The LINCOLN LINK LinkingThe together LINCOLN all elements of the motorLINK heritage

In this Issue: • New Lincoln Motor Car Museum Announced • Lincoln Indianapolis 500 Pace • New Lincoln MKS and MKT

published semi-yearly Volume VI, number 1 • summer, 2008 Indianapolis 500 pace cars. For THE EDITOR’S the 1932 pace laps, the 1932 KB was driven by Ford, and in MUSINGS 1946 the pace car was driven by Edsel’s son, II. The AND RAMBLINGS 1946 vehicle has dropped from sight (hopefully to reappear), ■ He’s baaack! I have another Lincoln MKS but the 1932 KB’s engine and opportunity to serve as guest model lineup. The Mark LT was transmission have been found, editor of The Lincoln Link. a Lincoln variant of the Ford which will allow the recreation Creating the last issue with F150 , introduced of that vehicle—a process that is Richard Cole and the many fine in 2005 as a 2006 model year underway. people who contributed to the vehicle. The dropping of the research was such a delightful Mark LT was prompted by Ford Lincoln MKT experience that I am pleased to Motor Company’s change to the be allowed an encore. Lincoln product strategy. It has ■ This issue of the Link fea- been decided to avoid thinly dis- tures the public announcement guised versions of other vehicles of the three major Lincoln affin- for the Lincoln brand, a practice ity clubs’ intention to build a known as “badge engineering.” Lincoln automotive museum. The Ford F150 is new for 2009, The boards of the three clubs and the incremental investment ■ The front doorway and for an appropriately differenti- are using the Foundation as the lintel of the closed Packard fac- ated version for Lincoln was vehicle (nice pun) that will plan tory in was recently auc- deemed too high for the antici- and direct the construction of tioned. The purchaser is a sup- pated sales volume. The attitude the museum. The Foundation is porter of the Packard Museum at Ford is, “If you can’t do it designated as a public founda- in Dayton, Ohio, and the door- right, don’t do it.” tion by the Internal Revenue way will presumably be relo- Service, and contributions to ■ In spite of the deletion of cated to Dayton as part of the the building fund through the the Lincoln Mark LT, Ford Packard Museum. The auction Foundation will be tax-deduct- Motor Company continues its price was $161,000. This pres- ible under Section 501 (c)(3) of commitment to high levels of ervation effort is very similar to the Internal Revenue Code. The investment in the Lincoln brand. the Foundation’s rescue of the new Lincoln museum will fit This issue of the Link has some Lincoln entryway lintel and dec- perfectly with the Foundation’s comments on the just intro- orative stonework in 2002. The educational role. duced, highly luxurious and well Lincoln stonework is currently ■ Almost unnoticed is the received Lincoln MKS and on display at the Gilmore Car deletion of the Lincoln Mark an announcement of a pend- Museum in Hickory Corners, LT from the 2009 Lincoln ing new Lincoln vehicle—the . Lincoln MKT. ■ This issue of the Link was ■ The Lincoln Owners’ enjoyable to create. I hope Club and the Lincoln-Zephyr that the announcement of the Owners Club have graciously museum excites you to the point allowed the publication of infor- where you will become a con- mation based on their articles tributor of time and money to about the 1932 KB Lincoln make the building and its dis- and 1946 plays a reality. Lincoln Mark LT Cabriolet —Jack Eby 2 volume vi, number 1

New Lincoln Motor Car Museum Announced A facsimile of the press release distributed by the Lincoln Motor Car Foundation, the Gilmore Car Museum and during the week of September 8, 2008.

uring the recent perfect thread with which to tive museums in the world. Lincoln car club meet tell the story of the American The Gilmore has instituted in the New Hamp- automobile industry and the a unique program to enhance shire White Moun- people who made it great,” its own extensive automotive tains, the Lincoln he noted. “The Lincoln mu- collection by inviting selected DMotor Car Foundation made seum will illustrate that story organizations to share its a dramatic announcement: and, most important, high- campus and infrastructure. the long-anticipated Lincoln light the people associated Michael Spezia, Director of Motor Car Museum will be with Lincoln.” the Gil­more, said, “We are built on the campus of the The Lincoln “story” is at delighted that Lincoln will Gilmore Car Museum in the heart of the Lincoln Mo- join the Classic Car Club of Hickory Corners, Michigan. tor Car Foundation, which America Museum, the Tucker The Foundation, working was established in 1999 by Collection and the Pierce- closely with the Gilmore Car members of various Lincoln Arrow Museum as part of Museum and Ford Mo- clubs and retired Ford Mo- our partnership program.” tor Company, is reviewing tor Company executives. The “This is a long overdue architectural plans for an all- purpose of this public, non- initiative,” said Peter new, dedicated building. The profit foundation is to pre- Horbury, Ford Executive Foundation’s public capital serve, interpret and dissemi- Director, Design, The campaign is well underway nate the living heritage of Americas, welcoming the in anticipation of building a Lincoln automotive products. announcement of the new 20,000-square-foot building It has already established an Lincoln museum. “Lincoln in two 10,000-square-foot extensive archive in Hershey, represents over eighty years phases. Construction of the Pennsylvania. of wonderful history and first phase is expected to be- The Gilmore Car Museum, fantastic automobiles. From gin in 2010. nestled in a 90-acre park- the early, elegant cars of the John T. Eby, chair of like setting midway between 1920s to the pure and simple the board of the Founda- and Detroit, was Continentals of the 1960s, tion, stated that the Lincoln opened in 1966 and displays Lincoln has a wonderful automobile has a rich history over 200 vehicles spanning story to tell. We look forward stretching back to the very more than 100 years of auto- to helping the new Lincoln beginnings of the automo- motive industry. Today, the museum become an exciting tive industry. “The Lincoln Museum enjoys a reputation and educational destination.” automobiles represent a as one of the finest automo- 3 the lincoln link

Great Museums Tell Stories

here is nothing more a reasonable compromise. powerful and exciting than The major criteria considered an idea whose time has in the selection of the Michigan come. The memberships location were the receptivity, of the Lincoln and vision, cooperation and TContinental Owners Club, The track record of the Gilmore Lincoln-Zephyr Owners Club management and Foundation; the and the Lincoln Owners’ Club, proximity to the metro Chicago, through their respective boards Detroit and Indianapolis of directors, have decided that population centers and airports; the time has come (some say a bias toward the center of the it’s past time) for a Lincoln The Lincoln museum will be built on the United States; the association motor car museum. The boards campus of the Gilmore Car Museum in with the National Park Service have directed their educational Hickory Corners, Michigan. Automotive Heritage Area; and foundation, the Lincoln Motor the business proposal offered Car Foundation, to take the lead organizations. by the Gilmore. The planning in planning and directing the Unfortunately, there is no committees believe that, all things construction of a 20,000-square- optimum location for a physical considered, the Gilmore is the foot museum, with construction facility to which people must appropriate location. to start in 2010. travel. No matter where a The Lincoln Motor Car A number of interesting sites Lincoln automotive museum is Foundation intends to construct and business relationships for the situated, many people will be a facility that will do much more museum have been reviewed, and inconvenienced; however, the than showcase a collection of it has been decided to accept the Gilmore campus is believed to be automobiles and memorabilia. invitation of the Gilmore Car Many museums do that well, but Museum in Hickory Corners, great museums use their artifacts Michigan, to partner with them and collection to tell stories. in construction of a free-standing, It is the stories that educate dedicated Lincoln facility on and entertain, create lasting their campus and to share their memories of a museum visit, and infrastructure. often inspire related activities The Gilmore has a partnership and return visits. program that provides land on Lincoln is one of the unique which invited organizations can automotive brands that has construct their own facilities. associated with it a catalog of As part of this program, the stories through which the history Gilmore retains title to the land of the American automotive and contracts to purchase the industry can be told. Some of building if the building occupant the great early Lincoln tales that

chooses to relocate at some n al A utomotive H istory Colle c tio , Detroit Publi L ibrary Courtesy of the Natio come to mind are Henry Leland’s time in the future. In addition, education in precision machining for a monthly fee, the Gilmore in the armories of the American will maintain the building and Civil War and later transfer to collections. The Lincoln clubs, Detroit’s automotive companies; In the early days of the Lincoln plant, through their Foundation, are workers assemble the Liberty aircraft Henry Ford and Henry Leland’s looking forward to becoming engine. The new museum will cover Lin- relationship with one of the Gilmore’s partner coln history back to these earliest days. Company and the subsequent 4 volume vi, number 1

and built bodies, tank a n y The Continental Mark II, a mid- destroyers and aircraft engine century milestone for Lincoln. components. Under the leadership of Henry Ford II and Benson Ford, Lincoln went racing, dominating the large stock class of the Mexican Road Races in 1952 through 1954 image c om p lime n ts of F or d M otor Com and winning the first Strictly Stock NASCAR race in 1949. Another milestone in that decade was the conception, design and production of the 1956/57 hallmark Mark II by William Clay Ford, Sr. and his team. The later years of Lincoln production included such technical and styling milestones as the 1961- 63 “Slab Side” Lincolns; the 1969- renaming of the company as hallmarks of the streamlined 98 Mark series of personal ; ; the formation of the era; and inspired and put into and the creation of the luxury SUV to production the 1940 Lincoln segment with the introduction of build Liberty aircraft engines for Continental, an acknowledged the Navigator in 1998. World War I and the changeover classic. It was On the cover of this Lincoln to automobiles; and the purchase during this era that the Lincoln Link is an artist’s conception of of the struggling Lincoln Motor association with U.S. Presidential the Lincoln museum where we’ll Company by Henry Ford in was initiated. do our story telling. This is an 1922. During World War II, for early rendering that is subject to Under ’s creative the second time in its history, change, but the planning com- leadership, Lincoln established Lincoln was an integral part mittees and the Gilmore Foun- a unique, mutually supportive of an “Arsenal of Democracy.” dation Board of Trustees like relationship with the custom Lincoln provided engineering the industrial theme of bricks, body builders of the ’Twenties and prototype support for Ford, limestone and glass, and are and ’Thirties; introduced the produced many major assemblies excited about incorporating the Lincoln-Zephyr, one of the for the B-24 Liberator bomber, original Lincoln Administration

The artist’s conception on this aerial photograph shows where the Lincoln museum will sit on the Gilmore campus. Courtesy of G ilmore Car M useum the lincoln link

Building stonework into the design. Allen McWade stepped forward as all grateful include Jerry Emery, Note the use of expansive outdoor the volunteer chair of the Museum Stanley Grant, John and Joanne display areas. Committee. Allen is well underway Lower, John and Ellen MacAdams, A site for the museum building in the task, having set up a commit- Allen McWade, Larry Pittman, Da- at the Gilmore has been selected as tee structure, selected an architec- vid and Diana Stevens, the LCOC illustrated on the aerial view of the tural theme, identified a site and Hoosier, Midwest, Philadelphia and Gilmore campus. The site is centrally initiated the fund raising. Southern Regions, and the LCOC located, in what will be a high traffic In addition to money, the 2006 Eastern National Meet pro- area and will allow connection to Foundation needs volunteers to ceeds. In addition, the prior memo- other Gilmore buildings that will help with the wide range of deci- rial contributions to the Foundation incorporate meeting, conference and sions that are required for a project will be folded into the building catering facilities. This location will of this scope. Please contact Allen fund to allow the memorials to be also insure ease of use during the at [email protected] if you are identified at the museum site. Two winter months. interested in participating “up close million dollars is not a large sum if Twenty thousand square feet of and personal.” everybody contributes; but it is a Lincoln exhibit space is contemplat- Accumulation of the funds for gigantic sum if we all assume that ed. It will be built in two 10,000- the building, exhibits and main- somebody else will carry the burden square-foot phases. The individual tenance fees has been initiated. A for us. Please help. exhibits will highlight Lincoln’s total of $2.0 million is required Lincoln has an extensive string of role in the American automotive for the first phase. This is a com- stories that can entertain and instruct industry, making maximum use of munity effort, and to be successful using a common theme—the history cutting-edge visual and audio tech- requires the participation of all of of the people and events associated niques to heighten the experience. the members of the Lincoln clubs, with the Lincoln motor car. Please Construction on the first phase is the Foundation and all of the friends join with your friends in constructing planned to begin in 2010. of the Lincoln brand. Here is your a great museum that will allow the tell- The initial planning for the opportunity to create a legacy for ing of those stories. You may use the museum was done by Dr. David yourself and to commemorate your contribution form below, or contact Roycroft as chair of the Founda- interest in Lincolns. Allen McWade at amcwade@local877. tion’s Museum Committee. Personal Early generous contributors to org or Jack Eby at [email protected] for reasons forced his resignation and the building fund to whom we are additional information.

My Personal Support for the Lincoln Motor Car Museum n Please join your friends and supporters of the Lincoln automotive heritage in making a generous gift for the purpose of building a museum with which to share with the public the history of the Lincoln brand. Contributions for the museum building fund of the Lincoln Motor Car Foundation are welcome as a one-time gift or as pledge payable over five years, appreciated securities, or as part of your estate planning. The gifts can be made in your name, in commemoration of someone you wish to honor, or as a memorial to a loved one or friend. Appropriate recognition of your gift will be made at the museum site. Many special naming opportunities are available, or one that particularity appeals to you can be created. n The Lincoln Motor Car Foundation is organized as a not-for-profit Michigan corporation and is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a public, tax-exempt foundation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Your contributions to the Foundation should be tax-deductible from your federal income tax.

Supporter’s Name(s)______

Postal Address/City/State/Zip______Telephone ______E-mail Address______Pledge Amount $______Enclosed:______Payable Over 5 Years:______Name (s) for Recognition______Some available naming opportunities (payable over five years if desired): n Walkway Bricks $100 n Patio Pavers $500 n Interior Benches $1000 n Gardens $5,000 n Exterior Stone Benches $10,000 n Patios $25,000 n Exhibits $25,000 n Galleries $50,000

Please make checks payable to the Lincoln Motor Car Foundation and mail to: Jack Shea, Treasurer • Lincoln Motor Car Foundation • 5022 Harbortown Lane • Fort Myers, FL 33919-4651 6 imageS compliments of Ford Motor Company volume vi, number 1

Edsel Ford drives Henry Ford II pilots the the 1932 Lincoln pace ’46 Continental pace car car at Indianapolis. at the Brickyard. Lincoln Pace Cars at the Indianapolis 500-Mile Races

inety-nine years ago, four start could be employed, with all and begin racing in earnest. This prominent businessmen the cars lined up side by side. With procedure was so successful that of Indianapolis, Indiana, the starter’s signal, each driver it has been continued, with some established a 21/2-mile would pop the clutch and away he refinements, ever since. auto race track west of the would go. This was the way auto Carl G. Fisher, president of the Ncity. They called it the Indianapolis races started almost everywhere. Speedway Company and the most Motor Speedway. There were But in 1911, the owners of prominent of the four founders, many automobile manufactur- the Speedway decided to stage drove the pace car himself in that ers in or near Indianapolis at the one single major race per year, on first Indy 500 in 1911. The pace time, and the four founders of the Memorial Day, May 30th, and that car was a Stoddard-Dayton road- speedway, having risen to promi- race would go on for 500 miles! ster of some 40 horsepower, as nence one way or another in this The prospect of a major event like Fisher was the dealer for that make fledgling industry, saw a need for this drew forty qualifiers and a of car in Indianapolis. In fact, a first-class auto race track in their crowd of nearly a hundred thou- Fisher drove the pace car in the area—not only as a business ven- sand spectators. With forty cars, first five races: in 1912 he drove ture, but as a testing facility where there was no way they could line a Stutz roadster, and in 1915, a auto makers could develop better up side by side on a track fifty feet Packard. His mount for the 1913 and faster cars. wide, so they were arranged in and ’14 races was a much more In time, the automobile eight ranks of five cars each. This powerful Stoddard-Dayton, which industry faded from importance made the standing start much too cranked out 70 horsepower from in Indiana, but that race track dangerous, as any car that stalled a 525-cubic-inch sleeve-valve six- established in 1909 soon became would almost certainly be struck by cylinder engine. The pace car, they known as “the greatest race course an accelerating car directly behind found, had to be a pretty swift in the world,” promoting itself it, and disaster would be virtually machine in order to lead the rac- in those very words. Even people certain. ers at a speed fast enough to keep who have only a passing interest So it was that the first Indy 500 the highly tuned cars from fouling in auto racing know about “Indy,” began with a rolling start. The their spark plugs. and for those who love the sport, race cars, arranged on the starting The Indy 500 soon developed the Speedway is virtually holy grid, were led around the track at into such a popular and important ground. about 40 miles an hour by a “pace annual race that auto makers began The first races held at the car,” which circled the track for vying for the honor of supplying Speedway had few enough contes- one lap before pulling off into the the pace car. For 1916, a big pow- tants that the traditional standing infield to let the racers accelerate erful Premier roadster was named 7 the lincoln link

Edsel Ford, in the ’32 Lincoln roadster pace car, prepares to lead the 1932 field.

as the pace car, and Frank E. so. Four other auto makers were its most distinctive feature being Smith, an executive with Universal building newly designed V-12’s, a well with a hinged cover behind Motor Products, which supplied too: Auburn, Franklin, Packard the cockpit into which the top a lot of parts to Premier, was the and Pierce-Arrow, as well as could be lowered and concealed. driver. World War I interrupted the Cadillac, which had introduced its This beautiful Model KB Sport race series in 1917 and ’18, but the V-12 in 1931. Thus, half a dozen Roadster had what must have been races in Indianapolis took up again different V-12’s vied in 1932 for the most expensive finish ever seen in 1919, when a Packard Twin-Six what was left of the on an Indy pace car. Some reports served as the pace car, driven by market, along with the Cadillac said it was painted in two shades Jesse Vincent, who had designed V-16, first seen in 1930, and the of gunmetal gray; others said it that V-12 engine. In 1920, the Marmon V-16, introduced in was pearl essence. Actually, it was redoubtable him- ’31. Collectively, these were the both. Basically, the fenders and self drove a powerful Marmon most magnificent powerplants body mouldings were in a dark roadster on the pace lap. ever built to propel motor cars, gray with the rest of the body a and the tragedy of it all was that lighter shade, but in, or on, that ater that year, the Lincoln the nation’s economy was almost finish was the pearl essence. motor car was introduced to at the deepest pit of the Great This was the name given to L the public as a 1921 model Depression just when the current a paint additive made from tiny by its manufacturer, Henry M. crop of expensive automobiles was scale-like crystals shed by sardine Leland. The new Lincoln was a at the peak of classic design and herring when seined. The little large, powerful car from its very construction. fish, in flipping around in the beginning, and even after the Ford From among all these likely con- net, lose some of this substance, Motor Company bought the busi- tenders for the honor of serving as which is a fatty material called ness in 1922 after Leland’s com- the 1932 Indy pace car, the Lincoln “gaunin.” These crystals were pany failed, Lincoln has continued V-12 was chosen. Lincoln’s engine to build large, powerful cars, any had the largest displacement of all n For more information on the 1932 one of which would have made a the V-12’s offered in ’32, and it Lincoln KB Sport Roadster Indy pace car, see The Fork & Blade suitable Indy pace car. Yet in the cranked out 150 horsepower, cer- magazine published by the Lincoln 84 years in which Lincoln and the tainly enough to lead the race cars Owners’ Club, Inc., for Winter, Indy 500 have coexisted—that at a fast clip. 2003; Summer, 2004; and Winter, is, every year since 1920 except The custom-bodied roadster in 2007. More information on the 1946 four years during World War II—a which the great V-12 was installed Lincoln Continental pace car can be Lincoln was chosen as the pace car was just as impressive as the found in The Way of the Zephyr for January-February, 1992, and March- at Indianapolis only twice. engine. It was one of only three April, 1992. A complete listing of The first such occurrence was (some authorities say five) Type all the Indy Pace Cars from 1911 in 1932. The Lincoln Motor 249 Sport Roadsters built by the through 1997 appeared in a special Company introduced its first V- Walter M. Murphy Company of edition of Collectible Automobile 12 engine that year, although Pasadena, California. The car was magazine for June, 1997, which was entirely devoted to that subject. they were not the only one to do the epitome of classic elegance, 8 volume vi, number 1

The 1946 Indy race had its exciting moments, but perhaps most exciting was the speed achieved by Henry Ford II in the modified 1946 Continental pace car. gathered, dried and cleaned of pace car. Undoubtedly, Edsel and racers on May 30th was the first foreign material, and the product company were unwilling to risk postwar Lincoln Continental that was called “pearl essence.” Mixed blemishing that pearl essence fin- most of the spectators had seen. with lacquer, with or without ish, as the car still had to be sold It was clearly the most glamor- other pigments, pearl essence gave after the race. ous new car to appear since the an iridescent effect as the sunlight war had ended nearly ten months was refracted by the tiny crystals. o races were held at the earlier, and that pale yellow color Needless to say, the labor involved Indianapolis track dur- was one hitherto never seen on in gathering and preparing this N ing World War II, and for any Continental. The car even had additive was very time-consuming, want of care, the entire complex white sidewall tires, which were and thus it was very expensive. In fell into a state of decay. But simply not available to any new car 1932, a pound of pearl essence in fortunately, a new owner was buyer in 1946, and it had a white its pure state cost about $120. found—Anton J. “Tony” Hulman, , left over from Driving this magnificent Jr., of Terre Haute, Indiana—who 1942 production. It was a beauty, pace car was Edsel Ford, Henry engaged Wilbur Shaw, three-time all right, and it went like the wind! Ford’s only son and president of pre-war Indy winner, to run the Some who saw it speed around the both Ford Motor Company and speedway. Through great effort, track at over a hundred miles an Lincoln. As seen leading the rac- they were able to get the track, hour figured the factory must have ers around the track, the Lincoln the grandstands and all the other installed some new eight-cylinder roadster was the last Indy pace car facilities ready in time to resume engine, then under development, to appear without any signage on the Memorial Day race at Indy on as the old prewar V-12, designed it to tell what it was. The earliest May 30, 1946, and it was a new in 1935 for a much lighter car, pace cars had all been unmarked; Lincoln Continental Cabriolet that just couldn’t possibly make that by the 1920’s, about half of them led the 33 racers on the pace lap. heavy Continental run so fast. But were painted with “OFFICIAL Driving it was Henry Ford II, who whatever the engine, it was a spec- PACE CAR” and sometimes the had just been elevated to the presi- tacular car. make of car on the doors or the dency of Ford Motor Company in Lettered on the doors was top of the hood. In 1930, the September, 1945, when his grand- its identification as “OFFICIAL Cord L-29 pace car remained father was no longer able to run PACE CAR” of the “500 MILE unmarked on the field, but the the company, and his father, Edsel, RACE,” along with the date, but following year, the 1931 Cadillac had already died. the make of car was not stated. V-12 roadster was identified with Even though Lincoln had gone There was no need for it; everyone lettering on the doors, and so was back into automobile production knew what it was. the big roadster late in 1945, a lack of materials used in 1933. From that time on, and major strikes among Lincoln’s ixty-two Indy 500’s have been every Indy pace car has carried its suppliers had severely limited pro- run since that day, and never official identification painted on duction until the spring of 1946, S in all those races has another the exterior, leaving the Lincoln so the creamy yellow Continental Lincoln made the cut as the KB roadster as the last unmarked Cabriolet poised ahead of the Indianapolis Speedway pace car. 9 the lincoln link

That ’46 Continental and the ’32 body framing being constructed, he done so, he would have seen KB Roadster remain as Lincoln’s the windshield frame being cast that the ’46 Cabriolet with Body only showings in that capacity, and and the door hinges being fabri- #9 and Engine No. H-138083 thus, those two cars are of consid- cated. Plans are to have the body was reported in the 1975 LCOC erable historic interest—but what completed by mid-2009, but it directory as owned by Jack has become of them? remains to be seen just when the Palmer, of Costa Mesa, California. The 1932 roadster, following entire job will be done. Palmer did not stay in the club the race at Indianapolis, was pre- If the car is to be painted in very long, either, but it seems very pared for sale by the factory, and its original iridescent gray pearl likely that his car had been the within three weeks was shipped essence finish, it would seem that pace car, and since it had survived to Cleveland, Ohio, where it was arrangements should be made nearly thirty years by 1975, there sold to Mrs. Katherine Holden- soon with commercial sardine fish- is a good chance that it still exists. Higbee, a wealthy department ermen to start gathering as much And as for the engine in that store heiress who was prominent gaunin as possible from their nets, pace car, yes, it did have a V‑12 in Cleveland society. as it will take a lot of that stuff to in it, but one that had been After Mrs. Holden-Higbee’s make enough paint to cover that reworked by an expert. LZOC’s ownership, the car seems to have huge roadster! long-time technical editor, Paul slipped into obscurity, but it The 1946 Lincoln Continental Clancy, attended the 1946 race turned up again about ten years that served as the Indy pace car at Indy, and watched Henry ago when William Sloan, II, probably survives, although it has Ford II speed around the track of Addison, , joined the not been reported or seen for over at over 100 m.p.h. In later years, Lincoln Owners’ Club and report- thirty years. Around 1975, Samuel Paul realized that a stock ’46 ed that the Lincoln he owned was Landers, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Continental won’t go that fast, a ’32 KB Murphy-bodied roadster owned a ’46 Continental whose so he checked to see what was with serial number KB-1281, the body number tag read 5EH-56- done to make the pace car do very number that researchers in 1, which identified it as the first it. His contacts led him to Bill the club have determined was the Cabriolet body built in 1946. Stroppe, who had risen to fame as Indy pace car. Alas, the years had Knowing that few such cars had the man who tuned up the road been unkind to it. The only parts been built before the first postwar race Lincolns in the early ’50’s really worth salvaging for reuse Indy 500 was run, he wondered to improve their performance. were the engine itself, with the if his car might have been the Stroppe told about overboring the number on it, and the transmis- pace car, so he did some research V-12 to increase the displacement, sion. Sloan described it as in need and published his findings in increasing the compression ratio of restoration, but he died before the Lincoln Continental Owners and smoothing all internal pas- any such work was attempted. Club’s magazine, Continental sages—all of it inside the engine Following Sloan’s death, the Comments. Another member, so it still looked like a factory job remains of the roadster were the late Jim Baker, of Huntsville, under the hood. Thus reworked, acquired by the Canton Classic Tennessee, read the article and that stock-appearing V-12 would Car Museum in Canton, Ohio, told Landers that in doing push the Continental to 108 miles which was established thirty years research at the Ford Archives, he per hour, about 20% faster than ago by the late Marshall Belden, had come across some records any other such car would run. Sr., to house his collection of pertaining to Experimental Cars, And, as Paul Clancy noted, it some four dozen classic cars and one of which was identified as made that speed in virtual silence! other collectibles. The museum is the 1946 Indianapolis Pace Car. These two Lincolns made now recreating the Indy pace car, Landers had discovered the “back- wonderful Indy pace cars. It’s too using the original engine and gear up” car, with Body #8, Baker bad Lincoln hasn’t had a chance to box but reconstructing the rest. said; the real pace car had Body provide another pace car in the last sixty-odd years!— ave ole This work is now well underway, #9. Landers did not remain in D C with the patterns for the wooden LCOC long after that, but had 10 volume vi, number 1

New for 2009: the Lincoln MKS he recently introduced 2009 Lincoln MKS is fly- ing out of the showrooms! T Five days is a typical time in dealer inventory; most dealers will not deliver their last MKS until they are sure another one from the factory is being unloaded on their lot. It’s delightful that the pub- lic recognizes the fine effort of Ford’s designers, engineers and production personnel. The MKS The Lincoln MKS is the best Lincoln effort by Ford in many years. Those who and 270 lb-ft of torque which is The MKT will utilize a version have driven it speak glowingly very adequate, but watch for tur- of the underbody, chas- of it and are particularly compli- bocharging next year. The 2009 sis and drivetrain, but in keeping mentary of the elegantly detailed MKS is truly a wow vehicle! with Ford’s strategy of main- interior. taining Lincoln distinctiveness, The MKS has a fine array ...and the Lincoln MKT! every panel that the customer of technical features including n Now for those who may have sees or touches will be uniquely , rain thought Lincoln product innova- Lincoln. Described by Ford as a sensing wipers, a rear view cam- tion and design to be a bit timid, “luxury utility vehicle,” the MKT era, SYNC™, Easy Fuel™ capless Ford Motor Company has signaled it makes a bold and pleasing fuel fill system, SecuriCode™ its intention to put the Lincoln design statement. Note the keyless entry, keyless starting, a MKT Lincoln concept vehicle into theme that is reminiscent of the THX® II sound system, a voice production in 2009. The MKT 1941 Lincoln line. One wonders activated navigation system and was first shown publicly at the if there is room in the Lincoln many more. The 3.7 liter V6 January 2008 North American lineup for both an MKT and a engine delivers 273 horsepower International Automotive Show. Navigator.

The Lincoln MKT 11 LINCOLN FOUNDATION DONATIONS

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