Vehicle Description
For many enthusiasts, the 1932 Lincoln KB represents the pinnacle
of aesthetic and mechanical achievement for the Lincoln marque. The
KB carried Lincolns first V12, an engine type destined to power all
Lincolns from 1933 through 1948. The Lincoln fork and blade
connecting rod arrangement was continued, and in this, as well as
other respects, the new engine was a continuation of design
features used since the first Leland designed motor cars. Built for
only two years, the KB V12 was the largest displacement engine
offered by Lincoln until the mid-sixties. It was a response to the
horsepower and cylinder race started by Duesenberg in 1928, further
escalated by the Cadillac V16 introduced in 1930, as well as to the
deepening depression which was swiftly killing luxury car sales by
1932. The response by the competitors in the field, Lincoln
included, was to offer more flamboyant and powerful automobiles
than ever before.
The new KB was an aesthetic triumph as well. Born in a year when
there were few unattractive cars, the Lincoln was nevertheless a
standout. The wheelbase was long, the hood was long, and the entire
ensemble could only be described as majestic. It was the last year
for unskirted fenders and a vertical radiator grille, while
windshields were developing an attractive slant, and variations
were catalogued on the KB chassis alone. In addition to the
factory-built bodies, prestigious coachbuilders Judkins, Brunn,
LeBaron, Murphy, and Dietrich provided suitably beautiful and
high-quality coachwork for the KB chassis. Due to its overbuilt
nature, the KB V12 was an expensive car to produce, and soon Ford's
accountants came knocking with its death warrant. Indeed, 1933
proved to be the final year for the KB with the big 448 cubic-inch
twelve, marking the end of a brief but glorious era for the Lincoln
Motor Company.
One of the most popular, and surely one of the sportiest, was the
LeBaron Convertible Roadster, of which the car on offer is a
fabulous example. Unfortunately, 'popular' in those depressed times
meant that only a mere 125 of these LeBaron bodied convertibles
were built. While Lincoln used the word Roadster, this model
actually had wind up windows and thus did not, strictly speaking,
meet the roadster definition and by today's terms would be
considered a coupe body style. The LeBaron Convertible was first
offered on the Lincoln chassis in 1930. The extended 145-inch
wheelbase initiated in 1931 permitted the top contour to be lowered
and lengthened, improving the appearance. The top folds below the
belt line providing a particularly sporting appearance when the top
is lowered. The car is equipped with a golf bag door on the right
side.
The KB LeBaron presented here was the recipient of a ground up nut
and bolt restoration completed in 2016. Today, it presents in
superb condition and is worthy of continued concours or touring
duty, with the gorgeous black paint and black canvas top in
impeccable order. The flowing fenders, slanted windshield, chrome
radiator, and LeBaron's rakish body exude Classic Era elegance.
Further accentuating the sporting looks are red wire wheels shod
with white wall Firestones, dual side-mount spare wheels, and the
iconic sprinting Greyhound mascot. The paint, bright work, and
details are outstanding.
Inside, striking red leather adorns the seats and door cards and
matching red carpets provide a beautiful complement to the dark
exterior. The dash and superb restored instruments sit in a central
cluster with beautiful art-deco detailing. The black canvas top,
with contrasting red piping, is superb, finished with a matching
boot.
The magnificent presentation continues under the hood, with the
mighty 448 cubic inch V12 wearing its bare alloy, black porcelain,
and chrome with impressive effect. As expected, the engine is true
to factory specifications and meticulously detailed, while also
showing very light signs of use that hint at the car's potential as
a real performer on tours and driving events.
Here is a Classic Era car that gracefully combines a sophisticated,
sporty style with a memorable presence and an aura of the highest
quality inside and out. The ease of driving smoothness these cars
deliver may come as a revelation to those not familiar with the
operation of a KB.
Lincolns of 1932 are regarded as some of the finest cars of the
era, and this example is no doubt one of the best KBs available. It
represents the pinnacle for Lincoln in the pre-war period, when the
marque proudly stood shoulder to shoulder with Packard and Cadillac
in the hotly contested battle for luxury car supremacy.
Offers welcome and trades considered.
