Lincoln: A Brief History

• The brand was named after President Abraham Lincoln, because founder, Henry Leland, very much admired President Lincoln.

• The Lincoln Company started out as an aircraft builder in 1915, where it built Liberty Aircraft engines for World War I. 
• Henry Leland's goal was to help win the war. 

• After WWI ended, the company switched to manufacturing luxury cars. 
• However, Leland was not successful and went bankrupt.

• Henry Ford bought the Lincoln Motor Company from Henry Leland in 1922. 

• Lincoln is known for its luxury vehicles and in particular the 'Town car.'

• The first car that was specifically built for presidential use was the 1939 Lincoln V12 Convertible called the Sunshine Special. It was used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. 

• American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright called the Luxury Continental, which launched in 1939, "The most beautiful car ever made." 

• Presidents Calvin Coolidge, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush all used Lincoln vehicles during their presidencies. 

• The 2000 Lincoln LS was named Motortrend's Car of the Year, because of its incredible interior, comfortable ride and economical engine.

• In 1981, the Town Car became a stand-alone model and as a result the motto "Lincoln. What a Luxury Car Should Be." was introduced into advertising campaigns. The slogan was used through the 1990's.
• The current motto the company operates under is, "Lincoln. Travel Well."