1955 Lincoln Capri Convertible

Cruisin Classics is pleased to present to you this 1955 Lincoln Capri. Lincoln produced the Capri from 1952-1959 and it was their top-tier luxury offering before the introduction of the Premiere in 1956. These Lincolns were built with heavy-gauge steel and rigid structural engineering and they are known for a heavy regal stance with clean stretched lines rather than the excessive fins of their competitors. This particular Capri is a true one-family-owned survivor car with only 17,784 actual miles! We got the car from a gentleman whose grandfather owned a Lincoln-Packard dealership in Dayton Ohio. When he closed the dealership in 1955 he gave each of his children a brand new car, and this car went to our gentleman's mother. She already had a car though, so she let her step-brother drive the car for years until his passing. The car then sat in a garage for about 30 years until it was given to her oldest son, who left it in a different garage for another 20 years. Finally, a younger brother purchased the car and brought it back to being a running driving vehicle again (he's the gentleman who brought it to us). The car did not undergo a restoration, it was only treated to service that made it a safe road-worthy vehicle - it is a real survivor. Let's dive a little deeper into this very special Lincoln... This Capri is still dressed in it's original coat of Sunstone Yellow with an Ermine White top. The paint is now faded in areas and the car has its fair share of small paint chips and imperfections - largely caused by kids parking their bicycles next to it in the garage for decades (according to our gentleman). It does still present well, despite the small demerits, and we'd call it driver-quality. The car is loaded with brightwork and chrome that is in good condition overall, but some pieces are beginning to show some pitting. Looking at the car from the front you'll see a chrome aircraft-inspired hood ornament, a knight's crest badge, LINCOLN block lettering above the hood lip, round headlights in bright bezels, a chrome trimmed horizontal bar grille, and a wrap-around chrome bumper with dagmars and integrated turn signals. Moving around to the side of the car, even more brightwork comes into focus - windshield surround, wiper arms, drip rail molding, window trim, belt molding, dual side mirrors, rocker molding, gravel guards, and a tip to tail body side molding spear. The fenders sport Lincoln badging while the rear quarters have Capri and V badging. Topping off the chrome on the C-pillar area is a knight's head badge that follows the regal theme. The car sits atop body-color steel wheels with full Lincoln hubcaps with knight's head centers. The wheels are wrapped in Coker Classic wide white 4-ply tires in good condition. Partially obscuring the rear wheels are fender skirts that fit well and add to the brightwork on the lower quarters. At the rear of the car are understated rounded fins with large chrome taillights, a hidden gas fill behind the license plate, and a knight's head trunk ornament with a keyhole hidden underneath the knights visor (very cool!). There is also another wrap-around chrome bumper with dagmars and integrated dual exhaust tips. At some point in its life this Lincoln may have been used to haul things, as a trailer hitch is present beneath the bumper. Under the large hood of this Lincoln is a very original-looking engine bay that is home to a 5.6 liter 341ci V-8. The block is topped off with a 4-barrel carburetor, gold valve covers with Lincoln V-Eight call-outs, and a gold air cleaner. The engine is mated up to a correct Turbo-Drive 3-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the rear wheels. Other highlights include power steering, power drum brakes, a Ford generator, cast exhaust manifolds, and an electric pusher fan ahead of the radiator that helps the mechanical fan keep things cool on hot summer days. The engine fires right up from cold and runs nice and smoothly, just as it should. O