A super-slick, super-quick Lincoln once owned by the wildly eccentric Howard Hughes recently sold at auction for $1 million.
The car started life as a 1936 Lincoln K Model V-12, but Hughes had it extensively reworked to create a boat-tail rear end in the art-deco styling popular at the time. With improved aerodynamics, less weight and some engine mods, the car could easily top 100 mph. That's mighty quick for that era.
Hughes dubbed the car Aer0-Mobile on account of its wind-cheating back end, which looks more like the underbelly of a Boeing Stratoliner than a Lincoln limo. Why he built the car is the subject of some speculation. Some say he meant to go racing. Others think he simply wanted a cool car. And there are those who say the aviation magnate created it to film his airplanes accelerating down the runway without disturbing the airflow.
Whatever the reason, it's a cool car.
Photos: Leake Auction Co. There's another one after the jump.
