1954 Lincoln Capri 64k miles Original barn find stored for 56 years No reserve

The originalHot Rod Lincoln same car as the famous Road Race Lincolns

Lincolns Go South of the Border

On Wednesday, Nov. 19, 1952, drivers and cars lined up for the start of the La Carrera Panamericana or Mexican Road Race. The race had classes for stock cars and sports cars. A team of Lincolns ran as stock cars. The “race course” included 1,938 miles of road from Tuxtla Gutierrez, near Mexico’s southern border to Juarez up north. It was a treacherous route.

The Lincoln drivers and co-drivers were Chuck Stevenson, Clay Smith, Johnny Mantz, Bill Stroppe, Chuck Daigh, Captain Bob Korf, Duane Carter and Walt Faulkner. The 205-hp Lincolns were actually the first 1953 models to leave the production line. After the first day’s 330-mile leg the Lincolns held five of the first six places.

Excited people enjoying a national holiday cheered the racers. At one point, Faulkner hit a bump and went airborne, but he landed on all four tires without loosening a rivet or upsetting wheel alignment!

By day 4 cars were starting to drop out and the Lincolns were moving up in their division. Day 5 was a 230-mile leg from Chihuahua to Juarez that Stevenson’s car did in just under two hours!

Stevenson wound up winning the race with a total time of 21 hours, 15 minutes, and 38 seconds. Johnny Mantz came in 31 seconds slower and Faulkner took third, less than five minutes off the winning time. A Mercedes 300SL driven by Karl Kling came in first in the sports car class.

In all, 10 of the 27 sports cars that started the race finished, 29 of 68 stock car class entries made it to the finish line. Lincoln made hay of its strong performance in Mexico and used the results to promote its new, re-engineered ’52 models. “Powered to leave the past behind,” was a sales slogan used after the big win in Mexico to drive home the point.

Road Race Lincoln’s

forgotten Lincolns. Sure, everyone remembers the Continentals, the $10,000 1956-57 Continental Mark II and the 1961 Continental, but how about the 1952-54 Lincolns? If anyone remembers them at all, it is usually to their success in the Carrera Panamericana. And while not having near the sheer luxury and exclusivity of a prewar Model K or 1941 Continental convertible, they were still fine cars in their own right.

Yes, the Lincoln of this era was a fierce competitor in the famous Mexican road race, finishing 1-2-3-4 in not only 1952 but also 1953, but other than that, how many modern collectors or car enthusiasts really know these cars?

First appearing in 1952, these not only replaced the “bathtub” 1949-51 models, but also featured the very first Lincoln hardtop, in your choice of Cosmopolitan or fancier Capri models.

Despite the options and 123-inch wheelbase, however, there was still a marked family resemblance between lesser Fords and Mercurys. But if you could overlook that, the overall design was very attractive, and the more powerful 317.5 CID V8 with four-barrel Holley provided ample power for the mid Fifties, at 205-hp. That was certainly an improvement over the ’52 Lincoln engine, which had only 160-hp with two-barrel carburetion.

Despite the common corporate look, the Lincoln distinguished itself with the most mature version of the theme, and had lots of chrome jewelry, such as this elegant Capri script on the rear quarter panel. I think this detail is my favorite feature!

While the 1952-53 Lincolns were virtually identical, the 1954 model received more moderate changes, gaining an inch in both length and width, more substantial bumpers, a full-length side molding instead of the earlier one starting behind the front wheel, new wheel covers and other assorted trim bits.

Inside, it was clear that you were not in a Ford Customline. Lots of chrome bits, two-tone upholstery and elegant door panels made it clear this was a premium automobile. And what a nice place to spend time! As a Capri, this was the nicest interior you could get from FoMoCo at the time.

1954 was the last year of the Carrera Panamericana, and during this event, Lincolns “only” finished in first and second place, rather than the 1-2-3-4 sweep of 1952-53. So while the 1955 Lincoln would still use the 1952 body shell (albeit with a substantial facelift), there would be no more road racing victories.