1922 Lincoln Model L

Henry Leland's career included the creation of the Cadillac Motor Car Company as a division of Henry Ford's earliest efforts. His engine designs generated twenty-five percent more horsepower than its counterparts and over the years, his work at Cadillac resulted in several engineering awards. In 1909, the company was sold to General Motors with Leland remaining as an executive until 1917. Leland had wanted General Motors to accept a government contract to built Liberty aircraft engines, but William C. Durant (GM's founder) was a pacifist and declined the work. So Leland left and founded Lincoln, named after the President he had voted for in 1864. At the time, Leland was 74 years old.

The Lincoln Motor Company was awarded the $10 million contract to build the V12 Liberty engine. Following the war, the company was reorganized, the six thousand employee workforce was retained, and the Lincoln Motor Company Plant was retooled to manufacture automobiles. Like he had done with Cadillac, the Lincoln automobiles catered towards the luxury car segment and quickly earned a reputation for its precision engineering and quality. While its mechanical stature was impressive, the body styling was stogy and outdated. Coupled with difficult economic times, Lincoln sales were sluggish. For a second time, Henry Ford and Henry Leland's paths were about to cross once again.

While Henry Leland was being forced to sell his newly formed motorcar company, Mr. Ford was seeking a bargain and a brand that would complement his successful low-priced automobile. In February of 1922, ownership of the Lincoln business passed to the Ford Motor Company. Edsel Ford (Henry Ford's son), quickly birthed new life in the marque by applying his flair and passion for the finer things in life, including elegant styling, transforming Lincoln into one of the premier motor cars in the world.

Instead of using a 90-degree vee, Henry Leland's engine used a 60-degree vee angle and fork and blade connecting rod. The 357.8 CID V8 had three main bearings, mechanical valve lifters, a Stromberg updraft carburetor, and delivered 81 horsepower at 2,600 RPM. It was backed by a three-speed sliding gear transmission with floor shift controls and multiple disc, dry plate clutch. Stopping power was provided by mechanical brakes on two wheels. The two available chassis, measuring 130- and 136-inches, were renowned for their torque-tube drive and Alemite lubrication fittings.

Following the acquisition by Ford, changes to the Lincoln mechanical designs were minor. The new radiator badge contained the Lincoln name with 'Ford Detroit' placed within an oval shell, replacing the prior 'Leland Built' words. A new cylinder head improved engine cooling and the use of aluminum replaced the prior cast-iron versions. Additional modifications to the engine included a new timing chain and sprockets. The 357.8 CID V8 was now rated at 90 horsepower. Both the 130- and 136-inch wheelbase remained, but for 1923, the 130-inch wheelbase was eliminated.

Perhaps the most profound change to the Lincoln automobile under the Ford regime was a price reduction of approximately $1,000 on all models with factory bodies. Lincoln had sold 150 vehicles in January and February, but following the price reduction, sales rose dramatically, with approximately 5,362 examples sold over the ten remaining months of 1922 (total production for 1922 was 5,512 units).

The Lincoln Model L, the 136-inch wheelbase platform, and the 90 horsepower rating (displacement rose to 384.8 CID in 1928, but hp remained unchanged) continued to 1930. The Model K was introduced in 1931 bringing with it a 145-inch wheelbase, 120 horsepower from the 384.8 CID V8, and a new lower and sleeker profile.

by Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2020