1937 Lincoln Model K Seven-Passenger Touring Phaeton (Willoughby coachwork)
- Engine
- V12, rebuilt
- Colour
- Black
The 1937 Lincoln Model K seven-passenger Touring Phaeton with coachwork by Willoughby is believed to be one of only seven built for that model year and one of three known survivors. Originally commissioned for Russell Leffingwell, chairman of J.P. Morgan & Company, it subsequently passed through the hands of Friendly's co-founder Curtis Blake before spending more than five decades in a single family. A comprehensive refurbishment around 2001–2002 and a later engine rebuild by noted specialist Fran Roxas of Vintage Motor Group have kept this rare pre-war Classic in sound mechanical condition.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate US$110,000 – US$140,000
- 1937 →Factory deliveryRussell Leffingwellpartial documentation
Original owner, reportedly chairman of J.P. Morgan & Company; used the vehicle for trips to his summer residence on Lake George in Upstate New York.
- 1944 →Private saleCurtis Blakepartial documentation
Co-founder of the Friendly's restaurant chain and enthusiastic vehicle collector; reportedly acquired the car sometime in the mid-1940s.
- → 1998Private saleSam Kingston's grandfatherpartial documentation
Purchased from Curtis Blake sometime between the late 1950s and early 1960s; had reportedly been a neighbor of the original owner in Oyster Bay, Long Island.
- 1998 → 2018InheritanceSam Kingstonpartial documentation
Inherited the vehicle and had it comprehensively refurbished around 2001–2002, including a bare-metal repaint in original black, new leather interior, hood, chrome, and rewiring.
- 2018 → 2019Private saleWilliam B. Rugerpartial documentation
Pre-war classic car enthusiast with a focus on twelve-cylinder Lincolns; commissioned an engine rebuild by noted restorer Fran Roxas of Vintage Motor Group as his final project before retirement.
- 2019 →Private saleCurrent ownerfull documentation
Has maintained the car attentively since acquisition; service records document brake and fuel system work carried out in 2020 by RM Auto Restoration Inc.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 2002Restoration
The body was stripped to bare metal and refinished in the factory-correct black. The hood, leather interior, chrome brightwork, and wiring harness were all replaced as part of the refurbishment.
Work reportedly carried out over the 2001–2002 period while the car was owned by Sam Kingston.
- 2020RepairRM Auto Restoration Inc.
Multiple repair items addressed, including refurbishment of the braking and fuel delivery systems, with service records retained.
Carried out under the current owner's stewardship.
- —Engine rebuildVintage Motor Group
The V-12 engine was rebuilt by specialist Fran Roxas, reportedly the final restoration project he undertook before retiring.
Commissioned by William B. Ruger during his ownership from 2018 to 2019.
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