All you need to know about Lincoln.
Born: 1920 Nationality: American
The Lincoln company was established by Henry Leland in 1917 to build engines for first World War bombers, and didn't produce its first car until 1920.
But this was really Leland's re-entry to luxury carmaking, as he had previously established Cadillac, but lost it when he ran into financial difficulties.
His Lincoln "L" of 1920 was true to Leland's strong engineering background, and was solid and innovative, equipped with the first ever multiple-barrel carburettor. But once again his dedication to engineering excellence and highest quality proved Leland's undoing and the car was too expensive to sell in enough numbers to return the investment.
The company had to be rescued by Henry Ford, with whom, ironically, Leland had collaborated in an early automotive venture where Ford himself was the business failure. After his acquisition of Lincoln for $8 million in 1922, Ford re-established it as a luxury division within his own organisation, under the management of his son Edsel and with Henry Leland nominally in a senior position. But within six months Leland was gone, ending an important chapter in the history of cars.
The subsequent Lincolns built through the 1920s and early Thirties were essentially upmarket Fords, but retained a degree of the engineering excellence established by the brand's founder, especially a number of V12 models.
In 1936, the Lincoln Zephyr was introduced, destined to become one of the first "streamlined" American classics. It was directly influenced by Edsel Ford, who had become very interested in the styling direction being taken by European carmakers.
The Zephyr, a very successful model, became the basis for a luxury convertible derivative, the Continental, launched in 1940. After the second World War, during which the Lincoln factories again turned to war production, the Continental was re-released and sold until 1949, when it was replaced by a larger car that did not have the Continental name.
But that name was revived in 1955 when the first of the "modern" Continentals, the Mark II, was introduced, aimed directly at the Cadillac market and with an expensive price tag and an exclusive ethos. By 1960 it was the longest, lowest and heaviest American luxury car. In 1961 a new version was introduced, a convertible sedan which was to become a modern classic.
In 1968 a new Lincoln Mark III began a line of luxury coupés. In 1970 the Continental received a complete redesign, and through that decade was offered with a "Town Car" package of special leather and wood trim. This led to the establishment of the Lincoln Town Car as a model in its own right in 1981.
The third generation Town Car introduced in 1998, with a more contemporary styling and a more modern engine, became the basis for a new generation of "stretch limos" and luxury car service vehicles, a market segment which it still dominates today. The same year, Lincoln launched America's first luxury SUV, the Navigator, which became a major success story.
In 1999, the marque introduced a new "sports saloon", the LS, which attracted 70 per cent of its buyers to the Lincoln brand for the first time. The Continental nameplate was retired in 2002, but may once again be revived following the showing of the Continental Concept in 2003.
Best Car: Because of its impact on our automotive memory, I vote for the 1961 Continental.
Worst Car: Probably the 1960 Continental, an unwieldy road-barge.
Weirdest Car: Not a lot to choose from, but maybe the 2003 Navicross Concept, with its hardwood-lined boot.