For Sale: 1926 Lincoln Model L in Saint Louis, Missouri

Founded in 1920 by Henry Leland, the Lincoln Motor Company was established as a premium American automobile manufacturer focused on precision engineering. Leland, who had previously co-founded Cadillac, named the company in honor of President Abraham Lincoln. The Model L, Lincoln's inaugural offering, combined solid mechanical underpinnings with Leland's 60-horsepower V8 engine. While its styling was initially conservative, the build quality and performance set it apart. In 1922, Ford Motor Company acquired Lincoln, and Edsel Ford ushered in a golden age of bespoke coachwork, commissioning leading American firms such as Brunn, Judkins, and Walter M. Murphy Company to clothe Lincoln chassis in designs that would rival the best from Europe. Few such collaborations were more expressive-or more exclusive-than the car offered here.
Known as "The King," this particular example was custom-built by the Walter M. Murphy Company of Pasadena, California, for Thomas E. Sharp, a wealthy San Diego-based telecommunications magnate and rancher from San Diego. , Believed to be a one-off design, the car features lightweight aluminum coachwork in a subtle skiff-tail configuration. Its design includes numerous bespoke details and craftsmanship that reflect Sharp's personal vision and preferences. The story of this remarkable Lincoln takes it from California, across decades, to a museum in Oklahoma, and finally into the hands of some of the most prominent collectors of American classics.
The body was created to suit Mr. Sharp's personal taste-anything but staid. Constructed in lightweight aluminum, it features a tapered boattail rear deck, deeply cut doors for ease of entry, and an elaborate window system that allows the open tourer to transform into a fully enclosed limousine. Much of the brightwork was hand-formed and remains intact today, including the distinctive brass hardware, now freshly polished. Both the greyhound radiator cap and the dash fascia are gold plated-adding an unexpected flourish to an already decadent interior. Even more remarkable, the cabin was designed with convertible seating that allowed it to fold into a twin bed for long journeys. The restoration retained these features and preserved the distinctive character that made the car so special from the outset.
Sharp reportedly retained the car into the 1950s, and documentation shows it remained roadworthy into that decade. In the early 1960s, it was acquired by the Reverend T.L. Osborn, a globe-trotting evangelist and Lincoln enthusiast who displayed it in his World Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His collection included a stable of Model Ls, but this was undoubtedly the centerpiece. The car was restored under the care of Mrs. Osborn's brother, Robert Washburn, and at that time was placed on chassis no. 40539-a later-spec Model L notable for its four-wheel brakes. It was during this restoration that "The King" received its updated chassis, helping to improve its drivability and ensuring its future road use.
After years of success on the show circuit and features in numerous publications, the Lincoln was sold to collector Larry Casey in 1981, then passed to the Imperial Palace collection in Las Vegas, before being acquired by a respected collection based in the Midwest in 1998.
Recently serviced and mechanically sorted, the Lincoln is now running beautifully-its 385 cubic inch V8 providing ample performance, matched with a 3-speed manual transmission and upgraded chassis dynamics. A brand-new, black cloth top has been fitted, perfectly executed, and handsomely trimmed. The car also rides on freshly fitted whitewall tires and presents with the mechanical confidence to be driven as well as displayed.
Cosmetically, the Lincoln has benefited from recent rejuvenation of its exterior, with gleaming paintwork and bright, freshly polished brass and nickel trim that bring out the best in Murphy's flowing lines. The interior, while an older restoration, remains incredibly charming, with a warm and inviting patina that only decades of care and gentle use can provide. Everything from the intricate woodwork to the gold-plated dash has a richness and depth that no modern restoration can replicate.
Accompanied by extensive documentation and period photos, including one of Mr. Sharp himself proudly posing beside the car-this is a rare opportunity to acquire a truly one-of-a-kind Lincoln. As a rolling example of early American custom coachwork at its most imaginative and expressive, "The King" lives up to its nickname. This is not merely a rare Model L-it is the only one of its kind, crafted for a singular purpose, with a provenance as rich as its detailing. A true centerpiece for any serious collection of Classic Era American automobiles.

Offers welcome and trades considered.