Lincoln · 1920–1930

Lincoln L-Series

The Lincoln L series (also called the Lincoln Model L) is a luxury car introduced by the Lincoln Motor Company in 1921 as its first automobile. It was manufactured in Detroit, Michigan, and would continue on after the bankruptcy of Lincoln in 1922 and its purchase by Ford Motor Company. The debut Lincoln was positioned at the top end of the motorcar marketplace, competing against the Mercedes-Benz 630, Rolls-Royce Phantom I, Renault Type MC, Packard Twin Six, and Cadillac Type 61. It was replaced during 1930 by the Model K.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Successor: Lincoln K-series

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Model history

=== 1917–1922 === After leaving the company over a dispute with William Durant over World War I production, Cadillac founder Henry Leland created the Lincoln Motor Company. Initially, the company produced Liberty V12 aircraft engines as its only source of revenue. With the war concluded, and at the age of 74, Leland decided to make the Lincoln Motor car. The company was reorganized in 1920 and created the first L-series car in 1920, for sale as a 1921 model. The L series was designed by Angus Woodbridge, the son-in-law of Henry Leland; trained as a ladies hatmaker, the design of the L series was considered old-fashioned for the time. The company catered early on to providing custom coachwork for its clients, and both Brunn and Judkins offered two choices each. 15 selections were available from Lincoln's own coachbuilders; roadsters, coupes, touring sedans, phaetons, and broughams, with a Town Car offered at US$6,600 ($119,132 in 2025 dollars ). Brunn offered both a roadster and a phaeton, while Judkins offered both a sedan and a berline with glass partitions. To further accommodate the particular client, a rolling chassis was sold for US$4,000 ($72,201 in 2025 dollars ). After World War I, the Lincoln Motor Company struggled in the postwar recession with repeated, false tax evasion claims. Total calendar year production for 1920 and 1921 were quoted to be 2,957. 1922–1923. In financial trouble, Leland sold the company to Henry Ford February 4, 1922 for $8 million ($153,876,740 in 2025 dollars ), the amount determined by the judge presiding over the receivership Arthur J. Tuttle. Henry Leland valued the company at over $16 million. After a few months the Lelands left the company because of Henry Ford's managerial style and his son, Edsel Ford, designed a new body for th

Coachbuilders

Lincoln chose not to make yearly model changes, used as a marketing tool of the time, designed to lure new customers. Lincoln customers of the time were known to purchase more than one Lincoln with different bodywork, so changing the vehicle yearly was not done to accommodate their customer base. Lincoln contracted with dozens of custom coachbuilders during the 1920s and early 30s, including American, Anderson, Babcock, Holbrook, Brunn, Judkins, Lang, LeBaron, Locke, Murray, Towson, and Willoughby in the 1920s. Murphy, Rollston, and Waterhouse were added in the 1930s. Even on factory direct orders special and bespoke items were accommodated on a customer basis, with such standard options available as a nickel-plated radiator shell for $25, varnished natural wood wheels for $15, Disteel steel disc wheels for $60, or Rudge-Whitworth center-lock wire wheels for $100.

In media

A 1924 Lincoln was featured in the first season of the classic CBS sitcom The Good Guys. In the 1986 comedy movie, The Money Pit, the house came with a 1929-30 Lincoln L-series 4-door Sport Phaeton as a part of the purchase. == References ==

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name

Lincoln L series

Manufacturer

Lincoln Motor Company , Lincoln (Ford)

aka

Lincoln Model L

Production

1920–1930

Body style

2-door convertible, 4-door convertible, 2-door coupe, 4-door sedan, 4-door town car, 4-door limousine, 4-door phaeton

Assembly

United States: Detroit, Michigan (Lincoln Motor Company Plant)

Designer

Angus Woodbridge, Edsel Ford

Class

Luxury car

Layout

FR layout

Engine

1917–1927: 90 hp 357.8 cuin Lincoln Fork and Blade V8, 1928–1930: 90 hp 384.8 cuin Lincoln Fork and Blade V8

Transmission

3-speed manual

Wheelbase

1917–1922: 130 in, 1923–1930: 136 in

Successor

Lincoln K series/Model K

sp

us

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

• Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1407097CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_L_seriesCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1348160797 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lincoln_Model_L_Sport_Touring_1929.jpgCC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: Lars-Göran Lindgren Sweden · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.

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