1956 Lincoln Premiere: One-Owner Survivor in All-Original Pink

The Premiere was introduced in 1956 as a full-size option below the range-topping Continental and was retired after the 1960 model year. The Premiere was a short-lived model that was eclipsed by the finer Continental. It is no longer popular among old vehicle aficionados. But it’s one of the prettiest full-size automobiles manufactured in the mid-to-late 1950s, in my opinion.

While not as opulent as the Continental, the Premiere had a more contemporary look and immediately established itself as a strong rival to the Cadillac Series 62, Imperial Crown Coupe, and Packard Patrician. And, like the Capri, it was greatly influenced by futuristic concept vehicles of the time, such as the Mercury XM-800 and the Lincoln Futura. This first-year premiere in pink exemplifies how stunning this full-size is.

This one-owner 1956 Lincoln is likewise an all-original survivor with matching numbers. And it is becoming more unusual these days, with many premieres from the period abandoned in junkyards or left to rust in barns. How did it survive in such good shape for over 60 years?

It’s been spoiled from day one. It has only been parked in a garage while not in use, and it has never been in an accident. Not only is the body straight as an arrow, but the Island Coral and Starmist White finishes look great as well. And, sure, the factory paint is still on this automobile.

Is it flawless? No! It has some corrosion around the wheel arches and some fading paint, but it’s by far the best-looking Premiere survivor I’ve seen in a long time. Aside from slight wear and tear on the front seats, the interior is in good condition. And the lack of fractures on the dashboard is a welcome surprise. And, to say the least, the pink, black, and white color scheme is stunning.

Under the hood, the engine is definitely of the numbers-matching sort. The Premier was only available with a 368-cubic-inch (6.0-liter) Y-block V8 in 1956 and 1957, so that’s what you’ll get. When it was new, the engine was rated at 275 horsepower and came with a three-speed automatic transmission.

The engine starts and runs, but the vendor claims it “smokes a bit” and suggests new gas, a tune-up, and an oil change. That is to be expected from a 66-year-old automobile that hasn’t been driven in a long time.