Five score and two years ago, Lincoln became a member of the Ford family. On February 4, 1922, Henry Ford purchased the Lincoln Motor Company for eight million dollars (or roughly $140 million, when adjusted for inflation).
With over a century of history now in its rearview, Lincoln has safely secured its place in automotive lore. Today, Casa Lincoln celebrates 102 years of Lincoln coming under the Ford umbrella by looking back on the luxury manufacturer’s earliest days.
The Early Years (1917 – 1922)
The Lincoln Motor Company was founded in 1917 by inventor and engineer Henry M. Leland, who named the company after his favorite president, Abraham Lincoln. Leland formed the company with a $10,000 wartime contract to build the V12 Liberty aircraft engine. Following the war, the company would pivot to the manufacturing of luxury automobiles.
After selling the company to Ford in 1922, Leland and his son Wilfred continued managing operations, believing they’d retain full control of the company to run it as they pleased. However, it soon became evident that animosity between Leland and Henry Ford wouldn’t allow for a functional working relationship. Due to Leland’s role in creating the Cadillac, Ford had already attempted to low-ball Leland when he initially purchased Lincoln. A judge had to intervene and reject Ford’s initial five million dollar offer, as the total value of the company was estimated at more than triple that amount.
When Ford finalized the Lincoln deal and assigned several people to work there, it quickly became apparent that these new overseers were there to streamline production – not to take orders from the Leland family. Relations continued to deteriorate over the ensuing months until, on June 10, 1922, Ernest Liebold arrived at Lincoln. Under the direction of Henry Ford, the Ford executive insisted on the resignation of Wilfred Leland. Henry Leland resigned out of solidarity with his son, and both men were escorted out of the factory they had built.
The Zephyr and Continental (The 1930’s)
Under the guidance of Henry Ford’s son Edsel, the Lincoln factory was redesigned and expanded. By 1923 the company had turned a profit. In 1924, a Lincoln Model L supplied for Calvin Coolidge became the first state limousine used by a sitting United States president in an official capacity. By the time the calendar flipped the decade to 1930, the company was thriving. Much of its early success is attributed to Edsel Ford, who would continue to serve as Lincoln’s president until his death in 1943.
In 1936, the Lincoln Zephyr was introduced. It was Lincoln’s first mid-priced vehicle and turned heads with its V12 engine and “alligator” hood design. The Lincoln Continental followed the Zephyr in 1939 and enjoyed even more success. With its unique body design, the Continental helped establish the personal luxury car market in America.
Post-Great Depression & World War II (The 1940’s)
The Great Depression forced several American luxury car manufacturers to fold, as there was simply no market to operate in. By 1940, Lincoln, Cadillac and Packard were the big three that had survived. To help solidify Lincoln’s standing, Ford reorganized Lincoln Motor Company as the Lincoln Division of Ford Motor Company, providing them with a corporate structure similar to what Cadillac enjoyed with General Motors.
After the United States joined World War II, Ford halted consumer automobile production to focus on wartime manufacturing. As such, Lincoln once again ceased automobile production. Following the war’s conclusion, Lincoln’s structure within Ford transformed once more, as they paired with Mercury to form the Lincoln-Mercury Division. They would remain grouped together until Mercury’s dissolution many decades later, in 2010.
Lincoln returned to production in 1946, using the Zephyr chassis but eschewing the name. The H-series took the Zephyr’s place, and by the end of the decade, the Continental had also ended its run. Version 2.0 of the Lincoln Division was underway.
2024 and Beyond
There’s plenty more to Lincoln’s story, and the 75 eventful years between the end of the war and the present are equally worthy of diving into. You can join the Lincoln family today at Casa Lincoln, as they continue their pioneering ways well into the twenty-first century. See how they stack up to competition with exceptional SUVs such as the 2024 Lincoln Navigator. Or get acquainted with the 2024 Lincoln Corsair: intelligently designed for active luxury.
Lincoln has been telling their story for over a century now; it’s time you start writing yours. Come visit Casa Lincoln today, where we’ll work with you on writing your next chapter.
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