transmission.

In 2009, this Sport Sedan was offered for sale at the Automobiles of Amelia Island auction presented by RM Auctions. The car was estimated to sell for $30,000 - $40,000 and offered without reserve. The lot was sold for $22,000, including buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Limousine by Henney

The Henney Motor Company, renowned builders of limousines, constructed these special Cosmopolitan bodies under Lincoln's supervision. Built on a 125-inch wheelbase Lincoln Cosmopolitan, the chassis were lengthened by 20 inches to accommodate the stretched coachwork; Lincoln coupe and sedan body sections were joined to create the imposing motorcar and the roof was raised seven inches to provide clearance for top-hatted passengers.

This original model was used by Ford Motor Company for the first four years before being sold.

The Lincoln Cosmopolitan was introduced in the late 1940s and remained in production until the early 1950s. For 1949, the entire Lincoln model line was all new; no longer were there pontoon fenders. In their place were a flowing envelope styling that gracefully drifted down to the rear bumper. The Lincoln models were similar to the Mercury, mostly distinguished by their grille and a larger engine.

In 1950, Johnny Mantz finished in 9th place in the Mexican Road Race. They were popular with racers due to their small size and powerful engines. Even the White House ordered 19 examples for presidential, governmental, and VIP use.

The 1951 Lincoln Cosmopolitan was easily identifiable by its front end, which featured sunken in headlights. In the back were slight fins and fender blades.

by Dan Vaughan

The whole Lincoln model lineup was revamped in 1949 and lost the dated pontoon fenders and instead received a flowing envelope styling that flowed to the rear bumper. Similar to the Mercury, the Lincoln models grille and larger engines set them apart. Easily distinguished from the 1948 models, these models featured recessed headlights and a more 'streamlined appearance'.

A stately full-size luxury car, the Cosmopolitan from Lincoln was the type of car to chauffeur presidents. Introduced in 1949 the all-new postwar Cosmopolitan was produced until 1954. The design of these elegant models came from high-school dropout turned automobile designer Eugene T. Gregorie or 'Bob'. Its one-piece windshield and chrome spears trailing the front fenders could easily differentiate the Cosmopolitan.

Available in four body styles, the grand Cosmopolitan came in club coupe, town sedan, sport sedan, and convertible. The vehicle had a 125-inch wheelbase, an overall length of 220.5 inches, and a width of 77.8 inches and had a height of 62.7 inches. The most expensive and the heaviest, the convertible had a base price of $3,948. Only 1,230 convertible Cosmopolitans were produced. Weighing around 4,400 pounds, the Cosmopolitan featured a base three-speed manual and a 5.5-liter (337 cubic inch) 152 hp or a four-speed Hydramatic automatic transmission from General Motors.

Sporting a sleek ornament on the hood, the Cosmopolitan was every inch of its detailed body majestically perfect. Suicide doors opened from the B-pillar and the headlights and taillights typified a new styling trend called 'frenching' where parts were recessed into the bodywork. New coil springs were added to the front in 1949. Power windows and power seats became a standard option in 1951.

Johnny Mantz finished in 9th place in the Mexican Road Race. The White House purchased 19 Lincoln Cosmopolitans for their presidential, governmental, and VIP needs.

The second generation of the Cosmopolitan was introduced in 1952 and ran until 1954. Following a restyle in 1952, the Cosmopolitan was paired with the new full-sized Capri. Updates this year included sunken headlights in the front end, slight fins, and fender blades. Replacing the previous engine was the new OHC 317 cu in (5.2 L) Lincoln Y-Block V8. For long-legged passengers legroom in the front was increased to 42 inches. Thanks to the new V8 engine Lincolns won the top four spots in 1952 and 1953 in the Stock Car category of the Pan American Road Race. Lincoln took both first and second place in 1954, its final year.

Based on a regular Cosmopolitan sedan, the Limousine was modified heavily and featured a variety of luxury features. Specially designed for U.S. President Harry S. Truman, the Cosmopolitan Limousine sported gold plating, letter desks, and reading lights. Incredibly modern for the day and time, the vehicle featured two-way intercom between the driver and passengers and full power windows, which could be completely controlled from the President's seat. Only 18 of these unique models were built. Nine models were sent to the White House and eight traveled around the U.S. to place Truman often visited. Henry Ford II donated a very special 1950 Cosmopolitan Limousine to Dr. Weizmann in Israel.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Cosmopolitan

http://www.brewtowncruisers.com/Lincoln

http://www.complex.com/rides/2012/11/the-complete-history-of-presidential-rides/2-1950-lincoln-cosmopolitan-limousines

by Jessican Donaldson