1953 Lincoln Capri Hardtop
If the story is true, it's pretty darned cool.
Reportedly, after leaving the Wayne, IN assembly plant (the 42nd car built in April of 53) this car was sent south to participate as a chase/support car in the 1953 Carrera Panamerica race in Mexico.
That year, Lincoln absolutely dominated, taking the first 4 places in class T and grabbing 7 of the top ten finishing spots.
While it's not reported that this car ran in the race, as a chase vehicle, it would have driven the paved roads between check points with gear, food and other possibly needed supplies.
Unfortunately we cannot verify that. The trail goes dry from Mexico, only knowing that along it's life, it ended up in CT in the early 90's when a Jim Dunn owned the car. It transferred through another owner before landing with it's current owner, who purchased it in 2015.
He was drawn in by the "fall into it deep" green metallic paint. While a factory correct shade ( 16-Palace Green metallic) the metal flake has been cranked up a notch. (Unfortunately, the sun went away before shooting the photos, the grey skies don't give the full affect, it is evident though in a few inside shots under the spot lights - there is also a green pearl laid into the white top color).
When the current owner bought it, it had several needs which he started to attend to, but some health issues and a few other projects took precedence and in the last 8 years has driven the car less than 100 miles. It has gone out several times a season but locally, 5-10 miles jaunts to a cruise night or car show.
One of the first issues he had was the non factory dual exhaust. It's tight route down the left side of the block kept it too close to the fuel line and it kept causing vapor lock.
He had the exhaust routed the correct way, up over the front of the engine and the car is now a single exhaust. It still has the second pipe so any future owner can go back to dual exhaust if they please. The accelerator pump in the carb may be failing as one needs to feather the gas pedal from a stop sign. Once moving though, it will accelerate well and sounds great.
Being a Lincoln, it was jam packed with luxury. Leather, power seats; power windows, power steering, power brakes (large drums all around), white wall tires wrapped around true wire wheels, 2 speed wipers, fog lights, and power antenna.
The biggest issues the car has are electrical. At his age, the owner can't even think about getting under the dash to address them, however, most are very probably connectivity problems.
The headlights and tail lights work, the power windows work as well, the passenger side better than the driver side. They are slow (still a 6V system) and finicky, sometimes choosing not to operate and then 15 minutes later, working as they should.
The power seat works as it should, as does the temp gauge, "battery" gauge, and temp gauge. The wipers are work occasionally, the lighter does not, the blinkers do not, the heat/fan does not work nor does the horn.
Some one comfortable with the old school electrical systems could probably have all these little things back up and operating in a weekend.
The starter works and fires the 317 V8 to life with ease. This engine produces over 200HP and up over 300 lb ft of torque. It runs well, aside from the aforementioned accelerator pump. It's attached to a GM Hyrdamtic 4 speed automatic transmission. It shifts as it should, a little clunky when cold. The brakes work but the pedal is very hard and it is believed there is an issue with the GM vacuum brake set up (not stock - which includes a small pressure tank)
Appearance wise, the paint shines beautifully with a couple small chips on each fender up near the hood, the chrome is in great condition (a few very small pits noticed during inspection), the interior is done in the original light green/dark green colors. The tops of the seats still in leather, the dark green feeling more like vinyl, but no tears or other issues.
It is known the car was restored at some point in it's life but unknown as to when that was, which included a rebuild of the engine. The odometer shows 5000 miles, true mileage is unknown.
Underneath, there is some minor surface corrosion on both suspension pieces and lower rockers, there are also a few small bubbles in the paint on the lower corner of each door.
Overall, the car looks awesome, drives, runs well and has a few electrical needs.
Someone who knows what they're doing and is physically capable, could probably have this car performing much better in just a weekend of work.
The current owner, who is admittedly no longer a spring chicken, has decided to whittle down some of the cars sitting in garages and just no longer has it in him to sort out the shortcomings.
The car also comes with three extra hoods and 4 additional fenders.
The asking price is $15,500.
Only 12K Lincoln Capris were made in 53, so you won't see a lot of them when out cruising or at the local cars and coffee.
Thank you for the interest!
Any questions, for several hundred additional photos and video, to schedule a time to see her in person or to make an offer, please don't hesitate to contact me.
