Last week I reviewed this 1954 Lincoln Capri, and initially questioned its Lincoln “uniqueness” or its potential similarity to a Mercury Monterey. Well, that thought quickly dissipated under the weight of the review. So, now, I’d like to take a look at a 1956 Lincoln Premiere and check out its “Lincoln-ish.” Looking more like a Virgil Exner creation, this forlorn luxury project is located in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, and is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $10,000, OBO. A nod is due to Zappenduster for this great find!
Lincoln’s Premiere was introduced for the 1956 model year and continued through 1960, racking up total sales of 90K units, though ’56 accounted for 42K of that total and sales dwindled precipitously through ’60. Body styles included two-door hardtops and convertibles as well as a four-door sedan. The seller tells us, “This car originally came from California in the late 70s, no rust or rot on the body, 2 rust spots where the battery sits & where the spare tire sits, That’s it !!” While there may be no rot, the extensive surface rust is evident, and it affects the bumpers too. That said, the body appears straight, and all of the trim is intact. And what may not be intact is likely in the parts cache in the trunk.
The interior is not well photographed, but what can be viewed reveals leather upholstery in deplorable condition. The floor covering is missing, and surface-rusted floors are exposed. I suppose that can be beneficial as it shows the true condition of the floor pans. The seller does state, “The leather interior needs to be redone, but door panels are really nice,” – can’t imagine what it would cost to redo the entire environment in genuine leather. The dash and instrument panel appear to be fair, but again, the detailed imagery isn’t the best.
The big surprise here is the Novi-branded rear-mounted A/C unit – and the seller claims that it works! Of course, working could mean that the A/C compressor engages and the fan blows air, but not cold air – a further inquiry would need to be made. Due to Premiere’s high level of standard equipment, there weren’t many options that could be added, but A/C was definitely one of them.
Lincoln power for ’56 consisted of a 275 gross HP, 368 CI V8 engine, connected to a three-speed Turbo-Drive automatic transmission. The seller adds, “The motor does run and drive on its own power but has no brakes and needs exhaust, which exits the rear bumper…”
Styling is always subjective, and this Premiere is not one I would likely forget. Considering that there were 42K Premières assembled in ’56, I would assume that I’d remember seeing one somewhere in the sixties or early seventies. Nope, I don’t. It’s a familiar look with its hooded headlights because I’ve seen many images of this vintage Premiere, and it does present a standout visual, but I can’t say I love it. Regardless, just like the ’54 Capri, this Premiere is an important component of Lincoln’s evolution, especially considering its optional A/C equipment, and I’m hopeful someone will take this project on. Would that someone be you?
In restored condition these are stunning cars. Good luck to whoever takes this on, you’ll need to keep your checkbook handy!
My Father had a Grey “56 Premier The thing I remember most was pushing a button n the taillight flipped open n that’s where the filler tube was
If you really wanted a ’56 Lincoln Premier, you could save 15 or 20K and just buy this one and drive it on the first day!
https://classiccars.com/listings/view/2093366/1956-lincoln-premiere-for-sale-in-waconia-minnesota-55387
That’s a good example! These have an almost cult following. I always preferred the ’57, but the cult prefers the purer (as they see it) ’56 to the more modernized ’57 version. Of course the coral car doesn’t seem to have AC.
Sorry, Billy Ray, never a fan of fins, be they Lincoln, Cadillac, or Chevrolet. Realize Ford was chasing the times, but honestly, doesn’t the ’57 remind you of the Batmobile?
Anyone here have experience with those “teapot” Holley carburetors on these? Pretty neat looking, but I don’t know what their reputation is for drivability.
Yes. Had the Holly 4000 teapot on my 1956 Thunderbird 312cid. Was sorta hard to start from cold. Finally found a manifold adapter that a restoration house had fabricated to allow use of a more modern carburetor . Made all the difference.
I’m pretty decent working with older carbs, but this teapot version would be a head scratcher. I think the intake adaptor to allow for a more modern carb was a great idea.
In ’56 I was at a boarding prison, I mean a boarding school for brats, and my roommate was Steve Wynn from Utica, NY and later from las Vegas. Ya, THAT one. Every once in awhile Steve’s father came to get him for the weekend and he often took me home with him. This was a very special event since his mother spoiled the both of us like I couldn’t believe. However the real special thing was Mr. Wynn driving up into the company area and Steve and I getting into that brand new, loooong, black Lincoln four door sedan that looked like a limo to me,and driving around the area and back out to freedom. What a car. I remember it being sooo quiet. When you closed the doors and windows it was absolutely quiet and had the smoothest ride you could ever imagine.
Later on in about 1961 I was able to buy a ’57 Lincoln convertible with big fins and a connie kit on the back for the Princely sum of $1200. I also saw a picture of Steve driving a mint green Lincoln convert somewhere in Florida I think.Guess we were both impressed with that ’56 his father had.The ’57 was almost the same exact car. Haven’t seen Steve for 70 years since I left that school. Wonder where he is now?
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This `56 has factory AC? Where are the air intakes that should be on either side of the back glass? I don’t even see mounting holes for the intakes.
In 1954, the aftermarket air conditioning company NOVI marketed an air conditioning unit specifically for the 1954 Ford. Ford with their blessing, approved the units for installation in V8 Fords at the dealership level. As with other NOVI systems, they did without the fender mounted vents but still utilitzed the clear plastic tubes on the rear package shelf. However, they had to do without the overhead vent system and cold air discharged at the top of the tubes. These aftermarket systems were designed for quick, relatively easy installation therefore the hassles of removing headliners, running the duct work and vents was not even a consideration. However, most people see the discharge tubes and automatically assume they are connected to overhead vents, and in these situations, is not the case. Another factor was that GM was encountering problems as people complained they were not getting a lot of cold air through the vents. Turns out the material that GM used to pipe cold air from the rear tubes on up through and under the headliner to the vents was made of a fibrous material that became soggy from condensation and started collasping inward. Dealers were instructed to start disconnecting this part from the rear tubes and let the cold air discharge directly from the top of the plastic tubes behind the rear seats.
NOVI also manufactured a/c units for factory installation and dealership installation for 1955 Studebaker V8 sedans. However, that is for another discussion board,
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/cold-comfort/cold-comfort-1956-lincoln-premiere-factory-air-conditioning/
Excellent, thx!
JO
This ‘1956 Lincoln is definitely worth saving! So many of those cars from the forties and fifties have long rusted away from sitting out in the elements . Finding a nice original survivor is becoming more difficult with each passing year.
The first one of these I remember seeing was about 25 years ago in East Helena Montana. I knocked on the door of this small house, almost a shack and chatted with the owner. He lost his leg in an industrial accident way back in the day and took his settlement and bought the car brand new and it sounded like he spent a lot of the rest of the money on wine women and song and this was all he had left of his “leg money”. It just sat here not running but he couldn’t part with it as it was all he had left. I went back years later and he and
the car were gone.
love the 1956 Lincolns next door neighbor had a new one in 1956 all black 4dr remember it well i was 11 years old parents had a new ford fairlane with the new 312 engine
I have long admired the styling of this car. I was at the Moultrie car show and swap meet a few months back, and there was one of these for sale. The color was pink which I didn’t care for, but the paint and chrome were in good condition and the seller claimed the A/C worked. It was factory installed as the intakes were on the fenders, and there was an outlet for each of 4 passengers. The power windows worked too. If I recall correctly he was asking $8500, which I thought was VERY reasonable. Yes it ran, it was driven to the spot where it was being shown. I’m always glad to see any survivor, especially in running condition. I would like to have one of these, but I’ve already started whittling down the fleet. Ain’t no spring chicken, and can’t keep up with them as I used to.
Really looks at first glance like a concept car of the md ’50s In really great company/competition in the era. Witness the Mark ll or the ’55 Imperial coupe.
Love ’em all. But watch for extensive rust or repair of same when considering a purchase.
all i see is a car that needs s*** ton of money and time on top of the 10k. working a/c is the least of this car’s issues. great it works. no belt on the a/c compressor under the hood so that’s not working.
This design came from the Lincoln Futura that was brought out as a concept car in 1955.This ’56 has several features of the Futura such as the headlights and the ’57 had that and the big fins too. I am fortunate to be able to say that I have seen all three cars in person and always thought they were beautiful.
This Lincoln, as been pointed out by Will Fox, does not have the fender mounted air intake vents that Cadillac had. MCvaugh pointed out Novi didn’t use them. But a picture of the purple ’56 Lincoln with “factory air” had the air intake on the rear quarters. Not where GM put them by the rear glass, but down on the side of the quarter above the fender skirt. Very confusing.
Looking at the pictures of this white ’56 Lincoln, the clear tubes are missing and only the passenger side has the mounting for them. The drivers side seems to have fallen into the trunk.
My 1956 Cadillac Fleetwood had a/c mounted in the trunk, with the air intake on the top of the rear quarters and the clear tubes going up into the headliner with chrome vents above each door. I don’t know if it worked or not as the engine didn’t. Also don’t know if the porous material inside the headliner collapsed or not as I never got that far into the system. I was only 13 and didn’t know that much about cars as it was.
if i remember right as i said earlier guy next door bought a 1956 Lincoln new the battery was under the passenger side floor under the seat
You’d have to have deep pockets to restore this Lincoln, but for the price, it seems to have good bones. Very interesting article that someone posted about early Lincoln rear AC systems. Where in the world would you find replacements for those clear AC tubes and components.