Eric Minoff
Vice President, Head of Department - US
LOT 33 ¤
1927 Lincoln Model L L-152 5-Passenger Sedan Design by Dietrich Chassis no. 41636 Engine no. 41636
Sold for US$28,000 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 33¤
1927 Lincoln Model L L-152 5-Passenger Sedan
1927 Lincoln Model L L-152 5-Passenger Sedan
Design by Dietrich
Chassis no. 41636
Engine no. 41636
Design by Dietrich
Chassis no. 41636
Engine no. 41636
357.8ci 60° L-Head V-8
Single Stromberg Updraft Carburetor
90bhp at 2,800rpm
Three-Speed Manual Transmission
Live Axles with Semi-Elliptical Leaf Springs
Four-Wheel Mechanical Drum Brakes
* Largely original and unrestored
* Coachwork designed by Raymond Dietrich
* Quality design, materials and manufacture
* Fascinating LaVere Redfield ownership legend
THE LINCOLN MODEL L
The acquisition made no business sense: Lincolns were stodgy, expensive and did not sell well. But the 60° V-8 engine that Henry Leland created for his luxury Lincoln motor cars in 1920 appealed to Henry Ford enough to consummate an acquisition. Possibly born from a desire to give Henry's only son, Edsel, something to do so that he would not be at Ford pushing sleek, custom built coachwork for cars costing an entry level $500.
Edsel Ford brought a sense of style, design and luxury to its bodies that Leland had overlooked. Coachwork was supplied by the cream of the coachbuilding crop like Judkins, Locke, Willoughby, LeBaron and Brunn. In 1927 Lincoln built 7,149 units and the Model L remained in production until 1932.
The 1927 model year marked a pivotal moment in the Lincoln L-Series story, representing perhaps the most concentrated period of mechanical development across the car's entire decade-long production life. Among the most consequential updates was the adoption of four-wheel braking, a system Lincoln marketed under the "six-brake" designation — a nod to the dual-circuit arrangement combining internal expanding hydraulic brakes at all four corners operated by foot pedal, alongside traditional external contracting rear brakes activated by the hand lever. Alongside this, engineers addressed long-standing drivability concerns through a revised clutch assembly that meaningfully reduced rotational inertia, allowing for smoother, more reliable gear changes. Rounding out the year's improvements was the introduction of a combined steering column and ignition lock — Lincoln's forward-thinking response to vehicle theft, integrating security directly into the driving controls for the first time. This 1927 Lincoln Model L 5-Passenger Sedan was known by the designation "L-152." Approximately 917 were built, making it one of the most popular body styles of that year. 1927 Lincolns were competitive with the best from Cadillac, Packard and Marmon.
THE CAR OFFERED
This particular 1927 Lincoln has a Reno story. It was formerly owned by LaVere Redfield, a Reno millionaire who dressed in flannel shirts and walked to the casino when he wanted to gamble because he hated paying for gasoline. Redfield is best known for being robbed in 1952 when his safe, which he claimed contained $2.5 million in cash, was burglarized from his Reno home. During the police investigation a stash of 270,000 silver dollars were discovered in a secret basement room. After his death in 1974 the family discovered another 407,000 silver dollars. These stories make up only part of the LaVere Redfield legend.
The Redfield family gave the Lincoln to the National Automobile Museum in 2013. It is finished in dark green with black fenders and roof above the beltline. The interior is upholstered in olive green mohair. There is a pair of rear-facing jump seats, rear compartment vanity and smoking set, pulldown curtains, luggage rack, rear-mounted spare body color wood spoke wheels, whitewall tires, windshield visor, wind wings, a Waltham speedometer, dash-mounted cirag lighter, Parabeam headlights, a vacuum-operated windshield wiper and a radiator car greyhound mascot.
It is a rare survivor that has been preserved for decades without ever being restored and offers a rare opportunity to acquire a representative example of a 1927 luxury car that has never been significantly altered. It also has an intriguing ownership story and ought to make a welcomed participant in shows and events.
There may even be some of LaVere Redfield's silver dollars hiding in it!
Saleroom notices
Title in transit.
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