VVCA 1929 Lincoln Sedan P2

Back in 1986, I was finishing off a full restoration of a 1930 Model 'A' Town Sedan and also looking for my next project. Having restored a 1915 'T' Ford Tourer and two 1930 Ford A's, I was looking for something a bit more of a challenge like a big seven passenger sedan.

I had looked at examples of Packard, Chrysler, and La Salle and even an Alvis. None of these cars made a difference to my heart rate.

It was winter 1986 and my two mates, Ken and Owen, and I were on our way to the Canberra Swap Meet. Who could forget this swap meet? We queued outside the exhibition building with 100 or more other swappers for an hour or more freezing our butts off waiting for the doors to open, but at least they had big heaters inside.

While we were in the queue, Ken said he had found the ideal car for me, a 1929 Lincoln. I did not know what a Lincoln looked like, I‘d never seen one. Ken said he would try to arrange an appointment with the owner for us to see the Lincoln. A few weeks later an appointment was made. We were to meet at for 4.30 pm outside a used car yard at Rockdale, a southern Sydney suburb, and only 5 km from my home.

We arrived at the appointed time outside the car yard on the Princes Highway, with peak hour traffic flying by. I sought reassurance from Ken that we were at the right place. A few minutes later a frail, grey haired, elderly gentleman walked down between the used cars for sale in the yard and greeted us, shook our hands and introduced himself as Monty. He asked me if I wanted to see a quality car, and I responded with quiet enthusiasm.

Ken had met Monty at a number of antique auctions where they had often bid against one another. During one of there conversations Ken had mentioned that he had a Studebaker President Straight 8 Tourer, and Monty had indicated that he owned a 1929 Lincoln V8 Limousine.

We followed Monty to the rear of the yard where a very large shed stood with the door partly open. We followed Monty in and both stood there taking everything in. There were car parts, old motorbikes, old furniture, junk and rubbish everywhere. We could see a narrow path leading to the rear of the shed. Monty indicated we should go down and have a look while he was having a cup of coffee.

It was obvious that Monty never threw anything away. We made our way to the rear of the shed, but could not see any sign of the Lincoln. So I went back up to where Monty was having his coffee and told him that we couldn't find the car. Monty suggested that we look half way down on the right, so back I went. We figured it must be behind a row of shelving which was piled high with old tyre tubes, drums, bits and pieces of motors and motorbike parts.

After removing junk off the shelving we peered through and could see what appeared to be the radiator shell of the Lincoln. It was pretty dark in the shed and it was getting late in the afternoon so we asked Monty if we could come back Saturday afternoon.

Monty had been a used car salesman and owned the property where the Lincoln was. When he retired he leased the car yard but kept the big shed at the rear for his own use.

We were back on the Saturday afternoon ready for some heavy work. Ken and I spent a good two hours shifting junk to any part of the shed that we could find a bit of room. It seemed that Monty had parked the Lincoln some 25 years earlier and proceeded to stack junk on, in and around it until it was hidden from view, so it was a good time to take a few photos. This must be how archaeologists feel when they dig up ancient remains.

So there it sat on stands all forlorn and dilapidated. Head lights, front bumper, radiator badge and wheels missing.

This was not like the picture I had in my mind, but I could see a magnificent restored car. My pulse was now much faster (a good sign).

When I asked Ken whether the Lincoln was for sale, he said that he had never asked Monty. It was time to ask him. I walked up to the front of the shed where Monty had a little workbench (Monty lived about 3 km away and would ride his motor bike to the shed most days to tinker with one of his treasures) and asked him to come and see what we’d uncovered.

He told us that the head lights were in the trunk, the bumper was somewhere in the shed and the wheels were also here. The radiator badge was stolen when the Lincoln was stored at his previous property.

He went on to say that he had owned the Lincoln for 30 years and it had only done about 36,000 miles (it looked like it had done 136,000 miles).

I asked Monty if he would consider selling the Lincoln to me. He said he would sell it to me if my intention was to restore it and not resell it for a quick dollar. I thought that the best way to convince Monty that I was the right person for the Lincoln was to invite him over to my shed to show him that I was capable enough to restore the car.

I showed him my 1915 Canadian bodied 'T' Ford Tourer which I had built from a collection of parts, my 1930 Model 'A' Tourer and the 1930 Town Sedan, almost finished. Then I showed him my FJ Holden which I also had for 30 years.

Driving Monty back to his shed, he asked me to have a think about it and come and see him in a couple of weeks.

I said to Ken on the way home that "The Lincoln is exactly what I'm looking for - a big 7 passenger 6 wheel limo and I'm going to buy it." Ken pointed out that Monty didn't mention a price.

Impatience got the better of me so early the following week I rang Monty and asked him if I could come over to discuss the Lincoln. The following night I drove to Monty's house and pulled up outside the address he gave me, got out of the car and thought this can't be right. Across the road the moon was shining on the bay. I walked to the front door of the plain rather neglected house and Monty invited me in.

I can remember walking past a big steering wheel of a sailing ship and it stood at least 6 foot high. Monty showed me part of his very rare antique gun and watch collection and his racing Norton motor bike. His wife told me that she mostly drove the Lincoln.

Monty told me the Lincoln was sold at University Motor Auctions in Broadway Sydney in 1955 for the sum of ₤50 to an acquaintance of his. Monty said that he had arrived at the auction too late. However he bought it from him for ₤55 one week later.

It had a loud knock in the motor which turned out to be a damaged piston. He had a set of Packard pistons fitted which gave the motor slightly more compression.

Sitting on the table was the original greyhound mascot in excellent condition staring at me. Monty indicated what he wanted for the Lincoln – “no more, no less." I agreed on the spot and gave him $1,000 deposit. I arranged to call around during the week to pick up the rims and fit some old tyres and tubes to them. Monty said that meanwhile he would clear a path for the Lincoln.