One of the saddest moments in this hobby is the abandonment point. This is where you realize that, despite your best intentions, you are never going to finish your project and a fire sale has to happen. If you are interested in having a bonafide Classic Car Club of America classic, then rev up your checkbook and take a close look at this 1946 Lincoln Continental coupe for sale on eBay in Arlington, Texas. While mostly disassembled, this Lincoln is looking for a new home and the price is right. Would you believe the buy it now price is a paltry $4,750? Does that leave room in your budget for a proper restoration? Thanks to Jonny for the tip on this low-cost Lincoln.
It is safe to say that the collector car hobby is in flux. Prewar car values, with a select few exceptions, are on the wane. Postwar cars are also headed in that direction, with even such luminaries as Tri-Five Chevy and muscle cars showing signs of weakness. Costs of restoration are way up. Having the brightwork on a fifties or sixties car can approach the cost of an engine rebuild. To make matters worse, California state officials are openly discussing the banning of chrome plating by 2027 due to the believed health hazards of the process. Skilled craftsmen who perform small rebuilds and restorations of component parts are ageing out of the hobby as well. Restoring a vehicle to factory correct standards may end up being an exercise in futility on some levels.
Surely the person who began a restoration on this 1946 Lincoln Continental coupe felt those pressures. While early Lincoln Continentals are certified CCCA classics, the least valuable among them were the postwar coupes. Lincoln’s styling update just before hostilities broke out was not the gorgeous home run that the first cars were. Another problem was the carry over flathead V-12 engine. This powerplant developed a reputation for having service issues ranging from improper crankcase ventilation to overheating. While the engine was continually improved and fairly reliable from 1946 to the end of its life in 1948, the stigma never left.
One of the contributing factors to this restoration being abandoned was that a number of cracks were found in the block that came with the car. While Flathead Ford engines are susceptible to cracks, many can be welded back together by a competent shop. The problem with these V-12s is that they are more expensive to deal with. The ad states that a lot of money had already been spent on the car. Many parts have already been restored and new floor pans have been welded in. Another interesting set of rebuilt parts comes with the car. The car has power windows, but they are moved by hydraulic cylinders rather than electric motors. The hydraulic pump has been rebuilt as well.
As we can see from the interior picture above, the floor pans await painting, and the dash has been removed. The chrome pieces on the dash have been re-plated, the instrument cluster was restored, and the car has a new wiring harness. In addition, the speedometer is in good shape, as is a spare clock that will be included. Buyers will also be glad to know that the person who started this restoration was very meticulous about the disassembly of the car. Parts were labeled and bagged as the car was being taken apart.
Another very interesting fact about this car is that it had seat heaters. While listed in the ad rather unenthusiastically, this is a very rare option that Lincoln experts debate about. It seems that there was some sort of radiator and fan setup that was under the seats to provide extra warmth in cold climates. It is unclear as to whether this was offered for just the front seats, or the rear seat as well. It would be interesting to know when Lincoln stopped offering this option.
In all, this is an amazing bargain if you want a very luxurious and prestigious collector car. You have to find a replacement engine, and throwing in a lot of man hours would be crucial to getting this car finished. As for the engine, I have heard that a lot of V-12s were simply replaced by Flathead Ford V-8s instead of going through the hassle of a rebuild. With good Flathead engines out there for a fraction of the cost of a V-12, that might be an option until a good V-12 materializes. Still, this is an amazing bargain for someone.
Have you ever owned a V-12 Lincoln? What was the experience like?
Very cool find. Lots of work, but could be very rewarding, especially for the price.
Our local Lincoln dealer, Tom Rousch, has one of these sitting in the showroom. I plan to stop and check it out, admittedly a gawker, no interest in a new or used Lincoln.
My brother had a ’47 like this one but with a Cadillac motor. It was really fun to drive about because most people had no clue what it was. The seats were rolled and pleated black and white.
Cluck Kommiefornia. Banning chrome plating ? But letting fentnayl,gangs and illegals over our southern border is ok? Hands off our old car hobby Newsome WTF!
Careful there Maggy. You are starting to sound a bit political in a place that is usually a pleasant reprieve from such remarks.
I know you’re right and I agree with you.I just had to vent though. The banning chrome plating thing made me snap a little.
As we watch our beloved hobby get legislated into oblivion.
Bravo~Maggy
Sadly cars like this are doomed. Unless the resto, LS gang get ambitious this fellow will likely have a pressing engagement. There have been several convertibles pass through several sights. The guys that loved these are fast joining Henry Ford on the otherside. Many of us have vehicles like this we will never finish, I included. A decade from now as I near the end of the road my unfinished projects will hit the shred. The other item is in the very near future cars of the vintage type will become things for the Uber rich as the regular folk are squeezed out by costs, regulations, environmental excuses and so on. The future of old cars is sketchy at best in this country. Most of us will be mandated into an ultra safe, speed regulated, electric, beige, silver or white jelly bean. 40s, 50s and so on are on their way to a foreign land or the tar pits.
“Pressing engagement”. Oh, I like that one.
For those of you that see a bleak future for the car hobby, well that may be the case. But for me, I won’t be there to experience it, and more importantly, I WAS there before it started going downhill.
And Biden said in his state of the union speech tonite that we will have oil and gas for only one more decade. Guess I better go get me a new nessan LEAF.
Gasoline isn’t going anywhere! Once the administration flips, we will be back to drilling. Why do you think Ford is keeping a couple of ICEs around? Just in case…
The fact that there still is fan base of the Model T, gives me a little hope. As far as the car culture for average enthusiasts in Cali? I believe it’s on it’s last leg. Luckily, there are still free states that let you practice your hobby without the intrusion of know nothing politicians.
Even as a kid, I always liked this car, and thought if you owned this, you must be somebody pretty important. I still think this car belongs to somebody pretty important.
went to Vegas last year and to visit relatives and saw the David Copperfield magic show.He had old family pics of a a light green 46 Lincoln in his act as he said it was his favorite car growing up but grandpa sold it long ago when he was a little kid.Next thing you know after 5 seconds of lights out he has a green 46 lincoln on stage on a double post lift with 2 random audience members that he picked by throwing a frisbee out to the audience with his eyes closed , used 12ft. a ladder to climb up to it and started it and revved it up a couple times after she belched a little smoke…all in the blink of an eye.I know it’s an illusion but it was a cool show.
I DID own one of these about 10 years ago. Left in the back of a body shop when it went in to be repainted and the owner died before it could be completed. Shop owner pushed it into a corner waiting for some family owner to appear and pay the bill or finish it. Neither ever happened and so it sat for 20 years gathering dust.
I showed up to do an appraisal on another car (XK120 Jag) and bought the Lincoln from the shop owner on the spot. No title. $3300.00.
The car had a 50’s Oldsmobile V-8 that ran. The hydraulics for the windows, etc. did not work. Otherwise very complete and VERY dusty. The windows were a complicated and expensive fix I did not engage in.
I sold the car unfinished to another collector and lost track of it.
Wish I still had it, though prices have never been high on these, even fully restored.
The Olds V8 swap was really common for these.
Sold!
The great bambino had one of these if I recall correctly
With the V-12 the sweetest exhaust sound I have ever heard. These cars are BIG. Caddy V8’s and Olds V8’s were often substituted in the day, more powerful, but more important, more reliable than the V-12. When I was walking to or from Jr. High in the mid 50’s (school too small, we went half days, one week morning, one week afternoons) one would pass me every day at 12:30 or so. I wanted one so badly, and, had a rubber model of one, in my small collection of toy cars as a little kid.
I have a 47 Continental with a rebuilt v12 but need help getting the ignition /distributor sorted out. I also have a 48 Lincoln 4 door with a 53 Merc flathead in it. Many others up here in Alaska. My oldest is a 36 Cord Westchester and a Graham Hollywood missing engine.
I have a 48 restomod continental cabriolet
It has original body and new top, but every modern convenience from AC to USB ports and a 502 Ramjet crate engine 500hp, a real sleeper .
Draws attention everywhere
Agreed valuation is 20x this one.
But that doesn’t even approach the original build cost
My father has a 48 cabriolet that’s disassembled in his garage. All of the chrome has been replaced. I believe the engine is ready to go. As he is 87 years old I fear the car will probably never be put back together. I’m 64 and have health issues.
List it on Barn Finds.
Don’t go near toll booths with this.
I’ve always loved these year Lincolns and even though it’s going to take ton of work to piece back together, the seller is asking a very fair price. The Caddy and Olds V8s engine swap looks like the best route for this one. Looks like it’s sold and happy wrenching to the next owner.
I suspect/hope that the electric-car take-over will prove to be a boon to the gas-buggy collector-car hobby. Maybe you’ll have to carry spare gas in a
can in the trunk, the but driving around in a “gasser” should be as much fun as Jay Leno now has when he fires up one of his steam cars.