Popular Research Topic
Lincoln Motor Company
Lincoln Motor Company was formed in 1917 by father and son Henry Leland and Wilfred Leland. The elder Leland named it for the first president for whom he voted. Lincoln built airplane engines during World War I, then shifted to production of luxury automobiles. Faced with a difficult economy and disappointing sales, the company entered receivership.
Lincoln found salvation in another father-son duo, Henry Ford and Edsel Ford. Ford Motor Company purchased Lincoln Motor Company in 1922. The $8 million deal spared Lincoln from closure, and Lincoln’s luxury cars expanded Ford’s product line beyond the economical Model T. Edsel Ford guided Lincoln with a simple but highly personal vision:
Lincoln grew into one of America’s most admired luxury automakers, and it remains so today. The Henry Ford’s collections include important Lincoln automobiles, archival materials, photographs, publications, and videos. Below are links to some of our most significant resources related to the history of Lincoln Motor Company.
Lincoln Automobiles
- 1922 Lincoln Camp Vehicle – Built to carry food and supplies for Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Harvey Firestone on their “Vagabonds” camping trips
- 1923 Lincoln Touring Car – One of the first Lincolns built under Ford ownership, given to Thomas Edison by Henry Ford
- 1929 Lincoln Convertible Victoria – Edsel Ford gave Lincoln a sophisticated look to match its luxury status
- 1936 Lincoln Zephyr Sedan – This mid-priced model helped carry Lincoln through the Great Depression
- 1937 Lincoln Brunn Touring Car – Lincoln Model K buyers could choose a body directly from Lincoln, or purchase a bare chassis and commission a body from a custom coachbuilder
- 1941 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet – Edsel Ford and designer Bob Gregorie gave this car a European-inspired “continental” look
- 1941 Lincoln Continental Convertible – This Continental was Edsel Ford’s personal car
- 1953 Ford X-100 Concept Car – Built to celebrate Ford’s 50th anniversary, this car has an engine and drivetrain by Lincoln
- 1956 Continental Mark II – Continental was its own make, separate from Lincoln, when this car appeared, but it paid tribute to Edsel Ford’s original 1940–1948 Lincoln Continentals
- 1964 Lincoln Continental Stretch Limousine – Built for Pope Paul VI and later used as an official parade car in Chicago
- 1996 Lincoln Sentinel Concept Car – Design cues on this sedan pay homage to Lincolns of the 1940s and 1960s
Presidential Limousines
- 1939 Lincoln Presidential Limousine Used by Franklin D. Roosevelt – First limousine modified specifically for presidential service, also used by Harry Truman
- 1950 Lincoln Presidential Limousine Used by Dwight D. Eisenhower – Also used by Harry Truman and John F. Kennedy, with “bubbletop” to protect from inclement weather
- 1961 Lincoln Continental Presidential Limousine Used by John F. Kennedy – Car in which Kennedy was riding when he was assassinated in 1963, rebuilt and used by Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Jimmy Carter
- 1972 Lincoln Continental Presidential Limousine Used by Ronald Reagan – Also used by Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and George H.W. Bush
Archival Collections
- Elwood Paul Engel Papers – Engel’s automotive design career included time at General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler, and his projects included the 1961 Lincoln Continental
- John Tjaarda Papers – As a design engineer at Briggs Manufacturing Company, Tjaarda worked with Edsel Ford and Bob Gregorie to create the streamlined Lincoln Zephyr
- Lincoln Advertisements – Selection of advertisements produced by Lincoln Motor Company
- Lincoln Continental Design Development Photographs – Finding aid for a photograph collection assembled by John Najjar, a Ford designer and stylist for more than 40 years
- Lincoln Design Drawings – Selection of automobile renderings drawn by Lincoln designers
- Lincoln V-12 Sales Records, 1932 – Finding aid for a collection of letters to and from the Lincoln Division Sales Department, concerning Lincoln’s 12-cylinder engine introduced in 1932
- Morgan L. Gies Presidential Vehicles Photographs Collection – Photographs, press kits, and clippings related to Lincoln presidential limousines
- William M. Schmidt Papers – Schmidt was with the Lincoln-Mercury design studio from 1940 to 1955, where his work included the Lincoln Futura concept car
Blog Posts
- An Old Car Festival for the Books: 2017 – The show spotlighted Lincoln in honor of the centennial of its founding
- Edsel Ford’s 1941 Lincoln Continental – Edsel Ford’s role in developing the first-generation Lincoln Continental
- Innovation Icon: Kennedy Presidential Limousine – The Kennedy limousine as a symbol from a tragic day in American history
Books
- Ford: Expansion and Challenge, 1915-1933 – Ford’s purchase of Lincoln is covered in the middle volume of the three-part Ford Motor Company history by Allan Nevins and Frank Ernest Hill, published in 1957
- Master of Precision: Henry M. Leland – Biography of Lincoln founder Henry Leland, co-written by Ottilie M. Leland (Wilfred Leland’s wife) and Millie Dubbs Millbrook, first published in 1966
- The Legend of Lincoln – Assembled in 1985, a collection of Lincoln-related articles and photographs from Automobile Quarterly magazine
- The Lincoln Motorcar: The Complete History of an American Classic – Thomas E. Bonsall tells the Lincoln story in this book from 1981
- The Lincoln Story: The Postwar Years – Thomas E. Bonsall’s 2004 book expands on Lincoln’s operations following World War II
Digital Collections
- Lincoln Automobile – Broad keyword search for Lincoln-related items in The Henry Ford’s Digital Collections
Oil Portrait of Edsel Ford by Diego Rivera, 1932 / THF116599
Expert Sets
- Edsel Ford: The Artist in Our Family – Selection of Lincoln, Ford, and Mercury automobiles influenced by Edsel Ford’s instinctive talent for design
- Lincoln - Birth and Rebirth – Photos, artifacts, and automobiles from Lincoln Motor Company’s first 25 years
- Landmark Lincolns – Some of the automaker’s most impressive and influential models
Ford Motor Company Designer E.T. “Bob” Gregorie, October 1940 / THF139387
Oral Histories
- Automotive Industry Design Oral Histories – Transcripts and audio (where available) of interviews with automotive design professionals like Lincoln designers Bob Gregorie, John Najjar, and George Walker
Auto Dealer Stark Hickey and Detroit Lions Player Clem Crabtree with a 1941 Lincoln Zephyr / THF118251
Photographs
- Ford’s Acquisition of Lincoln – Photographs taken on February 4, 1922, when Ford Motor Company formally purchased Lincoln Motor Company
- Lincoln Automobile – Keyword search for Lincoln-related photographs in The Henry Ford’s Digital Collections database
President Kennedy Riding in the 1961 Presidential Lincoln Limousine with Venezuelan President Romulo Betancourt, Washington, D.C., 1963 / THF106487
Popular Research Topics
- Ford Motor Company Parts Drawings (1903–57) – Frequently asked questions about Lincoln parts drawings in The Henry Ford’s Benson Ford Research Center
- Kennedy Presidential Limousine – Frequently asked questions about the Kennedy limo
- Vehicle Production Records – Frequently asked questions about Lincoln production cards and ledgers in The Henry Ford’s Benson Ford Research Center
Pope Paul VI Pictured Visiting New York in 1965 / THF128756
Videos
- 1964 Lincoln Continental Used by the Pope & Neil Armstrong – The story of the Lincoln parade car built for Pope Paul VI and later used in parades through Chicago
- History of the Kennedy Limousine – The story of the 1961 Lincoln Continental limousine built for President John F. Kennedy
- “Continental” - The Name Speaks for Itself – Clip from a 1985 interview with Bob Gregorie, who worked with Edsel Ford to design the 1939 Lincoln Continental
- Long Hood Elegance – Clip from a 1985 interview with Bob Gregorie, who worked with Edsel Ford to design the 1939 Lincoln Continental
- Presidential Limousines – Mo Rocca looks at presidential limos in this clip from The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation
- Something to Cheer About – Promotional film for Lincoln’s 1941 models
- Streamlines Make Headlines – Promotional film for the 1936 Lincoln Zephyr
If you have questions or need further assistance, please contact the Benson Ford Research Center.
Related Content
Artifacts Related to Lincoln Motor Company
1922 Lincoln Vehicle Used by Henry Ford on Camping Trips
Artifact
Truck
Date Made
1922
Summary
The Vagabonds -- Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Harvey Firestone -- enjoyed their annual camping trips taken from 1916 to 1924. While the three men delighted in the outdoors, their accommodations weren't particularly rustic. This vehicle, built on a 1922 Lincoln chassis, traveled with them. It carried food and cooking utensils for elaborate meals that might include steak, chicken, or freshly baked pie.
Place of Creation
Object ID
28.743.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
1922 Lincoln Vehicle Used by Henry Ford on Camping Trips
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
1923 Lincoln Touring Car, Thomas Edison's Personal Car
Artifact
Automobile
Date Made
1923
Summary
Henry Leland formed Lincoln Motor Company in 1917 to build military aircraft engines. After World War I, Lincoln built luxury automobiles. While Leland's cars were well engineered and manufactured, they weren't particularly stylish for a premium brand. Financial problems forced Leland to sell to Henry Ford in 1922. This Lincoln was given to Ford's friend and mentor, Thomas Edison.
Place of Creation
Object ID
43.30.2
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Mina Miller Edison.
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
1923 Lincoln Touring Car, Thomas Edison's Personal Car
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
1929 Lincoln Convertible Victoria
Artifact
Automobile
Date Made
1929
Summary
When Ford Motor Company bought Lincoln Motor Company in 1922, the luxury automaker's cars were well engineered but not particularly attractive. Lincoln styling flourished under Edsel Ford's leadership. He worked with some of the industry's best coachbuilders to produce appealing designs that improved Lincoln's sales and stature. This 1929 Model L convertible, with a body by Dietrich, is a fine example.
Place of Creation
Keywords
Object ID
78.5.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
1929 Lincoln Convertible Victoria
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
1936 Lincoln Zephyr Sedan
Artifact
Automobile
Date Made
1935
Summary
Automobiles, like other everyday objects, underwent streamlining in the 1930s. The 1936 Lincoln Zephyr joined aerodynamic styling with attractiveness. Its flowing teardrop shape suggests motion. Its V-shaped grille slices the air. Headlights blend smoothly into the front fenders. Rear fenders hug the body and fender skirts hide the rear wheels. Even the taillights are streamlined. The Zephyr was a streamlining success.
Place of Creation
Object ID
38.177.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
1936 Lincoln Zephyr Sedan
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
1937 Lincoln Brunn Touring Car
Artifact
Automobile
Date Made
1937
Summary
This Lincoln Model K is one of ten 1937 cabriolets with a body built by Brunn & Company of Buffalo, New York. It's distinguished by the tinted glass skylights above the windshield, and by the convertible rear roof section that folds down to expose rear passengers to the sun. Inside, a hand-cranked divider window separates passengers from the driver.
Keywords
Object ID
73.32.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of C. Barry Randell.
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
1937 Lincoln Brunn Touring Car
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
1941 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet
Artifact
Automobile
Date Made
1941
Summary
Inspired by a 1938 trip to Europe, Edsel Ford collaborated with designer E.T. "Bob" Gregorie on a custom car based on the Lincoln Zephyr but with a sophisticated "continental" look. Reaction from Mr. Ford's friends was so positive that Lincoln put the car into regular production. The beautiful 1940-1948 Lincoln Continentals that followed represent one of Edsel Ford's most significant achievements.
Creators
Place of Creation
Keywords
Object ID
77.92.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Geri Stroh Jr.
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
1941 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
1941 Lincoln Continental Convertible, Owned by Edsel B. Ford
Artifact
Automobile
Date Made
1941
Summary
Inspired by a 1938 trip to Europe, Edsel Ford collaborated with designer E.T. "Bob" Gregorie on a custom car with a sophisticated "continental" look. Reaction was so positive that Lincoln put the car into production. The beautiful 1940-1948 Lincoln Continentals that followed represent one of Edsel Ford's most significant achievements. This 1941 convertible was Mr. Ford's personal car.
Creators
Place of Creation
Keywords
Object ID
56.79.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
1941 Lincoln Continental Convertible, Owned by Edsel B. Ford
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
1953 Ford X-100 Concept Car
Artifact
Automobile
Date Made
1953
Summary
Ford Motor Company celebrated its 50th anniversary with the X-100, a fully functional concept car billed as a "laboratory on wheels." The X-100 featured more than 50 innovative ideas. Some of them, like the heated seats and the telephone, eventually became commonplace. Others, like the variable-volume horn and the in-car electric shaver, never quite caught on with the public.
Creators
Place of Creation
Object ID
58.73.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company, Engineering Department.
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
1953 Ford X-100 Concept Car
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
1956 Continental Mark II Sedan
Artifact
Automobile
Date Made
1956
Summary
The Mark II was elegantly understated. Its appeal depended not on chrome, but rather flawless quality control, extensive road testing, shocks that adjusted to speed, and power steering, brakes, windows, and seats. At $10,000 it was the most expensive American car you could buy. This particular Mark II was owned by the president of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, Harvey S. Firestone, Jr.
Place of Creation
Keywords
Object ID
73.34.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Harvey S. Firestone, Jr.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
1956 Continental Mark II Sedan
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
Lincoln Continental Stretch Limousine, Used by Various Dignitaries in New York City and Chicago, 1964-1965
Details
Lincoln Continental Stretch Limousine, Used by Various Dignitaries in New York City and Chicago, 1964-1965
Artifact
Automobile
Date Made
1964-1965
Summary
Ford Motor Company and coachbuilder Lehmann-Peterson stretched and modified this 1964 Lincoln Continental for Pope Paul VI to use on his 1965 visit to New York City. The removable roof panel allowed the pontiff to stand and wave to crowds, while step plates and handrails accommodated security personnel. Later, the limousine served as an official parade car in Chicago.
Keywords
United States, New York, New York
United States, Illinois, Chicago
Lincoln Continental automobile
Anders, William A. (William Alison), 1933-
Object ID
2016.49.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of the Apex Foundation.
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Related Objects
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Lincoln Continental Stretch Limousine, Used by Various Dignitaries in New York City and Chicago, 1964-1965
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
1996 Lincoln Sentinel Concept Car
Artifact
Automobile
Date Made
1996
Summary
This 1996 concept car exhibits some of the "retro" design ideas popular in the late 1990s. The Lincoln Continental of 1961 inspired its clean, sharp-edged, chrome-outlined profile. The center-opening doors come from the same car. The front end is a re-interpretation of elements from the 1940 Lincoln Continental, while the exhausts exiting from the rear bumpers recall the 1956 Continental Mark II.
Creators
Place of Creation
Object ID
2003.143.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
1996 Lincoln Sentinel Concept Car
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
1939 Lincoln Presidential Limousine Used by Franklin D. Roosevelt
Artifact
Automobile
Date Made
1939
Summary
This was the first car built expressly for presidential use. It was nicknamed the "Sunshine Special" because President Franklin Roosevelt loved to ride in it with the top down. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 the car was returned to the factory where it was equipped with armor plate and bullet-resistant tires and gas tank. The "Sunshine Special" was retired in 1950.
Keywords
United States, District of Columbia, Washington
Object ID
50.11.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company, Lincoln-Mercury Division.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
1939 Lincoln Presidential Limousine Used by Franklin D. Roosevelt
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
1950 Lincoln Presidential Limousine Used by Dwight D. Eisenhower
Artifact
Automobile
Date Made
1950
Summary
This massive convertible Lincoln was built for President Harry S Truman in 1950, but it is most associated with Truman's successor Dwight D. Eisenhower, who used the car from 1952 until 1960. Eisenhower added the distinctive plastic "bubble top." Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson also used this car as a spare until its retirement in 1967.
Keywords
United States, District of Columbia, Washington
Lincoln Cosmopolitan automobile
Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969
Object ID
67.74.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company, Lincoln-Mercury Division.
Related Objects
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
1950 Lincoln Presidential Limousine Used by Dwight D. Eisenhower
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
1961 Lincoln Continental Presidential Limousine Used by John F. Kennedy
Artifact
Automobile
Date Made
1961
Summary
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in this car on November 22, 1963. The midnight blue, un-armored convertible was rebuilt with a permanent roof, titanium armor plating, and more somber black paint. The limousine returned to the White House and remained in service until 1977. The modified car shows the fundamental ways in which presidential security changed after Kennedy's death.
Keywords
United States, District of Columbia, Washington
Lincoln Continental automobile
Connally, Idanell B. (Idanell Brill), 1919-2006
Connally, John Bowden, 1917-1993
Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973
Onassis, Jacqueline Kennedy, 1929-1994
Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963
Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994
Object ID
78.4.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
1961 Lincoln Continental Presidential Limousine Used by John F. Kennedy
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
1972 Lincoln Continental Presidential Limousine Used by Ronald Reagan
Artifact
Automobile
Date Made
1972
Summary
President Ronald Reagan was getting into this car when he was shot by John Hinckley on March 30, 1981. The car carried Reagan to the hospital. Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, and George H.W. Bush also used this car. In 1982 the front sheet metal was updated, but since a 1982 grille no longer fit properly on the 1972 body, a 1979 grille was used.
Creators
Ford Motor Company. Lincoln-Mercury Division
Keywords
United States, District of Columbia, Washington
Lincoln Continental automobile
Object ID
92.104.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
1972 Lincoln Continental Presidential Limousine Used by Ronald Reagan
What is The Henry Ford?
The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.
