Jay Leno Gets Behind The Wheel Of A 1938 Lincoln V12 Ford Thought Was Too Radical
Jay Leno has driven some outrageous machines, but a 1938 Lincoln Model K with a 150 hp V12 might have one of the strangest backstories to visit his garage. This one-off touring coupe was reportedly too adventurous for Ford‘s designers, and its creator liked it so much he kept it for himself. Nearly nine decades later, it still has stories to tell, along with doors that demand their own parking spaces.
The 1938 Lincoln Model K Was Too Much For Edsel Ford
The episode welcomes a custom-bodied Lincoln from California’s Nethercutt Collection. Curator Cameron Richards explains that coachbuilder J.B. Judkins produced just 12 specially-bodied Model Ks, with this touring coupe representing his final car.
It was originally conceived as a speculative design for Edsel Ford, but Ford’s design team reportedly considered it too far ahead of its time. Judkins disagreed, kept the car, and enjoyed driving his own creation. That’s one way to handle a rejected proposal, we guess.
After eventually selling the Lincoln, Judkins tracked it down in Florida during the 1960s and bought it back. Following his death in 1969, his wife offered it to J.B. and Dorothy Nethercutt, who had long admired it. The family’s owned it ever since.
What Makes This One-Off Lincoln V12 So Unusual
Under its enormous hood sits a 150 hp V12 paired with a three-speed manual. The aluminum body helps offset some of the Lincoln’s considerable size, while its pillarless side windows anticipate the American hardtop coupes that became popular years later.
Then there are the rear-hinged doors. Each measures roughly five feet long (!), and the huge windows take just two-and-a-half turns of the crank to open. Closing those doors, especially with the glass raised, apparently calls for something approaching a shoulder workout.
The Lincoln cost around $7,000 when new in 1938. Its original green color scheme, Art Deco dashboard, dual side-mounted spare tires, and greyhound hood ornament make modern luxury-car styling look positively shy. Accessing the engine, however, can mean removing both spare tires.
Jay Leno Finds Out Why This 1938 Lincoln Still Gets Driven
On the road, Leno finds out the Model K is happiest cruising around 40 to 45 mph, although he manages 60 mph without the V12 sounding manic. He also appreciates its surprisingly quiet cabin, comfortable ride, and reassuringly mechanical steering.
The Nethercutt family hasn’t treated this rare Lincoln like a museum ornament, thankfully. Despite a repaint in 1969 and some mechanical and upholstery attention, it’s never undergone a full restoration. The odometer was reset, and the family has since added more than 50,000 miles, including cross-country trips.
There’s no radio or power steering, and certainly no urgency to set a lap record. Leno even says he’d love to drive it on Route 66. For a car that nearly became a forgotten design exercise, that’s a pretty satisfying second act.
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