LOT 311
1928 Lincoln Model L Sports Phaeton Coachwork by Locke & Company Chassis no. 49681 Engine no. 49681
Sold for US$134,400 inc. premium
Lot 311
1928 Lincoln Model L Sports Phaeton Coachwork by Locke & Company
Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia Auction|7 October 2019, 13:00 EDT|Philadelphia, Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum
1928 Lincoln Model L Sports Phaeton
Coachwork by Locke & Company
Chassis no. 49681
Engine no. 49681
Coachwork by Locke & Company
Chassis no. 49681
Engine no. 49681
384.40ci L-Head V8 Engine
Single 2-Barrel Carburetor
90bhp at 2,800rpm
3-Speed Manual Transmission
Leaf Spring Suspension
4-Wheel Mechanical Drum Brakes
*Believed to be original paint and upholstery
*A truly amazing time warp
*Sporty and attractive Phaeton coachwork
*Comes with original toolkit and instruction book
*Eligible for Preservation Class Concours events worldwide
THE LINCOLN V8
The Lincoln Motor Company had been founded in 1917 by the great engineer Henry M. Leland and his son Wilfred. After the Great War, Leland's first Lincoln was superbly engineered and built. Introduced in 1921, it was powered by a 358ci L-head, 60°, V-8 engine. Unlike more conventional V-engines which offset the cylinder banks slightly to make room for adjacent connecting rod bearings on the crank journals, Leland's Model L used expensive, precision-made fork-and-blade connecting rods and disposed the cylinders directly opposite each other. Unusually for the period, Leland's V-8 had full pressure lubrication.
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
This particular Lincoln was one of 6,363 cars built in 1928. Of those cars, only 226 of them were sports touring bodies built with coachwork by Locke & Company. Founded by Justus Vinton Locke, the Rochester, NY based Locke coachbuilding company had its heyday in the twenties and was predominantly known for specifically tailored coachwork on luxury chassis- Duesenberg, Packard, Pierce-Arrow, and Mercedes included. As the decade progressed, they began to produce sets of standard coachwork for Chrysler, Graham, Franklin, and Lincoln—among others.
The earliest known history of this particular car is in 1941. At that time, it was purchased from a Lincoln dealer by a Mr. William Lile of Brookhaven, MA. Mr. Lile never met the original owners, but the dealer informed him it had come from their estate in CT. According to letters in the car's history file, the car had under 14,000 indicated miles at the time of Mr. Lile's purchase. After WWII the car was stored by Mr. Lile until 1958 when he became active in an old car club.
In about 1969, Mr. Lile wrote that the speedometer had stopped functioning with a millage reading of 21,300. He sent the gauge away for repair and it was sadly not returned. In 1982, after four decades of ownership, Mr. Lile sold the car to Mr. James Sullivan of Hudson, NC. At this time Mr. Lile speculated that the car had fewer than 25,000 original miles.
Mr. Sullivan was a well-known Lincoln collector and had a passion for original cars. It was very much the pride and joy of his collection. It was shown by him at various shows and was awarded a preservation of original features award by the AACA in 1997. In the 1980s, many original prewar cars were restored, as was the trend before the preservation movement. This phenomenally untouched example shows that Mr. Sullivan was an enthusiast and collector ahead of his time.
A decline in Mr. Sullivan's health put the car into careful static storage in an air-conditioned basement. According to the Sullivan family it was last started and driven 20 years ago.
On recent inspection by a Bonhams Specialist, it was confirmed that this particular example seems to be in impeccable, original order. The leather interior is one of the best preserved 1920s examples that the Bonhams US team has seen.
Amazingly enough, the car still also retains its believed-to-be original paint in phenomenal condition. The replacement odometer, sourced by Mr. Sullivan, reads a little over 40,000 miles.
This lovely time warp example is probably one of the most original Lincoln L Phaetons in existence. It has undoubtedly survived due to its two careful owners over the past four score of years.
The Sport Phaeton by Locke is one of the most desirable and attractive body styles fitted to Lincolns in 1928. This vehicle represents an incredible opportunity to acquire an amazingly preserved piece of automotive history that would make for a fantastic entry in any show's preservation class.
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