According to this soft-spoken campaign from the Ford Motor Company, nothing could be finer than a 1950 Lincoln or Lincoln Cosmopolitan.
As we learn in the quiet soft-sell of this theatrical commercial, there were two distinct model lines at Lincoln for 1950: Lincoln and Lincoln Cosmopolitan, though most of the attention here is focused on the senior Cosmopolitan. Each was powered by a big 337 cubic-inch flathead V8 with 152 hp, coupled to an optional General Motors Hydra-Matic transmission. While the Cosmopolitan boasted a four-inch longer wheelbase than the base Lincoln (125 inches versus 121 inches) their exterior styling was remarkably similar. The easiest way to tell them apart is by the Cosmopolitan’s “airfoil” fender trim—a thick streak of bright metal over the front wheel openings.
The 1949-51 Lincolns were all of a piece, so to speak, but one noteworthy update for 1950 was a new instrument panel with a cleaner, more integrated layout. Also, though they’re not featured here, in 1950 Lincoln introduced its two dressy sport models intended to counter GM’s pillarless hardtops, the Lido and Capri (more about them here). While the senior Cosmopolitan is the focus of this promotion, the junior Lincoln enjoyed more attention in the showrooms, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the Lincoln brand’s sales that year. Video follows.
forgive me for singing the sales slogan to the Kahn and Donaldson “Carolina in the Morning” melody.
I’m not a fan of the tunneled headlights. I’ve read, probably here on MCG, that they had intended to have hidden headlights, but I’m not sure I’d like that better. It didn’t really improve the 1942 DeSoto. Hidden lights didn’t really come into their own until they could be incorporated within the grille.
I get the sense they were supposed to be glassed-over like on any number of German cars (most notably pre-67 VWs).
The junior Lincoln appears to have shared its body with the Mercury, which in turn, was supposed to be the 1949 Ford, until Ford boss Ernie Breech asked for a totally new Ford, and got the George Walker “shoebox” as a result.
There was to have been a compact and a senior Ford line, with the big one becoming the Mercury. The junior Ford was packed off to France to become the Vedette. Similar happened at GM with the “conventional” junior Chevy becoming the first Holden. Long story short, too small for postwar America was too big for postwar France and just right for postwar Australia.
I never understood why there was no airfoil on the rear quarter of the Cosmos, until the Capri came along (and also the presidential parade phaeton.
But beyond that, I never understood where something as big as that came from, until I saw your report on that ’46 Cadillac Interceptor prototype. That has elements along the same lines, so I guess there was something in the air at the time, and this is the only time it made it to production. Are they die-cast or plated steel?
There’s a one-piece windshield on the Cosmo but not on the base Lincoln – looks like that was true in ’49 also.
Yep, quickest (only?) way to tell from straight-on if you’re looking at a Lincoln or a Cosmo.
I love Lincolns, but that is not a pretty face…