150 bhp, 447.9 cu. in. seven main bearing fork and blade V-12 engine, three-speed transmission, solid front axle and live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs and four-wheel vacuum servo assisted mechanical drum brakes. Wheelbase: 145"

- One of only three examples known to exist

- Almost 48 years of single-family ownership

- Fascinating period images supporting chrome wheel covers

- Strong V-12, long wheelbase and stunning Brunn coachwork

Hermann A. Brunn’s coachworks, established in 1908, received its first corporate customer in the Leland-owned Lincoln company. Brunn, who was already well versed in Fords, was ideally situated to continue with Lincoln upon Ford’s takeover. This particular car retains the original body tag under the passenger’s seat indicating body 4 – 6. “Four” is the body builder number assigned to Brunn by Lincoln, and “6” is the sixth body of fifteen in this style built by Brunn in 1933.

Lincoln’s 1933 catalog contained 26 body styles for the large 12-cylinder KB model, 17 from custom coachbuilders, however, only 533 cars were delivered due to economic conditions. Among them was this model 260 described in the 1933 sales catalog as a five-passenger convertible coupe but more commonly known in American automobile circles as the “convertible victoria.” There were only 15 of these cars produced, and this car is one of the three known to still exist according to the Lincoln roster keepers.

The earliest known ownership history of this rare Lincoln picks up in 1959 with a young boy and his family on their drive back from summer vacation through Buffalo, New York to Minerva, Ohio. Norman Summer recalls his father stopping with the family to look at this 1933 Lincoln KB and agreeing to purchase the car for the princely sum of $600. He remembers fondly the drive home with his dad at the age of 16 or 17. While the car needed some work, it ran very well. His father put lots of work and money into the car, and it handled the hills around Minerva with no problem. They went on several 100-mile trips. It even took 2nd place at a Lincoln meet in Michigan in 1972.

Father Karl Summer was a tool and die maker. With a grade eight education, he and a neighbor started a business that really took off and allowed his dad to immerse himself in his passion for old cars. Over the years, he bought and sold more than 50 classics – but not this car! Karl Summer knew a real classic when he had one, and he kept the car for 32 years until his death in 1991.

The car was left to his two sons and was such a part of the family history that the boys kept the car in quiet storage for another 16 years, until Karl Jr. passed away in 2007, at which time an advertisement was placed in Hemmings, bringing to a close almost 48 years of family ownership.

Don Connolly, an avid Lincoln collector in California, was the next owner. The car remained in its original red and black configuration as restored many years ago by Karl Summer, Sr. However, having a strong interest and knowledge of classic Lincolns, Don found the hard spare-tire covers to be quite unusual in the chromed configuration and painted them in the “correct” matching black fender color.

In 2009 the car was traded to another noted collector of fine classics, Sonny Abagnale of New Jersey. The present owner purchased the car from Mr. Abagnale in 2010.

One of the two other remaining cars won a class award at Pebble Beach in 2009, and research was begun with the intention of restoring this car for Pebble Beach. During the research, a factory photo was uncovered of what is believed to be this car taken some time in 1933 in front of the Albright-Knox Art Museum in Buffalo, a place where many factory photos of Brunn-bodied cars were taken.

What sets this car apart from the others is the uniqueness of the chrome side-mount covers, which still exist in original condition under the existing black paint. Further research uncovered a second picture taken from a different angle at the same location. And yet a third picture of the car, believed to have been taken in its beautiful original color of Forest Green, was discovered in front of the Brunn factory showroom, located at 980 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, New York.

With too many projects underway, the current owner has decided reluctantly to sell the car. The next owner has the option of retaining the car in near original condition as an excellent caravan car, with its strong and reliable V-12 KB engine, its long 145-inch wheelbase, weather protection for four adults and potential for open-style touring. Alternatively, the car could be restored to Pebble Beach quality and most certainly win a class award at some of the most prestigious concours in the country, due to its impeccable ownership history, its matching and original engine and chassis and its beautiful and rare Brunn-bodied coachwork.