1930 Lincoln Model L Convertible Roadster (by LeBaron)
The Lincoln story begins with Henry M. Leland, a renowned engineer who founded the company in 1917. After World War I, “Leland’s first Lincoln was superbly engineered and built” with technical innovations far ahead of its time. Introduced in 1921, the Model L’s V8 used an unconventional design with fork-and-blade connecting rods allowing cylinders to sit directly opposite each other rather than offset. This precision engineering earned Leland the nickname “Master of Precision.”
Only about 100 examples were built with this distinctive LeBaron convertible roadster coachwork, making it one of the most sought-after variants from the Model L’s final production year. The LeBaron design was particularly noteworthy. It featured “a hidden rumble seat, dual side-mounted spare wheels, sweeping curves, and a convertible top that could be concealed neatly behind the two-seat cockpit.”
Despite its technical excellence, the company struggled financially and was purchased by Henry Ford in 1922. Ford wisely put his son Edsel in charge of Lincoln, bringing refined styling to complement the car’s exceptional engineering. The collaboration between Lincoln and coachbuilder LeBaron began when “Edsel Ford met Raymond Dietrich at the New York Salon” in 1923, initiating a relationship that would produce some of America’s most beautiful automobiles.
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