Vehicle Description
1951 Lincoln Lido Hardtop
The Lincoln Lido was a bodystyle of the Lincoln EL-Series of the
Lincoln marque during the 1950 and 1951 model years. It was
introduced on July 5, 1950 as somewhat of Lincoln's answer to the
GM hardtops that debuted in 1949. List price for the 1950 model was
$2721. It was similar to the Mercury Monterey and the up market
Lincoln Cosmopolitan Capri, all were two door coupes. The 1950 to
1951 models featured a vinyl or canvas-covered roof, fender skirts,
bright roof drip rails and rocker panel moldings, dual door
mirrors, a gold-colored hood ornament from the Cosmopolitan and a
custom leather interior with special door and side panels. An
electric clock was standard. Few were sold, however it reappeared
as a special show car in 1963 called the Lincoln Continental
Lido.
With hauntingly small numbers of these cars built and even fewer
surviving, let alone being unrestored, this is a hen's tooth of a
consignment. A 2 owner, all-steel body, a 336.7ci displacement
flathead V8, and at the turn of the new decade it's the best it
gets as to the design. Aerodynamics were a second thought in the
day; however, this car has the design of a sleek rocket ship,
albeit in Buck Rogers heavy form, but still sleek and swept. Big
chrome adds to the look, and weight, which nearly eclipses 2 tons!
As stated, this car is unrestored but still presenting nicely
inside and out and mechanically sound. It's time to grab this baby
and start crowing about it.
Exterior
Arriving in our first zip code is the massive 3 tier grille that is
polished to the nines and has 5 small teeth to grind up the
competition. Flanking this big chrome is more...well chrome with
rounded headlights complete with deeply sunken bezels in chrome,
and a small chrome crest hovering just below a tarnished rocket
style hood ornament. This fronts a bulbous hood with that stylized
jet streaking in front along with a mustache style bump out on the
leading edge clearing the way for the wonderfully large hood bathed
in a EvergladeGreen. Rounded integrated fenders with more curves
than Brigitte Bardot are bathed in more Everglade Green which makes
their way back to the large door and lower belt line trim spear
works its way from front to rear. In the next zip code is the
passenger compartment roof with its stainless trimmed white vinyl
roof covering, window surround trimmings and beautiful door handles
with some extra pinstriping embellishments just for s**#s and
giggles. More of the Everglade Green runs to the rear of the car,
on a rounded rear quarter, shades of Marilyn Monroe. Here resides
the very rare and not often seen chrome trimmings around the gas
door. Some chips and cracks are noted throughout the curvaceous
body along with some surface rust that is mainly reserved for the
lowers. On the back is more curvalicious steel, another crest and
some big chrome in the form of a bumper that wraps around the rear
quarters. Like the headlights, the tail lights, in classic
cathedral style, are slightly sunken into the semi-pontoon rear
fenders with chrome trimmings all around. Rear fender skirts and
wide whites all around shown off by polished smooth caps with the
Lincoln crest making this iconic skate even more bada$$!
Interior
Swinging open the long sleek door and we are met with a multi ivory
covered door panel that has a mix of smooth leather on top, a
central corduroy broadcloth area and ribbed leather lowers. These
panels have a thin chrome strip and the panels are peppered with
shiny chrome cranks and handles along with chrome buttons for a
little extra wow! This cloth and leather plays out on the seats
with broad corduroy striped tuck and roll lower cushions, also
covering the half of the upper cushion before transitioning to a
smooth ivory leather with small padded armrests for the rear bench.
We cannot even begin to assume the full condition of the front
split bench but we can note that the outer of the driver's side and
passengers upper outer is heavily worn and torn and shows a striped
pattern in broadcloth. Slightly worn and weathered light brown
carpet floods the floors, and up front above this carpet floats the
dash with its Everglade Green steel dash top, and mostly tan ribbed
dash front and instrument surrounds. These are all clean with black
faces and white lettering and are fronted by the original steering
wheel, fashioned out of wood for the rim and full chrome horn ring.
A stained and torn tan cloth headliner in sewn ribbed format is
above.
Drivetrain
A pull of the interior release and doing our best Olympic
weightlifter impression we open the massive steel hood and feast
our eyes upon a black painted engine of the 336.7ci flathead V8
variety. Producing 154 horsepower and topped with a 2-barrel
carburetor all is well here. Backed by a 4-speed Hydramatic
automatic transmission and putting power to the ground via a 3.31
geared rear axle this sled should be able to move nicely. We note
that the electrical system is still a 6 volt system and a pleasant
overall patina covers the engine and bay.
Undercarriage
Very original nice patina with surface rust but no invasive rust is
seen. A stock independent coil sprung front suspension is on, and
in back the car utilizes leaf springs. Drum brakes are on all 4
corners and a solid X frame supports all this menagerie. Single
exhaust with a stock style muffler works its way to the rear of the
car where exhaust gases exit under the right side of the rear
bumper.
Drive-Ability
Sitting inside such an amazing vehicle one cannot help but put a
smile on his face. She fired right up, idled with a low rumble, and
took off like a rocket. All functions worked great save for the
radio, headlights and heater blower and we noted that 1st gear in
the transmission has a slip and engages 2nd instead of first. Flaws
aside, the car had good brakes, nice easy steering, and a beautiful
cruiser that turned more heads on our test drive than if I would
have walked naked down main street...but I digress...
Every now and again amidst all the classics that show themselves at
our front door, one becomes a standout for its design,
construction, awesome power, or just plain old uniqueness. This one
covers all those bases and then some and is a very rarely seen 1951
Lincoln example with all some service receipts, the owner's manual
and a few sales brochures. All waiting for you in our Hallowed
Halls of the Classic Auto Mall.
51LP17584L
51-1951
LP-Dearborn, MI Lincoln Assy Plant
17584-Sequential Unit Number
L-Lincoln Line
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our
showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just
1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The
website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888)
227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come
see the vehicle in person.
