Harry's Thoughts
THE ESSENTIALS
This is a low-mileage, two owner, rust-free Western car that had undergone a professional restoration completed about eight years ago and has had little use since. It is in very nice condition and is now ready for showing in concours events or touring!! This car has never competed in concours and is ready to be shown and used!
This 1949 Lincoln Cosmopolitan Convertible comes to us as a magnificent two-owner restored and rust-free Western icon. This was bought new by the family that owned, amongst other things, the Tea Pot Service Station in Zillah, located in the dry and arid Yakima Valley in Eastern Washington State. This was a low-mileage rust-free car that was originally a well love motorcar that was stored away by the late 1960’s or early 1970’s. After a long period of storage the car was sold in September 1978 to its second and last registered owner, Carson Olafson in Yakima, WA.
The last owner of 32 years was delighted to add this motorcar to his collection. After purchase in 1978, he stored the car knowing that he had just bought a very special and rare find. The car may still be in its original “barn find” condition except Carson’s wife loved the looks of the car and wanted him to restore it! Now, that’s a wife!!! Think he said “no!”? No way!
It wasn’t until the early 1990’s that Carson commenced an extensive ten-year restoration. Being very experienced as a collector of cars, Carson knew how to get a project done. The restoration was completed about eight years ago.
The car was stripped to bare metal and painted in the Cosmopolitan Maroon Metallic. The paint and body craftsmen stated that they had not seen such a perfectly rust-free and straight car before. There was only one small crease near the front driver’s side rocker panel that was put there by Carson and Mr. Richard Comstock when they pulled it out for the trailer ride home in 1978!
He had Pete Hamilton restore the leather upholstery in a light cream to compliment the Harrtz cloth convertible top. The materials were all obtained from Bill Hirsh. The convertible top frame has been repainted by us as well as a completely new and correct tan convertible top and top boot cover, including the two rear windows that are special for the Cosmopolitan.
The engine was thoroughly disassembled, cleaned and rebuilt by craftsmen at American Parts. The four-speed hydromatic automatic transmission was rebuilt by the experts at Fredrick’s Transmission. It has accumulated less than 2,000 miles since this restoration and the car runs and drivel beautifully.
This car has never been shown at a concours event or AACA. This is a natural car to participate in such events because of its rarity. So few people can say they’ve seen a gorgeous 1949 Lincoln Cosmopolitan Convertibles in person!
This car was owned for the past 32 years by a gentleman dedicated to making this one of the finest remaining Cosmopolitan convertibles. He embarked on a total, no-expanse spared restoration on this gorgeous motorcar.
We are presently fully re-commissioning the motorcar and making it show ready. We are fitting new correct wide white wall tires. Of course the convertible top has the unique cosmopolitan dual rear window as installed when new. We have also wet sanded the paint to make it absolutley deep and rich, ready for the concours field!!
Make no mistake, this was a total body off restoration of a nice original example. It has a slight patina as an older restoration would, however we have freshened this motorcar up so that it can face the competition of concours events. We believe this fine and very rare car will be welcome at concours events around the world.
Most car aficionados have never seen one of these gorgeous cars. We believe they are highly under-rated, likely due to their scarcity when new- and even more so today.
There were about 1,200 of the Cosmopolitan Convertibles made in 1949. Of the 1,200, approximately 12 are known extant. This is about as rare as we get for a top-of-the-line late 40’s dream car. A 1949 Lincoln Cosmopolitan Convertible was used by President Truman supplementing the famous Bubble Top exhibited at the Henry Ford Museum.
This is an extremely rare opportunity to own a top-of-the-line Lincoln for 1949. This Lincoln has the powerful 337 cu in flathead V-8 engine with 152 BHP at 3,600 RPM and the ever smooth and dependable four speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. It has a 125 inch wheelbase and a total length of 220.5 inches.
We assume that you have never had an opportunity to drive one of these rare gems. They absolutely surpass their contemporaries. We’re Packard nuts and a 1949 Packard Custom doesn’t even come close to this in terms of design or performance. This car is way ahead of it’s time.
As a recent value comp, a 1951 Lincoln Cosmopolitan Convertible from the Schudroff collection sold in Monterrey at the Gooding & Company auction in August of 2009 for $137,500. More details to follow on this motorcar…
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.