Editing Lincoln Motor Company (section)

====Purchase by Ford Motor Company====
Following the purchase of Lincoln Motor Company by Ford Motor Company, Henry and Wilfred Leland remained at the company, with [[Edsel Ford]] given responsibility over it.<ref name="conceptcarz"/> While Ford had sought to expand its model range beyond the [[Ford Model T]], the purchase of Lincoln held a degree of personal value, as the owners of Lincoln developed an automobile company from one that Henry Ford had been forced from. In 1902, a group of investors (led by Leland)<ref name="bentley2">{{cite book|last=Bentley|first=John|title=The Old Car Book|year=1952|volume=208}}</ref>{{rp|52–57}} forced Henry Ford from his second company, the [[Henry Ford Company]]; the company was reorganized as Cadillac (deriving its name from the founder of Detroit). With the exception of the engine, the 1903 [[Ford Model A (1903–04)|Ford Model A]] and the 1903 [[Cadillac Runabout and Tonneau|Cadillac Model A]] share nearly the same design.

Prior to the introduction of the Model T, Ford designed several higher-priced vehicles, including the 1904 [[Ford Model B (1904)|Ford Model B]], the 1905 [[Ford Model F]], and the 1906 [[Ford Model K]]. Following its organization in 1908, General Motors began a rapid expansion of its automotive brands; by 1920, GM would outnumber Ford five to one. The purchase of Lincoln created a stand-alone luxury vehicle brand for Ford as Cadillac did for GM.

Within the first few months, relations between Ford Motor Company and Lincoln management began to break down; on June 10, 1922, the Lelands were forced to resign. As [[Edsel Ford]] began to take a senior role in the management of Lincoln, multiple changes were made to both the Model L and its production. The Lincoln factory was redesigned and expanded (to nearly 1,000,000 square feet), with the components of the engine upgraded for increased reliability and performance.<ref name="conceptcarz"/>

At its introduction, the Lincoln Model L gained a reputation for conservative (to the point of outdated) design.<ref name="lincolnbrief2"/> As a response, Edsel Ford introduced the Model L for 1923 in a custom-bodied form directly from Lincoln;<ref name="conceptcarz"/> in line with a [[Duesenberg]] or a [[Rolls-Royce Motor Cars|Rolls-Royce]], customers could also purchase a Model L with coachbuilt bodywork.<ref name="conceptcarz"/>

For 1923, Lincoln produced 7,875 cars (nearly 45% higher than in 1922). After struggling to deliver cars before 1922, Lincoln was operating at a profit by the end of 1923.

In 1924, a Lincoln Model L became the first state limousine used by a U.S. President on an official basis, supplied for [[Calvin Coolidge]].<ref name="lincolnbrief2"/>

By 1930, Lincoln had succeeded in only a decade in what its chief competitors had taken 30 years to accomplish.<ref name="conceptcarz"/> Serving as a direct competitor to Cadillac, the Model L had become equal to vehicles from established American brands including [[Duesenberg]], Marmon, Packard, [[Peerless Motor Company|Peerless]], and [[Pierce-Arrow]].

<gallery mode="packed">
File:1922 Lincoln touring automobile.jpg|1922 Lincoln Model L touring sedan
File:1925 Lincoln - Greta Garbo Car - fvl.jpg|1925 Lincoln Model L sedan (of [[Greta Garbo]])
File:1926 Lincoln - fvl.jpg|1926 Lincoln Model L town car
File:1930 Lincoln (5960260288).jpg|1930 Lincoln Model L sedan 
</gallery>