The 1956-1957 Lincoln Premiere was Lincoln's
new premium series in these years, relegating Capri to second-class status. The
all-new design featured a longer, lower, wider, and heavier body typical of the
'50s, a revised chassis on a three-inch-longer wheelbase, and a brand-new
"True-Power" V-8 with 285 horses.
Styling was right up to date,
inspired by the Futura show car: peaked headlamps, partially covered rear wheel
openings, wrapped windshield, and a long rear deck tapering to give the
straight-through rear fenders a hint of fins.
The 1957 facelift brought stacked quad headlamps, much more prominent fins, and the addition of a four-door hardtop called Landau. A short-lived design, it was replaced by even larger, unit construction models for 1958.
Pluses of the 1956-1957 Lincoln Premiere:
- Large and luxurious
- Ample power
Minuses of the 1956-1957 Lincoln Premiere:
- Thirsty
- Vague, imprecise handling
- Considerable rust threat
Production of the 1956-1957 Lincoln Premiere:
- 1956: 2d htp 19,619; 4d sdn 19,465; conv 2,447
- 1957: 2d htp 15,185; 4d sdn 5,139; conv 3,676; Landau 4d htp 11,223
Specifications of the 1956-1957 Lincoln Premiere:
Wheelbase, inches: 126.0
Length, inches: 222.8 (1956), 224.6 (1957)
Weight, pounds: 4,347-4,676
Price, new: $4,601-$5,381
Engines for the 1956-1957 Lincoln Premiere:
Type Size Horsepower Years ohv
V-8 368 cid 285/300 1956-1957
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