One of the more impressive cars in the CCCA Museum collection is a 1929 Lincoln with custom limousine coachwork by Willoughby. It’s impressive for at least two reasons—the quality and workmanship, and the fact the car is totally original.

After enjoying the Lincoln for many years, O. H. “Bob” Stark of Ridgefield, Connecticut donated it to the museum. Bob is a long-time CCCA member as well as a member of the CCCA Museum. He purchased the Lincoln years ago from a well-known New England collector, Alex Stein. The car had been purchased new by Stein’s mother, whose wealth, in part, came from the Stein Brewery located on Sutton Place in New York City.

The Steins resided in Greenwich, Connecticut. Mrs. Stein owned several open model Locomobiles but had decided it was time for a closed car. Her friends suggested a Lincoln as the best choice, so she bought two, one of them Bob Stark’s limousine.

After commissioning a custom body by Willoughby, she visited the factory in Utica, New York, at least once or twice to see the car being built. Among its unique features are French headlights, custom bumpers, a roof-mounted brass luggage rack and an air vent in the roof. Mrs. Stein did not like the “new” 1929-style front fenders, so 1928 fenders and a 1928 radiator shell were installed. In lieu of jump seats, the limousine body featured custom-built walnut cabinets with Yale locks. Mrs. Stein preferred a rear-mounted spare over dual side-mounted spares because she believed it offered her additional protection. Her son Alex was Mrs. Stein’s chauffeur. He drove both his mother and his aunt in their automobiles. Bob Stark remembers Alex saying that every time he became interested in a young woman, his mother would send him off on an extended trip to Europe.

Following Mrs. Stein’s death, Alex kept all the family cars and added a few of his own, including several Locomobiles and Rolls-Royces. At one time he proposed an automobile museum for Greenwich, but the city fathers declined his offer. Bob Stark ended up buying two of the cars—a Locomobile roadster (for a friend) and the 1929 Lincoln (for himself). There was a catch, however—Bob had to buy all the parts Alex Stein had accumulated over the years.

“I paid $9,000.00 for the Lincoln, and then had to pay another $5,000.00 for all of the parts,” remembers Bob. “That was a lot of money in those days. And it took us three days to move all of the parts to my storage building.” Of course, the parts purchase turned out to be providential for Bob. He more than made back his purchase price over the years. The parts cache included many rare parts for Locomobile, Rolls- Royce, Lincoln and Pierce-Arrow.

The Lincoln limousine was completely original when acquired by Bob. “I have to admit that I removed those ugly accessory bumpers and replaced them with original Lincoln factory bumpers,” he says. He also installed windshield wipers. For some reason Alex had removed the windshield wipers from all of the Stein family cars. While the cars were in storage in a wooden floor barn for many years, Alex had made certain they were started weekly. The car required minimal mechanical work by Bob Stark when he finally acquired it.

“We took the Lincoln on many trips. We drove it to Maine on one trip and to Vermont on another. It drove like a top,” recalled Bob. “But eventually it became harder for me to get in and out of the car.” That’s when Bob spoke with the late Russ Herrold, who suggested the Lincoln join the other Classics in Hickory Corners. Russ was a long-time CCCA member and an indefatigable pursuer of cars and archives for the Museum.

Today, this unusual, custom-built Lincoln can be seen and admired by visitors to the CCCA Museum. A few weeks ago, during The Grand Experience, the Museum’s annual concours d’elegance, Bob visited the Lincoln again. I have to say both Bob, who recently turned ninety, and the Lincoln, which is a little younger, have aged very gracefully.

Originally published in the Classic Car Club of America's publication, the Bulletin.