Fletch has travelled to regional Victoria to visit an impressive private collection of 30 Lincoln vehicles. Before revealing the collection, Fletch gives a brief history of the Lincoln, which is considered one of the most luxurious and high-end vehicles produced by Ford. Always positioned closely against its General Motors rival Cadillac.
The Lincoln Motor Company was founded in 1917 by Henry Leland, who named it after Abraham Lincoln. In February 1922, the company was acquired by the Ford. Following World War II, Ford formed the Lincoln-Mercury division, pairing Lincoln with its mid-range Mercury brand until the 2010 closure of Mercury. The company later reverted to the Lincoln Motor Company in 2012.
Jim is the owner of the Lincoln Land collection and Fletch explores his jaw-dropping collection in a facility that is presented in a pristine manner and is larger than his home. Jim tells us how his love for Lincoln began when he first saw one in his hometown as a child. He bought his first Lincoln when he was only 18 years old and has been collecting them ever since. He regards Lincolns as the flagship of the Ford fleet they are recognised for their exceptional build quality compared to other vehicles.
The collection consists of 30 cars from as early as 1922 (pre-Ford). Fletch takes a tour through the collection, starting with models from the 1960s, including a '62 convertible, a '63 Sedan in mint condition, and two '68 Leland Lincoln stretch convertibles, with one of them being the car owned by Jackie Gleeson from 'The Honeymooners' TV show fame. Another room houses Lincolns from the 1930s & 40s, with the first Lincoln convertible - a 1949 Zephyr Continental.
There are also models from the '50s, including four models - '53, '56, '57 and a '59. Jim points out that although not all models were well-received by the public at the time, they have now achieved iconic status. The collection continues with Mark 3 – Mark 8 models from the 1960s and 1970s. The final showroom is the vintage section, featuring the earliest 1922 model through 1948, including the very cool 1938 Lincoln Zephyr.
Jim allows car clubs to view this outstanding collection, with all proceeds going to the Royal Children's Hospital 'Good Friday' Appeal.
