Ford's luxury brand Lincoln was named in honor of which U.S. president?

Ford’s luxury brand Lincoln was named in honor of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States.

Henry M. Leland founded the Lincoln Motor Company in 1917 after leaving General Motors. He chose the name because Abraham Lincoln was the first U.S. president for whom he had voted, in 1864. The name gave the new company a connection to national leadership and prestige, fitting its ambition to build luxury automobiles.

Lincoln initially operated as an independent manufacturer and produced vehicles powered by V8 engines. The company struggled financially after World War I, however, and Ford acquired it in 1922. Lincoln then became Ford’s luxury division, positioned above the mainstream Ford brand.

The Lincoln name is sometimes confused with the Continental nameplate, which became one of the division’s best-known products. Continental was integrated into Lincoln in 1959, but the brand itself had already honored Abraham Lincoln since its founding. The presidential association remains central to Lincoln’s identity.