This 1932 Lincoln Model KB is a seven-passenger sedan that was purchased by musician and musical instrument manufacturer Ernie Ball approximately 50 years ago and placed into his collection. It underwent a refurbishment under his ownership, and it was donated to the Casey Lee Ball Foundation, a charity established for Ball’s grandson, following Ernie Ball’s death in 2004. The car is finished in tan and brown, and power comes from a 448ci L-head V12 that breathes through a dual-throat downdraft carburetor and is mated to a three-speed manual transmission. Additional features include servo-assisted mechanically actuated drum brakes, hydraulic lever-arm shock absorbers, 18” orange-painted wire wheels, dual side-mount spares, a greyhound radiator mascot, rear coach doors, and a fold-down luggage rack. Inside, the cabin features bench seats trimmed in tan tufted cloth, and details include brown leather dash accents, wooden window trim, dual gloveboxes, fold-out jump seats, and wooden ashtrays with an inset mechanical clock. This Model KB is now offered on dealer consignment with a clean California title.
The Model K platform was introduced in 1931 as the successor to Lincoln’s debut series, the Model L. For 1932, the Lincoln lineup was split between the inline-eight-powered KA and the KB, which featured the marque’s new 448ci V12. The Series 201 KB was available with several factory-built body styles as well as custom coachwork from builders such as Brunn, Dietrich, Judkins, Murphy, and Willoughby. A total of 1,515 KBs were produced for the model year.
The seven-passenger sedan bodywork on this example was repainted in tan with brown bodyside accents and fenders during the refurbishment. Details include a headlight bar with a blue cloisonné Lincoln emblem, a greyhound radiator mascot, running boards, rear coach doors, dual taillights, and a fold-down luggage rack.
The orange-painted wire wheels wear bright Lincoln-branded hubcaps, and they are mounted with 7.00-18″ Denman whitewall bias-ply tires. Dual side-mount spares are stowed in the front fenders. The Model KB rode on a 145″ wheelbase and featured servo-assisted drum brakes at all four corners.
The cabin features bench seats trimmed in tan tufted cloth upholstery along with color-coordinated front and rear cabin carpets and door panels with contrasting piping. Brown leather accents the dash panels, and wood trim surrounds the windows. Details include a tilt-forward windshield, dual gloveboxes, a push-button starter, and front footwell vents.
The four-spoke steering wheel features hub-mounted controls, and it fronts an engine-turned panel housing a 100-mph speedometer, a Waltham electric clock, and gauges for oil pressure, amperage, fuel level, and water temperature. The five-digit odometer shows 52k miles.
Matching upholstery extends to the rear cabin, which houses a pair of fold-out central jump seats as well as a robe bar, a footrest, a fold-down rear armrest, and wooden ashtrays with an inset mechanical clock in the driver-side unit.
The 448ci V12 features seven main bearings, fork-and-blade connecting rods, a 65° angle between cylinder banks, aluminum pistons, side valves, and a dual-throat downdraft carburetor. Output was factory rated at 150 horsepower at 3,400 rpm and 292 lb-ft of torque at 1,200 rpm. The selling dealer notes that the most recent oil change was in 2023 and that the car has covered less than 100 miles since.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via a three-speed manual transmission with synchromesh between second and third gears. The suspension incorporates solid axles, semi-elliptical leaf springs, and hydraulic lever-arm shock absorbers.