Buzz
The 1955 Lincoln design retained elements from previous years but introduced modern enhancements.The 1955 Lincoln Capri models were nearly new, despite using body designs that had been around for three seasons. Alongside minor exterior updates, these Lincolns featured a completely revamped powertrain.
Lincoln expanded its overhead-valve V-8 engine's displacement from 317.5 to 341 cubic inches. This increase, combined with a new high-lift camshaft, standard dual exhausts, and a compression ratio boost to 8.5:1, resulted in nearly 10 percent more power compared to the 1954 model.
The upgraded "Fleet-Power" engine delivered 225 horsepower at 4,400 rpm and 332 pound-feet of torque at 2,500 rpm. Replacing the General Motors-sourced Hydra-Matic transmission, Lincoln introduced its first in-house automatic, the Turbo-Drive. This system featured a torque converter and three planetary gears, allowing for low-gear starts when the accelerator was fully pressed. The new powertrain enabled the 1955 Lincoln, weighing over two tons, to reach 60 mph in just 12 seconds.
The front design was updated with a horizontal-bar grille, while the headlights were stylishly hooded to reflect the era. At the back, the car's length was accentuated by rear-slanting fender tips. The bodyside sculpting, previously prominent on the rear quarters of 1952-1954 Lincolns, was now streamlined to the lower body and angled sharply forward.
Certain elements of the Lincoln design were retained. The 1955 models maintained the 123-inch wheelbase and featured the same ball-joint independent front suspension, praised for its handling and famously used in the "Road Race Lincolns" that excelled in Mexico's Carrera Panamericana.
Despite the upgrades, Lincoln experienced a sales decline in 1955, a year that saw remarkable success for the broader automotive industry. Production for the model year fell to 27,222 units, a 26 percent decrease from the previous year. (Even the 1952 models, produced under Korean War-related government restrictions, exceeded this number by 49 cars.)
Only 1,487 of the 1955 Capri models were convertibles. In late 1996, Tom Griffith of Madison, Wisconsin, acquired one of these rare vehicles.
Tom bought the car shown here in the Chicago area. Although it was in its original state, he noted that aside from the body and engine, "the rest of the car was disassembled and stored in boxes."
The restored vehicle features several accessories, including road lamps installed in front-bumper pods, dual spotlights, door-handle shields, and a locking fuel-filler cap. The exterior is painted in Cashmere Coral, while the interior, adorned with leather upholstery, combines Cashmere Coral with Ermine White.
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