pat bonner

Alright, got her loaded and to the shop. Body number was on firewall above battery tray, reads 26H-56-23, there is another tag under all the dust upper center of firewall that has been painted over, I will try to get that tag cleaned and read soon, just buried with work right now for the next couple weeks. Right kingpin is seized so loading on a trailer was interesting with the tires turned hard left. Overall complete, vestiges of blue paint under the red repaint. Surprisingly decent interior. Damage to the grill is the worst part, no serious rust, (Nevada high desert, inside a storage unit). Dual carb square script Edelbrock intake with two lincoln carbs. Engine turns over by hand. My Motor manual states that '46 cars built before January were built on '42 chassis, which I suppose would explain the vin. Is there an actual engine number on the engine somewhere? Did the engine number relate to the vin in anyway? I see conflicting info on that on the internet. Thanks all for your expertise and interest, this one will be fun.

Thanks for the reply! This is the first Lincoln I've owned but I've been playing around with old cars for a good long while, mostly prewar or early postwar. I should get her home this week and get a better idea of what exactly it is. I learned the hard way a long time ago not to start looking in boxes etc. with the auctioneer standing there... I have Motor manuals galore, I'll dig into them shortly. Were any lincolns produced during the war? I once had a Packard that was painted Army green and the vin was between the last '42 and the first '46, I was told some staff cars were produced during the war, although a cabriolet seems a little ostentatious. Thanks again for the info, this one might have to jump the queue ahead of other projects. I'll get some pictures and more info up in a week or so.

Hi all, I recently acquired a what appears to be postwar cabriolet, however the vin stamped on the frame is H131520, and from the little bit of research I've had time for that seems to indicate a '42. It also has an offy twin carb intake. The body plate isn't mounted where it should be. The grill, while straight, is extremely deteriorated, and I've been down that long and laborious potmetal road before.... Frankly I prefer the '42 front end, however any insights into why this car would have this front clip would be helpful. Repair from crash maybe?.. Also, would the entire clip need to be replaced or are hood fenders etc crossover pre to post war? Availability of '42 front clip? I haven't picked up the car yet but went and visited it last week. It was raining and outside under a tarp at the present time, (although it has been in long term dry storage) so I didn't get into it that much. Trunk full of parts including disassembled tranny. I should have the car home by the end of this week and have more info to provide including pictures. Thanks in advance for any help.