By Joe Sherlock

Originally published in the 4th Quarter 1993 issue of Continental Comments (Issue # 194.)

If you look at a 1955 Lincoln Capri today, you’ll see a nice looking car that looks, well, very mid 1950s. But that’s not how it looked to prospective buyers back then. 1955 was the year of all new bodies for most other makes. Chevy, Pontiac, Ford, Mercury and the entire Chrysler line all had a brand new look to compete with their 1955 counterparts. Even Packard had all new outer panels over their 1954 inner body panels. Lincoln still looked much the same as 1954, although a bit longer. Everybody but Lincoln had three tone color combinations and wraparound windshields. Chrysler first introduced “The Forward Look” in 1955. Cadillac, Buick and Oldsmobile got new bodies in 1954; Lincoln had the same old body introduced in 1952 and it was considered stale and stodgy by 1955. Most embarrassing of all, the 1955 Lincoln was underpowered compared to its rivals. The marque which had won the Mexican Road Race in 1954 still had the 341 cubic inch V-8 engine now rated at 225 hp. That was no match for the 236 hp. Buick Century, 250 hp. Chrysler Imperial, 279 hp. Cadillac El Dorado or 275 hp. Packard. 1955 was right in the middle of the styling race and the horsepower race years, and Lincoln wasn’t winning either race.

The 1955 Lincoln did have some nice new features. The automatic transmission was all new—the GM Hydra-Matic was dropped for a beefed up three-speed Ford-OMatic type of unit called Turbodrive. The car did have some new styling elements designed to make it look longer than the 1954 model. In 1955, the Capri series was the top of the line and the coupe shown here was the most popular body style—representing 42% of production. The Lincoln Capri coupe cost a little over $3,900—about 90 cents per pound. The car had a 123” wheelbase and was 63” high—quite tall for a 1955 model. Ads touted “Elegance with Power” and a top speed of 116 mph. was claimed.

1955 was a banner sales year for most makes, but not for Lincoln. Sales dropped 27% to 27,222 units. It’s a shame that the 1955 Lincoln didn’t get more respect in the marketplace. It’s really a pleasant car and it has aged well. Lincoln would have liked to have had its completely new 1956 model ready for 1955, but the changes were so sweeping they could not get it into production that soon. When the ‘56 finally arrived in late September, 1955 it was a powerful and stylish car with all the styling bells and whistles that people wanted in the mid Fifties. All’s well that ends well.

By Birger Hoelstad and Thor Langli
All photos by the authors except where noted

Originally published in the May-June 2020 issue of Continental Comments (Issue # 354.)

The first weekend of August 2019 it was finally here! After two years of planning, it was time for the Norway Region of the LCOC to sit back and enjoy its 20th Anniversary. One by one, the beautiful Lincolns came rolling into the front of the hotel just outside of Lillehammer, Norway, the site of the 1994 Winter Olympics. A separate room was reserved for us for the Friday “meet and greet,” but the weather was so nice and warm that we all ended up outside. The cars were lined up just a few feet away, so the view was fantastic, with 22 Lincolns and 47 people participating.

ABOVE:  Quite an impressive line-up of Lincolns on the show field.

On Saturday morning, it was time for a car wash before our driving tour took off for the scenic countryside. During the tour, we crossed paths with some even older cars from the 1920s and earlier. Due to this, some of our admiring members were delayed, but eventually, we all made it back to the hotel. A lovely green field was made available to us for the car show. It may seem wrong for a Norwegian to say something like this, but it was actually too hot in the sun on the show field, so we had to retreat to the shade! After the judges had inspected all the cars, it was time for our group to walk over to the newly-opened Norwegian Road Museum.

ABOVE:  1970s Lincoln convertibles ore scarce in the United States, so seeing Ingve Jensen’s 1973 Continental Convertible on display In Norway was a rare treat.

The celebratory banquet was held Saturday evening. A pair of Lincolns, a 2019 Navigator, and 1973 Continental Convertible greeted us outside. We were so lucky that Mr. Tristam Perry, the Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, and his lovely wife, Maria, joined us at the banquet. Mr. Perry gave a very personal and funny speech, and we all enjoyed their company.

ABOVE:  A new Lincoln Navigator set an elegant but fun mood at the 20th Anniversary reception.

ABOVE:  The LCOC’s overseas contingent, including some of our Norwegian friends, at the Lincoln Motor Car Heritage Museum’s dedication in 2014.

For seven years, the Norway Region has had an award named after one of our founders, Tore Solberg. Tore passed away several years ago. This award goes to a person with a long-standing devotion to the Lincoln Motor Car. The award has now been renamed “LCOC Special Award,” and this year, it went to Per Malme. He has owned many Lincolns, has served as our treasurer, and never says “no.” He has worked with Ford his entire life and coined a new term, the golden detour. This is defined as “a detour does not matter, as long as you can enjoy it in a Lincoln.” Previous recipients include Ove Loen, Ragnar Wehn, Tor Haakon Hognestad, Svein Stokstad, Rita and Sigmund Espeland, and Aage Gustavsen.

Various other awards were also handed out, including one to Alf and Anne Marie, who both have done a lot for LCOC, going as far as to change their last name to “Mercury-Lincoln!” Asbjorn Simonsen got the “Longest Distance Award,” having driven 2,200 miles round-trip to the meet. Thor and Randi Loktu were honored, as they have been members since our inception in 1999. The award our region received from LCOC National President John Talbourdet was also much appreciated. It was passed around for everyone to see and will stay with our region director. Every attendee received a Norway Region 20th Anniversary badge.

This event was a wonderful way to celebrate this important anniversary for the Norway Region. Everyone went home with fond memories and will be looking forward to the next grand event.

ABOVE:  With Ingve Jensen’s 1973 Continental Convertible in the foreground, Norwegian revelers enjoyed a reception before the banquet.

ABOVE:  Lincoln treasures of all sorts were on display.

Photos by John Walcek and Tim Howley
Originally published in the May/June 2009 issue of Continental Comments (Issue # 288.)

Eight Continental Mark IIs were entered at the 2008 Western National Meet in Irvine, California, in October, 2008, which has to be a record for Mark IIs at any national meet in recent years and may be an all time record.

Doctor Richard and Carolyn Gray, Tiburon, California, entered a Naiad Green (light green) 1956 Mark II. They purchased the car in 1989 in Riverside from the widow of the original owner. The car was originally purchased in Lodi, California. The original owner was a general doctor in Lodi who went on to become a radiologist training in Portland, Oregon, and stayed on in Portland after his training. Within a few years he became very well known and invented the heart catherization technique used today by cardiologists worldwide in doing angiograms for coronary artery blockage. He invented the catheters that are still used today and they bear his name, Melvin Judkins. Since Richard Gray is a cardiologist he has a special interest in the car. In about 1970, Dr. Jenkins moved back to Loma Linda where he had gone to medical school and became a professor there. When the Grays bought the car it had not been running in many years and the last license on it was Oregon in 1973. The car now has 76,000 miles.

Recently, the Grays had the car dismantled and the paint totally stripped. After extensive body preparation the car was repainted to the original color. The interior, including the carpet, is still original as is most of the trim. Only the bumpers were re-plated. The engine has been out of the car three times. The valves, rings, and bearings were replaced but the cylinders were not re-bored. Every time the engine went back in something else wrong was found. By the way, on these cars you have to remove both the engine and transmission together. Even after the Irvine Meet the transmission required more work, but at last everything is working now and the car is magnificent.

ABOVE: Dr. Richard and Carolyn Gray with their 1956 Continental Mark II.

ABOVE:  Tom Spiel with his 1957 Continental Mark II.

Norm and Nancy Hoskins, Yorba Linda, California, entered a 1956 Continental Mark II that was built August 13, 1955, making it, Norm believes, the 175th Mark II built. The color is Briar Brown Iridescent, a deep bronze metallic. It was originally sold to a Doctor Robert Engler in Helena, Montana. The doctor owned the car for many years, then sold it to somebody in Orange County. A speculator bought it from him and Norm bought the car from the speculator. When Norm bought the car it had the original paint, chrome, and tom upholstery. Norm took the car all the way down to the frame which is no easy task on a Mark II. Everything has been rebuilt including the engine and transmission. The restoration took 28 months. The odometer now shows 24,000 miles, which Norm believes to be 124,000. Norm is Director of the Western Region.

ABOVE:  Admiring Campbell’s engine compartment.

U.S. Congressman John Campbell from the 48th District in California entered a 1956 Continental Mark II serial number C56C2516. He writes the following about the car.

“I have conflicting information on the original selling dealer and owner of the car. The Biche family, William and Mark, who owned the car for nearly 20 years from 1978 until 2006, say that the car was built on Jan 23, 1956 and was shipped to Harris Miller Lincoln-Mercury in the Bronx, New York, for delivery to its first owner Michael Swartz. This information was apparently obtained from The Continental Mark II Encyclopedia. However, I recently obtained the car’s production order from the Henry Ford Museum (through the ad in Lincoln and Continental Comments) and it shows the car as having been shipped to L&M Motor Sales in Glen Cove, New York, for delivery under a customer order from Mario Giardino. I’m not sure which is correct although I suspect the museum information is more reliable. I would think that 1/23/56 would be too early a build date for car #2516. Anyway, the car was clearly originally purchased in New York state. The second owner is unknown after which the car apparently came into the possession of one Ralph Ruoff in Rochester, New York, around 1975. William Biche (who I believe was director of a Lincoln and Continental Owners Club region on the east coast) purchased the car on 10/25/78 for $3,500. He proceeded to do a frame off restoration (done between 1994 and 1999) and the car won LCOC primary, senior, and William Clay Ford Trophy awards in 1999 and 2000. The Biche’s did not drive the car much according to their records. They only put 1,029 miles on the car between 1978 and when I bought it in May of 2008. That’s only 34 miles per year! I have already put another thousand miles on it in less than one year in my ownership. The car now has just over 65,000 original miles. I purchased the car from a dealer, Hyman Ltd., in St. Louis, Missouri. My understanding is that my purchase was the car’s first trip west of the Mississippi.

Because the restoration now has a few years on it, and because the car had not been driven much in 30 years, I am in the process of freshening the restoration and doing a complete run through of all mechanicals, which need quite a bit of work, to make the car one I can drive and enjoy frequently and reliably.

The car is Cobalt Blue Iridescent Deep Blue (Code 02) with Light Blue Biscuits and Medium Blue Bolsters (Code 1A1A). Biche’s information is that there were only 124 cars built with this exterior color, 31 with this exterior/interior combination, and 16 identical to this one (no A/C or bumper guards).

I have loved Mark IIs since I was a little kid and have always considered them a timeless and iconic design. Before entering politics, I was in the car dealership business for 25 years and was a Lincoln-Mercury dealer in Anaheim, California, for a short time in the early 1990s. I look forward to many years with the LCOC and this car!”

ABOVE:  Diane and Keith Johnson with their 1956 Continental Mark II Parade Car.

John Boccardo, Palm Springs, California, who entered a Medium Gray 1956 Continental Mark II at Irvine was unavailable to tell us about the car. David Sutliff, Burley, Idaho, entered a White Lucite 1956 Continental Mark II. His story could not be completed by the time of publication. Christopher Cimarusti, Manalapan, New Jersey, who entered a black 1956 Mark II at Irvine, has written a separate story about his car.

ABOVE:  David Sutliff’s 1956 Continental Mark II.

ABOVE: The Hilgeman family with the car at Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Photos by John Walcek and Tim Howley
Originally published in the May/June 2009 issue of Continental Comments (Issue # 288.)

The 1949 Lincoln Cosmopolitan originated in a clay done by Bob Gregorie in 1943. But the Hoover Vacuum Cleaner front end was redone after World War II to look more like the bottom grille of the 1946-48 models. Originally the car was to have concealed headlights. When that plan was scrapped for time and cost reasons it was replaced with sad, sunken headlights lined with stainless steel tunnels. The companion to the Cosmopolitan was the Lincoln derived from the Mercury body. This model came about when Ford Motor decided to build an all new 1949 Ford and bump all the other makes up a notch.

Lincoln moved away from unitized constuction with 1949 models. The chassis was a new K frame that allowed for independent front suspension, Hotchkiss drive, and hypoid gears. GM Hydra-Matic was made available on all Lincolns beginning in June, 1949. The new 337cid 90 degree V-8 engine was a dramatic move away from a V-12 for the first time since 1932. This engine was originally developed for Ford trucks but was also used in the 1949-51 Lincolns because Lincoln was nowhere near ready to introduce an ohv V-8. It had a large dual concentric downdraft carburetor and the distributor was placed on top of the engine rather than in the front.

This was the era of monocoupe engineering and design. Witness the 1948 Hudson and Packard and the 1949 Nash. The idea was living rooms on wheels. The 1949 Lincoln instrument panel was a bizarre five-piece unit with controls that looked like church organ keys. The rear doors in the four-door sedans were hinged at the rear like in previous Lincolns.

A lot of engine improvements came later in the 1950 model year. The 1949-50 vibration damper filled with silicone fluid did not work out very well. This was blamed for a lot of complaints about engine vibration Another problem was oil consumption. Lincoln had four piston rings in 1949 and early 1950, but this did not seem to stop oil consumption. Going on the theory that the fourth ring dragged they tried three rings later on in 1950 and this cured the problem. They further discovered that the vibration complaints stemmed not so much from the vibration damper as from a poorly balanced engine. Later 1950 models and all 1951s have improved engine balancing and improved vibration damping. The cylinder blocks were made with more alloy to increase cylinder bore durability. By eliminating one ring friction was reduced and the horsepower was increased from 152 to 154. Minor engine improvements included the addition of distribution tubes in the water passages for better cooling to the exhaust valves.