Vehicle Description
Chassis No. 33503
"The builders of motor cars, long concerned with solving
engineering problems, have in the past given insufficient thought
to the beauty of design," proclaimed period sales literature for
Lincoln's Model L line of vehicles. Founded in 1917 by Henry
Leland, creator of the Cadillac automobile, Lincoln positioned
itself as an alternative to the ubiquitous and utilitarian
offerings from Ford and others, allowing customers to choose from a
variety of beautiful coachbuilt exteriors. However, the economic
woes of the post-World War One recession hit Lincoln hard, forcing
Leland to sell his company to Henry Ford in 1922, who promptly
appointed his son Edsel to lead the division. Fortunately, Edsel
Ford shared Leland's vision of offering richly appointed,
custom-built vehicles, and treated the Model L to a restyling
featuring a nickel-plated radiator grille, front and rear bumpers,
and the absence of cowl lights. A full breadth of body styles
remained available from coachbuilders such as LeBaron, Fleetwood,
and Judkins, as well as Buffalo, New York-based coachbuilder Brunn
& Company.
Renowned for their exceptional build quality and elegant designs
ranging from limousines to lithe two-seater roadsters, coachbulit
Lincolns bodied by Brunn & Company remain among the rarest and most
sought-after of the era. More exclusive still is the "Beetle Back"
Roadster presented here, as one of only six examples built with
just three surviving today. Characterized by its softly tapered
rear end and steeply raked windshield, the Brunn design was a
progenitor of the "boattail" rear-end treatment which would appear
on other vehicles later in the decade. Power was provided by a
sophisticated, 90 horsepower 357 cu-in V8, imbuing the open
two-seater with sporting performance to match its exterior.
This particular "Beetle Back" Roadster is presented in wonderful
overall condition since benefiting from a complete restoration
approximately 50 years ago by Kenneth Pearson of Wauconda Tool and
Engineering. Wearing a light green finish neatly contrasted with a
dark green beltline, the Lincoln was preserved in an esteemed
Michigan-based collection for several decades before entering the
Jepson Collection in 2010. Today, it boasts an array of spectacular
period accessories including its leather-trimmed rumble seat,
nickel-plated brightwork, Greyhound radiator mascot, chrome wire
wheels, and matching dual rear-mounted spares. Under previous
ownership, its impressive presentation was awarded at several
prestigious shows and concours including AACA First Junior at Lake
Forest, AACA First Senior at Central Spring Nationals, and many
more. Truly one of the most magnificent custom-bodied Lincolns ever
built, this award-winning "Beetle Back" Roadster by Brunn is ready
to take on many more discerning judges at the world's most
prominent concours and events.
