“If you wanted to explain the complete Lincoln idea to someone, you could simply show him this new 1956 Lincoln Premier Coupe. As you can see, the absence of window posts accentuates the long, unbroken lines that characterize all Lincoln models.” So says a brochure showing the 1956 Lincolns. This example is posted here on craigslist in beautiful Olympia, Washington and the seller is asking $18,500 or offer. Here is the original listing, and thanks to T.J. for the tip!
First things first, about that price. Hagerty is at $12,900 for a #4 fair-condition car and $23,600 for a #3 good-condition car. This Premier Coupe has a fair amount of very expensive rust on the rear bumper alone (is the trunk-bottom trim piece missing?), and if you look at the edges and details, you’ll see more rough areas. Unless a person could live with that and just get everything working and drive it as it looks now – not even including the interior work, which would be thousands – $18,500 is a very aggressive asking price.
Not every vehicle has to be restored, but a car like this deserves to be a bit nicer and at this price, it’ll be a miracle if someone grabs it. Oh yeah, it isn’t running, so add that to the mix. What a great design, though! The seller says that this car was parked in a garage in 1979 and that’s all we know. Are they the original owner? A relative? Did they buy it? You’ll have to get in touch with them for more answers.
The beauty continues inside, but so does the to-do list. The seats are in fairly rough shape and they’re fixable but it won’t be inexpensive. The rust along the sill and other areas proves what a damp area Olympia is and some underside photos would be welcome. This beautiful color is, I believe, Buckskin Tan and the interior colors are a perfect complement. The dash is cool in an understated, almost shop-class-looking way. There isn’t much space-age design going on there. It’s hard to see the backseat area but we get to see the huge trunk.
The engine shows 47 years of non-use and should be Lincoln’s 368-cu.in. OHV Y-block V8, which had around 275 hp and 401 lb-ft of torque. Sadly, it isn’t in running condition, and after 47 years, who knows what it will take to get this Lincoln back on the road again. With Hagerty’s #2 excellent condition value of $39,300, this car will never be restored to that level unless it’s done by the next owner him or herself. Would any of you take a gamble on this Lincoln?
I always thought these were great looking cars, better in my opinion than the ‘57
models with the added tailfins and stacked headlights.
Good writeup, Scotty. 1956 is my favorite Lincoln styling year from the 1950’s. But those sleek, sophisticated lines didn’t last for long as 1958 would attest. Inconsistent styling didn’t help Lincoln close the gap with Cadillac. Interesting color. I’ve never seen a ’56 in this shade of brown.
I hope you won’t take offense, Ron, but you share a close resemblance to Shemp Howard! I agree with your sentiment about the ’58 Premier, they went totally over a cliff with that design.
No offense taken, Todd J.
Shemp: “I’m as pretty as a picture.”
Moe: “Yeah, of an ape!”
The 56 Lincoln was reportedly the only car to win an award for design from a prestigious Industrial design organization. Can’t recall the name. But this 56 clearly shows the reason. A beautiful revision of 55. Unfortunately the price plus time, effort and expense of restoration misses the MARK 😉. But hope someone takes on the challenge.
Certain cars will stand the test of time for future generations to gasp in awe, the ’56 Lincoln was one. There’s 10 Toyotas in that car. I read, they cost a whopping $4601 new, but not much different than a 2 door ’56 Caddy at $4624. Almost 20,000 of these were sold. Pretty clear, things were a hummin’ in America then. Fortunes were made, and the Lincoln was right there.
Fast forward to today. Dormant for so long a pretty good indicator, once the proud owner died, nobody picked up the ball. Playing out all across America right now. I mean, look at it. It was the epitome of American class. People had respect for this car, and for the folks that drove them. Probably worked for them, but a car like this screamed success. I’m not really sure what “success” is today, and don’t know if people in the future will ever feel the same about this car again. Fantastic cars the likes we’ll never see again.
Success today means being a Tik Tok influencer. Make money by sitting in front of your computer telling people how to do makeup. My Millennial daughter tells me her friends mostly don’t care about cars. So if you love this vehicle buy it and restore it and don’t bemoan the fact that time marches on and people and tastes change. I’ll drive my Mustang LX until it doesn’t make sense to fix it anymore and then, who knows? Ford has a real sweet deal on the Mach e and as prices come down and battery technology improves it’s going to prove irresistible, unless I pick up another late model ICE car. A Fusion Sport or a Lincoln MKZ hybrid are looking mighty fine
HoA, I would give 2 thumbs up to your reply if I could.
Back when these cars were new, only affluent people could afford to buy them. Nowadays, anyone that can fog up a mirror with their breath can get financing. Some people are paying more each month on their vehicles than their homes.
I believe George Barris made this into the first Batmobile. (Or the Lincoln ’55 Futura that had the same FE).
you are correct it’s gets it styling from the 55 Lincoln futura which was made into the batmobile you really can see it in the headlights
Yes, I was just going to say that this is what George Barris used to create TVs Batmobile. Only a real car nerd born in the 50’s would know that. Yes, I am one of those.
Welcome to the club 😉! I am now a Vintage Rolls Canardly, Roll down one hill and Canardly get up the next! The Green Hornets TV Black Beauty was built on a 64? Imperial!
me too I was born in1945
I was 10 years old in 1956. Saw one of these in all white. It looked futuristic to me as it seemingly floated past. It stopped me in my tracks. Heck, that was 67 years ago (Colorado Springs) and I still remember it. It made that big of an impression on me.
I was 11 years old in 1956 friend of mine Dad was a big shot at Lincoln got a new one every year his 56 was all black top of the line feel in love with that car and I think of remembering the battery being under the front seat
As the Brits say, really cheeky on their asking price!
My uncle bought one of these, same colour, when they hit the showrooms late in 1955. I always saw the styling as excessive. The 1955 was a warmed-over 1952-’54, and far better-looking to me at the time. But I generally HATED the late 1950s era in cars! There were SOME that I liked — but most were ugly and excessive — the ’59 Cadillac being about the worst monstrosity! — the ’59 Chevy not far behind. My idea of a luxury vehicle, as to style, elegance, and grace, was the 1955 Packard 400 (before they added excess to it in 1956!). I liked 1953, across the board (with the exception of Chevrolet, Buick, and a few Quick,– Buick was gratly improved for 1954, as was Cadillac): these cars had escaped all vestiges of the 1940s, but had not yet gone to the doo-dads and “rocket” fins and other goof-ball appendages that characterised the late 1950s. Finally, by about 1962, cars were beginning to look decent once more! Then again, I had my own youthful excesses in art deco — the 1938 Ford DeLuxe and the 1939 Buick, for examples! By 1942, the new cars simply were reduced and bulbous, and had lost the graceful elegance of some late 1930s designs — and then 1941-’42 types persisted into 1948. I was TIRED of the look by then! (though, clearly, Volvo folks weren’t!). The 1959 Ford and 1960 Edsel were beautiful cars in an otherwise mostly hideous styling-crazed time.
Agree with an awful lot of what you say but I thought the 1958 Chev Impala was an exception to late the 50’s. Beautiful car, even when Bolander did that awful rake on his…..
Steve had to show off the chrome differential!
My uncle bought one of these, same colour, when they hit the showrooms late in 1955. I always saw the styling as excessive. The 1955 was a warmed-over 1952-’54, and far better-looking to me at the time. But I generally HATED the late 1950s era in cars! There were SOME that I liked — but most were ugly and excessive — the ’59 Cadillac being about the worst monstrosity! — the ’59 Chevy not far behind. My idea of a luxury vehicle, as to style, elegance, and grace, was the 1955 Packard 400 (before they added excess to it in 1956!). I liked 1953, across the board (with the exception of Chevrolet, Buick, and a few others– Buick was greatly improved for 1954, as was Cadillac): these cars had escaped all vestiges of the 1940s, but had not yet gone to the doo-dads and “rocket” fins and other goof-ball appendages that characterised the late 1950s. Finally, by about 1962, cars were beginning to look decent once more! Then again, I had my own youthful excesses in art deco — the 1938 Ford DeLuxe and the 1939 Buick, for examples! By 1942, the new cars simply were reduced and bulbous, and had lost the graceful elegance of some late 1930s designs — and then 1941-’42 types persisted into 1948. I was TIRED of the look by then! (though, clearly, Volvo folks weren’t!). The 1959 Ford and 1960 Edsel were beautiful cars in an otherwise mostly hideous styling-crazed time.
Mike F.: I agree on the 1958 Chevrolet; too bad it was a one-off, and they didn’t just mildly face-lift it for 1959, instead of that shocking uglified design with upside-down bumper-guards! The 1957 Chevrolet was beautiful also, in a different way. But when the ’58 came out, it appeared as if sanity might be returning. I guess, after that recession year, G.M. figured they’d better go back to INsanity. For 1960, they “cleaned-up” those crazy ’59s just a bit…
When I was a kid, these were just rarely seen old cars. I thought they were weird looking, as compared to the 56 Continental. But now? Wow! I’ve been converted. Should have bought one 20 years ago. When pristine ones were around $10,000.
Big C.: sounds as if you are of my children’s generation (smile). I comment here as one who observed new cars coming out, from the end of the 1930s, on forward, in context of how they struck me at the time. The difference in our perspectives is amusing to me. (smile)
My dad owned a Sinclair service station in the late 50’s-early 60’s. We always had 5 or 6 ’40’s and 50’s cars in our drive. Guys couldn’t pay, and would give dad the car. I was little, but these were my toys I played with. We had various Fords, Chevy’s, Mercury’s, Hudson’s, etc. But never a Lincoln!
Great looking car, but I would prefer a different color
Ford must have had spies at Chrysler as this design looks like a foretaste–and better excecuted, IMHO–of the “Forward Look”.
great car but asking price is too high for this particular model especially not running? taking a big expensive venture what about the transmission? the brakes and the electrics? this is not a cheap car to restore its about 8000 dollars to much for something that u cannot drive?? buying cars like this is scary i have bought some of these kind of cars in the past and they all turned out to be a nightmare that never materialized, at 10,000 this car would be worth buying to give u a little wiggle room