1927 Lincoln Sedan

Description

In the early days of motoring, Lincoln's quality was undisputed. Henry Leland, Lincoln's founder, was a perfectionist and the cars bearing his favorite president's name (yes, that's really how Lincoln got its name) were beautifully built and incredibly rugged machines that were more like road-going locomotives than mere automobiles. This handsome 1927 Lincoln Model L sedan is a wonderful survivor in mostly original condition and a wonderful introduction to owning a Full Classic automobile.

There's something special about any car that hasn't been completely restored, but for one that's approaching 90 years old, it's downright remarkable. The black paint on this big sedan is quite a few years old, and as a result it's not perfect, so if you're expecting a concours shine, this isn't your car. On the other hand, with survivor type cars being the hottest thing on the market today, it signals that collectors are finally realizing that unrestored cars are artifacts worthy of preservation and that a few bumps and bruises are testament to history passing rather than defects. And with all that in mind, this Lincoln remains eminently impressive. All four doors fit with that fabulous solid-sounding "CHUNK" sound when you close them. There's a subtle cream-colored pinstripe to highlight the body moldings, including Lincoln's famous kick at the lower edge of the cowl, and the rear-mounted trunk gives it real presence. All the brightwork is nickel, not chrome (which didn't come along until about 1929) and as such as a soft gloss that is the result of time and hand polishing, another charming survivor feature you can't buy anywhere else. The hood ornament is also original and is a highly desirable collectible item.

More remarkably, the interior is original, and that's a real feat. Wool broadcloth that shows very little wear and just minor signs of age remains comfortable enough for all-day touring and the understated look is exactly what Henry Leland had in mind. Function above form was his motto and it shows inside where you get a big, industrial-strength wooden steering wheel, simple but complete instrumentation, and lovely Edwardian hardware on the doors, again in polished nickel. The rear seats seem to show a little more wear than the front, perhaps the fronts have been re-stuffed with original horse hair, but the accommodations are still first class all the way. And out back there's a reasonably-sized trunk that's actually more useful than you'd think.

The Lincoln's 358 cubic inch V8 was a marvel of '20s engineering. With a giant aluminum crankcase and detachable cylinder blocks and heads, it's surprisingly easy to service, although the quality of the parts means that doesn't need to happen all that often. It runs superbly, with a pleasing V8 grumble from the exhaust and big car torque to get all that sheetmetal moving. The famous Lincoln "whirlwind" air cleaner lives up top and it still runs its original distributor up front. The 3-speed manual transmission is non-synchronized, so you'll need to brush up on your double-clutching, and the brakes are mechanical, so they take a bit of effort, but both of those are features, not bugs, for guys who love these cars as I do. The undercarriage is mostly original with only a few new exhaust pieces and properly maintained hardware throughout and those big 21-inch wooden spoke wheels carry subtle blackwall tires for the perfect period look.

The quality is tangible and the preservation is remarkable in this Lincoln. A charming Full Classic for a very reasonable price. Call today!