Henry Leland left Cadillac in 1917 to start Lincoln--which was indeed named after a hero of Leland's, President Abraham Lincoln. Initially the company assembled Liberty V12 aircraft engines for the World War I war effort, only to encounter financial troubles in the transition to luxury automobile manufacturing. The company was unable to stay commercially viable, forcing Leland to declare bankruptcy in 1922. At that time, Ford bought the company for $8 million.
Within two years, Ford had Lincoln production up and profitable. It was successfully competing with other American luxury brands such as Cadillac and Packard. The l-head V8 initially used was made with 60 degree banks, which suffered less vibration than the 90 degree banks that were industry standard at the time.
Lincoln's first limousine debuted in 1923. And it makes sense, given the company's name. that many U.S. presidents were driven around in... View more Lincoln limousines. Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first in 1939 with the Sunshine Special, and George H.W. Bush was the last. Police Flyers were large sedans that started production in 1924. The package included four wheel disc brakes, and options included a gun rack, bullet-proof glass, spot lights, and exhaust-mounted whistles.
Lincoln-Zephyr was introduced to bridge a perceived gap between Mercury and Lincoln and become an entry-level luxury vehicle. The flagship Continental came from this line of cars and went on to become the most important in Lincoln's history. The first series ran from 1939 to 1948, excluding the production interruption during World War II, and in 1948 was the last American vehicle to feature a V12. The trademark externally mounted covered spare would prove such a success, it was replicated many times over by the parent company and competitors alike in so-called "continental packages". Starting with the Continental Mark II in 1956, the line would continue until 2002.
The Premiere only lasted from 1956-60, but the cars featured some unique highlights. Those equipped with factory a/c had the vents situated overhead, similar to an airplane. The second generation, made in 1958-60, were among the largest cars ever made. At 227 inches long and 80 inches wide, it has the most shoulder room ever for a Lincoln. They also were among the first to use Lincoln's new 430-ci engine, which replaced the Y-block V8, which was the earliest Ford overhead valve V8.
A late '90s renaissance came with the debut of the Navigator SUV, the first offering in the company's history with four-wheel drive. The 1998 Lincoln was the highest-selling luxury brand in the U.S. with 194,499 units sold. Success would be short-lived, however. Sales lagged through the mid-2000s, as the line lacked new models or ones sufficiently different from Fords. Spurred by a new parent-company CEO and corporate direction, Lincoln has been unveiling a handful of new or redesigned vehicles, of which seven are planned to be launched between 2010 and 2014. View less
The Lincoln LS is an entry-level sedan with enough luxury and visual appeal to compete with most other foreign manufacturers in the same category. Its rear wheel drive configuration is coupled with a...
There's an overabundance of crossover SUVs on the market today, but the luxury class is a little less crowded. One definite standout is the Lincoln MKX, which combines the sleek exterior and roomy interior of...
Due to its stylish appearance and abundance of luxury features, the Lincoln Navigator has become one of the most popular high-end sport utility vehicles on the market. Like most SUVs, the Navigator is...
Introduced in 1981, the Town Car became the signature luxury sedan offered by Lincoln, which is a division of the Ford Motor Company. From 1981 to 2010, the Town Car was sold under the Lincoln-Mercury brand;...
