lincoln motor company was sold by henry m leland
following world war ii ford formed the lincolnmercury division pairing lincoln with its midrange mercury brand the pairing lasted through the 2010 closure of mercury
during 1956 lincolnmercury was reorganized slightly following the creation of the freestanding edsel and continental divisions lincolnmercury was changed to mercuryedsellincoln mel with edsel slotted alongsidebelow mercury and continental above lincoln as the flagship of all of ford motor company