Lincoln’s sales literature bragged that “Nothing could be finer!” than the ’48 Lincoln. The seller calls this 1948 Lincoln V-12 in Centralia, Washington seeks a “True Barn Find.” While the sedan may be less desirable than a coupe, these high-end luxury automobiles would have been hard to top in ’48, and the following year Lincoln replaced the costly V12 with a V8 so this one represents the end of an era. Thanks to reader Kevin for spotting this barn-kept high-roller. The complex die-cast grille announces your arrival with style. This one can be yours for the asking price of $7995 here on craiglist.
During World War I and II, V12 engines became known from their use in high-performance aircraft like the P51 Mustang. Lincoln itself produced “Liberty 12” engines for the war effort. Many manufacturers produced an aerodynamic-looking fastback sedan or “sedanette” body style during this car’s time period.
The “ultra-modern” instrument panel features more instruments and trim than most of its day. That oversized turn-signal-looking lever on the right is the shifter for the three-speed manual transmission. I can almost smell the musty scent of the upholstery… like your Grandma’s couch after a decade in the basement.
The 292 cid V12 made 130 HP, about 40% more than the typical V8 of its day. This one runs but “needs fuel line from carb to fuel pump,” according to the seller. The carburetor appears to have been recently rebuilt. If this car wasn’t so complete and apparently original, I’d love to see this V12 get a second life in a period-correct hot rod. Would you restore or hot-rod this example of one of America’s finest post-war luxury sedans?
It would be a terrible shame to pull the heart out of this car to build a hot rod. The car is in to good condition for that a say restore the interior put a period correct single stage paint job on it check all the mechanical part and then just enjoy driving it.everyone is always seeking out the illusive numbers matching car so why wreck this one know. After all how often do you see a car that has survived 71 year in one piece.
If I could only get my mitts on this car, I’d
have ‘er running smooth as silk in no time
flat!! After that, I wouldn’t change a thing
I’d just see to it that it was driven. Now
lessee….what was that trick I used to do
to keep the old gal from vaporlocking?…
oh yeah! Gotta get some wooden clothes
pins for the fuel line…
That never worked for me, but a hidden electric fuel pump did wonders!
Wouldn’t this be an interesting car with a real Liberty 12 in it?
Nice car, too complete and solid to be rodded.
mikeshotrodshop,
I had a chance to pick up a real Packard liberty V-12 about 40 years ago, but when I realized how big it was and it would not fit in my 1950 Packard Super Deluxe sedan [with the 7″ longer engine compartment], I abandoned that project! Given the prices of those engines today, I should have bought it!
This is my sisters car, she sent it to my father and I for restoration. The car is currently running and driving well. We have plan on completely gutting the car, throwing out the v12 and putting a 350 small block with a turbo charger In it. She would love that.
A Liberty 12? Well, their about the same weight. The Liberty is about 850 pounds. But it’s over 5 1/2 feet long and about 3 1/2 feet high! 1650 cubic inches and 449HP. At full throttle the Liberty 12 burns about 31 gallons of gas per hour, but it’s only 5.4 to 1 compression so it’ll run on regular.
Or a Jaguar 6.0 Liter V-12 bore and stroked to 8,4 Liter :-)
Then ,with a Liberty ,this car would be reduced to a fairground oddity rather than one you drive…
I’d take er’ to the dance !
In the early 60’s I had a weekend job of stripping cars in a junk yard.
Basically i’d Pull everything off the motor, put the parts including the radiator in the trunk. Pull off all the trim and taillights I could get, then jack up the car, pull off the tires and rims, lower the car back on blocks. Did this hundreds of times. One day I pulled the hood on an old Lincoln just like this one. Really bothered me to disassemble the old gal, but it was my job. Years later, the owner passed and the crushers took about 400 forties, and fifty’s out of potential circulation. What a shame.
Here we go again with the comments about a 4-door being “less desirable” than a 2-door !! WHAT is this obsession you all have with coupes???
IN GENERAL, when referring to USA made cars, the larger manufacturers traditionally made about 80% of their total production as 4-door cars. 2-door cars therefore have always been harder to find. We all know that scarcity does make a difference in vehicle values. And of course humans always want “that which they cannot have”, pushing the rarer car’s prices even higher!
One notable exception to this situation was the post-war Studebaker. The company had always sold 80% 4-door cars, but when they came out with the beautiful Bob Bourke & Raymon Lowey designed cars for 1953, Studebaker production was again set up for 80% sedans.
Problem was, sales of the gorgeous 2-door cars [including the Starlite hardtop], were accounting for 80% of orders! Studebaker had a hard time handling the demand for coupes because the company didn’t have enough parts in the pipeline for the 2-door cars. After only 2 years, they were back to 80% 4-door sales.
My sister bought this car. We already have it running and driving. Just have to do a few more things to restore it.