New post-war cars produced by American manufacturers were some of the most elegantly beautiful vehicles in the industry’s history. Their styling was restrained, and the chrome trim wasn’t as outlandish as it would become as the 1950s progressed. A perfect example of that philosophy is encapsulated in this 1949 Lincoln Cosmopolitan 4-Door Sedan. Finding anything to criticize about this gem is almost impossible, and it would be ideal for someone seeking a turnkey classic that will draw crowds wherever it goes. Its next journey could be to a new home, with the owner listing it here on Barn Finds Classifieds in Westhampton, New York. The owner has set their price at $23,000 for a car that needs nothing.
Like many manufacturers, it took Lincoln until 1949 to introduce its first new post-war models. The Cosmopolitan hit showrooms that year and was considered the more “senior” offering in the new range. Its body was designed by Eugene T. “Bob” Gregorie, utilizing the emerging “pontoon” styling that saw features like running boards consigned to the pages of history. It proved a hit with potential buyers, with the Cosmopolitan accounting for nearly 50% of Lincoln sales in 1949. Our feature car presents superbly in stunning Alberta Blue. The paint has a mirror shine that reflects its surroundings beautifully. There are no signs of flaws or defects, and the dark shade helps to emphasize how laser-straight its panels are. There is no rust or other issues that could cause a new owner sleepless nights, and the glass is flawless. The Cosmopolitan’s flowing lines are further enhanced by the “frenched” headlights and taillights, a feature rarely seen on production models before this car rolled off the line. The sparkling chrome and trim and the wide whitewalls add perfect finishing touches to this classic’s elegant exterior.
Powering this Cosmopolitan is a 337ci flathead V8. This powerplant had previously only seen service in Ford’s commercial vehicle range. Lincoln had planned to slot a V12 under the Cosmopolitan’s hood, but when this option didn’t prove viable within the required timeframe, the 337 was adapted and pressed into service. Buyers weren’t short-changed because this V8 produces a healthy 152hp and 275 ft/lbs of torque. This car feeds those ponies to the rear wheels via a three-speed manual transmission with overdrive, providing the Cosmopolitan with long legs for effortless open-road touring. This classic’s engine bay presents well, and it doesn’t flatter to deceive. The car runs and drives perfectly and is the type of purchase where the new owner could fly in and drive it home.
The elegance of this Lincoln continues when we open the doors to examine its interior. The seats feature restrained Gray and Blue cloth covers, with the same combination applied to the remaining upholstered surfaces. There is no evidence of wear or marks and no signs of abuse. The overall presentation is consistent with a car that has been treated respectfully and is a valued family member. The wheel rim has a few small cracks, but there is no serious deterioration. The dash is spotless, and the bright trim components are equally impressive. As befits a senior model offering, this Lincoln features electro-hydraulic operation for the windows and front seat. The new owner also benefits from the optional pushbutton radio and heater for improved occupant comfort.
Total Lincoln production in 1949 was 73,507 cars, with 35,123 buyers driving away in a Cosmopolitan. The 2-Door Sport Sedan was the popular choice, and only 7,302 people selected the 4-Door Sedan variant. That makes this a relatively rare classic, and its condition is hard to fault. The asking price is highly competitive for a luxury car needing nothing. If such a classic has been on your radar, this stunning Lincoln must be a strong contender that is worth pursuing further.
Incredible and beautiful. It quietly but clearly tells all you have “arrived”. Elegance and class from another era that today is still heard and felt.
At this price anyone with any taste and coin should snap it up 2 heartbeats ago.
My dad bought a 49 Lincoln in about 1954. That’s one of the cars I learned to drive in. Ours was, however, apparently a custom model as it had a hydramatic automatic transmission and many other features not available in the standard models.The body was stamped out in, I believe, 11 gage metal, it was super heavy, about 7000 pounds. In about 1963 pt 64 it developed serious engine problems. I really wanted to fix it but we had no place off the street to work on a car. I do remember replacing a water pump on it (they Ford V8 engines had two,, one on each side. We ordered a water pump for the standard engine and it would not fit so we had the existing pump overhauled in some local shop. I believe it might have been something like a 336 truck version bored and stroked to about 352 cubic engines but I’m not sure about that. It certainly was a wonderful car in it’s day. The biggest problem was that it did not have power steering which a car that heavy needed with my mother, a small woman, could have used as she did errands for the family business in it. There are many cars I’ve had over the years I wish I’d kept but that Lincoln was probably number one on my list, second would be my 1951 Studebaker Champion Starlight Coupe. Oh, if we’d only known …
Also, this car doesn’t have that huge visor in front of the windshield. In the Henry Ford (museum) is, I believe, the 1951 version super modified for President Eisenhour.
Thanx Leonard for your story….yes they were in a class of their own.
I was happy to see you lament on the Lincoln and the Studebaker…both must have been close to your heart!
All the best, Jules
I’ve always seen this car’s face as incredibly sad and most unusual for a product car . I don’t see how any designer could give this design an ok.
Imagine the designs that didn’t make the cut.
I’ve seen the B&W photos of the styling bucks that were killed off. They were much worse Howard. In fact, a few reverted back to the pre-WWII days.
You’ve heard of “Grumpy Cat”? This is “Grumpy Car”.
See an eye doctor.ASAP
Funny remark Lou ,,,my families Optometrist drove one! LOL
I got to ride in it, smooth and quiet…certainly understand how Presidents Truman & Eisenhower enjoyed theres.
I always thought the “face” looked like Harry Truman contemplating the use of the bomb . . .
Funny you should note that,
After serving his 2nd term as President, Truman and his wife Bess drove their own 49 Lincoln home, back to Missouri!
I’ve heard that the headlights were supposed to be “hidden”, but they couldn’t get it worked out in time. Thus, the sunken headlights.
One of the most beautiful cars of the late ’40’s and early ’50’s. If I had the room, and we weren’t in this nationwide financial maelstrom, I’d be taking this Lincoln home. Someone is going to get a gem.
I too always wondered how such a nice car could have such unusual styling. Perhaps, it was Ford that wanted Lincoln owners to be of a certain type, and the front styling clearly set them apart. If I’m not mistaken, the 337 was the motor of choice for hot rods, they were that good. I’d venture to say, the epitome of the flathead V8. This car was in direct competition with our Packards, or vice versa, and meant to roll. Remember, most rural roads were still gravel at this time, and this car handled them at 80 mph with ease. Dual spots, an early attempt at night driving. I see someone after the war, doing okay business wise, and this car told the world so. It literally meant that much.
Today, it’s just an old car, most of the zing of a ’49 Lincoln has gone, but make no mistake, this was the best we had to offer. Amen!
I always thought it meant that they couldn’t afford a Cadillac.
In reality, for a few dollars less, you could always buy a Caddie!
The majority of hot rodders went for the Ford 239 or the Mercury 256. They were considerably smaller and lighter than the 337 and had a much greater selection of aftermarket hop-up equipment.
Remember watching the car carrier trucks coming out of MoTown back in 1956. The Lincoln Continentals were shipped in a fleece lined bag!
Yes, Lincoln’s were always a cut above!
What a beaut! I see myself in this, rolling through the local park system, on our way to picnics, family events, or even just to get out and show her off ;-)
I’m watching this girl…
This monstrosity and the 1948 Packard gave away the luxury car market to Cadillac.
Aw, we have a Fins & Chromium lover! LOL Jeff
Ford had something going in their ’49 line. Shoe box Ford, Mercury, and this beautiful Lincoln. Only problem I’ve seen with all the car manufacturers was their introduction to chrome closely after that. That lead to good designs being turned into “chromeites”, the best example the ’50 and ’51 Mercurys. This car was a beaut the first time I saw one and is on my best design list.
Very well kept one of the best I have seen in a long time I wish I could afford it I do have a 51ford sedan that is pretty good condition.
This car is the “Sport sedan” with production of 18,906 according to Standard Catalogue. The “Town sedan” had production of 7,302. Note that the catalogue has the wrong picture. Town sedan was made only one year.
Interesting to see all the wanna be’s putting down a car they would give their left nut for if they could afford it!
And the right one!
Looking at this beautiful car takes me back to the styling that was so pronounced in marques such as Mercury, Packard & Hudson.
A bitter/sweet moment was the fact that as a stupid teenager in 1955 my buddy bought a 49 Lincoln without an engine with the unfulfilled dream of installing a Chrysler Hemi under the bonnet. It did not happen! What did happen was we decided to make a convertable out of it. Twenty hacksaw blades later, we had a 1949 Lincoln, 4 door, convertable! Two years later the fractured hulk was towed away to the junk yard. End of story, for two stupid kids!
“Nothing to criticize about this car” Other than it is ugly as it could get!
Ugly or not, It was the choice for PresidentsTruman and Eosenhower! LOL
There is no accounting for personal taste. LOL
Yep, the back is nearly as fugly as the front!
I find that look extremely attractive. Very Hudsonesque.
A car in a class of its own beautifully designed!
Well, I seem to be in the minority when I declare this to one of the most contemporary and handsome cars of ’49. Very smooth and integral in its lines. Kinda like a sleek and willowy woman.
Agree with Nelson, I do!
….and with just enough growl under the hood to make it a fav for the grueling Pan American Road Races of it’s day!
If you want a souoed up Mercury, you could have just bought a FORD! Oh, wait, that’s what you were doing.LOL!
Souped up
As a “CARS” character it does wear sort of a frown. That’s not what this is. This is conservative, understated luxury machine.
Dad had a ’47 truck in the early ’70s with a healthy original specimen of this same engine, only geared lower like a truck. The thing was unstoppable.
Don’t let the numbers fool you. This beautiful Cosmo isn’t quick, but will move with unrelenting authority and keep up on the open road, in rare style. Keep it cool and the ignition dry, avoid tailgating and it isn’t likely to fail. I would savor driving this car everywhere, every single day. What it was made for.
This thing set the worlds’ standard for more is never enough. Every angle and aspect of it’s design depicts a fat rich man who is totally bored with society. “Get out of my way” can can be repeated with one snapshot of the front end of this gas hog.
Of course, thats why this car was so popular among people of power, Presidents, Kings, Doctors, Lawyers and movie stars, Luxury cars and homes always have the same message. I made it and you didn’t!
Sorry Heartbreaker AL, if you didn’t make it…either than I. LOL
AL, they were soooo poplar around the World that they sold 73,507 Lincolns, total in 1949. It was such a successful design that in 1950 they sold 28,150 total Lincolns. This with the state of the art V8 flathead that was known for its power and speed! A 60% drop. Cadillac sold 92,554 in 1949, 103,857 in 1950, with that dreadful ohvantiquated V8. I guess everyone in the World bought their Lincoln in 1949 and later said, Meh.
I was semi interested in your left leaning post until you made an odd comment about, something about a “gas hog”
First you have to understand in that in 1949 at 29 cents a gallon, no one gave a good god dam. It also baffles me at car shows the reckless comments barked at me towards my 1978 Lincoln Mark About the gas mileage.
Yea, it gets maybe 10 mph. But at 800 miles a year, you fill your tank and spend quadruple what I spend In fuel.. keep things in perspective.
I was too young to be working in 1949, but by 1956 I was earning 65 cents an hour, (minimum age) my dad was earning a whopping $2. 00. an hour.
25cents a gallon for gasoline was not such a a great bargain.
Dad’s Plymouth was lucky to get 15 miles per gal.
I guess everything is relative…would love to see your 78 Lincoln. My father in law had a 78, I loved driving it…much better that my 76 DeVille.
Thanx Ken for your input!
29 cents in 1949 is the equivalent of $3.57 in 2023. If you are not in California, you might be able to buy a gallon for that. And your comment about no one caring about gas mileage, did you ever hear of the Mobil Gas Economy Run held every year for all models of cars. Somebody must have cared. Crosley, Henry J, Nash Rambler all had a following. I agree…keep things in perspective.
In 1964 I had a 1951 (baby ) Lincoln sedan, the Mercury style sides. The grill is straight across, not frowning, and the taillights were upright and frenched into the rear fender, underlined by a wrap-around chrome strip, like the Monarch of the same year. I felt I needed a better car for traveling so I sold the Lincoln and bought a 1960 Buick. Another terrible mistake I have made.
Do you recognize the similarity between the 49fomoco cars and the 47 studes? Gordon BuehrigWas one of the stylists on the Loewy team and then went to Ford.
I understood the 337 to be a truck engine, and Lincoln tore each of them down, balanced every part that moved, and produced a very smooth and quiet engine with great low end torque.
That’s interesting Norman. I knew they were a truck engine, and I was told they had hydraulic lifters. Mine was quiet and felt powerful, but being 13 years old, I never pushed it too hard. It was a great highway cruiser.
Yes, you could go from first directly to third geat at 10 mph…the torque got you to where you want to go!
Straight eight Chyslers were the same!
In 1949 my grandmother purchased a new Lincoln. Unfortunately less than a year later a hurricane hit her home in Cape May, New Jersey and the Lincoln got flooded by salt water and was a write off. She replaced it with a 1950 Chrysler and was never happy with it by comparison. I had always remembered and admired that Lincoln. In 1956 I had a chance to buy a 1950 “baby” Lincoln which I did. It was a great car and got me through college. Yes, good memories of wonderful cars.
Not sure, but the styling looks a bit dated.
Yes, Rolls Royce had the same criticism, yet quality cars were never for the masses. Lincolns were in a class of their own back then!
RR’s from 70’s or 60’s looked dated brand new.
Thought it was designed like that on purpose to give the look of old money for the owners.
Seeing rock stars in them worked against that, but maybe opened up new markets.
The “dated” comment for this Lincoln stands since it’s almost 75, even though I was being a little silly too. 😊
When new 49 Ford products weren’t the best cars on the road. My dad got a 49 Merc new, and he said it was falling apart when new. He was going to get something else when the guy who sold it to him told him to try a new 50 Merc much better car. We had for ten or so years until my dad decided to junk. It went behind our service station. First car I ever worked on tearing it apart.
Hi William
I restored a 1949 Merc, actually turned it into a Monarch clone. It was just fine in all aspects of body and mechanics. As were the ’50 and ’51 Mercs I owned over the years. They were all sedans which might have made a difference.
Beautiful Lincoln, but one of the worst year models other than the 58, IMO. Love the flat head V8 337 though and the fenced head and tail lights. Almost looks like a 49 Shoebox Ford that had some botched plastic surgery. But its a Fair price for a turnkey classic, if you like the year and it’s design.
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Our family had three of these over the decades. Mom took her NJ road test on a 50 Cosmo in 55. Nooo power steering for that parking exercise! It was blue just like this one. Mine was Pea Green 51 Cosmo sedan. Bought it in 73 for $700. It fit ALL my stuff to go away in college, and though it had the handling of a barge, provided a very comfortable highway ride. The last one was a 2 door Cosmo Convertible, restored AACA senior. They traded it for a 56 T’bird of equal quality since the power steering made driving way more enjoyable at their advanced age. I remember the flathead engines being absolutly vibration free and viturally sitlent.