This week the United States is celebrating its independance, so we thought we would higlight a Classic Car Marque born out of patriotism - the Lincoln!

When Cadillac’s owners refused to shift to warplane production to contribute to war efforts, Henry Leland resigned as president. Leland and his son founded the Lincoln Motor Company in 1917, naming it after Abraham Lincoln, whom Leland greatly admired. The new company quickly set about building Liberty Aircraft engines for the U.S. military for World War I.

When the government broke its contract with Lincoln earlier than expected, Leland decided to begin producing automobiles. Lincoln’s early successes were impressive; the company reportedly sold out of its vehicles within three hours of offering them for sale. But a series of economic circumstances in a post war recession created difficulties for the company, and by the early 1920s, the Lelands were seeking a buyer.

Edsel Ford was attracted by Lincoln's high standards of quality, and persuaded his father Henry to buy the company for $8 million in 1922. Lincoln became the first "outsider" to join the Ford family of vehicle brands and initiated the company's entrance into the luxury market. Leland found the speed and capacity of Henry Ford's mass production techniques could be applied to the Lincoln without compromising the precision craftsmanship that he had created.

The early Lincolns of the 1920s represented Edsel's particular interests in vehicle design and aesthetics. These L-Series cars continued to use the Leland chassis. The K-Series cars of the 1930s had an updated chassis and often received bodies by prominent coachbuilders of the era.

In 1936 Lincoln introduced the Zephyr, their first successful streamlined car. But the big breakthrough for the Lincoln brand came in 1938 when Edsel, inspired by a trip to Europe, commissioned his design team to create a car that would be "strictly continental" in design.

When the Lincoln Continental was introduced, Frank Lloyd Wright declared it to be the most beautiful in the world. With its sweeping lines and luxurious interiors, the first Continental Mark set the standard for Lincoln vehicles to come, and became the ultimate status symbol as the nation entered the 1940s.

Lincoln, true to its patriotic roots, joined the rest of Ford Motor Company during WWII by manufacturing tank engines, jeeps and amphibious vehicle bodies for the U.S. military. After the war, Lincoln resumed its place as a luxury symbol, and in 1951, the Museum of Modern Art in New York City chose Lincoln as one of only eight cars to be exhibited for "excellence as works of art."

In 1956, under the direction of Edsel Ford's son, William Clay Ford, the Continental Mark II’s design established the classic hood, cabin and deck proportions that the Lincoln is most recognized for today. The 1961 Continental introduced the unique center opening doors and chrome accented upper shoulder line that established a signature look for Lincoln which was totally unique, and remains one of the most enduring designs of all time.

Photo © Michele Hamer

Source: Ford Motor Company Heritage

Art Astor, a Southern California native, renowned entrepreneur and broadcast veteran who started collecting classic cars 30 years ago when he began buying radio stations and building his Astor Broadcast Group, said goodbye to 200 of his cars this past weekend.

At 83, Astor wanted to down-size his personal collection which has been regarded as one of the country’s most impressive and diverse collections of its kind. When we reviewed this particular collection, we were pleased to see that many of them were good, solid and well preserved cars with either an older or partial restoration. Cars that you can drive, not a bunch of “trailer queens” that are only meant for show.

But cars that sell from a personal collection such as this will tend to fetch a higher price because it brings a bit more pedigree, perfect or not. Naturally we were anxious to see if this naughty economy put a damper on buyer’s willingness to keep raising their paddle.

Twenty two cars sold for under $20K, mostly in line with their estimate, but a few brought the hammer down at a bargain price like the 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SE Sedan at $3672, 1925 Dodge Special Four-Passenger Coupe at $9900, and a 1974 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow at $18,700.

But when Astor’s rarer cars with interesting lineage in the collection came on the block, bidders showed that they are still highly sought after and will continue to bring an impressive price.

• The 1941 Lincoln Continental Coupe given to Rita Hayworth by Orson Welles attracted enthusiastic bidding and sold for $209,000, well over its estimate.
• Astor’s 1941 Chrysler Town & Country Nine-Passenger Estate Wagon went for $330,000.
• Purchased new by the renowned silent film star and western movie actor Tom Mix, the 1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Playboy Roadster sold for $319,000.
• The 1933 Chrysler LeBaron CL Imperial Sport Phaeton, which was one of 36 cars built as that model year, sold over its estimate at $462,000.
• The top seller of the day at $616,000 was film legend Gary Cooper’s 1938 Cadillac V16 Convertible Coupe.

RM Auctions who conducted the sale in Anaheim, California, reported that Astor’s cars, along with 800 lots of pre and postwar memorabilia, sold for over $15.4 million. Our favorite car of the day, a 1936 Jenson-Ford Tourer.

For a full list of Art Astor's Auction results, visit RM Auctions website.