Vehicle Description
Henry M. Leland may not be a household name in the same way that
Henry Ford is, but his influence on the American automotive
landscape is no less important and far reaching. A machinist and
inventor who learned tool making in the firearms industry, he was
at the leading edge of automobile development at the turn of the
20th century. During his time running the Leland and Faulconer he
supplied engines for Ransom E. Olds. He also, incidentally,
invented the electric barber's clipper! In 1902, Leland was brought
in to the Henry Ford Company to appraise their assets prior to
liquidation. Leland complied but suggested they reorganize and
build a car based on an engine Leland supplied to Olds. The new
company was called Cadillac and they set to work building some of
the finest early motorcars available. Leland applied many of the
lessons he learned in the firearms business to the automobile, most
importantly, the use of interchangeable parts. Leland sold Cadillac
to General Motors in 1909, but remained in charge. He headed the
development of the electric self-starter alongside Charles
Kettering in 1912. A dispute over the production of Liberty
Aircraft engines led to his departure from Cadillac in 1916, and
his subsequent founding of another great American luxury marque -
Lincoln. The Model L was Henry Leland's first model since he formed
Lincoln Motor Company following his contentious departure from
Cadillac. Introduced in 1917, the Model L was designed by Leland's
son-in-law, Angus Woodbridge who, curiously, was trained as a
ladies hat maker. In spite of Mr. Woodbridge's unconventional
training, the Model L was a fine car, if perhaps viewed as a bit
old-fashioned in its day. Financial troubles hit the company hard
during the post WWI recession, and in 1922 Leland sold Lincoln to
Henry Ford for $8 million. Ford immediately displaced Leland and
Woodbridge, and assigned his own son Edsel to head the new
division. Edsel, unlike his father, understood the importance of
style on a high end automobile and he designed a new body for the
L-series, and improved handling with the addition of hydraulic
shock absorbers. They also streamlined the production process,
saving vast amounts of money and turning Lincoln into a profitable
business in less than a year. By 1925, the robust L-Series was
restyled again with a new nickel-plated radiator shell. The 90
horsepower V8 and three-speed transmission remained and the car
sold well, offered in a variety of body styles. Our featured
example is from 1925 and is dressed in a rare and attractive
convertible coupe body by LeBaron. It is finished in a unique
tri-tone scheme, with medium khaki body sides, darker hood and
accent lines, and black fenders and swage lines. The colors are
accented with red pinstripes and red wire wheels, giving a fun and
sporting appearance. This Model-L wears a very well preserved older
restoration featuring an array of fantastic period accessories.
Body lines are very good, and the high quality LeBaron convertible
coupe body exhibits excellent fit and finish for the period,
however the paint is just starting to show some age. Starting at
the front end, it wears nickel plated Drum headlights, a badge
bar-mounted drum spot light, and a very rare OWL accessory light
mounted high on the radiator shell. Whoever the heroic original
owner was in 1925 must have enjoyed high-speed motoring at night!
Atop the nicely restored radiator sits the famous Lincoln Greyhound
mascot. Moving back, you find drum cowl lights, dual sidemount
spare tires with mirrors, an opening windscreen and body side
golf-bag door. Rumble seat passengers are treated to their own
folding windshield to ensure their comfort and a covered trunk sits
out back on a folding rack. The LeBaron designed body is very
stylish and well-proportioned with a long, tapering rear deck and
it wears the accessories well without appearing overwrought. The
cozy cockpit is trimmed in period appropriate cloth which presents
in good condition, showing little wear since the restoration was
completed. Wood on the dash, door caps and steering wheel are all
in good order and the original instrumentation is all intact and
attractive. The rumble seat is trimmed in brown leather, which
would be correct for the period, as it was harder wearing and more
likely to see weather. The flat head 90 horsepower V8 engine is
very nicely presented in correct gray paint on the heads and
cylinders. Polished hardware, correct clamps and painted
accessories round out the detailing. The engine is mated to a
3-speed manual gearbox which is strong and easy to operate. With
lots of interesting accessories, a very rare and desirable LeBaron
body and a quality restoration that has been very well maintained,
this Lincoln L is sure to charm its next owner.
