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Lincoln Cosmopolitan 337 cubic inch V8 1949

General description : Attractive older body-on restoration in great colors. Smooth and torquey 337 cubic inch flathead V8. HydraMatic automatic transmission. Power windows and top. Beautiful interior. A often overlooked Lincoln convertible that represents a lot of car for the money!

The Cosmopolitan was Lincoln’s first all-new car following the war. The 12-cylinder Continental and Zephyr were dead, leaving room for a full-sized luxury car with fresh styling and updated performance. The clean-sheet design is highly modern, with smoothly integrated hood and front fenders, sweeping body lines, and skirted rear wheels, making the Cosmopolitan look long and low. There are some who deride the swept-back headlights, but they work better today than they did in the ‘40s and the car has an elegant, sporting look that was surely the intention. Finished in glossy black, this is the epitome of top-of-the-line motoring in the post-war ‘40s. Benefitting from a body-on restoration perhaps 15 years ago, this very straight and very shiny Lincoln carries a lot of presence in the showroom. Panel fit is quite good, with big doors that swing shut easily and that massive clamshell hood closes with just gentle pressure instead of a major slam. There’s plenty of chrome, make no mistake, but it’s tasteful and not excessive in any way, and we love the eyebrows over the front fenders. Big block letters on the front bumper proudly spell out “LINCOLN” while delicate script emblems everywhere else let everyone know this is something special. And perhaps in the ultimate nod to understatement, those jeweled round taillights are the perfect finishing touch.

The beautiful red leather interior is a brilliant contrast to the black bodywork, creating one of the most desirable combinations imaginable. The upholstery was restored with the rest of the car some years ago, but it’s holding up quite well with only minor signs of use and age. The hides remain supple, the carpets haven’t faded from excessive sun exposure, and the door panels are excellent. Perhaps the only part showing its age is the steering wheel, which appears to be original and has some minor cracking. Two round dials hold the primary gauges, all of which are working, with a rectangular clock in the center (sadly, not working). Secondary controls are arrayed in a long row of well-marked switches under the center of the dash. And even in 1949, a heater was optional, so the controls for the heater are installed below those switches. The original AM radio is in place but is unfortunately not operational, and you’ll note that this car carries the optional HydraMatic automatic transmission (yes, Lincoln bought automatic transmissions from GM). The power windows are hydraulically actuated and work properly, albeit slowly, as does the power convertible top, which is finished in black canvas for a sleek look. The trunk is large enough for travel and includes a full-sized spare tire assembly.

The wheezy, underpowered V12 was gone, replaced by a larger V8—a 337 cubic inch version of Ford’s venerable flathead. With a 2-barrel carburetor on top, it’s a reasonable performer with great torque to get all two tons of Lincoln rolling without much effort. It’s also impeccably smooth, as you’d expect, with a nice V8 burble from the single tailpipe out back. It’s finished in corporate turquoise engine enamel and factory-style decals have been installed throughout the engine bay for an authentic look. The aforementioned GM HydraMatic 4-speed automatic transmission works as advertised, although it’s a little abrupt going into reverse, which is common with these early automatic units. But with the automatic’s great torque multiplication off-the-line, the Cosmo doesn’t need steep gears and instead uses 3.31s out back, making it a wonderful highway cruiser that’s comfortable at today’s speeds. The body has never been off the frame, but you can see that the original floors are in excellent shape and there’s plenty of evidence of conscientious maintenance over the years. Tube shocks improve the ride, steering is reasonable, and the 4-wheel drum brakes are impressively powerful and certainly adequate for a car of this size. It starts easily, idles nicely, and generally behaves like a luxury car should. It even looks right sitting on those 8.20-15 Firestone wide whites.

Documentation includes a factory service manual.

These are not common cars and we can’t remember the last time we’ve seen a black one (they all seem to be yellow). Strikingly handsome, we’re also pleased with just how well it works on the road. There’s good power on tap and the HydraMatic automatic is a great traveling partner. It isn’t a perfect car, but given the price, we think it represents a lot of prestige and luxury for not a lot of cash. Call today!

Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.

1949 Lincoln Cosmopolitan 337 cubic inch V8 is listed for sale on ClassicDigest in Ohio by Harwood Motors for $37900.

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