February 10, 2017 by David Schultz, LMCF Chairman

The Lincoln Motor Car Heritage Museum ended the year on a high note, with the donation of two automobiles to the museum’s growing group of classic Lincoln motorcars. Of equal significance three separate groups from the Lincoln Division of Ford Motor Company visited the museum.

Lincoln Motor Car Heritage Museum Update

The Dr. L. Dale Shaeffer family donated Dr. Shaeffer’s 1941 Lincoln Continental cabriolet, which he had owned for more than 60 years. Dr. Shaeffer was the second president of the Lincoln Continental Owners Club (LCOC). His widow and children attended the 2016 Lincoln Homecoming for the ceremonies.

Randy Fehr of Iowa formally donated his 1949 Lincoln Cosmopolitan convertible, which had previously been on loan. During Mr. Fehr’s ownership, the car benefitted from a complete restoration to as-original condition.

During 2016 teams from the Lincoln marketing department, Lincoln product planning department and Lincoln design department visited the Lincoln Motor Car Heritage Museum. Among the executives visiting the museum were Moray Callum, Vice President, Design Ford Motor Company; David Woodhouse, Lincoln Design Director; John Emmert, Group Marketing Manager, Lincoln; and Scott Tobin, Director, Lincoln Product Development.

Other key events that took place during 2016:

• the completed restoration of a 1926/7 Lincoln L chassis. Donated by Arnold Schmidt, the chassis was restored by Paul Van Stratton and his team of volunteers. Major funding came from the Nau Family, in memory of long-time Lincoln enthusiast Gerry Nau. Several LOC members donated parts.
• loan of a 1946 Lincoln Continental cabriolet by David Bunch of Florida. This is a one-off car customized by Lincoln’s design department. Unique features include a custom color, wheel covers painted body color, Haartz cloth top and chromed spare tire carrier.
• loan of a freshly-restored 1940 Lincoln-Zephyr Continental cabriolet by Lincoln Motor Car Foundation Chairman Emeritus Jack Eby, who led the LMCF for many years and continues to serve as head of the museum’s endowment campaign.
• a LMCF capital campaign drive, which continues into 2017. It’s objective is to build an endowment fund that ensures the continued operation of the museum for years to come. Matching funds have been pledged by Gerry Capizzi and Chris Dunn.

Looking ahead, the 2017 Homecoming will take place on August 9-13. (A “pre-meet” event will be held in Dearborn, Mich., on August 6-9.) A host of activities have been planned. While the 2017 Homecoming will be hosted by the Lincoln Owners Club it will be attended by all four Lincoln clubs—the Lincoln and Continental Owners Club, Lincoln-Zephyr Owners Club, Toad Race Lincoln Register and the LOC. The theme will be the 100 th anniversary of the founding of the Lincoln Motor Company to build Liberty Motors for the war effort. (The company was re-incorporated in 1920 to build motorcars.)

Details on the 2017 Homecoming are available here.