The 1951 Lincoln Cosmopolitan was an odd mix of old and new. The latter included Lincoln’s first fully independent front suspension and optional self-shift Hydra-Matic Drive (hastily “imported” from General Motors). On the other hand, Lincoln gained no prestige by trading its aging V-12 for an old-concept 336.7-cubic-inch flathead V-8 borrowed from Ford trucks. And though Lincoln’s smooth but massive “bathtub” styling was new, it was clearly the stuff of the early ’40s, not postwar thinking. The ’49 Lincolns thus sold reasonably well, but the similar 1950-51s managed only some 25-30 percent of their volume.

Still, the “bathtubs” were no less solid, refined, or luxurious than prior Lincolns, (though new “junior” models were much like contemporary Mercurys, thanks to some cost-conscious platform sharing decreed at the last minute). The “real” Lincoln of these years was the 125-inch-wheelbase Cosmopolitan, which included a line-topping convertible. For 1951 it cost a hefty $3891, which partly explains why only 857 were built.

The Cosmopolitan also offered two sedan variations while the convertible considered the pinnacle model. Although the sheet metal resembled that of the standard Lincoln, the panels were different from other Lincolns and the cars featured a substantial chrome bar over the front wheel wells.

This Cosmopolitan wears Radiant Green Metallic paint and has a Yellow leather interior and Green Hartzcloth convertible top. For the 1951 model year, the chrome trim over the front wheels was replaced with a longer trim piece that ran the length of the car and gave it a cleaner and more-conventional appearance.

It was the 137th of only 850 ’51 Cosmopolitan convertibles built for that year, coming off the Dearborn assembly line on November 17, 1950.

“This car has been in my family for over 40 years and underwent restoration at my father’s Lincoln-Mercury dealership in Sunbury, PA,” the seller adds.

“The car is totally complete and authentic down to the glass windshield washer bottle. It even has the correct fender skirts that have not been installed.

“As an older restoration, the paint is not perfect and there is a small repair in the top canvas. It received new authentic tires last year when the cooling system was also flushed.”

The seller points out that the Cosmopolitan was Lincoln’s first fully redesigned automobile after World War II, and also the first Ford with an automatic transmission (“purchased from GM”) and with a curved glass windshield.”

Powering the Cosmopolitan was a 357cid V8 normally used in pickup trucks but modified with hydraulic lifters for use by Lincoln.

“The car attracts a huge amount of attention at shows with its brightly colored interior that resembles two living room leather sofas,” the seller reports.

“Many have questioned the authenticity of the colors which have been verified to be correct but are found in no other known Cosmopolitan. A nationwide survey conducted some years ago by a collector concluded that there were fewer than 25 of these models still remaining.”