The Lincoln Custom is a customlimousine and long-wheelbasetouring sedan that was built by Lincoln in 1941 and 1942 and the lower level series Lincoln produced in 1955. Initially it was a replacement for the large Model K Lincolns and earlier luxury cars of the 1920s and 1930s. Later it was simply the lower level series. The Lincoln Custom was based on the Lincoln-Zephyr, a smaller, unit-bodied, mid-range priced vehicle introduced in 1937 with a smaller 292 cu. inch V-12 while drawing many similarities to the De Luxe Ford and the all-new Lincoln Continental. This car competed with the smaller Packard 110, Packard 120 and Cadillac Series 60 and La Salle; smaller cars introduced in the mid-1930s to a shrinking luxury car market. The large Lincoln Model K sold 3024 units in 1934, the first year of its production and only 133 units in the last year, 1939. 1940 saw only the Zephyr and the higher priced Continental carrying the Lincoln name. The wheelbase of the Lincoln Custom was compared to the Zephyr's. Both vehicles used the same V-12 engine that was enlarged for 1942 to with. The engine was the weakest point of the 1942 models, being very prone to overheating and premature wear. The 305 cubic inch version was reduced to a, version after World War II in an attempt to promote longevity. The V-12 was the only engine used in Lincolns until the new 1949 models came out with a flathead V-8 based on a Ford truck engine. The 168H and 268H Lincoln Customs featured two models: the Model 31 eight passenger sedan and the model 32 eight passenger limousine. Differences included a division window and different front seat upholstery for the limousine. Both utilized a three speed transmission with Borg-Warneroverdrive. A small number were modified by the few custom coach builders left in the United States before the war. The 1942 models introduced power windows to the luxury car field; electric and hydro-electric powered limousine dividers having previously been offered. Specifications were:
Year
Model number
Body style
Weight
Price
Number built
1941
31
Sedan
$2750
355
1941
32
Limousine
$2836
295
1942
31
Sedan
$2950
47
1942
32
Limousine
$3075
66
For 1942, the Zephyr-based waterfall grill was changed to a broad full-width grill that extended above and below the hood and was also used in the 1946-1948 models. These changes were undoubtedly due to the major Cadillac and Packard grill design changes during these immediate pre-war years, whose production and sales far outpaced Lincoln. After World War II, production of these vehicles was not resumed. The former Zephyr became the only Lincoln sedan and was available in both standard and DeLuxe versions. The famous Lincoln Continental remained as a limited production, very expensive semi-custom offering from the luxury division of Ford Motor Company. For 1949, a major revamp of the entire Lincoln line was made, eliminating the slant-back Zephyr and custom Continental and introducing relatively modern V-8 power. In 1955, the Lincoln Custom name returned as the lower level series. Brakes were 12" drums.
Presidential limousine
A special 1942 limousine was provided to the White House for the President's use. This car weighed more than and was refitted with a 1946 grill clip after the war for modernization. Cadillac and Lincoln vied for visibility and prestige by supplying limousines and other special vehicles to the White House. Packard and Chrysler were rarely able to penetrate this exclusive advertising strategy.
