1951 Lincoln Lido Hardtop
The Lincoln Lido was a bodystyle of the Lincoln EL-Series of the Lincoln marque during the 1950 and 1951 model years. It was introduced on July 5, 1950 as somewhat of Lincoln's answer to the GM hardtops that debuted in 1949. List price for the 1950 model was $2721. It was similar to the Mercury Monterey and the up market Lincoln Cosmopolitan Capri, all were two door coupes. The 1950 to 1951 models featured a vinyl or canvas-covered roof, fender skirts, bright roof drip rails and rocker panel moldings, dual door mirrors, a gold-colored hood ornament from the Cosmopolitan and a custom leather interior with special door and side panels. An electric clock was standard. Few were sold, however it reappeared as a special show car in 1963 called the Lincoln Continental Lido.
With hauntingly small numbers of these cars built and even fewer surviving, let alone being unrestored, this is a hen's tooth of a consignment. A 2 owner, all-steel body, a 336.7ci displacement flathead V8, and at the turn of the new decade it's the best it gets as to the design. Aerodynamics were a second thought in the day; however, this car has the design of a sleek rocket ship, albeit in Buck Rogers heavy form, but still sleek and swept. Big chrome adds to the look, and weight, which nearly eclipses 2 tons! As stated, this car is unrestored but still presenting nicely inside and out and mechanically sound. It's time to grab this baby and start crowing about it.
Exterior
Arriving in our first zip code is the massive 3 tier grille that is polished to the nines and has 5 small teeth to grind up the competition. Flanking this big chrome is more...well chrome with rounded headlights complete with deeply sunken bezels in chrome, and a small chrome crest hovering just below a tarnished rocket style hood ornament. This fronts a bulbous hood with that stylized jet streaking in front along with a mustache style bump out on the leading edge clearing the way for the wonderfully large hood bathed in a Everglade Green. Rounded integrated fenders with more curves than Brigitte Bardot are bathed in more Everglade Green which makes their way back to the large door and lower belt line trim spear works its way from front to rear. In the next zip code is the passenger compartment roof with its stainless trimmed white vinyl roof covering, window surround trimmings and beautiful door handles with some extra pinstriping embellishments just for s**#s and giggles. More of the Everglade Green runs to the rear of the car, on a rounded rear quarter, shades of Marilyn Monroe. Here resides the very rare and not often seen chrome trimmings around the gas door. Some chips and cracks are noted throughout the curvaceous body along with some surface rust that is mainly reserved for the lowers. On the back is more curvalicious steel, another crest and some big chrome in the form of a bumper that wraps around the rear quarters. Like the headlights, the tail lights, in classic cathedral style, are slightly sunken into the semi-pontoon rear fenders with chrome trimmings all around. Rear fender skirts and wide whites all around shown off by polished smooth caps with the Lincoln crest making this iconic skate even more bada$$!
Interior
Swinging open the long sleek door and we are met with a multi ivory covered door panel that has a mix of smooth leather on top, a central corduroy broadcloth area and ribbed leather lowers. These panels have a thin chrome strip and the panels are peppered with shiny chrome cranks and handles along with chrome buttons for a little extra wow! This cloth and leather plays out on the seats with broad corduroy striped tuck and roll lower cushions, also covering the half of the upper cushion before transitioning to a smooth ivory leather with small padded armrests for the rear bench. We cannot even begin to assume the full condition of the front split bench but we can note that the outer of the driver's side and passengers upper outer is heavily worn and torn and shows a striped pattern in broadcloth. Slightly worn and weathered light brown carpet floods the floors, and up front above this carpet floats the dash with its Everglade Green steel dash top, and mostly tan ribbed dash front and instrument surrounds. These are all clean with black faces and white lettering and are fronted by the original steering wheel, fashioned out of wood for the rim and full chrome horn ring. A stained and torn tan cloth headliner in sewn ribbed format is above.
Drivetrain
A pull of the interior release and doing our best Olympic weightlifter impression we open the massive steel hood and feast our eyes upon a black painted engine of the 336.7ci flathead V8 variety. Producing 154 horsepower and topped with a 2-barrel carburetor all is well here. Backed by a 4-speed Hydramatic automatic transmission and putting power to the ground via a 3.31 geared rear axle this sled should be able to move nicely. We note that the electrical system is still a 6 volt system and a pleasant overall patina covers the engine and bay.
Undercarriage
Very original nice patina with surface rust but no invasive rust is seen. A stock independent coil sprung front suspension is on, and in back the car utilizes leaf springs. Drum brakes are on all 4 corners and a solid X frame supports all this menagerie. Single exhaust with a stock style muffler works its way to the rear of the car where exhaust gases exit under the right side of the rear bumper.
Drive-Ability
Sitting inside such an amazing vehicle one cannot help but put a smile on his face. She fired right up, idled with a low rumble, and took off like a rocket. All functions worked great save for the radio, headlights and heater blower and we noted that 1st gear in the transmission has a slip and engages 2nd instead of first. Flaws aside, the car had good brakes, nice easy steering, and a beautiful cruiser that turned more heads on our test drive than if I would have walked naked down main street...but I digress...
Every now and again amidst all the classics that show themselves at our front door, one becomes a standout for its design, construction, awesome power, or just plain old uniqueness. This one covers all those bases and then some and is a very rarely seen 1951 Lincoln example with all some service receipts, the owner's manual and a few sales brochures. All waiting for you in our Hallowed Halls of the Classic Auto Mall.
51LP17584L
51-1951
LP-Dearborn, MI Lincoln Assy Plant
17584-Sequential Unit Number
L-Lincoln Line
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
