When car enthusiasts hunt for the next acquisition to join their collection, the general rule of thumb is rarity and documentation. Those are the two ingredients that make collectors salivate and go into a bidding frenzy and of course they contribute significantly to the valuation.
Consequently, the venture by the three American automotive icons, Ford Motor Company, the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company and Shelby Automobiles, who are well aware of what makes an enthusiast say “I want one”, created a limited edition production automobile – the 2008 Barrett-Jackson Shelby GT – makes a lot of sense. Only one hundred of these Barrett-Jackson Shelby GTs were built and sold through Arizona Region Ford dealers so it was designed to be a collectible car at birth.
However recent regulations may be changing the playing field. In 1994, the American Automobile Labeling Act (AALA) mandated that virtually every new car display the percentage, by cost, of its parts that originated in the United States and Canada. This measurement index provides documentation that a 100% American made car is all but extinct because not one has exceeded the 95 percent point.
For example, in a recent article from Cars.com, they report that based on sales through May 31, 2008 , of the 35 most popular U.S. built 2008 and 2009 models, only 43 percent of GM, Ford and Chrysler contenders had domestic content ratings of 75 percent or higher. Although the labeling of a car's domestic parts content can be debated, from how many US workers an automaker employs to where the company's profits end up, none have been given the label 100% American made.
So the worrying question ishave we already seen the end of the All American Auto?” Or, could a car maker focus on making “All American” limited edition production automobile to attract sales, and more to the point would anybody buy one? In other words do you think there is there a new market segment, totally unexplored, which preserves the lineage and purity of the “All American”, and of which our innovative Detroit based moghuls might take advantage?
We would appreciate your vote in this matter.
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This week the United States is celebrating its independance, so we thought we would higlight a Classic Car Marque born out of patriotism - the Lincoln!
When Cadillac’s owners refused to shift to warplane production to contribute to war efforts, Henry Leland resigned as president. Leland and his son founded the Lincoln Motor Company in 1917, naming it after Abraham Lincoln, whom Leland greatly admired. The new company quickly set about building Liberty Aircraft engines for the U.S. military for World War I.
When the government broke its contract with Lincoln earlier than expected, Leland decided to begin producing automobiles. Lincoln’s early successes were impressive; the company reportedly sold out of its vehicles within three hours of offering them for sale. But a series of economic circumstances in a post war recession created difficulties for the company, and by the early 1920s, the Lelands were seeking a buyer.
Edsel Ford was attracted by Lincoln's high standards of quality, and persuaded his father Henry to buy the company for $8 million in 1922. Lincoln became the first "outsider" to join the Ford family of vehicle brands and initiated the company's entrance into the luxury market. Leland found the speed and capacity of Henry Ford's mass production techniques could be applied to the Lincoln without compromising the precision craftsmanship that he had created.
The early Lincolns of the 1920s represented Edsel's particular interests in vehicle design and aesthetics. These L-Series cars continued to use the Leland chassis. The K-Series cars of the 1930s had an updated chassis and often received bodies by prominent coachbuilders of the era.
In 1936 Lincoln introduced the Zephyr, their first successful streamlined car. But the big breakthrough for the Lincoln brand came in 1938 when Edsel, inspired by a trip to Europe, commissioned his design team to create a car that would be "strictly continental" in design.
When the Lincoln Continental was introduced, Frank Lloyd Wright declared it to be the most beautiful in the world. With its sweeping lines and luxurious interiors, the first Continental Mark set the standard for Lincoln vehicles to come, and became the ultimate status symbol as the nation entered the 1940s.
Lincoln, true to its patriotic roots, joined the rest of Ford Motor Company during WWII by manufacturing tank engines, jeeps and amphibious vehicle bodies for the U.S. military. After the war, Lincoln resumed its place as a luxury symbol, and in 1951, the Museum of Modern Art in New York City chose Lincoln as one of only eight cars to be exhibited for "excellence as works of art."
In 1956, under the direction of Edsel Ford's son, William Clay Ford, the Continental Mark II’s design established the classic hood, cabin and deck proportions that the Lincoln is most recognized for today. The 1961 Continental introduced the unique center opening doors and chrome accented upper shoulder line that established a signature look for Lincoln which was totally unique, and remains one of the most enduring designs of all time.
Photo © Michele Hamer
Source: Ford Motor Company Heritage
