Vehicle Description
Lincoln Motor Company entered the luxury automobile market in 1921
with the V8-powered Model L. Henry Leland founded Lincoln in the
wake of an acrimonious departure from Cadillac, thanks largely to
conflicts with GM founder Billy Durant. As the first model to come
from this new marque, the Lincoln Model L boasted a compact yet
powerful 60-degree V8 with fork-and-blade connecting rods and
full-pressure lubrication, set in a robust chassis that was widely
praised for its excellent handling and ride quality. Early models
were criticized for their somewhat dull styling despite superior
engineering, and sales struggled to get off the ground. In 1922,
Henry Ford acquired the Lincoln Motor Company, which was as much a
business decision as an act of vengeance against his arch-enemy
Henry Leland. Ford immediately installed his son Edsel at the helm
who, unlike his pragmatic father, had a keen sense of style, making
him the ideal person to run Ford's new flagship. With Edsel's
input, the Lincoln range was restyled and could now be tailored to
the individual buyer's needs, with a bevy of custom coachwork
options from LeBaron, Deitrich, Judkins, Willoughby, and others.
Finally, the Model L had the style to match its superbly engineered
underpinnings. Positively resplendent in its elegant Dietrich-built
coachwork, this 1926 Model L is one of the finest early Lincolns we
have had the pleasure to offer. Marque experts believe this is one
of just two 1926 models to feature this Dietrich-designed and built
Fully Collapsible Cabriolet body, officially designated Model 149A.
It is also one of the earliest known cars to wear the nameplate of
Ray Dietrich's newly formed coachbuilding firm, Dietrich, Inc. This
particular car was ordered for Hollywood movie magnate Mr. Jack
Warner, the driving force behind Warner Bros. Studios. The formal
coachwork he selected is appropriately elegant transport for a
powerful Hollywood mogul, yet it can be fully opened to make the
best of Southern California's abundant sunshine. After many years
in the renowned Cars of the Stars/Movieworld Museum in Buena Park,
California, the Lincoln came into private ownership and underwent a
meticulously researched nut-and-bolt restoration. The project was
completed around 2009, and the results are nothing short of
spectacular, with impeccable finish quality and detailing.
Presented in a handsome two-tone livery of burgundy with black
fenders, this Model L boasts tremendous presence. The black painted
Rudge-Whitworth wire wheels wear polished trim rings and centers to
give it a purposeful, subtly sporting stance. Bright trim and
fixtures are all restored to concours standards and beautifully
finished. Typical of Ray Dietrich's work, the coachwork is clean
and minimally adorned, with no fussy details or extraneous trim to
spoil the lines. Accessories include dual side-mount spares, a
Greyhound mascot, front wind-wings, and a trunk rack with a covered
trunk. For the rare rainy day in Los Angeles, the driver's
compartment can be enclosed via a temporary soft top with matching
side screens. The interior of this Lincoln is a particularly
extraordinary display of the restorer's craft. In the accompanying
file, one album is dedicated to the painstaking research that went
into obtaining proper materials and colors used in the cabin. Many
of the luxurious fabrics covering the rear compartment were custom
made for this project, reproduced by specialists from original
swatches with painstaking accuracy. Marvelous details include wood
fixtured for the gentleman's and lady's side, two folding opera
seats, a microphone for directing the chauffeur, and a roll-up
divider window. Interior fixtures and hardware are impeccably
finished to concours standards, and the window frames and B-pillars
fold neatly away for a fully-open look. The chauffeur's compartment
is trimmed in beautiful black leather, which has a rich and
inviting character. Controls, switches, and instruments, and "fat
man" steering wheel are all in superb order. Lincoln's compact yet
powerful V8 engine is exquisitely detailed down to the last
fastener and finished in the correct green-gray color on the block
and heads. It is beautifully presented, displaying only light signs
of use from the occasional concours tour. After its exhaustive
restoration, this gorgeous Lincoln was shown at several major
events on the West Coast. The impressive list of accolades includes
a 3rd in Class C-4 at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and
awards at the San Marino Motor Classic and La Jolla Concours
d'Elegance. It also scored 99.75 points in Classic Car Club of
America competition, earning a 1st Prize, Primary Division. This
stunning and rare Lincoln Model L remains in superlative condition
and is suitable for continued participation in concours and other
prestigious motoring events on the world stage. Please note car is
titled as a 1927. Offers welcome and trades considered For
additional details please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/6718-1926-lincoln-model-l-dietrich-fully-collapsible-cabriolet/