I apologize if I’ve introduced an earworm by presenting this 1951 Lincoln Lido. Even today, almost 50 years after its release, “Lido Shuffle” by Boz Scaggs will get stuck in your head if you let it. But why Lido? From what I can find, the term “Lido” represents the “lido deck” on a posh steamship, the one where the fancy people hang out by the pool. You have to admit, Lincoln was floundering in the late 1940s through about 1955; it’s not that the cars aren’t cool, it’s that they lacked a separate identity in the marketplace. As you can see, it’s hard to tell if this ’51 Lido on craigslist near Denver is a Lincoln or a Mercury. Of course, that doesn’t matter much today, so if you’re looking for a unique collector car, the seller is asking $22,950. Thanks to Mike F. for sending it to us!
Lincoln had two basic bodies in 1951, and the Lido was based on the smaller 121-inch wheelbase version that clearly shared a body with Mercury. The posher Cosmopolitan (which does sound swankier than Lido) had a 125-inch wheelbase and a higher price to match. Across town at General Motors, every car brand (sorry, GMC) had a new “hardtop convertible” by 1951. Ford Motor Company was caught out by that styling trend and was forced to doll up their two-door sedans, and that’s what the Lido is. With a “canvas or vinyl” roof and special interior, the Lido was sent out into the world, where it was immediately outsold by General Motors’ hardtops.
The seller of this Lido is presenting it as a low-mileage original owned by their father. The paint and interior are both apparently as Lincoln built them, and both show the effects of time. The paint has some “spider cracks” and the interior looks like a little water and perhaps some moths have gotten to it. Like many collector cars, this one has spent some time sitting around; it runs and drives but has a leak from its rebuilt GM Hydra-Matic that may fix itself with use. Yes, like many other brands in the 1950s, Lincoln bought an automatic from their biggest rival until they had one of their own (which happened in 1955).
To me, the most fascinating part of this Lincoln is its engine, a 337 cubic-inch flathead. I love obsolete engines. The 337 was only offered in the Lincoln from 1948-1951 and was shared with heavy-duty Ford trucks. For use in the Lincoln, it had hydraulic valve lifters and produced 154 horsepower, which was not bad in 1951. It looks a little like the famous Ford flathead, but it is bigger in every way, weighing over 800 pounds as installed in the Lido. Because of its size, weight, and comparative rarity, it never caught on with hot rodders, but it was perfect for pulling around a big Lincoln, at least until the overhead-valve Lincoln Y-Block was introduced for 1952. I wish the seller would have included some current pictures of this one; it was rebuilt at some point and looks pretty cool under the hood.
I know that this Lincoln has been up for sale for quite some time; it was posted back in May of 2024 on a car forum I frequent. The Lido is rare enough that I’m not sure what a fair price for it would be, and I have no idea if the seller is willing to deal, but if you have a hankering for a 1951 Lincoln Lido, here’s your chance!
I never understood why these aren’t more popular, the frenched headlights are a nice styling feature.
Lido missed the boat that day, he left the shack
But that was all he missed, and he ain’t comin’ back…..
Thanks a lot there Aaron. Read this on my lunch and its now after dinner and I can’t get it out of my head!!! Well….. I do really like the song, and it’s not your fault, when I saw this Lincoln on fast finds Lido Shuffle immediately started playing in my head.
I always thought these Lincolns were great looking cars. They do strongly resemble a Mercury, although larger. Maybe that was the problem. Oldsmobiles and Buicks didn’t have Cadillac styling or Cadillac tailfins, Cadillacs were Cadillacs, if you squint and look at the side profile, it resembles a Merc. Now, don’t get me wrong, they’re beautiful cars, but they just don’t stand out that much. At least not to me. This is just my opinion, and I am not in any way knocking this vintage Lincoln, I personally like them a lot. One of my absolute favorite pre 1961 Lincolns is the 54 Capri 2 door hardtop ( like the green and black one featured in the movie Moonshine Highway). They were very nice cars. But again, park it next to a ’54 Caddy. Most even Non car people will recognize the Caddy of the same vintage, but the Lincoln… Not so much.
Back to this Lincoln, I think you’d be hard pressed to find another one, and I sure would be happy to have it in my driveway.
Same here. The “Shuffle” is now playing on an endless loop in my head too. Still better than those sneaky, horrid background tunes that play during TV commercials these days, usually for pharmaceuticals with the deadly side effects while happy, aging people rejoice for no apparent reason other than the sheer joys of Dupixant.
Wow! I thought that I was the only one who felt that way about drug commercials! Whew.
Know what I’m cranking up a work tommorow at 6:05 in the AM
How many 51 Cadillac’s were chopped, and made into the most iconic custom cars ever? Or Buicks, Olds, Chevies, etc? Nah. It was the lowly Ford Motor Company’s Mercury division, and their “outdated” pillared roofline. This Lincoln has the same beautiful lines.
Yes, I was thinking sort of on the same line. The Merc chops (lead sled division) are iconic. Almost every one of them I’ve seen are really beautiful. OTOH, the lines of this instance Lincoln are so beautiful themselves, they don’t need to be chopped and sectioned. Perhaps the Mercs are slightly more bulbous unchopped, but both models’ lines are lovely as they are from the factory. My chosen metaphor might be how a beautiful woman doesn’t need makeup, but sometimes makeup does create even more beauty. Personally, I’m in the natural looking camp, but I appreciate the alternatives.
Most called it “The Baby Lincoln” and just the body will drop on a Mercury frame without that front end you have a nice begining.
I loves me a Lincoln. There’s an old guy (who me? I’m not old!) with one of these that shows up at the local car shows. Frenched headlights and flathead engine. Immaculate. Really cool how the numbers on the speedometer look too
And while I’m at it, google Lincoln version of 2024 Mustang. Awesome. Why Lincoln doesn’t do something like that and import the Chinese domestic market Ford Taurus and rebrand it a Continental is beyond me. But when even Lexus is mostly selling SUVs these days…
So COOL!
VERY nice Maybe because I love older American cars , this on came out just before I tuned 20 Yeras old,
The 49-51 Lincoln Cosmopolitan was not based on the Mercury body.
Oops! Thanks, you’re right. I’ve updated the text to take out that line.
CC Fisher, you beat me to it! The Mercury-based Lincolns were the junior models, such as this one. The Cosmopolitan was an entirely different animal, except for the “nose”. That said, I am having a problem in most of these posts: what is this about a “Lido-Shuffle” associated with these cars, and why did I completely miss that in 1951? I had thought that I was fairly aware of most things in that year. Can somebody, please, “clue me in” on that one?
As Eric said below, it’s a very catchy song from the mid-’70s. If you’ve heard the song, you’ll never see the word “Lido” without thinking about it. It was still 25 years in the future in 1951.
Sorry, I don’t remember the Lido shuffle, might need to hear it played, but what this 337 flat head reminds me of is Commander Cody, one of several who sung the song: “Son your gonna drive me to drinkin’ if you don’t stop drivin’ that Hot … Rod…Lincoln!” That, and his album “Trucker’s Favorites” are my favorites. We saw him in person before he passed at a local venue in PA. “Momma hated diesel…so bad. I guess it reminded her…of dad. (Etc.)
From a Boz Scaggs album called ‘Silk Degrees’
Yes, I got my wife to conjure it up from Alexa. She pays for the music service. I recognize it now of course. Didn’t Billy Joel sing that also? It’s nothing like Commander Cody’s Hot Rod Lincoln, but catchy.
I had a 1951 4dr sedan that I bought after my 1951 Merc was totaled by a drunk. In Canada we called them baby Lincolns, and I liked the style way more than the Cosmopolitans. A few years back we were at a restaurant in Edmonton and I saw a ’51 Cosmo convertible drive by. When we came out it was parked down the street so I had to talk to the owner. When he heard I had owned that sedan, he opened the drivers door and invited me to sit. The car was not for sale.
Aaron…That was “Lowdown” of you to plant that “Lido” ear-worm! It is stuck in this “Heart of Mine” and brain! If “We’re All Alone” on any occasion, I will sing ”100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall” to you! 🤣
Boz Skaggs’ music is still wonderful and cherished in my mind! Thank you!
If you want some more Boz Scaggs, check out his song “Loan Me a Dime,” featuring a pre-Allman Bros. Duane Allman on lead guitar. Fantastic.
In 1951, I remember a novelty record, “Hot Rod Race”, by Ramblin’ Jimmy Dolan and also by Tiny Hill, about a drag race won by a Model A. “Hot Rod Lincoln”, years later (1960, I think) was sort of an “answer” to it, recorded by Charlie Ryan (I believe that Johnny Bond did it, too). But I’m afraid that I have no idea who Boz Scaggs and Commander Cody are. They must be later than the beginning of the 1960s, I’m reckoning. I mostly stopped listening to the current hits after about 1962, because it all sounded like just so much frantic noise, to me. I’m sorry — different generation. I suppose I could listen to these records you all refer to on line, to discover what they ARE… Thanks for trying to “bring me up-to-speed”.
Harrison, Commander Cody was the stage name for George Frehn (sp?) and the group that he led. I just checked him out via Alexa. He died in 2022 in Saratoga Springs, NY, which I did not know as we have a family home 10 miles from there. Anyway, he is one of several who sung the hit “Hot Rod Lincoln”. I would say he usually sung sort of a frantic rapid “country rock” style, as with the Lincoln song and “Smoke, Smoke, Smoke that Cigarette”, but also some slower, sort of tongue-in-cheek country songs such as “Momma Hated Diesel (So Bad)”. We saw him in concert in a Philadelphia suburb just a couple of years before he passed. That’s my review.
You stopped listening to new releases of frantic music after 1962? I must commend you Mr.Reed. You must indeed be a man of age and saw many changes take place in the world.
Hi, Dave! I thank you for the description. “Country-rock” decidedly does not appeal to me — way too raucous. As for “Smoke, Smoke, Smoke (That Cigarette)”, I know that song very well: it was a huge hit in 1947, by Phil Harris and also Tex Williams; and then it was revived (in 1962?) by Jimmy Dean. I’ve never heard a more recent version of it. I live about 33 miles from Saratoga Springs, and I’m sorry I never knew about the man.
The front of these always reminds me of “Jabba the Hut”
Maybe that’s where they got the looks for Jabba, the ’51 Lincoln
I liked the 1949-1950 front better (the 1951 reminded me of a grin with side teeth missing), though the 1951 rear on both Lincoln and Mercury were an improvement — and the 1951 Mercury nose was nicer than the 1949 and 1950, in my view.
Harroson, I have to disagree with you. The 1949-50 grills look like a frown while the ’51 is straighter. But I have to agree about the rear designs on both cars. I also liked the ’51 Merc nose better — a ’51 was my high school car. But I restored a 1949 Monarch later in life. Google that and see better front ends with a Lion on the hood. Cool … and Canadian.
I loved rhe Canadian Meteor (Ford, U.S.) and Monarch (Mercury, U.S.) — in most cases, that is. They always were neat to see on the road: you could tell when someone was here from Canada. They also had Pontiacs with Chevrolet tail-lights, and cars which were a Dodge in front and a Plymouth in the back. I always found that fun, somehow. There were Canadian versions of all sorts of things, back then. Westclox clocks and watches were made here in LaSalle, Illinois, by the Western Clock Company; but there were Canadian versions made in Peterborough, Ontario, which always were either of a style that had been discontinued here, or they were different in some other minor way. Canadians had their own DECCA, RCA Victor, and COLUMBIA records, as well — always slightly different to the ones here — and also often behind us on trademark changes. 1955 Canadian DECCA records had what would have been 1953 labels, here. When you saw that, there was always a “Made In Canada” designation someplace. Canada, to me, was like a cross between the U.S. and Europe, dependung upon where in Canada you happened to be. Quebec and the French part of New Brunswick felt very European; however, if you went there speaking French as it is spoken in France, the locals found both your formality and your accent a bit amusing. They could be hard to understand, also. They get annoyed sometimes at having to speak English, even though they very often can do so, and perfectly well. I saw an unusually pretty blue-eyed blonde girl speaking with her blonde, blue-eyed mother animatedly in French, when I was up near Quebec City. There were a couple of American boys there, about eleven, who were making nasty comments about her in English, laughing because she would not know what they were saying (probably, they thought she was cute, and, being eleven, did not want to admit that). Finally, she excused herself (in French) from her mother’s conversavition, and turned to the American boys: “I understand every word you’re saying — I speak English, too — and someone needs to teach you some MANNERS!”. Then she went back to her mother in French, not missing a beat. But I saw two humiliated and embarrassed American boys! (who now would be in their seventies). Ontario, however, is very much like the U.S. in “feel” — it’s not really like “a different country”, somehow. The references to British royalty can be seen — but, in a “man-on-the-street” sense, you might as well be in the United States. BUT… they have their CARS… : indeed, my 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis came out of a Canadian factory, but it looks and acts like any American car of its era.
Interesting read, Harrison. I grew up in Regina but spent most of my adult life in Weyburn (Saskatchewan). my buddy had a PO box in Crosby ND, an hours drive south. It was used for shipping car parts from US sellers for our projects. Before 9/11 crossing the border was a lark, we sold a few cars down there with little hassle and brought lots of parts back up. My wife and I have visited many states including Alaska and Hawaii. Unfortunately she refuses to go into your country anymore. She is a news hound and watches too much crime and politics on TV news … hahaha.
Thanks for the great read, it was refreshing, we have met lots of Americans who did not know much about our country.
Harrison, I enjoyed your post as well. I was only in Ontario as a teen during a family camping trip, not long after my father bought a new 64 Ford Country Sedan wagon with the 289 V-8 I think. As I mentioned a couple of days ago, the family home near Saratoga NY was purchased from my wife’s father. Quite a few families came to work and stay in the area from Quebec, but I can only remember seeing photos of Canadian Fords or Mercurys. I always found the differences interesting. You mentioned the Westclox plant in Canada. I have over a hundred of the ones produced in LaSalle, but not sure if there are any of the Canadian in my hoard. There are plenty to service waiting in the attic.
Hello, Lion, and thanks for the response! All of my “intrusions” into your country occurred in the 1950s and very early 1960s, when all one did was drive to the border, the Canadians asked your names, addresses, dates of birth, and why you were coming to Canada, then welcomed you and waved you in happily, urging you to enjoy your visit. At that time, the Canadian dollar was worth about 97 American cents. When you RETURNED into America, THEN you got the “third degree” and could wait two or three hours as everything in your possession was searched, and even the seats were taken out of your car, to look for anything you shouldn’t bring into America — including, as I sadly discovered, Canadian phonograph records, which were taken from me without compensation — something about “royalties”. So any knowledge I have about Canada is (shall we say) rather “limited” and definitely “dated”. Regretably, your wife’s fear of American crime is borne out by statistics. I preferred 78s over 45s, and you kept the 78s going longer in Canada; so I went up there to bring back a number of the current hits available here on 45s only, on Canadian 78s. Lost them all at the border. Couldn’t talk my way out of that one.
That’s kind of funny, Harrison, We had more hassles on the Canadian side than on your side. My two farmer friends and I used to drive to the tiny town of Fortuna, ND about 55 miles one way, where there was a liquor store that sold 90 proof booze. We would buy cases of 12 , 40oz rye, rum and vodka. Take them back to the border and pay the duty at the Canadian Customs. We took the booze back to Weyburn, cut it with distilled water to make 30 proof and we each had our booze supply for a year or so. Saved a bundle in C$$$s.
Hello, Dave! As I previously mentioned, I am not far from Saratoga Springs — about 33 miles west and north. So, you are my “homie”! (smile) We have more SNOW over here, thanks to a lower temperature and lake-effect. My son (who LOVES SNOW) lives in Saratoga Springs, and he is a bit envious of our snow over here in Northern Fulton County. But he considers Saratoga Springs “home”, so he won’t re-locate. He regrets how it has changed character since he was a child in the early 1970s. By the way, he is David, also! — all 6’5″ of him!
Harrison, my wife’s family home is near the Hudson River, “Old” Saratoga, 10 miles east of Saratoga Spring. Here in Philadelphia, we have had only a few inches of snow, but there is plenty of salt on the roads, so I have not had the 66 Ford F-100 out since after Thanksgiving. I went to an auto flea market then just to get rid of stuff, literally giving some away. I get up to Saratoga only several times a year now, mostly to paint and do yard work. I still have not been to the auto museum or show in Saratoga but want to attend in the future. I have a few 78 records in the attic, and I am sitting next to an Edison disc player. I think it needs a reproducer “needle”, another project. Good to hear from you.
So, your wife’s family home is over by the Saratoga Battle Monument and Schuyerville; no? As for your Edison reproducer, I can direct you to someone who can fix that or provide you with an exact original Edison reproducer in fine working condition. 78s should NEVER be stored in an attic: the heat will warp them or soften the shellac, permanently damaging the way that they will play. I am familiar with some things around The City Of Brotherly Love, also, having lived in Chester County. Too HOT a climate for me to endure for long! I might be able to live out in the Bradford area, or otherwise up in the Poconos: the rest of your State is way too hot in the summer and not cold enough in the winter, for me. (Sorry)
Harrison, I’m in trouble, the 78’s have been in the attic for 30+ years. They are lying flat on the wood floor in paper sleeves. My wife used to play them at work for children with disabilities the last time they were used. I should move them downstairs. Yes, the building is in Schuylerville, parts built in 1792. The funny thing is you started talking about Canada a few days ago, and half an hour ago a man named Robert called from Toronto, asking me if I or anyone in NJ over the River could inspect a 36 Ford roadster for sale on Hemmings. I gave him a number of a member in our Early Ford V-8 Club about a mile from the Ford. Now I am going to check it on the Hemmings site as he wants my opinion sight unseen. Thanks for offering info about the Edison reproducer. I haven’t checked it for years, just furniture lately. I think the reproducers can be traded in for reconditioned ones. Now I am curious about the roadster and the record player.
Hey, Dave! — see the TROUBLE I can get you into, even though you are fully innocent? I remember that horrible fire in Schuylerville which destroyed a very old hotel on the west side of Route #4 near the #29 intersection, the which had been a local landmark. As I recall, it dated from the late 1700s or early 1800s and had been beautifully kept and maintained. But it was savaged by one inferno of a fire and left mostly collapsed and beyond any possible hope of repair or restoration: what was left had to be torn down — old dry wood burns like nothing else! Deeply sad to lose a piece of history in that way.
Harrison, my wife happened to be in Schuylerville with her father, by total coincidence, when the Hotel Schuyler burned down. That was the last time he was in Schuylerville. He passed at age 103 four years ago. He was the youngest child of the family, but “old” in WWII, entering the army early in 1941 before the war started. I took out a second mortgage here and renovated the old NY homestead after he sold to me. His father was one of quite a few Sicilian immigrants that settled there. As I said, quite a few French Canadians too. Saratoga was less costly than Saratoga Springs.
The 337 was a truck engine. Before being installed in a Lincoln it was stripped, every part was weighed, and the crank fully balanced. When reassembled it was a very smooth and quiet running engine.
Yes, Norm, after my ’51 Merc was totaled I bought a ’51 Lincoln. I could not believe how smooth and quiet that flathead ran.
Hi, Dave! Your father-in-law must have been about 80 when he last was in Schuyerville. Sorry you lost him — but he did live longer than most. That entire area — Mechanicville — Stillwater — Bemis Heights — Schuylerville — all heavily Italian; indeed, you almost need a search-warrant to find a NON-Italian in Mechancicville (smile)!
Hello again, Lion! You are in Saskatchewan: are you, by any chance, within range of CHRB in High River, Alberta on 1140 A.M.? I am asking, because I am listening to them right now on my 1961 Zenith transistor radio! The signal is very weak, and it is mostly covered-up by WRVA-1140 in Richmond, Virginia and CBI-1140 in Sydney, Nova Scotia — the two “regulars” here, in northeastern New York. WRVA is the strongest and easiest to hear, with CBI somewhat underneath it. But I could hear a third station, and I was patient until I heard that third one identify. Alberta is a LONG way from here! Years ago, I used to hear Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, and even Seattle (as well as West Germany, by the way). But, so many more stations have come onto the air since the early 1960s, and others originally allowed to operate only during daylight hours, now are permitted to stay on all night. So, this largely covers-up stations which are more than 1,000 miles away, even those formerly heard rather easily. So, Alberta is a LONG catch from here, in 2025! Greetings, Lion!
Hi Harrison. We moved to B.C. in 2018 .. following our children to a milder climate. Had to leave behind a 1952 Ford pickup, unrestored daily driver, and my cherished 1949 Monarch sedan that I restored in the 80s. (Thus the moniker, Lion). But, as a kid in high school I listened to Dick Biondi on WLS in Chicago. I heard rock and roll tunes that never made it in Canada, like Top 40 News Weather And Sports. I listened in my bedroom on an old cabinet tubed radio that was heavier than I could lift as a teen. Good old days. Never heard of CHRB in High River but my daughter lives in Calgary so we got close. Hahaha.
Hi, Lion! I listened to Dick Biondi when he was “the crazy Italian” on 50,000-watt 1520-WKBW in Buffalo (“Tonight the entire East Coast; tomorrow, the WORLD!”). How he got fired from “Radio-One-KB” in Buffalo is the stuff of legend, and somehow typical of Biondi. He played a record the music director didn’t like and demanded that Biondi remove from the playlist. Dick Biondi instead locked himself into the studio and played that same record, again and again, telling his audience about the music director forbidding it. From listening to this unfolding drama, the audience merely thought that this was one more of Dick Biondi’s typical gags. Finally, the music director, with the station’s owners, broke the studio-door open, and fired Dick Biondi on the air. Biondi responded by taking a hammer and some nails, taking off his shoes and nailing them to the door, declaring, “You’ll never find ANYone to fill THESE!” I next heard him on WLS-880 from Chicago. And he was wildly nuts there, too (which is why we listened). Dick Biondi died quite recently at age 90. Could you even picture that madman D.J. as a 90-year-old? “Cousin Brucie” Morrow was a fixture on WABC-770 in New York City, and he also had a “hyper” style and delivery. You can catch him now on WABC, in his very late 80s, enjoying himself and “playing the tunes” (mostly, records too recent for my taste). And his audience are the seniors who use to rock to his act when they were in their teens. But his delivery now is warmly friendly, laid-back, verbose, and nostalgic– no longer even slightly “edgy”. But listeners don’t care how he sounds — they just love that it’s “Cousin Brucie”! God bless him!
Harrison, I knew Dick had passed recently but only knew him from WLS. When I got a new set plates (Saskatchewan) — (Land Of Living Skies), for my 1952 Ford pickup the lady at the counter brought out a bunch of plates and I spotted a group that started with WLS. I was racking my brain trying to remember the call numbers but couldn’t think of them. Looking it up now I see it was WLS 98 so didn’t matter as our letters were followed by 3 digits. I took one of the WLS plates anyway and ran it for many years.
To Lion: SMILES!!! WLS, of course, is 89 and not 98. Have a GOOD one! They are a conservative talk station now. I think they celebrated 100 years on the air last year or the year before.