Founded in 1917 by Henry M. Leland—who named it after his hero Abraham Lincoln—the Lincoln Motor Company began building Liberty aircraft engines during WWI before shifting to luxury automobiles, releasing the Model L in 1920 . In 1922, Ford purchased it, positioning Lincoln as its luxury division . The brand became known for the Continental (from 1939), presidential limousines, and its iconic “star” grille emblem debuted in 1956 .