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06/15/2009 57 Lincoln
Tail fins were the "in thing" on 1957 Lincoln models
Wow! What a pair!! Look at those beauties!!! The ‘57 Lincoln’s imposing fins may not be as celebrated as the Chevy Bel Air’s of the same year, but you must admit, they’re pretty impressive– one might even say extraordinary. The ‘57 Chevrolet tail fin, particularly that of the high line Bel Air series, has become a symbol of the great, golden days of American automobiles. But it has a definite edge over the Lincoln in terms of consumer recognition as there were 36.8 ‘57 Chevies built for every ONE ‘57 Lincoln.
Photo: www.ArtistDanReed.com
Wow! What a pair!! Look at those beauties!!! The ‘57 Lincoln’s imposing fins may not be as celebrated as the Chevy Bel Air’s of the same year, but you must admit, they’re pretty impressive– one might even say extraordinary. The ‘57 Chevrolet tail fin, particularly that of the high line Bel Air series, has become a symbol of the great, golden days of American automobiles. But it has a definite edge over the Lincoln in terms of consumer recognition as there were 36.8 ‘57 Chevies built for every ONE ‘57 Lincoln. Photo: www.ArtistDanReed.com
The year 1957 was an exciting one in modern American history. Consumer confidence was at a record high and the ‘American Dream’ was alive and well. A house in the suburbs (average cost $20,000.00*), two kids and a two-car garage and a pool in the backyard was the goal of many typical families of the day. (Well, perhaps fallout shelter too. You ‘gen-xers’ in the crowd may have to ask your parents what a fallout shelter is!) Other consumer product prices included:
- a gallon of milk: $1.00
- loaf of bread: $0.19
- a dozen eggs: $0.82*
Three model series made up the Lincoln line for 1957.
The entry-level Lincoln Capri and upscale Premiere, featured in the photo above, were nearly identical from the outside, save the ‘Premiere’ badge and gold star medallions on each front fender. Topping out the line was the totally unique (and also very pricey), two year only Lincoln-Continental… a drop-dead gorgeous, high-end, personal luxury coupe which saw production of just 2,250 coupes for 1956 and only 444 coupes and TWO convertibles for 1957! (How would you like to be the proud owner of just ONE of those two ragtops?!?!)
My aunt Dorothy would have said that the ’57 Premiere was a ‘lovely’ Lincoln… long, low and oh, those stylish tailfins. Considering the amount of glitter applied to most cars of the mid-fifties, the Lincoln Capri and Premiere were fairly clean and tastefully clad. As much as the exterior was clean, the interior made up for it with available tri-tone leather seating surfaces; intricately designed dash and door panels; as well as a complex steering wheel design that wouldn’t pass muster with the safety-conscious federal agencies that dictate so many factors of automobile design in this day and age.
Pretty much everything a person could want was standard fare on the 1957 Lincolns including power steering, brakes, windows and 4-way power seats. Options of lesser significance included:
- tinted glass
- a 6-way power seat
- power vent windows (ask your dad or grandpa what ‘vent windows’ are)
- front license plate frame
- automatic headlight dimmer
- ‘Town and Country’ radio
- power antenna
- dual control heater
- ‘Directed-Power’ differential (we called it ‘posi-traction’)
- electric door locks
- push button lubrication
- whitewall tires
- spotlights
- auxiliary driving lights
- padded sun visors
- padded dash and seat belts
The Lincoln exterior color palette for 1957 was comprised of eighteen enticing, period colors:
- Presidential Black
- Starmist White
- Huntsman Red
- Saturn Gold
- Desert Buff
- Sand
- Oxford Gray
- Vermont Green
- Willow Green
- Flamingo
- Ivy Green
- Horizon Blue
- Bermuda Coral
- Cinnamon
- Dubonnet
- Seascape Blue
- Gainsborough Blue
- Taos Turquoise
Don’t get me wrong, upscale luxury car buyers demanded ample reserve power on tap for times when it was needed, but smoking the 8.00 x 15 Firestones was not high on the priority list and in fact would have been considered quite gauche (and probably immature) by the country club set. The marketing folks at L-M were more than happy to take the stress out of the ordering experience by eliminating drive train options all together. You accepted the 368 cubic inch Lincoln V-8 and Cruise-O-Matic transmission and you liked it. The beefy V-8 managed to pump out 300 horsepower and while it may not have set the tires on fire, had more than enough oomph to move the forty-five hundred pound Lincoln from point A to point B with suitable aplomb. The greedy engine, with its 10.0:1 compression ratio did prefer premium (Ethyl) gasoline, however and that was running nearly thirty cents per gallon!
These heavy weights were ‘land yachts’ in the true sense of the term... and like a yacht, were built for long range cruising, not yanking skiers out of the water. And cruise they did, with many a boastful owner spouting off about top end figures– but the days of the ‘Hot Rod Lincoln’ were pretty much history.
A total of 5,900 Capris and 35,223 Premieres were sold. While one might expect that the lower-priced Capri would have dominated sales (particularly given the fact that they looked nearly identical to the pricier Premiere), apparently most Lincoln buyers thought the ten percent tariff required to own the best, was no more than pocket change, even though the average, annual income was just $4,500.00*.
Capris and Premieres came in 4-door sedan, Landau ‘hardtop sedan’ (pillarless) and hardtop coupe body styles. If you had your heart set on topless driving, you had to buy a Premier as a ragtop was not offered in the Capri line. And that Premier convertible was not only the heaviest of the lot, weighing in at 4,676 pounds, but also the priciest with a factory base price of $5,381.00– $42,185.00 in ‘09 shekels. Considering that the average price of an automobile in 1957 was just $2,100.00, the Lincoln definitely fit in the luxury class.
The Lincoln-Mercury marketing team targeted Lincoln very close to its greatest rival, Cadillac. The ‘57 Premiere was within sixty pounds in weight, one hundred dollars in price and four inches in overall length of GM’s flagship marque. Both were powered by 300 horse engines. Despite all the planning and positioning, Cadillac outsold Lincoln for ‘57 by a near four-to-one margin.
Discerning buyers chose Lincoln for 1957 for a variety of reasons, exclusivity ranking right up there near the top.
If my story has inspired you to rush out to your local collector car dealership and pick up a ‘57 Lincoln Premier, expect to pay roughly $20,000.00 for a four door sedan in show quality condition... $25,000.00 for a four door hardtop... $30,000.00 for a coupe and $50,000.00 plus for a convertible– this according to the current copy of the Old Cars Price Guide.
The Lincoln would seem to be a bargain when compared to comparable (if that’s possible) ‘57 Bel Airs.
Prices for comparable bodied Chevies run $23,000.00; $24,000.00; $77,500.00 and $114,500.00 respectively!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to ‘dis’ the ‘57 Bel Air, but after paying all that money, you’re far more likely to see a sister Chevy at the local car show than you would another ‘57 Lincoln in the same surroundings. Of course the real trick will be finding one. A flip through of the latest issue of Auto Trader’s Classic Cars & Parts turned up nary a single ‘57 Lincoln, but the same mag listed no less than thirty-nine ‘57 Chevrolets! Hm-m-m... strange how close that figure is to the 36.8:1 production ratio of Chevy to Lincoln. Good luck!
If you’d like more information on the ‘57 Premier, or for that matter, Lincolns in general, contact the Lincoln and Continental Owners Club at www.lcoc.org. Lincoln ownership is not a requirement for membership and these national clubs provide a wealth of information from history to repair advice and parts suppliers.
*Information on 1957 consumer goods prices obtained from ‘Heartbeats 1 & 2, Fifties and Sixties.’
Trivia Questions (answers below)
Lincoln Eight Premiere Trivia Questions of the Week:
1. Twenty-four states have cities or towns named Lincoln, and one state has three. How many can you name and what state has three?
2. Who received ‘best actor’ award for his role in the 1957 movie The King and I?
3. The maiden flight of a new, four-engined Boeing jetliner took place on December 20, 1957. What was the model name of this new jet?
4. I’m sure you’ve “heard the story of the hot rod race, where the Fords and Lincolns were settin’ the pace”. Written by Charlie Ryan, the ‘Hot Rod Lincoln’ song first appeared in 1955 and was an adaptation of a 1951 hit called ‘Hot Rod Race,’ written and performed by Arkie Shibley and his Mountain Dew Boys. Ryan performed the 1955 hit as part of a group called ‘Charlie Ryan and The Livingston Brothers.’ (I know, I don’t remember them either.) A 1960 release by Johnny Bond recording on the Republic Records label also made the top hits charts. The most well known and recognized version, however, was performed in 1972? Do you remember who performed the seventies version? HRL is also a signature song for a Texas-based western swing band. Do you know their name?
5. September 4, 1957 was proclaimed ‘E Day’ by the Ford Motor Company. What was the meaning of the term ‘E Day’? (You car folks can get this. Think about it.)
6. Who was president of the United States in 1957?
7. March 13, 1957 – The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested a well-known labor leader and charged him with bribery. What was the name of this infamous organized labor leader who would eventually go missing, never to be found? Can you name the year that he was declared missing and in what town he was last seen?
8. What did a first class stamp cost in 1957?
1. Twenty-four states have cities or towns named Lincoln, and one state has three. How many can you name and what state has three?
2. Who received ‘best actor’ award for his role in the 1957 movie The King and I?
3. The maiden flight of a new, four-engined Boeing jetliner took place on December 20, 1957. What was the model name of this new jet?
4. I’m sure you’ve “heard the story of the hot rod race, where the Fords and Lincolns were settin’ the pace”. Written by Charlie Ryan, the ‘Hot Rod Lincoln’ song first appeared in 1955 and was an adaptation of a 1951 hit called ‘Hot Rod Race,’ written and performed by Arkie Shibley and his Mountain Dew Boys. Ryan performed the 1955 hit as part of a group called ‘Charlie Ryan and The Livingston Brothers.’ (I know, I don’t remember them either.) A 1960 release by Johnny Bond recording on the Republic Records label also made the top hits charts. The most well known and recognized version, however, was performed in 1972? Do you remember who performed the seventies version? HRL is also a signature song for a Texas-based western swing band. Do you know their name?
5. September 4, 1957 was proclaimed ‘E Day’ by the Ford Motor Company. What was the meaning of the term ‘E Day’? (You car folks can get this. Think about it.)
6. Who was president of the United States in 1957?
7. March 13, 1957 – The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested a well-known labor leader and charged him with bribery. What was the name of this infamous organized labor leader who would eventually go missing, never to be found? Can you name the year that he was declared missing and in what town he was last seen?
8. What did a first class stamp cost in 1957?
A. $0.01
B. $0.03
C. $0.07
D. $0.11
E. $0.14
(answers below)
Trivia Answers
Lincoln Eight Premiere Trivia Answers of the Week:
1. Twenty-four states have cities or towns named Lincoln, and one state has three. How many can you name and what state has three?
2. Who received ‘best actor’ award for his role in the 1957 movie The King and I?
Yul Brynner
3. The maiden flight of a new, four-engined Boeing jetliner took place on December 20, 1957. What was the model name of this new jet?
Boeing 707
4. I’m sure you’ve “heard the story of the hot rod race, where the Fords and Lincolns were settin’ the pace”. Written by Charlie Ryan, the ‘Hot Rod Lincoln’ song first appeared in 1955 and was an adaptation of a 1951 hit called ‘Hot Rod Race,’ written and performed by Arkie Shibley and his Mountain Dew Boys. Ryan performed the 1955 hit as part of a group called ‘Charlie Ryan and The Livingston Brothers.’ (I know, I don’t remember them either.) A 1960 release by Johnny Bond recording on the Republic Records label also made the top hits charts. The most well known and recognized version, however, was performed in 1972? Do you remember who performed the seventies version? HRL is also a signature song for a Texas-based western swing band. Do you know their name?
Hot Rod Lincoln was a big hit for Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen in the year 1972. It is the signature song for the Texas western swing band Asleep at The Wheel.
5. September 4, 1957 was proclaimed ‘E Day’ by the Ford Motor Company. What was the meaning of the term ‘E Day’? (You car folks can get this. Think about it.)
September 4, 1957 was introduction day for Ford Motor Company’s Edsel
6. Who was president of the United States in 1957?
Dwight D. Eisenhower served as U.S. president from January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961. What was his middle name? (Answer at end of trivia answers.)
7. March 13, 1957 – The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested a well-known labor leader and charged him with bribery. What was the name of this infamous organized labor leader who would eventually go missing, never to be found? Can you name the year that he was declared missing and in what town he was last seen?
The FBI arrested and charge Jimmy Hoffa with bribery on March 13, 1957. He would be arrested again years later, but he disappeared on July 30, 1975 at the age of 62. He was last seen in Bloomfield Township, Michigan.
8. What did a first class stamp cost in 1957?
1. Twenty-four states have cities or towns named Lincoln, and one state has three. How many can you name and what state has three?
AlabamaWhat state has THREE towns named Lincoln... I’ll bet you thought it was Illinois, right? Not so. The distinction belongs to the state of California.
Arkansas
California
Delaware
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Maine
Massachusetts
Michigan
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska (state capital)
New Hampshire
New Mexico
New York
North Dakota
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Texas
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
2. Who received ‘best actor’ award for his role in the 1957 movie The King and I?
Yul Brynner
3. The maiden flight of a new, four-engined Boeing jetliner took place on December 20, 1957. What was the model name of this new jet?
Boeing 707
4. I’m sure you’ve “heard the story of the hot rod race, where the Fords and Lincolns were settin’ the pace”. Written by Charlie Ryan, the ‘Hot Rod Lincoln’ song first appeared in 1955 and was an adaptation of a 1951 hit called ‘Hot Rod Race,’ written and performed by Arkie Shibley and his Mountain Dew Boys. Ryan performed the 1955 hit as part of a group called ‘Charlie Ryan and The Livingston Brothers.’ (I know, I don’t remember them either.) A 1960 release by Johnny Bond recording on the Republic Records label also made the top hits charts. The most well known and recognized version, however, was performed in 1972? Do you remember who performed the seventies version? HRL is also a signature song for a Texas-based western swing band. Do you know their name?
Hot Rod Lincoln was a big hit for Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen in the year 1972. It is the signature song for the Texas western swing band Asleep at The Wheel.
5. September 4, 1957 was proclaimed ‘E Day’ by the Ford Motor Company. What was the meaning of the term ‘E Day’? (You car folks can get this. Think about it.)
September 4, 1957 was introduction day for Ford Motor Company’s Edsel
6. Who was president of the United States in 1957?
Dwight D. Eisenhower served as U.S. president from January 20, 1953 – January 20, 1961. What was his middle name? (Answer at end of trivia answers.)
7. March 13, 1957 – The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested a well-known labor leader and charged him with bribery. What was the name of this infamous organized labor leader who would eventually go missing, never to be found? Can you name the year that he was declared missing and in what town he was last seen?
The FBI arrested and charge Jimmy Hoffa with bribery on March 13, 1957. He would be arrested again years later, but he disappeared on July 30, 1975 at the age of 62. He was last seen in Bloomfield Township, Michigan.
8. What did a first class stamp cost in 1957?
A. $0.01President Eisenhower’s middle name was David.
B. $0.03
C. $0.07
D. $0.11
E. $0.14
Content copyright . Bruce Kunz. All rights reserved.
