1957 Lincoln Premier Convertible (LHD)

Description

Lincoln's Premiere was a short-lived luxury model that filled a gap between the Capri and the top-of-the-range Continental in the 1956-1960 model years, with dream car styling typical of the Chrome Age. The first generation Premieres made between 1956 and 1957 boasted the 368-cid Y-block V8 and three-speed Turbo-Drive automatic transmission as standard and featured radical styling derived from the Lincoln Futura show car. Independent front suspension featured a stabilizer bar and the chassis had a wheelbase of 126-inches. Sold in both two and four-door hardtop versions, the Premiere was also available as the stylish convertible offered here. For 1957 a few changes were made - externally the Premiere now came with so-called "QuadraLite" 7-inch headlamps stacked above regular 5-inch road lamps and taller tail fins in keeping with styling trends of the day. Under the bonnet a higher compression ratio boosted power by 15 hp to an even 300. At $5381 list price, the convertible was easily the most expensive Premiere in the 1957 model line-up and as a result just 3676 were sold, making this one of the rarest American convertibles of the day. As Lincoln's flagship model for 1957 (with the Continental being sold as a separate marque), the Premiere was very well equipped and the typically glitzy interior was loaded with features, including with power seats as standard. A rare sight even in America today, the Lincoln Premiere Convertible is virtually unheard of here in Australia and the example offered here may well be the only example in the country.