What is this?

[Smoke Wagon]

I was watching an old promotional film by Ford for their then-new car for ‘49, when I saw this (black convertible) driving alongside a sedan on a test track. I don’t recognize it, at first I thought it was a fish-eye Lincoln, but those are different. If I had to guess, maybe it was a styling exercise for the Mercury-Lincoln division? Any more knowledgeable folks out there who can identify it? It’s been bugging me as of late. 

And for those that like to watch these historic automotive promotional films: 

 

[lucky 130]

Looks like a Hudson.

[Rob Hall]

The humpy car on the right in the video is a Lincoln from around 1949-50, like this Cosmopolitan.  

 

Edited December 20, 2021 by Rob Hall

[iamsuperdan]

And people said the original Porsche Cayenne looked like a catfish.

The Porsche has nothing on this Lincoln.

 

 

[Mark]

The bigger Lincolns (like those pictured) were designed with hideaway headlamps (retractable doors in front of them) but were changed at the last minute.  The headlamps remained in their original locations but the "tunnel" trim pieces were added.

The smaller Lincolns used Mercury bodies with a longer chassis and front clip.  The wheelbase difference between those Lincolns and corresponding Mercuries is all ahead of the firewall.

[junkyardjeff]

The Lincolns also had a bigger Flathead V8 that was also used in the larger trucks.

[Smoke Wagon]

Thanks Rob. So it is a fisheye Lincoln. The black and white footage and the car not having any side trim really threw me off. 

Mark, Jeff, thank you for sharing information regarding these Lincolns. I find automotive history like this intriguing. 

[Smoke Wagon]

7 hours ago, iamsuperdan said:

And people said the original Porsche Cayenne looked like a catfish.

The Porsche has nothing on this Lincoln.

Now imagine a ‘49 Lincoln with curb feelers on the front fenders. 

[Rob Hall]

6 minutes ago, Smoke Wagon said:

Thanks Rob. So it is a fisheye Lincoln. The black and white footage and the car not having any side trim really threw me off. 

 

Looks better without that thick side trim, IMO.

Edited December 20, 2021 by Rob Hall

[Smoke Wagon]

I agree Rob. A Lincoln like that would be a killer candidate for a lead sled project. 

[Russell C]

14 hours ago, Mark said:

The bigger Lincolns (like those pictured) were designed with hideaway headlamps.....

7 hours ago, Rob Hall said:

Looks better without that thick side trim, IMO.

Never liked these wall-eyed Lincolns, but now that you guys mention it, hidden headlights are a vast improvement, along with the loss of that honkin' big chrome side trim piece. (my cheapo desktop photo-altering program lacks the ability to create 'perspective angles', so you're stuck with the odd lettering on the license plate)