Education for the day, for me anyway, surrounds this 1933 Lincoln KA Victoria coupe. I refer to is as an education because I had no familiarity with this fantastic vestige of 1930’s luxury motoring until I stumbled across it yesterday. This beautiful coupe is located in Mahopac, New York and is available here on Bring-A-Trailer for a current bid of $4,300.
I find it ironic that some of the greatest American luxury marques reached their pinnacle during the disastrous depression-era economy of the early ’30s. Of course, many didn’t survive it either. While Lincoln certainly comes to mind along with Cadillac, Duesenberg, Packard and Pierce-Arrow, the Lincoln KA was only produced between 1932 and 1934. It was absorbed into the overall Model K line-up which was produced from 1931 until 1940.
This Lincoln, one of 109 KA Victoria Coupes, is a work in progress. It was disassembled, refinished and partially reassembled in the ’70s and had not been registered since the ’50s. As can be seen, by the many accompanying images, this Lincoln is in pretty straight shape but still needs final assembly. The finish is described as dark blue with black fenders but the front fenders appear to be gray with a satin finish so it’s hard to tell if they’ll need additional work.
The non-attached parts are displayed in the above image. Hopefully, they are all present, if not, it could be a real scavenger hunt trying to secure missing parts for an 87-year-old car. Thankfully, there are lots of photos provided, so you can see what all is here.
The engine is a non-running twelve-cylinder flathead displacing 381.7 CI and producing 125 HP, a one year only offering. The seller states that the engine was rebuilt in the ’70s but it has not been started. It appears to be all together and in good shape visually. A three-speed manual transmission gets the power to the rear wheels.
The interior is pretty sharp looking, the gray cloth upholstery material and wood accents still present well. The instrument panel is more in keeping with the restrained trends of the time as opposed to the more elaborately chrome festooned designs found in the ’40s. There is a comprehensive set of instruments present but with a non-working engine, there is no way to know if they function. The carpet as well as the floors, both inside and underside, appear to be very sound, no reason to suspect an integrity issue.
This is a great looking car, no doubt about it. As I stated at the outset, this is the first of these KA Victoria coupes that I have discovered and the lines of it are perfect for the time – it’s a stately design and would be magnificent if finished. In addition to bringing a trailer, you might want to bring a wrench too. There are in excess of 150 images included with the listing and they are worth reviewing – it’s a very thorough presentation. So let me ask, has anyone ever purchased a “finish-it-yourself ” project and if so, how did it turn out?
First of all, WHY mention BAT? That seems rather odd, though, the writer does disparage the sale a tad, so maybe it is a means to an end. Next thought, I am guessing this was supposed to be someones big profit, why let it go now? Lets examine that. Who is the end buyer for this? At least, the preferred buyer. My take, an 80+ year old guy with a wad of cash that he wants to spend now while the spending is good, but where are they just this moment in time? Thats right children, hiding out if they know what is good for them. Of course, eventually the seller can sell it to a younger person, but unless it is 110% perfect, like Pebble Beach perfect, it will not bring the desired cash because a younger person is not going to have the desire for a 1933 car, even one as cool as this. Yes yes, I know, lots of young people buy cars older then they are, but there is a lot less of those then for a newer car. The market for pre war cars has been dropping for years, just like 60s muscle is now dropping as the Boomers bite the dust, just the way it is. The seller is just getting out now while he can. My opinion, of course.
Why NOT mention BAT? The Barn Finds writers cover vehicles from a variety of websites, including many project cars, which may be in parts due to illness, death, or other issues. Sometimes life happens. This is a beautiful platform that may or may not sell at auction, but that’s up to the seller and prospective buyers.
I like it and the price is right. But same old problem, now where to put it, and no money to buy it. Finishing it would not scare me off. That I could do.
With a one year only unknown condition engine? Thats a big gamble
I’m not super familiar with the V12 but I believe it’s similar to the Ford flat head V8. Hopefully that would ease the cost and difficulty of sourcing parts.
I would snap this Lincoln up for 30K in a Heartbeat however will sell for more than that paltry sum.
Its super solid and at this point totally underbid.
Well it’s good that it still exists. We are in that time when regulation and markets ran loose. The wealthy ran rampant until the crash. These beautiful things need to keep on living. This car has a lot of heavy work done, but plenty more to do. I’ve seen a convertible sedan of this model being used regularly. Save this one.
I bought the original 54 Nash Ambassador Country Club Lemans that was featured here on Barnfinds. The main problem with the car was the stuck engine. I spent December putting assorted elixirs in the cylinders to free it up. Even Kriol didn’t work. By January, we decided the head had to come off. Well, aluminum heads on iron engines with steel head studs, not bolts,create a voltage that creates aluminum oxide around the studs. Aluminum oxide is almost indestructible. So the engine had to come out. Because of the unibody, the front clip had to come off, which took up February. In March, we got the engine out.
Rather than fool with the head any more, we decided to take out the head studs. They would not budge, so, since aluminum expands 3x as much as steel, we put the whole block into the machine shop’s tank and heated it up to 120. Still would not budge. Heated it up to 145, and still nothing. Bypassed the the thermostat and ran it up to 165 degrees- and the studs broke loose!
Examination of the head revealed that it has three problem cracks which can be fixed if done now.
So, the much vaunted aluminum head was a hidden problem. I suspect they all cracked, which would explain why these cars are so rare. The head gaskets blew.
Is all of this worth it ? YES. There were only 231 made, and there are only about 10 on the planet, including this one. It’s rarer than a Nash Healey. it’s rarer than any Chrysler 300 Letter. It’s rarer than a gull wing Mercedes. It’s rarer than an Allard J. It’s rarer than Clark Gable’s 36 Packard Standard 8.
So, the engine is at the machine shop, the tranny is at the tranny shop, the treadle vac is at the brake shop, and today I got the gearshifter start restored !
Duel Jetfire, is it one of these? I couldn’t find any others unless I somehow missed it.
https://barnfinds.com/1953-nash-ambassador-country-club-lemans/
https://barnfinds.com/all-original-1954-nash-ambassador-lemans/
https://barnfinds.com/2000-1955-nash-ambassador-custom-lemans/
Sorry to threadjack your post, Jim!
The first one is one of the 10. The second two are 4 doors. Mine is the green and white one. I’ll try to find it.
No worries Scotty, this is all great reading and Dual Jetfire’s post is great – what an ordeal!
Keeping the faith alive. Way to go, D Jetfire. Many kudos!
Good for you. Went back to look at the Nash. Man what a car! I’m glad you are getting it running again. Pleas post an update when she’s back on the road.
Oops, it was on Hemmings, not Barnfinds. Oh, one of the 10 is in Vienna, Austria!
Dual Jetfire, while my 59 Rambler Ambassador doesn’t compare to your ride, the experience of having to rebuild everything is one I’m experiencing.
Besides the rarity of parts, everything needed (parts or service) is in multiples of a hundred dollar bill.
Sigh.
I keep telling myself “It’s a hobby”…
I have one as well. In fact I have two 1954 Ambassador hardtops. Started restoring the first one (single carb., so not the Lemans) and bought the second one for parts. Started looking it over and decided I was restoring the wrong one. Parts car is the twin carb. Lemans, with factory A/C, 3-speed w/overdrive, power brakes, yellow and black two-tone paint, continental spare tire; needs everything, though, and I do mean everything. Wish you could post photos on here like you could a few months ago. Pete in NE. Texas
Pete, you can post pictures, but have to log-in first.
Extremely cool car. There are quite a few Ford vickies, but not many Lincolns.
God bless America
I wish I had the talents that so many of you BF readers do. I would bring her home and get her back on the road. But unfortunately, I don’t have those talents. Sure do hope someone finishes this project.
I saw this car years ago and needs almost total redo. I restored the exact same model over 8 years. It is now a 3-time national CCCA winner. If you do much of the work yourself and want a “driver” it would still easily cost near 75+K. I believe there are 5 left anywhere, 2 restored, others needing considerable work. The engine is a problem as no engine should sit for a month without being started. You will have to make or restore any parts needed. It is a beautiful model and runs and drives great when restored. You may or may not get your money back when selling. If you have time and money, enjoy, but it will be a “project.”