- Seller: David B (Contact)
- Location: Prospect, Connecticut
- Mileage: 5,000 Shown
- Chassis #: 53WA19398H
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 317 cui V8
- Transmission: 4-Speed Automatic
Despite the fact that the Korean War was still raging, Lincoln used the line “Created for Today’s More Livable World” in regard to its Capri, which was new for the 1952 model year. This gorgeous example is a Palace Green (with extra metal flake) 1953 Lincoln Capri Special Custom Coupe, and it’s located in Prospect, Connecticut. The seller has it priced at $15,500, and it’s listed here as a Barn Finds Classified!
Gor-geous, man, what a beautiful car. The deep green paint is called Palace Green, and it was repainted at some point during a restoration an unknown number of years ago. The restorer took a slight liberty with the paint; they added a bit more metal flake than would have been factory-correct, and it really makes it pop in sunlight. Unfortunately, the seller scheduled the photos, and it ended up being overcast that day. They do provide a couple of detailed photos in the gallery that show the paint, and you can really see it sparkle.
The first-generation Lincoln Capri was made for model years 1952 through 1955, and if you want a decidedly 1950s-looking Capri, this is the generation you want. The following cars are also 50s-looking, but in more of a space race/Sputnik way than a nice, flowing, easy-on-the-eyes way. Here’s what the trunk compartment looks like, by the way. Very nice, just like everything else looks. The underside looks like the Brooklyn Bridge; those 1950s chassis are as interesting as it gets.
It’s an often-heard sad story regarding this car’s current owner. He bought it, partly due to just how nice it looked and that gorgeous green paint scheme. Then life happened, some health issues popped up, and the car was barely used, only about 100 miles in the last eight years. I hate to hear that, and I hope they’re doing well. It’s painful to have to sell a beloved vehicle, as most of us know. The interior looks like it could have been used for a brochure. I don’t see anything at all going on inside that causes one eyebrow hair to raise, let alone an entire eyebrow. With power windows and a front 4-way power leather bench seat, and of course, power steering and power brakes, this is one very nice-driving car. As expected, the leather back seat looks perfect as well.
Clean and nice, the engine is a Lincoln 317.6-cu.in. OHV V8 with 205 horsepower and 305 lb-ft of torque when new. Backed by a (are you sitting down?) GM-sourced Hydra-Matic automatic transmission sending power to the rear wheels; the seller says one of the first chores the current owner tackled was the incorrectly routed dual exhaust. It was too close to the fuel line, and it vapor-locked frequently. They rerouted it correctly, as seen in the engine photo, and it’s now a single exhaust. But they kept the existing exhaust pipe in case the next owner wanted to give it another try. There are said to be a few electrical issues for the next owner to sort out, but the major systems work (headlights, tail lights, starter, power seat, power windows, etc.). Please check out the extensive photos the seller has provided and let us know your thoughts on this beautiful Lincoln Capri!
Of all the post war body styles (51-54), this looks like one of the most well styled around, decidedly ahead of its time. Great color including the flake. Wide whites and wires are period. Even color matching dice! Beautiful car, very reasonable price, should sell quickly.
A beautiful Lincoln, but those electrical gremlins can be maddening.
Throw the fuzzy dice away and straighten the front licence plate. This could be a very fun car for 15 K!
Where are the entry level cars for hobbyists any more? HERE!
Great car for the $. GLWTS
Nice Lincoln. Stylish for its day, without being over-the-top. Great colors, thought that extra metalflake might be a bit too much for my taste.
Take a look at the spare tire. How old might that Dunlop Gold Seal “78” Sport be?
Good job SG.
No fuzzy dice
Clearly this car enjoyed an early life as a “Made Guy or Capo’s” daily cruiser used for enforcement/collections, back and forth to the track, etc. Easily a 2-corpse trunk.
BEAUTY ! ! !
I thought all ford motors had flathead engines through 53. I know Mercury`s did;
Lincoln V8s were overhead in 52, before then flathead. Ford and Mercury had flatheads thru 53, 54 in Canada.
Wow! Just a, beautiful car! And priced correctly IMHO.
Beautiful Lincoln!!! Didn’t those Capri’s have a system to grease the chassis various fittings with a button on the dash. My great uncle bought a pink one brand new, and I am sure he told me that it had that feature. Can’t remember if his was a ‘ 53 or ’54.
My father had a ’55 and it had the built in lube system which was aciivated by a button on the dash.
Have seen this car in person (and taken numerous photos) many times at the Prospect Car Show held annually. What a car! That metal flake in the paint truly sparkles
Understated elelegance. Beautiful car that’s not in your face. I like these early 50s Lincoln .
Somehow, I liked the look of the Mercury better, but this is one beautiful car!
I thought it was a 53 Merc at first.
Kermit called. He wants his fuzzy dice back.
Okay, am I the only person noticing that the seats and door panels do not match? Olive green seats and teal door panels. Yikes. Otherwise a gorgeous car!
I noticed that unlikely combo as well but I could live with it if I wanted the car enough.
I’m representing this car for the owner. He’s 80 if he’s a day and getting around (or under the dash in this thing) is very difficult for him, so he’s selling this and maybe a couple of others. He was a modified racer in the days before NASCAR and has several of his old cars sitting in the barn too. I’m hoping to find someone locally, that is really into that era (they raced primarily at Thompson, Waterford, Plainville and Riverside Park), or a group of folks, to help him get either of them back into maybe running condition. I think that would be so cool. I spent a couple hours cleaning it up, 1.5 hours doing photos and videos and another 3 just listening to his car stories. It was a lot of fun.
As always, any questions, ask here or hit the contact seller button above. I have over 400 photos and several videos.
Thanks for the comments!
Live right in Shelton and there are plenty of local car guys I know in Wallingford, Hamden, and Enfield who might be interested in helping out. As mentioned, I’ve seen this car plenty of times and it truly is beautiful!
Hi Brian,
Thank you!
Please use the contact seller button up above and reach out to me. I have the name of a modified race historian and it would be awesome to get some guys together to pull these race cars from the barn and decide to do something with one or both. He still has the original 302 SBF from the Mustang, in his 38 Ford streetrod.
Here’s a shot of his Mustang back in the day.
Call Chasing Classic Cars Wayne Carini, big Conn. guy.
I know Wayne and Mike very well and as a matter of fact, I’ve sold a few cars for them that they didn’t want to spend the time on. As a $15,500 car, they wouldn’t want to spend the time on this one.
If the seller is only 80 (or a little more), he’s still a young fellow! (smile). I understand: I have been having one painful argument with arthritic joints for four decades and longer — and climbing into and underneath within small spaces, with any agility, is a hopeless quest. If (for any reason) I were to get down on the floor, I then would need a Court Order, along with something solid to hang onto, to get back up again. I had a couple of dashboard lamps in my 1946 Ford 40 years ago that were burnt-out, and it was hopeless for me to get AT them! I am embarrassed to report that a 91-year-old man (who drove a 1933 Pontiac sedan) got right in under there and changed them FOR me in less than two minutes! Sadly, a severe stroke disabled him when he was 94, leaving him with impaired speech and dependent on a walker; then another stroke not quite a year later proved fatal. And he was such a nice guy! We all have to go, in some manner, sooner or later; but I confess that I am not looking forward to it the way that my mother was when her time came. Would that we all were as well-maintained as Ray Anthony and Dick Van Dyke!! i read recently of a singer who had hit records in the early 1950s who is still with us! — someone I remember very well — but for SOME reason, as I type-in these words, I can’t remember, for the life of me, who it was! Jill Corey, by any chance?
Yes a beautiful car and a future collectible for sure this car can only go up in value and of course luxury at its finest. Only problem certain things can get expensive on these cars poor people could not afford them but a great price the new buyer will be happy these cars usually go for more…
Beautiful Lincoln. Great color combination and I can definitely see why he bought it. It’s always sad to hear about health ailments affecting people and I’m sure this was not an easy decision. AutoArcheologist, you did a great job cleaning it up and with the photos. Hope it goes to a good new home.
Thank you Driveinstile👍🏼
It’s part of the fun in getting these “Lost Souls” in front of the public.