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While it is no secret that my favorite overall brand is Buick, Lincolns also rank very high on my Totem Pole. (yes, actually more so than Cadillacs...recent Caddies don't impress me that much). Probably THE most isolated, quiet, massive luxury car I ever sampled was the 1969 Lincoln Continental company-car that my late Father brought home one night (see the write-up I did some time ago on those big Mercurys and Lincolns that he used to bring home each night when he worked for Philco-Ford). He'd toss me the keys (I was one of those uncommon teens who could be trusted to drive sensibly), and I would put a couple of gallons of Hi-Test gas and do a little test-drive around the area, and simply enjoy the plushness and massive luxury feel. The Lexus LS460 I much later sampled was probably a little quieter in decibels (and more precisely built), and had a smoother-shifting automatic, but lacked the Magic-Carpet feel and steadiness of that huge 5500-lb. Lincoln. Unfortunately, a number of Lincoln products, IMO, went downhill in the 1980s and 1990s (particularly the FWD Taurus-based 90s-vintage Continentals and the FIrst-Generation Navigators)...but a far better FWD Continental resurrected from 2017 to 2020. Today in the U.S, Lincoln, like Buick, Lincoln is an all-crossover/SUV brand, though, unlike Buick, Lincoln still offers a large truck-based body-on-frame V8 SUV in the Navigator. Probably the biggest differences in today's Lincolns, though, from older ones in the 2000s is that, today, the interiors and exterior trim are worthy of the Lincoln nameplate.....they aren't just rebadged Fords any more. Although Lincoln has (admittedly) had some recent quality control problems with the introduction of new vehicles, I liked the MKC and Corsair enough to seriously consider both, but the Buick Encore GX ended up somewhat closer in size to what I needed.
Rather than do my own usual write-up, I thought I'd post this quite-complementary article from, of all people, rival GM. When your closest rival congratulates you, that says something........
Marking a century of Lincoln, the brand celebrates its storied past as it prepares for an exciting, electric future
Over the last 100 years, Lincoln has pioneered such innovations as center-opening coach doors, electric gauges, keyless entry and symphonic chimes and has pushed the boundaries of elegant automotive design, introducing products and services that have come to define the iconic American luxury brand it has become today
Feb. 4 marks Ford Motor Company’s purchase of Lincoln 100 years ago; centennial comes at a pivotal time, as the brand looks to continue its global momentum and advance its commitment to electrification
DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 3, 2022 – On Feb. 4, 1922, Henry Ford, with encouragement from his wife Clara and his son Edsel Ford, purchased The Lincoln Motor Company from distinguished inventor and automotive engineer Henry Leland for $8 million. The transaction set in motion the creation of an iconic American luxury brand.
“We are at a defining moment in our history. We look back at Lincoln’s past and find inspiration for the future and, to reflect on what we have accomplished – maintaining a balance between the brand’s core values and redefining our vehicle and experiences for the next generation of luxury clients,” says Joy Falotico, president, Lincoln. “The timing of our 100th anniversary couldn’t be more ideal as we shift to an electrified future, and I look forward to shepherding the brand into the next 100 years.”
And as the brand celebrates its 100th anniversary and storied past, it is equally focused on an exciting future. Lincoln is committed to delivering a unique lineup of electrified vehicles and connected services that create effortless experiences for its clients.
“With classic style, form and function that became the hallmark of the brand, there’s something very special about Lincoln,” said Jim Farley, president and CEO, Ford. “And as we move toward an electric future with connected technologies and always-on experiences, I am so excited to see where the brand will go in China and North America as it begins its second century.”
A century of innovation
Much of the success the company experienced early on is credited to the influence of Edsel Ford, who served as president of Lincoln from shortly after acquisition to his death in 1943. His ambition is summed up best in his own famous words – “Father made the most popular cars in the world; I want to make the best.”
Edsel prioritized design and styling, while also making customization affordable, allowing him to offer precision and performance in a beautifully executed package, at a price within reach. The belief that a car could be more than just transportation was foundational to the rise of Lincoln.
In 1936 the company introduced the Lincoln Zephyr, the brand’s first mid-priced vehicle that featured a streamlined design and an “alligator”-type hood. In 1939 the Lincoln Continental debuted as a personal-use vehicle, becoming an instant design classic and quickly establishing the personal luxury car segment in America.
In 1952 Edsel’s son, William Clay Ford, was appointed manager of special product operations, in charge of engineers and designers planning the Continental’s successor, the Lincoln Continental Mark II, considered by many one of the greatest cars ever built.
Through the years, Lincoln has pioneered multiple new features and innovations, and continues to introduce advancements today. A few more notable moments in its history include:
1955: Lincoln introduces the Mark II to showrooms
1961: Lincoln debuts coach doors on its Continental
1977: Integrated visor-mounted garage door opener debuts on Lincoln Versailles
1980: Speedometer, fuel gauge, message centers go electric, keyless entry is introduced
1987: Front-wheel drive debuts
1994: Memory recall for seat and mirror positioning introduced via a remote transmitter
2010: Lincoln launches its first hybrid electric vehicle – the MKZ Hybrid
2017: Lincoln reveals the Navigator concept, transforming the future of the flagship SUV with an all-new design and innovative features including 30-Way Perfect Position Seats
2018: Lincoln celebrates the 80th anniversary of the Continental and debuts the special edition Continental Coach Door
2018-19: Symphonic chimes recorded by Detroit Symphony Orchestra; Lincoln launches all-new Lincoln Aviator and Corsair SUVs
2021: Lincoln introduces the first locally produced sedan for the China market at Auto Guangzhou, the all-new Lincoln Zephyr, advancing the brand’s design language
Redefining the Lincoln brand
For a century, Lincoln has focused on forward-looking innovations, while maintaining its core values that keep the brand’s products fresh and desirable.
The introduction of the fourth-generation Navigator in 2018 was instrumental to an upturn in the direction of the brand. A combination of modern luxury and innovative technology, including the debut of 30-Way Perfect Position Seats in the all-new flagship SUV, elevated first-class travel for families, kicking off a resurgence that Lincoln continues to advance today.
The momentum continues with the introduction of new products and services. This year will see the launch of a new Navigator, elevating the brand’s sanctuary again with signature new features, including ActiveGlide hands-free driver-assist technology.
The brand continues to build on its portfolio of effortless services such as offering standard Pickup & Delivery, Lincoln Showcase virtual walkarounds and remote sales delivery, while piloting new services that give back what clients value most – their time. A new Mobile Vehicle Spa pilot in Houston provides clients with a convenient way to get their vehicle detailed on their terms.
Lincoln has seen success in China with localized production of vehicles such as the Corsair, which achieved record full-year sales exceeding 50,000 units in 2021. Last fall Lincoln debuted its first locally produced sedan, the all-new Lincoln Zephyr, at Auto Guangzhou. With more than 3,100 pre-orders, the highly anticipated Zephyr is an example of the brand introducing American luxury to a new, younger generation of clients in China.
Lincoln is advancing the connected experience for clients in China, as Lincoln Way 2.0 introduces One ID – a digital tool offering seamless access to all the brand’s digital touchpoints in one step. In addition, Lincoln has opened the first Lincoln Way 2.0 Experience Center in China. This all-new center offers an immersive digital experience for the brand’s growing market.
Marking a century of design and innovation
The core tenets that made Lincoln an American luxury brand are evident in today’s vehicles, services and client experiences, driving the spirit of Lincoln for more than 10 decades now and counting. As the brand looks ahead, Lincoln is laser-focused on advancing its Quiet Flight DNA into an electrified and connected future. By 2030 it will have a full portfolio of connected and electrified vehicles globally.
To mark the occasion, Lincoln is kicking off a yearlong series of global events connecting the past and the present to an exciting future in the years to come. Lincoln retailers are working to honor this milestone as well, with 100 stores hosting events with their clients and local communities throughout the year.
Ford Motor Co. purchased Lincoln Motor Co. out of debt a century ago and established a luxury brand that would forever impact automotive design and pop culture.
Henry Ford, with a nudge from his wife, Clara, and son, Edsel, acquired the company from engineer Henry Leland for $8 million on Feb. 4, 1922.
“Lincoln is really a chance for us to stop and think about Edsel Ford, who, too often, is overshadowed by his father,” said Matt Anderson, curator of transportation at The Henry Ford museum in Dearborn.
“Edsel Ford had free rein at Lincoln, where he could spread his wings and leave a legacy apart from his father," Anderson said. "Edsel gave the cars a sense of design and style, and built the company into one of America’s leading luxury automakers.”
Historians often highlight the creativity and vision of Edsel Ford, who served as president of Lincoln for two decades until his death in 1943.
As i said before the Lincoln brand needs to be discontinued completely.
It has been totally mismanaged over the years by Ford and really killed off any relationship it had with loyal buyers. The young generation or anyone under 45 would probably not even consider driving a Lincoln, it has terrible brand cache.
If i were in charge of Ford, i would close down the brand immediately and introduce a new luxury brand with strong focus on technology, futuristic design and Luxury like the Lincoln Black Label models. It needs a new name and marketing strategy. For example, Lincoln has 718k IG followers, Cadillac has 2.4m and MB has 35m +. It no longer resonates with most consumers and never will.
They lost me when they changed over to the confusing MK names. If ever there is a dagger for a car company, it's when they introduce names no one can figure out.
Mike, you did a lot of work with your post... nice job.
I was interested in their MKZ sedan twin turbo six model offered in FWD or AWD but I could never find one equipped the way I wanted. Good looking car though. About the same size as a GS 350.
In the spirit of nostalgia I owned a 1989 MK VII LSC which was a pretty nice car. Had a 5.0 Mustang engine IIRC with 225 hp. Last 2 door car I owned for a long time with the birth of our third child. While Lincoln made some nice cars I always felt they were hurt by linking Mercury to them.
Mike, you did a lot of work with your post... nice job.
Thanks. Copy/paste functions make it a lot easier.
They lost me when they changed over to the confusing MK names. If ever there is a dagger for a car company, it's when they introduce names no one can figure out.
Yes, I never liked those alphabet-soup MK names either. They were as confusing, if not more so, than the ones at rival Cadillac. (The inspiration, of course, for the MK moniker goes back to the 2-door Lincoln Mark coupes of decades ago). Lincoln has since dropped that MK policy and renamed them all with conventional names......which has helped its appeal to a number of customers.
Of course, not everything Lincoln has done has been a rousing success. The Versailles of the 1970s, arguably the first downsized Lincoln, although a nice small luxury sedan with a lot of features and a plush ride for its size, was undepowered and fooled almost no one with its clearly-rebadged Ford-Granada status. Cadillac, in contrast, had gone to much greater lengths to differentiate the rival Seville trom its Chevy-Nova-platform roots.
Later, both the Lincoln Blackwood and Mark LT pickups were complete sales flops...only some 1000 Blackwoods were produced. I myself remember looking at a Blackwood at the D.C. Auto Show an thinking to myself....who in the **** is going to buy a pickup truck with a rear end made out of rare and highly-polished African Blackwood?....although the floor of the bed, of course, could be lined with a protector and the walls with stainless steel. I only remember ever seeing one on the road....at my local grocery store in the parking lot......yes, and it had its fair share of scratches LOL.
The Mark LT flopped for a different reason. Like the 1970s-Versailles sedan, it proved to be simply too much of a Ford-rebadge, from the F-150. Cadillac had a little better luck with the Chevy-Avalanche-Like Escalade EXT, but not much.
Decent cars, until very recently years they are blatantly just a ford with some extra bits thrown on. I would never consider owning one since I think the true luxury brands do a far better job and for me since they don't make a true flagship they are kinda DOA.
As much as Lexus gets flak for just "rebading" a Camry as an ES or 4Runner as a GX460 the Lexus version are actually substantially different and are in not way the same. A 2009 ES completely outclasses a 13 Avalon.....on paper they are the same but the feel is a league apart and driving confidence and driveline tuning is very refined in comparison. I actually just had a customer who is a relative of a close friend try to justify his Avalon as "the exact same as a Lexus...." had my other friend bring his 80k higher mile 09 by to demonstrate even though the platform is the same the augment ends when you just open and close the door.
Then I had him drive the 460 to ruin him permanently.
Lincoln however just doesn't do this, they up until very recently are just a ford with fancy trim. They don't feel special or different and they don't achieve good feature integration, the stuff they have that a ford doesn't feels tacked on. The newest stuff where they are allowed to have their own platform addresses this to a good extent but they still do not offer a true flagship tier product, at no point could they ever trade blows with the big 3. Lexus could and did for a while and actually won for a time against them even if that has now faded....
The newest stuff where they are allowed to have their own platform addresses this to a good extent but they still do not offer a true flagship tier product
Do any new Lincolns currently have their own bespoke platform? As far as I can see everything is still taken from Ford.
Very cool, I have always had a soft spot for the Lincoln brand.
Just FYI, they are still selling that very vehicle
Rebadged as the Lincoln Nautilus, new front end and interior but its still the same vehicle, which is a rebadged Ford Edge:
Actually, today's Nautilus is quite different from the Edge, despite a common link to a basic platform and some similar mid/rear-body styling. Totally different interiors (much better-quality materials now in the Lincoln), different exteriors up front, and a lot more sound insulation in the Lincoln. And that was my point.....IMO at last, today's Lincolns are actually worthy of the nameplate, although I'll admit that one can argue that the 2017-2020 Continental, at least under the skin, probably wasn't differentiated enough from the FWD-platform Taurus. But the interior and body styling was vasty-better done than the Taurus.
03-16-22, 06:11 PM
The Lincoln Brand Turns 100.
Copy/paste functions make it a lot easier. 
