This unusual car started life as a 1949 EL-Series Lincoln, but now it’s about half the car that it used to be. It may not be to everyone’s taste, but it certainly presents an interesting prospect for a project. Barn Finder Ian C spotted this one for us, so thanks for that Ian. You will find this Lincoln listed for sale here on Craigslist. It is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and comes with a clean title. If you happen to have a spare $1,200, then this project can be yours to enjoy.
I’m really not quite sure where to start with this particular car. I’m sure that the philosophy behind this comes under the heading of “well, that seemed like a good idea at the time.” There are some rust issues to be dealt with, including rust in the floors, in the rockers, the bottom of the passenger side fender, and in the trunk lid. It also looks like there might be some fitting issues between the tops of the doors and the door frames. There is also trim missing, along with tail-lights and the door for the gas cap. None of this is insurmountable, but the whole project is really dependent on whether someone thinks that it is viable.
When considering the interior, I don’t think that there’s a lot of point in getting tied up in originality given what has been done to the body. The seats aren’t original, but the dash looks to be largely complete. The whole interior will require re-trimming, and how this is done will be up to the new owner to decide. The owner does state that the car still has its original power windows, so maybe a luxurious modern interpretation of the classic Lincoln look is the go.
The original 337ci V8 is still present, along with the manual transmission. We get no indication of their condition, so it is probably best to be prepared for the worst. Having said that, like so many flat-head engines, they aren’t particularly complicated to work on or rebuild, so that might be the path to follow.
When you see a classic Lincoln looking like this, it is hard to take it seriously. There will be plenty of people that will suggest that the car should head to a salvage yard, and they could make a solid case for it. To me, if the cut job has been done properly, then this could make an interesting project that represents a pretty moderate initial outlay. If it was completed, it would certainly grab some attention at a car show. It all comes down to taste.
Where to start? I guess the first thing that comes to mind is I have never seen one that proportionally speaking doesn’t look off. Sadly this is now a parts car as it is ruined. The problem is when you do something like this you can’t just change one proportion or you get this odd duck every time. There is no easy fix that makes sense here other than to part it out and scrap the rest. Even guys that know what there doing don’t always get it right. I still don’t understand why people don’t start with renderings first. You would soon see how stupid this looks and save yourself the agony. I say if you want a coupe then by one. I wanted to restore an old car but I wanted a hard top so that is what I bought.
I agree. I’ve never seen the logic behind doing this and like you say, they never look right. It’s as if the builder has no allegiance to old cars, just a half baked idea, that never made it anyway. I mean, a ’49 Lincoln is rare enough, much less, what looked like a rust free Cal. car, and butchered it into this. I’m almost ashamed to say this car is not far from me. I’ve seen a lot of neat stuff out here in Colorado, this isn’t one of them.
From the rear, it reminds me of a very rare rusty large Porsche 911.
Someone certainly butchered this once decent car. Maybe a rat rod person might actually want to keep drive it. I’m only about five hours away, bit yikes this thing is too goofy.
Son, you’re gonna drive me to drinkin’ if you don’t stop drivin’ that shot rod Lincoln!
It’s worth, at best 50% of the value of its parts.
Would anyone in their right mind trust the fabrication work on the frame, especially if it’s been sitting in a field for who knows how long.
Steve R
I didn’t even read the write up. I really hate it when people do this *%#@!^>< stuff
People who do this sort of thing to cars deserve a severe thrashing.
This “conversion” was probably done years ago when old cars were just old and not worth anything. If it wasn’t chopped up, the complaints would be about how much $$$$ it would take to restore it. Either way it was going to be a parts car or something going straight to the crusher.
Someone had too much time on there hands. It would be the only one at car shows )) To each his own
Oh. Oh hell no. Someone get the tar and feathers, I’ll get the pitchforks and torches. And a rope.
…can anybody tell me why anyone would even think of doing this, let alone actually do it???? Especially to a relatively rare car like a ’49 Lincoln? One novel idea, if you could pick this thing up cheap enough (and I don’t see why not as I can’t believe anyone would pay anything but chump change for this poor orphaned monstrosity) would be to grab the 337 out of it (if it isn’t stuck…) and throw it in either a legit hot rod or a rat rod. A flathead 337 would be a very unique and conversation-starting powerplant…
All it takes for this to happen is two guys, a bad idea and a 12 pack.
And a sawzall
All the frenched lights and trim are gone. As for the 337, nice motor as is just no bolt ons to pretty it up.
I think this thing has serious rat-rod
potential, if the frame is passable. Too
bad the cool taillights are gone.
Probably in the 60s, this was just a
boring old 4dr that somebody with too
much time on their hands decided to
experiment with. Could be a real head-
turner at a rat-show.
Someone must have purchased that new book ” How to Chop a Top for Dummies”.
Maybe they could remove the top and make a Speedster.
If they left the same amount of quarter panel behiind the door as there is between the front of the door and the wheel well they might have had a chance proportionally.
A real interesting challenge now would be putting it back to stock length. Not practical, but it would be an interesting accomplishment.
how to make a car look like a duck – lesson 1….
I like it. Properly finished, and with subtle refinement to the door frame/roof, this could be a refreshing take. Maroon, I think.
Textbook case on how to ruin a fairly rare car.
Would I do this to a 49 Linc? No.
Do I love it as it sits now? Hell yeah I do.
I love seeing someone’s vision come to life like this. Perhaps a vision under the influence, but cool by me. I’d take it if it was within a few hours of me…
And come on: Most of you on this page would tell people to scrap any 50’s or 60’s 4-doors or Wagons less than 10 years ago, but now… oh no! NOW they are becoming a thing! “Hmmm… 4 doors are not that bad.” LOL
I agree, somehow this doesn’t look as out of whack as that 64 Imp last week the doors… do they just happen to be left open or are they out of whack? wouldn’t go too nutz with body work etc , if it indeed is solid to finish the body work debating with a glossy paint job ( personally would go with white) or use flat black primer and drive it like that if the engine needs to be replaced, to use a small 8 ( no HP parts) dual exhaust and good to go
The engine ran fine about 2 years ago
I see a new life – in a boatyard, using the hitch to move around trailers. Beats using a tractor.
Everybody LOVES the long hoods on European cars (to all you haters) and I think this is what they were going for. The big window in the back helps it a lot. I see fixing it up, reliable Ford powerplant, automatic trans though, and go with a black or maroon as said elsewhere and cruise……
To all of you who have decried the cutting up of a “classic” car, the fact is these weren’t and aren’t all that popular, and old cars are ultimately just for having fun with, so there’s nothing wrong with taking an unloved old car and doing something daring with it! May someone finish this one, drive, show and enjoy it! Within a few decades, when electricity takes over as the winning motive power, there will be far too many old hulks with no one who cares for them, to save anyway.
Better than letting an unloved “original” continue to rot and rust into oblivion. Use it now, enjoy it while it lasts!
To me, these weren’t very attractive, when I see the front it reminds me of that old auto writer “Uncle” Tom McCahill.
I did this to a AMT 49 Mercury model way back when — shortened it to make a 5 window coupe. Still have that model somewhere. I wasn’t embarrassed with how it came out However, its Lincoln brethren has a much longer nose and those recessed lights which looked goofy to begin with. Another thing not mentioned here is a number of these Cosmos were LENGTHENED for limousines during the Eisenhower era. Perhaps there were pieces of car left after these conversions and this was the drunken result? How ’bout the next owner/buyer locate one of those limos and sit them side by side at the Show & Shine?