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100-563: Serving as the flagship, and more exclusive, station wagon series of the Ford Motor Company — as the Lincoln division has not offered a factory-produced station wagon — the Colony Park was marketed against the similar Chrysler Town & Country prior to its 1979 downsizing, and GM's Buick Estate and Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser , each also offering external (simulated) woodgrain trim. During

200-399: A Holley four-barrel, improved intake and exhaust, and a more aggressive camshaft , the next year increased it all the way to 205 hp (153 kW). The engine was unchanged in 1954 except for the vacuum advance mechanism. These engines used hydraulic valve lifters while Ford truck engines used solid. The stock Lincoln 317 powered the "Mexican Road Race Lincolns". The 317 was replaced by

300-770: A Hydramatic transmission. For the first time since the discontinuation of the Model K, Lincolns were produced with front-hinged rear doors. For 1956, the shared Lincoln-Mercury body underwent a redesign for the final time, with Lincoln adopting elements from the Mercury XM-800 and Lincoln Futura concept cars. Slotted above the Lincoln Capri, the Lincoln Premiere adapted features of the Continental Mark II, including its ducted air conditioning. During 1956, Lincoln-Mercury

400-490: A 310hp Marauder version used a single 4-barrel carburetor. In various outputs, this engine was shared with Lincolns and Continentals, along with Ford Thunderbird . The 1959 Colony Park was listed with a retail price of US$ 3,932 ($ 41,097 in 2023 dollars ) and manufactured 5,929, making surviving examples somewhat rare. Following the closure of the Edsel division during the 1960 model year, Ford product planners scrambled to build to

500-522: A 345 hp 428 "Super Marauder" V8. For 1968, the 410 was dropped, replaced by a 315 hp version of the 390 V8. Alongside a redesign for the 1969 model year, Ford integrated its station wagon product lines of both Ford and Mercury brands within the nameplates of their sedan counterparts. For the Colony Park, this change made it part of the Mercury Marquis model line. In contrast to the Marquis sedan,

600-470: A European-style ("Continental") car for his next Florida vacation, he commissioned Ford Chief Stylist E. T. Gregorie to design a unique body design, using a 1939 Lincoln Zephyr Convertible Coupe chassis. After sectioning the body 4 inches (102 mm), the running boards were deleted and a spare tire was mounted behind the trunk lid. Upon his use of the one-off vehicle in Florida in 1939, Edsel Ford attracted

700-549: A better business case for both Lincoln and Mercury divisions. To decrease its production costs, Mercury ended its use of a division-specific chassis and streamlined its product range, with full-size sedans reduced largely to the Monterey. Mercury station wagon nameplates remained the same, with the Commuter differentiated from the Colony Park by its lack of wood-grain trim and higher level of optional equipment as standard. In following with

800-401: A dispute with GM President William Durant regarding war production. Leland named Lincoln Motor Company after Abraham Lincoln, stating that Lincoln was the first President for whom he ever voted (1864). The company was financed by securing a $ 10 million contract to produce Liberty V12 aircraft engines ($ 237,818,182 in 2023 dollars ) for use during World War I . The Lelands broke ground on

900-584: A division, Lincoln structurally became similar to its major competitor Cadillac (within General Motors). As part of the change, several changes were made to the Lincoln model line. Following the positive feedback of the 1939 Lincoln Continental one-off convertible built for Edsel Ford, the Lincoln Continental was introduced as a Lincoln-Zephyr production model for 1940. For 1941, Lincoln revised its branding;

1000-611: A factory body ($ 88,893 in 2023 dollars ), the Model K competed against the Rolls-Royce Phantom II , Renault Reinastella , Duesenberg Model J, Mercedes-Benz Typ3 630 and the Cadillac V-12 (and V-16 ). Largely overshadowed by the Lincoln-Zephyr, the final Model K was assembled during 1939. The company has since not developed a direct successor to the Model K line. During the 1930s, Lincoln expanded to two model lines for

1100-523: A four-door hardtop wagon, the Colony Park shared its body with the four-door Mercury Commuter and Voyager and its front bodywork with the Turnpike Cruiser. As with the preceding Monterey wagon, the Colony Park was styled with simulated mahogany exterior paneling and maple trim. Sharing trim commonality between the Montclair and the Turnpike Cruiser (the anodized gold trim of the latter was made optional),

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1200-708: A freestanding division above Lincoln, Continental was integrated within Lincoln in 1959. For 1969, the Continental-branded Mark series was marketed through Lincoln, adopting the Lincoln name for 1986. The Lincoln four-point star emblem is derived from a badge introduced on the 1956 Continental Mark II ; the current version was introduced in 1980. The current product range of Lincoln consists of luxury crossovers and sport-utility vehicles. Throughout its entire prior existence Lincoln also produced luxury car-based vehicles for limousine and livery use; several examples have served as official state limousines for Presidents of

1300-476: A group of investors (led by Leland) forced Henry Ford from his second company, the Henry Ford Company ; the company was reorganized as Cadillac (deriving its name from the founder of Detroit). With the exception of the engine, the 1903 Ford Model A and the 1903 Cadillac Model A share nearly the same design. Prior to the introduction of the Model T, Ford designed several higher-priced vehicles, including

1400-517: A high amount of interest from potential buyers, often referring to its "European" or "Continental" exterior design. From the latter term, the one-off vehicle became known as the Lincoln Continental. For 1940 production, 404 vehicles were produced, with the first vehicle received by Mickey Rooney. Following the Great Depression, a number of American luxury car manufacturers were either forced into closure or reorganization; by 1940, alongside Lincoln,

1500-412: A major redesign for 1973, including a completely new roofline. In place of the framed doors, the station wagons were marketed as "pillarless hardtops"; though the roof was fitted with slim B-pillars, the doors were fitted with frameless door glass, a revival of an appearance offered from 1957 to 1960. Although slightly narrower than the 1959–1960 generation by 0.4 in (10.2 mm), this generation of

1600-527: A mandated $ 4000 reduction in price ($ 42,242 in 2023 dollars ), Continental adopted the body of Lincoln, expanding into multiple body styles for the Mark III (the nomenclature indicating the transition). Adding a feature of the Mercury Turnpike Cruiser , Continental adopted a retractable rear window across every body style (including convertibles) with a reverse-slant rear roofline. For 1959, the Mark III

1700-567: A prow-style front-fascia, the model line was sleeker than the Chrysler Airflow. In contrast to its competitors, the Lincoln-Zephyr was powered by a V12 engine (a design separate from the Model K). The model line was a success in the marketplace, selling over 15,000 units in its first year, amounting to a nine-fold increase over the previous model year. In the late 1930s, Edsel Ford began to consider American cars too boxy. In late 1938, to develop

1800-606: A reduction in size. For 1961, Lincoln consolidated its model lineup to a single model line, with the Lincoln Continental replacing the Lincoln Capri and Lincoln Premiere; as the Continental marque was withdrawn, the Mark V saw no successor. While only nominally lighter than the 1960 Lincoln, the 1961 Lincoln Continental adopted a smaller exterior footprint, shedding 15 inches in length and 8 inches of wheelbase. In an effort to streamline production, only four-door body styles were produced, with

1900-640: A revision of the Mercury product range, the Colony Park was moved to the Grand Marquis model line, the flagship of the Mercury brand. Effectively, it placed the Colony Park above its Country Squire counterpart in terms of trim; as well, this decision cleared room for a Marquis station wagon without woodgrain trim. In the interest of fuel economy, the Mercury Colony Park underwent an extensive revision of its powertrain lineup. Although V8 power remained in place,

2000-461: A simulated woodgrain appearance built on a dedicated chassis. Through the late 1980s, demand for full-size station wagons declined as consumer interests shifted towards minivans and four-door SUVs. As the Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis underwent a major redesign for the 1992 model year, the two model lines dropped the station wagon body from the lineup. Up to the 2010 closure of

2100-492: A straight fender line (and low hood line) from headlamp to taillamp. In a carryover from Zephyr-based Lincolns, the 1949 Lincolns retained rear-hinged passenger doors. As a flagship model of Lincoln, the Lincoln Cosmopolitan was styled with its own rear roofline. As Lincoln entered the 1950s, Ford Motor Company sought to increase the differentiation between the Mercury and Lincoln model lines. For 1952, to add interest to

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2200-411: A three-speed manual was standard equipment (with an optional 4-speed manual), the 3-speed automatic replaced a column-mounted shifter with mechanically activated pushbutton transmission controls. Developed in response to the pushbutton unit introduced by Chrysler in 1956, the left-mounted "Keyboard Control" integrated engine starting, gear selection, and parking brake use; as a safety feature, reverse gear

2300-406: A year for their vehicles to be completed from the time of purchase. By 1922, the company was on the verge of bankruptcy and was placed in receivership. Under the influence of Edsel Ford, Lincoln Motor Company was purchased by Henry Ford for $ 8 million ($ 145,622,266 in 2023 dollars ) on February 4, 1922. While Lincoln was valued at $ 16 million, a $ 5 million bid by Ford was the sole bid received for

2400-489: Is the final factory-produced four-door convertible sold in North America. Lincoln Y-block V8 engine#368 The Lincoln Y-block V8 engine was Ford 's earliest OHV V8 engine , introduced by Lincoln in the 1952 model year. Like the later and better-known but even more short-lived Ford Y-block engine , its block's deep skirts gave the block the appearance of the letter Y from the front. The Y-block's development

2500-588: The 341 for automobile applications in the 1955 model year. Like the 279, the 317 was also used in heavy-duty truck applications for the 1952-55 model years . Lincolns powered by the 317 won the top four spots in the Stock Car category of the Pan American Road Race in both 1952 and 1953. In 1954 Lincolns took first and second place. The 332 cu in (5.4 L) version of the Lincoln Y-block

2600-533: The Lincoln Motor Company Plant in Detroit. Lincoln Motor Company acted as the final assembly point for the engines, with the company securing parts from other manufacturers; cylinders were produced by Ford, with other parts sourced from Buick , Cadillac, Marmon , and Packard . In total, Lincoln Motor Company would assemble 6,500 Liberty V12 engines by the end of World War I concluding production; by

2700-606: The Mercury Eight , the redesigned Lincoln model line (code-named the EL-series ) marked the first use of a V8 in a Lincoln since 1932. An all-new V12 intended for Lincoln was stillborn in development, leading the division to adapt a Ford flathead V8 (from the Ford F-8 conventional truck). As with the previous Lincoln Continental, the 1949 Lincoln dispensed with running boards completely, moving on to abandon pontoon styling entirely, with

2800-569: The Mercury Park Lane coupe and convertible featured the same simulated wood paneling as the Colony Park as an option package. Called "yacht deck paneling" by Mercury, the option was rarely ordered and was discontinued as the Park Lane was replaced by the Mercury Marquis. For 1965, the 390 V8 was the sole engine. In 1966, Mercury added two additional FE V8s, a 330 hp 410 "Marauder" V8 and

2900-455: The 1904 Ford Model B , the 1905 Ford Model F , and the 1906 Ford Model K . Following its organization in 1908, General Motors began a rapid expansion of its automotive brands; by 1920, GM would outnumber Ford five to one. The purchase of Lincoln created a stand-alone luxury vehicle brand for Ford as Cadillac did for GM. Within the first few months, relations between Ford Motor Company and Lincoln management began to break down; on June 10, 1922,

3000-487: The 1946 Lincolns continued the use of the Zephyr chassis. 1948 marked the final year of the Zephyr chassis (dating to 1936) and (as of 2023 ) the use of a V12 engine in an American mass-produced automobile. After 5,322 were produced (as both a Lincoln-Zephyr and Lincoln), Lincoln ended production of the Continental. For 1949, all three Ford Motor Company divisions debuted their first postwar designs. Sharing its body structure with

3100-538: The 1966 model year, to better compete with the Cadillac Coupe de Ville and the Imperial Crown/LeBaron Coupe, Lincoln added a two-door hardtop to the Continental model line. After the 1967 model year, Lincoln ended production of the Continental 4-door convertible. At 5,712 pounds, the 1967 Lincoln Continental Convertible is the heaviest non-limousine car ever produced by Ford Motor Company; as of 2023 , it

Mercury Colony Park - Misplaced Pages Continue

3200-433: The 1979 Colony Park shed over 11 inches in length, 6.6 inches in wheelbase, 0.4 inches in width, and had lost slightly over 1,000 lbs in weight (in comparison to its 1978 predecessor). Though technically smaller than the "intermediate" Montego/Cougar station wagon, the Colony Park reduced its cargo-carrying capability only slightly over the 1978 Colony Park. As before, 8-passenger seating remained standard equipment. In

3300-401: The 2021 model year, they only offer SUV and Crossover vehicles. The division helped to establish the personal luxury car segment with the 1940 Lincoln Continental . Lincoln Motor Company was founded in 1917 by Henry M. Leland , naming it after Abraham Lincoln . In February 1922, the company was acquired by Ford, its parent company to this day. Following World War II , Ford formed

3400-416: The 383 Marauder V8 became the sole V8 (retuned to 322hp). Though less problematic than the controversial Edsel Teletouch controls, Mercury reverted from pushbutton controls for its Merc-O-Matic 3-speed automatic (now the standard transmission) to a conventional column-mounted PRNDL shifter. For 1960, the 430 V8 returned as an option after a one-year hiatus; in place of the triple-carburetor Super Marauder,

3500-427: The 4-speed AOD overdrive transmission, the first of its type in an American full-size car. For 1982, the fuel-injected "5.0" V8 became the sole engine offering in all Mercury full-size cars. During 1986, the carbureted 5.8 L V8 returned as an option; examples specified with this engine are rare. This generation of Colony Park would see few substantial changes during its thirteen-year lifespan. For 1983, it became

3600-457: The 400 and 460 V8 engines were removed from all Ford cars, with the Colony Park sharing the 302 Windsor V8 with the Mercury Monarch; the previous base 351 Windsor V8 was offered as an option. For 1981, Ford and Mercury underwent the powertrain revisions of the 1980 Lincoln Continental. The 302 V8 was given fuel injection (now marketed in metric as a "5.0 L"), with both engines paired to

3700-491: The 400 and 460 as options. However, most surviving examples are equipped with one of the two larger V8 engines, as they were far more popular, with the 351 proving to have little fuel-economy gains. Approximately 7,850,000 full-size Fords and Mercurys were sold over 1969–1978. This makes it the second-best selling Ford automobile platform after the Ford Model T . For 1979, Ford redesigned its full-size sedan and station wagons;

3800-637: The American luxury-car segment largely consisted of Cadillac (who ended production of the LaSalle and V16 in 1940), the Chrysler Imperial (reduced to 8-passenger sedans and limousines), and Packard. To further secure the future for Lincoln, on April 30, 1940, Ford Motor Company reorganized Lincoln Motor Company as the Lincoln Division of Ford Motor Company. While previously operating as an autonomous entity, as

3900-553: The C-pillars); the interior was fitted with full carpeting. In rudimentary form, several features seen in modern cars were offered as options, including automatic climate control, power seat position memory, signal-seeking radio, and power windows (including the tailgate window).; in 1958, a driver-operated speed-limit warning system was introduced as an option. As a counterpart to the Ford Lifeguard option, Mercury standardized many of

4000-472: The Colony Park now also superseded the discontinued Edsel Bermuda wagon. Offered as in a 4-door 9-passenger configuration, the larger body (growing to a 126-inch wheelbase) retained the hardtop roofline of the previous generation; though the A-pillar was now vertical, the windshield grew significantly in size. The interior underwent several major upgrades towards its functionality, as the optional third-row seat

4100-417: The Colony Park was among the first station wagons to offer a tailgate with a retractable rear window (optionally power-operated); the hardware was adopted for the "Breezeway" rear window of the Turnpike Cruiser. Offered solely with two or three rows of seating (a flat-folding second-row seat and a removable third-row seat), the Colony Park offered nine-passenger seating (distinguished by rear vent windows behind

Mercury Colony Park - Misplaced Pages Continue

4200-539: The Colony Park was based on the 121.0 in (3,073 mm) wheelbase of the Ford Country Squire and the Ford LTD, and only the Colony Park had concealed headlight covers and the simulated woodgrain body panels, while the Monterey station wagon, which was very similar, did not. This was done to position the Colony Park and Marquis as visually similar to the 1969 Lincoln Continental and the Mark III. The 1969 Colony Park

4300-460: The Colony Park was styled with exterior woodgrain trim. To further distinguish the model range from Ford (and Edsel) wagons, all Mercury wagons were given hardtop rooflines. Though offered optionally by AMC, Buick, and Oldsmobile, Mercury was the only American-brand manufacturer to offer hardtop rooflines as standard equipment for all station wagon models. For 1957, Mercury released the Colony Park as its flagship station wagon line. Offered only as

4400-416: The Colony Park would be the longest and heaviest station wagon ever sold by Mercury. Due to its nearly 5,000 lb (2,300 kg) curb weight, the standard engine was a 400 cubic-inch V8 with a 429 cubic-inch V8 as an option; in 1972, the 429 was replaced by a 460 cubic-inch V8 sourced from Lincoln. For the 1978 model year, a 351 Windsor V8 became standard (outside of California and high-altitude areas), with

4500-517: The Continental Division, slotted above Lincoln as the flagship marque of Ford Motor Company. At its launch, Continental introduced the Continental Mark II as its model line, intended as a successor to the 1940–1948 Lincoln Continental personal luxury car. Offered as a two-door hardtop coupe, the Mark II broke from a number of American styling precedents of the time. While fitted with whitewall tires,

4600-452: The Continental becoming the sole mass-produced four-door convertible sold in North America; to maximize rear-seat egress, Lincoln returned to the use of rear suicide doors . In another requirement to ensure its survival, the model cycle of Lincoln was extended from three years to nine years. While largely dispensing with major yearly model changes, the decision established design consistency and shifting resources towards quality control. For

4700-517: The Ford Panther platform brought Ford in line with the downsizing introduced by the 1977 General Motors B-body full-size cars. To remain competitive (in terms of size and fuel economy) with the Buick Estate and Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser (1978 marked the end of the full-size Chrysler Town & Country station wagon), Ford made extensive changes to its full-size station wagons. In terms of size,

4800-535: The Lelands were forced to resign. As Edsel Ford began to take a senior role in the management of Lincoln, multiple changes were made to both the Model L and its production. The Lincoln factory was redesigned and expanded (to nearly 1,000,000 square feet), with the components of the engine upgraded for increased reliability and performance. At its introduction, the Lincoln Model L gained a reputation for conservative (to

4900-545: The Lincoln Y-block was used for heavy-duty truck applications from the 1956 through the 1963 model year. The engine had a bore of 3.625 in (92.1 mm) and a stroke of 3.65625 in (92.9 mm). Power output was 196 hp (146 kW). The engine was optional equipment on the Ford T-700 Series and standard equipment on the Ford F-750, C-750, and B-750 Series heavy-duty trucks. The first-generation Y-block

5000-515: The Lincoln-Mercury Division, pairing Lincoln with its mid-range Mercury brand; the pairing lasted through the 2010 closure of Mercury. At the end of 2012, Lincoln reverted to its original name, Lincoln Motor Company. Following the divestiture of Premier Automotive Group ( Jaguar , Land Rover , Aston Martin , and Volvo ) and the closure of Mercury, Lincoln remains the sole luxury nameplate of Ford Motor Company. Originally founded as

5100-435: The Mercury Colony Park shed approximately five inches in length, six inches in wheelbase, and approximately 500 pounds of curb weight. The Colony Park remained the luxury level Mercury vehicle, with many optional items included with the listed retail price of US$ 3,118 ($ 31,791 in 2023 dollars ) and selling 7,887 examples. In place of the 430 MEL V8, Mercury fitted the Colony Park with three separate V8 engines. A 292 Y-Block V8

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5200-511: The Mercury brand, the Colony Park was not directly replaced. Following the 1952 introduction of the Mercury Monterey, Mercury expanded its model range for 1953 by adding a station wagon (its first four-door station wagon since 1941). Sharing its roofline, three-row seating configuration, and two-piece tailgate design with the Ford Country Squire, the Monterey station wagon was fitted with exterior woodgrain trim as standard equipment. By 1955,

5300-500: The Model K offered both factory-designed bodies and coachbuilt designs. For 1932, Lincoln introduced its first "multi-cylinder" engine, introducing a V12 engine for the Model K. The next year, the V8 was retired, making Lincoln the first manufacturer in the world to produce vehicles exclusively with V12 engines. For 1935, Lincoln was positioned upward in price. While limiting sales, the move increased profitability per vehicle; at over $ 4,000 for

5400-480: The Monterey and the Country Squire had become the only station wagons sold with the feature ( genuine wood had been replaced by simulated materials (far less expensive and essentially maintenance-free). For the 1957 redesign of its model range, Mercury split its sedans and station wagons into distinct model ranges (echoing a change made by Ford for 1955). The Monterey became the standard Mercury sedan, slotted below

5500-681: The United States. Today, this niche is filled from its crossover and SUV lineup. In 2017, Lincoln sold 188,383 vehicles globally. Outside of North America, Lincoln vehicles are officially sold in the Middle East (except Iran and Syria), China (except Hong Kong and Macau), and South Korea. The Lincoln Motor Company was founded in August 1917 by Henry Leland and his son Wilfred. Among the founders of Cadillac, Leland had sold Cadillac to General Motors in 1909; staying on as an executive, he left in 1917 over

5600-521: The Y-block V8, Ford developed a 430 cu in (7.0 L) "MEL" V8 as standard equipment for Lincolns (which was also available in Ford Thunderbirds and some Mercury vehicles). For 1959, Continental developed Town Car and Limousine variants of the standard four-door sedan. In place of extending the wheelbase, the reverse-slant roofline was replaced by a formal notchback configuration, allowing

5700-435: The body and trim, the Colony Park received a major update alongside the Grand Marquis for 1988. From the windshield forward, a more aerodynamic front end better integrated the fenders, grille, headlights, and bumpers. Inside, the front seats were modernized. For 1990, as part of an addition of a driver's side airbag, the entire instrument panel and dashboard received a redesign; all outboard seats received 3-point seatbelts. 1991

5800-691: The brand, Lincoln returned to model names for the first time since 1942, with the Lincoln Cosmopolitan becoming the standard Lincoln model, with the Lincoln Capri becoming the flagship model line. In a return to (small) pontoon rear fenders, Lincolns shared a body with the Mercury Monterey . Mechanically, Lincoln differed from Mercury, as the Ford truck V8 was replaced by the Lincoln Y-block V8 with

5900-454: The compact Mercury Comet, all full-size 1961 Mercury lines began production using Ford bodywork and chassis. Now sharing its roofline with the Ford Country Squire, the Colony Park moved from sharing its interior trim from the Montclair to the Monterey. Though the 1961 redesign of the Mercury product line was not intended as downsizing , the transition between the model years marked a significant decrease in exterior dimensions. From 1960 to 1961,

6000-467: The company (forced to be increased by the court). Following the purchase of Lincoln Motor Company by Ford Motor Company, Henry and Wilfred Leland remained at the company, with Edsel Ford given responsibility over it. While Ford had sought to expand its model range beyond the Ford Model T , the purchase of Lincoln held a degree of personal value, as the owners of Lincoln developed an automobile company from one that Henry Ford had been forced from. In 1902,

6100-525: The conclusion of the war in 1945, the structure of Lincoln within Ford changed again, as the Lincoln-Mercury Division was created, pairing Mercury and Lincoln together; from 1945 to the 2010 closure of Mercury, the two divisions were paired together within Ford. For 1946, Lincoln returned to production, ending the use of the Zephyr name. Code-named the H-series , non-Continental Lincolns were identified by their body style. Using slightly updated exteriors from 1942,

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6200-404: The design allowed the tailgate to fold down as a tailgate as well as swing out to the driver's side as a door. For 1967, passenger capacity was expanded, as sideways-facing third-row seats were added as an option. To increase ventilation for the rear of the vehicle, the Colony Park introduced fresh-air ventilation through channels integrated into the D pillar, allowing ventilation if the rear window

6300-410: The development costs of a vehicle platform that Lincoln shared with neither Ford nor Mercury (with the lone exception of the engine and transmission). By 1958, the future of Lincoln-Mercury was at risk, with Ford President Robert McNamara considering the reduction of Ford to its namesake brand. As a condition of allowing Lincoln to continue production, McNamara required the Lincoln model line to undergo

6400-524: The end of 1923. In 1924, a Lincoln Model L became the first state limousine used by a U.S. President on an official basis, supplied for Calvin Coolidge . By 1930, Lincoln had succeeded in only a decade in what its chief competitors had taken 30 years to accomplish. Serving as a direct competitor to Cadillac, the Model L had become equal to vehicles from established American brands including Duesenberg , Marmon, Packard, Peerless , and Pierce-Arrow . During

6500-499: The end of the war, Lincoln would employ 6,000 workers. On January 26, 1920, Lincoln Motor Company was reorganized as an automobile manufacturer, retooling its Detroit factory to produce automobiles. On September 16, 1920, Lincoln Motor Company produced its first automobile, the Lincoln Model L . Lincoln Motor Company had struggled with the transition from military to automobile production, with some customers having to wait nearly

6600-468: The exterior was fitted with minimal chrome trim on the body sides; tailfins were left off of the body completely. In place of the bumper-mounted spare tire of the original Lincoln Continental, the trunk lid of the Mark II showcased the design element, with a large imitation spare tire bulge (which fit over the actual spare tire inside the trunk). The Mark II was largely hand-built, with extensive quality testing done on each engine and transmission before leaving

6700-454: The factory or coachbuilt, yearly styling changes would not properly accommodate its customer base. For the 1931 model year, the Model L was replaced by the Lincoln Model K . An all-new design (on a longer, lower chassis), the Model K introduced upgrades to the carburetor, brakes, and suspension. Competing against the Cadillac 355 , Chrysler Imperial , Duesenberg Model J , and Packard Eight ,

6800-489: The factory. In place of establishing a separate sales and service network for Continental, the Mark II was marketed through Lincoln (the Mark II used a Lincoln engine and transmission). At $ 10,000 in 1956 (equivalent to $ 112,069 in 2023 ), the Mark II was the most expensive car produced by an American automaker at the time, rivaling the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud in price. On July 18, 1956, the Continental Division

6900-420: The features previously introduced, making only the padded dashboard and sunvisors and front seatbelts optional. To further enhance driving safety, a "Visual Aid" option package installed tinted windows, windshield wiper washers, reverse lights, and a non-glare rearview mirror. For 1958, the Mercury line received revisions to their front and rear bodywork. The headlight surrounds were reshaped to better integrate

7000-470: The first time. Coinciding with the shift in market position for the Model K, Edsel Ford introduced the Lincoln-Zephyr as a sub-marque within Lincoln for 1936. Designed as a competitor for the (Cadillac) LaSalle and Chrysler Airflow , the Lincoln-Zephyr was priced between Ford and the Model K. The Lincoln-Zephyr was the first Ford Motor Company vehicle to use unibody construction; while designed with

7100-596: The hyphen was removed from Lincoln-Zephyr, making it a Lincoln. As a replacement for the expensive Model K, an extended-wheelbase Lincoln Custom variant of the Lincoln Zephyr was developed. Following the development of proper tooling, the Lincoln Continental began production on the assembly line, replacing hand-built construction. After the entry of the United States into World War II, as with all U.S. auto manufacturers, Lincoln ended automobile production as Ford Motor Company concentrated on wartime manufacturing. Following

7200-427: The interior saw only nominal changes, the exterior saw substantial revisions, as the headlights were moved into the grille, and the hoodline lowered. The scalloped fins introduced in 1957 were deleted, with chrome trim forming vestigial fins above large vertical taillamps. In a preview of what would happen over much of the next decade, Mercury reduced the coverage of the woodgrain trim over the side bodywork. For 1959,

7300-465: The lines, provided by the engine when it was running. If a loss of vacuum occurred, the doors would retract up so that the headlights were usable if the system should fail. The Magic Doorgate was reworked so that it could swing outward like a conventional door without having to roll the window down, while the glass had to be retracted when opened downwards as a tailgate. Coinciding with the addition of 5-mph bumpers, Ford and Mercury station wagons underwent

7400-588: The mid-1950s and '60s, the Mercury Commuter was briefly offered as a lower-priced alternative to the Colony Park without the simulated woodgrain appearance, but lost sales to the very similar Ford Country Sedan and Ford Ranch Wagon and was cancelled in 1968, leaving the Colony Park as the only Mercury station wagon. In 1976, American Motors Corporation introduced the Jeep Grand Wagoneer , with similar passenger accommodation, luxury standard equipment and

7500-407: The mid-level Commuter without the simulated mahogany wood trim. While retaining a body-on-frame chassis, the leaf-spring rear suspension was replaced by a coil-spring live rear axle configuration; through several design changes, the basic layout would be retained through the final Crown Victoria, produced in 2011. While the Colony Park retained its roofline alongside the Ford Country Squire, it adopted

7600-476: The mid-range Montclair and flagship Turnpike Cruiser. The station wagon range was introduced as a base-trim Mercury Commuter and mid-price Mercury Voyager ; both lines were offered in two-door and four-door configurations. Offered only as a four-door wagon, the Colony Park served as the flagship of the model line. To position the model upmarket (against the Buick Estate and the Chrysler Town & Country ),

7700-409: The point of outdated) design. As a response, Edsel Ford introduced the Model L for 1923 in a custom-bodied form directly from Lincoln; in line with a Duesenberg or a Rolls-Royce , customers could also purchase a Model L with coachbuilt bodywork. For 1923, Lincoln produced 7,875 cars (nearly 45% higher than in 1922). After struggling to deliver cars before 1922, Lincoln was operating at a profit by

7800-463: The premium Edsels (prior to the latter's demise), Lincoln and Continental adopted a common body structure, shifting to unibody construction. With a 131-inch wheelbase, the new platform would be among the largest vehicles ever built by Ford Motor Company; they are the longest Lincolns ever built without 5 mph bumpers , a regulatory mandate which went into effect in September 1972. As a replacement for

7900-526: The production of the Model L, Lincoln did not adopt the common American automotive industry practice of yearly model changes. While the company had made minor revisions and upgrades to the model line to the chassis and powertrain, the body was largely left alone over its 10-year production, a business model shared with the Ford Model T . Lincoln found that customer interest was accommodated by the purchase of multiple Lincolns (or other luxury vehicles) in different body styles; as many Lincolns were custom-bodied from

8000-564: The quad headlight units and a larger front bumper (now featuring the gold "Big M" of the Turnpike Cruiser). Though the scalloped fins remained, the taillamps were reshaped from a delta shape to a rocket style, with additional chrome trim on the C-pillars. For 1957, the Colony Park was fitted with a 290hp 368 cubic-inch Lincoln Y-Block V8 , shared with the Turnpike Cruiser. For 1958, the Y-block

8100-451: The rear seat to be moved rearward several inches. Among the rarest Lincoln vehicles ever produced, the Town Car and Limousines were only offered painted in black. From 1958 until 1960, Lincoln would lose over $ 60 million ($ 617,952,756 in 2023 dollars ). Following the recession economy of the late 1950s (a factor that would play into the demise of Edsel), Ford Motor Company was forced to recoup

8200-462: The second-generation Colony Park as part of its new "Country Cruiser" station wagon series, again slotted above the Commuter and Voyager. Originally developed to share its chassis (moving to a 126-inch wheelbase) with the premium Edsel Corsair and Edsel Citation , the cancellation of the premium Edsel lines left Mercury with its own car (for the first time since 1940). As Ford began to wind down Edsel,

8300-433: The slab-sided design language taken on by Mercury sedans, heavily influenced by the exterior of the Lincoln Continental. The 1965 version was listed at US$ 3,364 ($ 37,668 in 2023 dollars ) and 4,213 were manufactured. Through this generation, Mercury would make several design changes. For 1966, the rear tailgate was updated, marking the debut of the two-way "Magic Doorgate" shared with all other Ford and Mercury station wagons;

8400-464: The sole full-size Mercury wagon, as the previous year's 'base' Marquis wagon was no longer offered as a full-size model. For 1984, the non-woodgrain Grand Marquis (previously Marquis) station wagon was dropped, leaving the Colony Park as the sole version. For 1987, Mercury brought the Colony Park in line with the Sable and Topaz by introducing GS and LS trim levels. After nine years with only detail changes to

8500-588: Was bored out in 1955 to 3.94 in (100.1 mm), displacing 341 cu in (5.6 L). Power was up to 225 hp (168 kW) and torque 450 N⋅m (332 lb⋅ft). in its sole year of production. In the 1956 model year the 341's bore was increased to 4 in (101.6 mm) and stroke to 3.65625 in (92.9 mm) to create a 368 cu in (6.0 L) engine that produced 285 hp (213 kW) and 545 N⋅m (402 lb⋅ft). In 1957 horsepower increased to 300 hp (224 kW) with 563 N⋅m (415 lb⋅ft) of torque but

8600-552: Was changed from a removable unit to a fold-flat design; along with matching the function of the second row, the upright third row allowed for additional storage behind it. To increase seat room, revised driveshaft mounting created a nearly flat floor for the second-row seat. For 1960, the Country Cruiser line underwent several revisions, with Mercury discontinuing the mid-range Voyager and all two-door wagons; all wagons were now single-tone Commuters or wood-trim Colony Parks. Though

8700-600: Was closed after 1952; subsequent Lincolns were produced alongside Mercury Montereys and Mercury Montclairs. For the 1957 model year, Ford opened Wixom Assembly in Wixom, Michigan , as a facility to specialize in Lincoln production. From 1957 until 2007, the facility produced Lincoln vehicles nearly exclusively, along with the Ford GT and several generations of the Ford Thunderbird . For the 1956 model year, Ford Motor Company created

8800-551: Was in response to the sales success of the competing Oldsmobile "Rocket" and Cadillac OHV V8 engines, introduced in the 1949 model year, the Buick "Nailhead" engine introduced in the 1953 model year, and the OHV V8 Chrysler Hemi engine in 1951. Also, Ford needed larger and more powerful truck engines. The basic engine design was produced through 1963. It was replaced by the newer MEL engine for car applications in 1958, and

8900-401: Was integrated into Lincoln which continued to manage the Continental brand as a separate marque. During the 1957 model year, the Mark II was withdrawn, largely as a consequence of its hand-built construction; each unit was sold at a loss of over $ 1,000. Subsequently, the 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham overtook the Mark II as the most expensive American-produced vehicle. For 1958, as part of

9000-420: Was listed at US$ 4,457 ($ 37,031 in 2023 dollars) and 25,604 were made. The Colony Park and Monterey station wagons were the senior level vehicles to the slightly shorter Mercury Montego station wagons, which did also offer the simulated woodgrain appearance. This generation introduced covered headlights, which were deployed using a vacuum canister system that kept the doors down when a vacuum condition existed in

9100-568: Was locked out above 10mph and selecting "Park" locked out all other functions until it was released. For 1958, the control panel was revised; along with a simpler layout, an optional "Multi-Drive" version introduced multiple drive modes for the 3-speed automatic. The Multi-Drive system was the only transmission paired with the Super Marauder V8. For 1957, the Colony Park was listed with a retail price of US$ 3,677 ($ 39,889 in 2023 dollars ) and 7,386 were manufactured. For 1959, Mercury introduced

9200-629: Was renamed the Mark IV, becoming the Mark V for 1960. In 1959, the Continental marque was formally brought to an end within Lincoln; for 1960, the Mark V was brought to production as the Lincoln Continental Mark V , ending the model cycle alongside the standard Lincoln model line. For the 1958 model year, the Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln (M-E-L) division adapted new bodies across its vehicle lines. In addition to Mercury sharing its bodies with

9300-456: Was reorganized slightly, following the creation of the free-standing Edsel and Continental divisions, Lincoln-Mercury was changed to Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln (MEL), with Edsel slotted alongside/below Mercury and Continental above Lincoln, as the flagship of all of Ford Motor Company. By the end of 1959, Continental was integrated into Lincoln, and Edsel was withdrawn. The Lincoln Motor Company Plant, built in Detroit, Michigan, by Henry Leland in 1917,

9400-447: Was replaced in heavy-duty truck applications by the FT (330/361/391) engines starting in 1964. A 279 cu in (4.6 L) version of the Lincoln Y-block was produced for heavy-duty truck applications for the 1952 through 1955 model years. The engine had a bore of 3.5625 in (90.5 mm) and a stroke of 3.5 in (88.9 mm). The 302 cu in (4.9 L) version of

9500-512: Was retired from car use and replaced by the Ford MEL engine , the first "big-block" Ford V8 engine. A 330hp 383 cubic-inch "Marauder" V8 became standard, with a 430 cubic-inch "Super Marauder" V8 offered as an option. In contrast to its use in Lincolns, the 400hp Super Marauder engine used triple two-barrel carburetors (becoming the first mass-produced American engine with a rated 400hp output). Though

9600-418: Was retracted, and when the rear window was up, the airflow would be used to keep the rear window clear in inclement weather. The Colony Park underwent two exterior revisions, in 1967 and 1968, following Lincoln Continental styling updates; redesigns were made to the simulated wood paneling, where the entire side of the body was covered and eliminated the tapered appearance on the front fender. For 1967 and 1968,

9700-462: Was the 317 cu in (5.2 L), which replaced the undersquare 337 cu in (5.5 L) flathead V8 on all Lincolns in the 1952 model year and was produced through 1954. The 317 was oversquare, as was rapidly becoming the fashion, with a bore of 3.80 in (96.5 mm) and a stroke of 3.5 in (88.9 mm). Power output with a two-barrel carburetor was 160 hp (119 kW). Higher compression, larger intake valves,

9800-494: Was the final shortened model year for the Colony Park, with production ending in December 1990. Lincoln Motor Company Lincoln Motor Company , or simply Lincoln , is the luxury vehicle division of American automobile manufacturer Ford Motor Company . Marketed among the top luxury vehicle brands in the United States, Lincoln is positioned closely against its General Motors counterpart Cadillac . However, beginning with

9900-436: Was the standard engine for 1961 and 1962, with 352 and 390 FE V8s as options. In 1963, the 390 became the standard engine. For the first time, 3- and 4-speed manual transmissions were offered in the Colony Park, with the 3-speed Merc-O-Matic as an option. For 1965, Ford redesigned its entire full-size sedan and station wagon product line, including the Mercury Colony Park, and was once again separated as its own model line with

10000-458: Was used for heavy-duty truck applications from the 1956 through the 1963 model year. The engine had a bore of 3.80 in (96.5 mm) and a stroke of 3.65625 in (92.9 mm) and produced 212 hp (158 kW). The engine was standard equipment on the Ford F-800, F-900, T-750, T-800, C-800, and C-900 Series heavy-duty trucks. The 317 cu in (5.2 L) automobile engine

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