1941 was a great year for the auto industry, probably for all the wrong reasons. The Great Depression had ended, but war was on the horizon, so they both knew that people would be buying a lot of cars and that those would be the last cars they would have for a long time. As a result, some truly great machinery came out of domestic factories, with luxury automakers still delivering the utmost in style, performance, and reliability. Lincoln, in particular, was looking to build on the success of the all-new Continental, which introduced dramatic new styling and a fresh concept to a segment in dire need of shaking up. But the Continental wasn't the only Lincoln that swept into dealerships with grand fanfare; the top-of-the-line Custom sedans and limousines remained the only 12-cylinder car you could buy if you needed something formal, and even in 1941, more cylinders was definitely appealing. Remarkably, these wonderful cars were unique to 1941 and 1942, disappearing after the war and almost forgotten.

This remarkable 1941 Lincoln Custom sedan is one of those rare survivors that you often hear about but seldom see. Yes, the word "survivor" is getting abused like the word "classic" but in the strictest sense of the word, it means a car that is not only original, but in excellent condition. Merely existing shouldn't be a criteria for "survivor" status, but rather an overall condition that makes people accustomed to restored cars say, "Wow, that's a nice car!" This Lincoln certainly delivers on that front. It has been in long-term ownership for more than four decades, and during its entire life, it has amassed just over 57,000 miles. Given the way cars like this were originally used and the fact that they were always objects of great value, it shouldn't be a surprise that it's in such fine condition, but then again, when was the last time you saw one?

Only 355 Lincoln Custom 7-passenger sedans were built in 1941 (of which this is #69), and that seems fitting as it was intended to be the replacement for the mighty K-Series cars that were discontinued in 1939. Sitting on a massive 138-inch wheelbase, they were intended to be big, luxurious, powerful cars and in that regard the big Lincolns deliver—this is a VERY big car. The 1941 grille is arguably the most attractive Lincoln look of the immediate pre-war era and the distinctive waterfall look was probably most famous on the prow of the Continental. Everything but the grille, however, is unique to the Custom and the proportions are excellent. Yes, it's big, but it doesn't look bulky or clumsy and the fender skirts add to the sleek overall appearance. That's factory-applied gloss black lacquer on the bodywork and while it shows the usual signs of age and use, it's in fantastic condition with no additional work needed. Original paint also means no trouble underneath, so you know this isn't a rusty car with b-team bodywork underneath, and those big, heavy doors close with the kind of precision usually reserved for the hatches on submarines. There's evidence that this was a very expensive car everywhere you look, from the beautiful gold anodized and chrome hood ornament, the ornate tips on the stainless side trim, and the delicate Lincoln Custom script on the sides of the cowl. It isn't flashy, but it's imposing, which was surely the intent.

Speaking of the trim, it's all in fantastic shape, particularly the grille, which is usually prone to a lot of pitting and deterioration if it's neglected. Not so, here, with crisp bars and few pits or other signs of age. The bumpers are excellent, and please not the front bumper's openings ahead of the grille—is it to improve cooling (the car has no heating issues) or simply for style? There's also a wonderful stripe of stainless beading surrounding the top, adding a formal look without the need for a padded roof. There are three taillights, two on the outboard sides and one in the center of the trunk lid, which is housed in a winged ornament that looks fantastic. Of note, only the center light was used for braking but in the interest of safety, the outer lights have been modified to act as both brake lights and signal lights, making it much easier for modern drivers to see and interpret.

The interior is sumptuous and ornate as you'd expect. There's an argument to be made that the limousine with only 295 being built, is more exclusive, but if your goal is to drive and enjoy this car, then the sedan is a far better choice. The front seat has a great deal more legroom and is adjustable, making it ideal for CCCA CARavans and touring. The handsome blue and gray striped cloth upholstery is used throughout the car, giving it a much more cohesive look and it's completely original. Yes, there are some splits on the driver's seat, but you can see that a conscientious caretaker has made a few repairs that do not affect the condition of the original fabric. It is our professional opinion that chasing perfection here would be a mistake, as matching the fabric exactly would be a challenge and it would detract from the overall quality of the car. The seats remain firm and comfortable and the jump seats in back look almost completely unused. The rear bench is also nicely finished with a center armrest, built-in ashtrays in the armrests, and delicate silk shades for the rear and quarter windows.

Gold trim was unique to the Custom in 1941 (it would be used in the Continental in 1942) and gives the interior a very lavish look. Remarkably, everything works in this car: all the gauges, the clock ticks away and keeps reliable time, and the AM radio pulls in signals loud and clear with the fender-mounted antenna properly extended. The instruments are clustered around the round speedometer pod, while secondary controls for lights, throttle, choke, and other functions are managed by pull-out knobs below. It is also worth noting that 1941 was the first use of power windows by Lincoln, and those in this Custom sedan are fully operational, although they occasionally need a little assist (we suspect that a little cleaning and lubrication on the tracks would pay big dividends). The carpets are a bit threadbare and you could probably replace those inexpensively and without harming the original look, but the overall level of preservation in this car is rather impressive. Even the trunk is still outfitted with original carpets and a full-sized spare, along with a full tool set and jack.

The 292 cubic inch V12 under the hood should look familiar to Lincoln fans and while these engines often have a bad reputation, this all-original specimen has exactly zero bad habits. It is more proof that these were quality machines when they were new. With polished aluminum heads, it certainly looks expensive under the hood and while it has been cleaned, detailed, and serviced, the engine has never been out of the car. Nevertheless, it starts almost instantly with just a little choke (which was still manually controlled) and idles smoothly at about 600 RPM once it's warmed up. With 120 horsepower on tap, it's not going to set any speed records, but clever gearing and an overdrive make it feel at least as powerful as Cadillac's V8. The distributor is still on the nose of the engine, it still inhales through a big oil bath air cleaner, and a generator perched up top makes six volts' worth of electricity, just as when it was new. Standard maintenance items have been replaced over the years, but all the significant parts are as they were when this car was delivered in 1941. And you don't have to worry about overheating, because this one runs nice and cool at about 180 degrees, regardless of the conditions. Good care, indeed!

The three-speed manual transmission slips easily through the gears, clutch action is light with just a little chatter when going in reverse, and the V12 has enough torque to pull this giant car around without a lot of needless shifting. And thanks to a fully operational Borg-Warner overdrive unit, it cruises easily at 65 MPH in almost eerie silence, the V12 just loafing along and the heavy car's suspension smothering road irregularities. There are tall 4.44 gears in the rear end, which is part of why it feels so lively around town, but the overdrive knocks them down to a much more reasonable 3.10 on the highway. In fact, we've found that 2nd gear with overdrive is the ideal around-town configuration, letting the gears and torque pull the car around at low speeds and then automatically shifting into overdrive at about 30 MPH without any driver intervention at all. It's as close as you'll get to an automatic transmission in a 1941 Lincoln. The brakes are reassuringly powerful, the steering is surprisingly light for such a massive machine, and it's sitting on an older set of 7.00-16 Lester wide whites that could probably be replaced if you're planning on extended touring use (radials would be an ideal choice).

This car has already been badged by the Classic Car of America and the Lincoln Zephyr Owner's Club, so the quality is there.

Original cars are special but they aren't for everyone. If you think that original means perfect, you'll be disappointed. On the other hand, if you like to drive, few restored cars can compare to a quality original car like this, making it the ideal choice for an enthusiast who wants to put his hardware on the road. And with the long-legged V12 and overdrive, that's really what this car does best. Unusual, spacious, comfortable, loaded with features, and ready to enjoy, few cars could be better all-around hobby vehicles than this Lincoln. Call today!