1956 Lincoln Premiere Convertible
With only 2,447 convertibles produced, this rare luxury car represented Lincoln’s bold challenge to Cadillac’s dominance. The complete redesign drew inspiration from the futuristic Lincoln Futura concept car, featuring sharp angular lines that broke from Lincoln’s conservative styling tradition.
The dramatic wraparound windshield was the largest in the industry, while distinctive eight-pointed star medallions and gold Premiere nameplates clearly identified Lincoln’s new flagship model.
Measuring seven inches longer and three inches wider than its predecessor, the design incorporated peaked headlight brows and subtle rear fender crests.
Power came from a new 368 cubic inch V8 producing 285 horsepower, paired with Lincoln’s Turbo-Drive automatic transmission. The Premiere rode on a 126-inch wheelbase with a new ball-joint front suspension that improved handling while maintaining ride comfort.
Standard equipment included power seats, power windows, power brakes, and Lincoln’s new 12-volt electrical system. Despite aggressive marketing claims about being “the longest, lowest, most powerful Lincoln of all time,” sales remained only about one-third of Cadillac’s.
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