Vehicle Description
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.
