Lincoln : Other chrome

The History of Lincoln K7816

The Lincoln Model K was built from 1932 to 1940 as the flagship of the Ford Motor Company. It was built as Ford's prestige car to compete with the Packard V-12 and Cadillac V-12 and V-16. The original cost of the Lincoln K was $4. 00 - $6. 00 at a time when the standard Ford's and Chevrolets could be purchased for around $700. These automobiles. perhaps because of their unusual body styles. never quite caught on with the luxury car buyer of the day and consequently only 300-400 per year were built. far fewer than comparable Packards and Cadillacs and making the Lincoln K's much rarer car in today's collector car market.

My Lincoln K. serial number K7816. was one of only 48 factory aluminum bodied. 2 window town sedans. model 354-A. built in 1937. K7816 was the 19th model 354-A built in 1937. Today. only two 354-A's are known to survive. Lincoln also built the 5 passenger sedan know as model number 354-B which is the three window town sedan. This model is identical to the 354-A in every way except there is an addition of a third side window at the back of the passenger area. The third window made the 354-B a much more popular model. Lincoln sold 136 of the three window town sedan model.

This particular automobile. K7816. is indicated to have been originally purchased by the U. S. State Department. However. I have not been able to obtain any records to corroborate this. I have made inquiry into the Henry Ford Museum and the National Archives both of which were unable to verify such information. The belief that the State Department was the original purchaser stems from an understanding from previous owners.

The color of K7816 also helps support the State Department notion. The color of K7816 as identified on its production card as provided by the Ford Archives and Henry Ford Museum is “Brewster Green DK”. The color Brewster Green DK was not a listed color for K Lincolns in 1937. However. Brewster Green DK was listed as a Ford color between 1930-1932. Purchasers of new Lincoln K's could select any color they wanted and Brewster Green DK is somewhat of an army looking green.

Another fact that lends to the notion that the State Department was the original purchaser of K7816 is where the automobile was delivered. The production card indicates that K7816 was assigned to Richmond Virginia on January 22. 1937.   FDR was a fan of the Lincoln K's and several were ordered for state use during his presidency. including the famous “Sunshine Special”. a 1939 Model K Convertible Sedan. It is very possible that K7816 could have been in service for presidential parades and have been used to transport State dignitaries.

Mr. Milliken who was the first owner of K7816 after it left the Owen Owens Museum collection in the early 1970's indicated from transfer of information from Mr. Owens that the car eventually made its way to Fairfax California in the late 1940's from the State Department. It is not known who owned the car during this period of time but it is believed that it was in a collection and not actively driven. In the late 1960's. K7816 was purchased by Mr. Owen Owens and was placed in his Ragtime Museum in Emeryville. California. Mr. Owen Owens was well known in classic car collector circles and many articles were published about him and his collections of unique and original automobiles. K7816 stayed in the Ragtime museum until 1978 when it was purchased by Mr. Milliken just before Mr. Owens death.

At the time K7816 was purchased from Mr. Owen. the car was in its original condition with approximately 74. 00 actual miles. The engine was in need of repair. the paint was in need of some touch up and the front seats needed to be reupholstered. Mr. Milliken. who purchased K7816 from Mr.  Owens.  had these repairs done on K7816 and showed the automobile actively around events in Northern California. K7816 received the following awards:

            3rd place in the Silverado Concourse in Napa. California. June 1. 1980.

            2nd place in the River City Classic. Sacramento. California. July 6. 1980.

            2nd place in the Hillsborough Concourse D'Elegance. May 16. 1982.

            2nd place in the Silverado Concourse in Napa California. June 6. 1983.

In 1983. Mr. Milliken sold K7816 to Mr. Bill Jacobs of American Fork. Utah. Mr. Jacobs in turn sold K7816 to Mr. Jim Lundberg who then sold K7816 to Mr. Stewart Crawford in April of 2005.

Today. K7816 has 88. 20 actual miles. has all its original equipment including its original upholstery. original accessory tools. interior. exterior and engine components. K7816 is driven regularly. runs and drives beautifully. Every component of K7816 works including each clock and all interior lights and accessories. Built in window shades in two rear side windows and back window are original material and work as designed. New tires and tubes were put onto K7816 in January 2007. Extensive work has been done to restore a shine to the paint.   The engine compartment is glistening in its recent repaint. new polished aluminum heads and a completely new rewire of the entire car in the past 6 months.

On April 4th. 2009 K7816 competed in the Classic Car Club of America Grand Classic in Scottsdale. Arizona where it was awarded a first place in Primary Class with a score of 98. 25.

I truly am fascinated with this car. The shape of the body is like no other automobile I have ever seen. I take K7816 for drives almost weekly and it draws a crowd where ever we go. The wood work inside is still as wonderful as the day it was made. I marvel every time I drive it for what an engineering wonder this machine was seventy years ago! FDR knew exactly what he was doing by making the Lincoln the car of the President of the United States!

In 2011. my family took K7816 on a tour to the Grand Canyon and back with the local Classic Car Club of America. K7816 performed flawlessly!

This is a very special car. very functional. and a perfect car for either an entry into the classic car hobby or to add to an already existing collection.

I have a comprehensive file of all repair receipts going back more than 40+ years including a CD of photos of engine rebuild. The car was completely rewired with a brand wiring harness two years ago. In addition. new polished aluminum heads were put on the car approximately 5 years ago and the exhaust manifolds were very recently redone.

This is a very beautiful. rare and fully sorted out Full Classic Car Club of America classic and great entry level classic vehicle. It is a very capable tour vehicle and will represent the owner very well in any CCCA event.

Also published at eBay.ca

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