| What's New?
Major facelift, front and rear,
emphasizing dual headlights in vertical pairs, canted fins
. . . A four-door "landau" hardtop, new to the Lincoln
line . . . More power, smoother ride . . . Optional "power-directed"
differential and electric door locks . . . Standard Turbo-Drive
transmission, power steering and brakes.
Your Choice
Lincoln's two models, the Capri
and Premiere, are the same mechanically, differ on the inside
in trim details and quality of fabric. The more expensive
(by about $350) Premiere is factory-born with power windows
and front seat. If you want a convertible, it must be a Premiere
aIso. All other models are available in either form.
For some reason, the company
went to great lengths in redesigning their fourdoor sedan
in addition to bringing out the new landau. hardtop. Marketwise,
Cadillac looked around this year and dropped the "B"
post (between the two doors) entirely. Lincoln, on the other
hand, fixed up their sedan so that when the windows are closed,
you can't tell it from a hardtop.
The overdue landau, a true four-door
hardtop, costs more and is mounted on a heavier, stronger
frame to make up for lack of support from the body structure.
This is also true of the styles that make up the rest of the
line, the two-door hardtops and convertible.
Fine car choice (perhaps we should
say high-priced choice as practically every make qualifies
as "fine" nowadays) has narrowed down to three,
for the forthcoming new Packard won't be in this league. Whether
you choose a Lincoln, Imperial, or Cadillac seems to be either
a personal or business matter between you and yourself. All
three have reached present day ultimates in both luxury and
performance.
Lincoln Power
This year's engine seems -to
have needed very little attention to remain competitive. We'll
qualify that last word by stating that when power gets up
to 300 horse, the car is capable of winning races that shouldn't
be run on public highways. An extra 25 or 50 horsepower is
a purely academic bonus, nice to have but not worth paying
for if usage planned is normal. We don't think that Lincoln
will lose any sales because they don't advertise tops in horsepower.
Engine improvements revolve around
a 10 to I compression ratio for better economy on premium
fuels and a redesigned carburetor that is more resistant to
hot-weather loss of performance. The more you insulate an
engine compartment, the worse the "heat-soak" problem
becomes. Gasoline can literally boil in the carburetor bowl,
and Lincoln is one of the first to recognize this. A supply
of dry-ice might work, but an easier way is to provide for
a larger volume of fuel in the float chambers so that you
can't boil dry and be unable to restart a hot car.
Other commendable carburetor
feature is baffles to prevent fuel starvation in one bank
of cylinders, over-richness in the other, during high-speed
cornering. Like most '57 makes, Lincoln now uses a paperpack
air filter for better filtration and easier maintenance. A
new distributor completes the list of engine changes.
The Turbo-Drive (similar to Merc-
and Fordomatics) transmission has been worked around internally
for better durability, but operation is unchanged. You will
note a new radiator, mounted like a kangaroo carrying its
young on the main water radiator (see photo). This is to cool
transmission oil more efficiently.
Lincoln on the Road
From 1952 through 1954, no one
seriously questioned Lincoln's position as the top road car,
because for all three of those years in a row there was a
2000-plus mile road race, called the Carrera Panamericana,
which Lincoln won.
When the 1956 Lincoln came along,
with its new, softer-sprung chassis and elongated lines, enthusiasts
were inclined to doubt the breed. The argument is still going
on, for the 1957 Lincoln is also of the later mold. Unfortunately,
there is no longer a Mexican Road Race to prove its maker's
claims that the car will stick with and maybe pass any Lincoln
ever built on any kind of a road. In any case, you'll enjoy
the boulevard ride.
Inside Your Lincoln
Owners since 1951 will note a
familiar instrument panel, trademarked by the big horizontal
speedometer. Controls are all conveniently placed, and have
benefited from Ford Motor Co.'s exhaustive safety research.
Figures haven't been tallied
up this year, but we believe Lincoln is still near the top
in glass area, and therefore visibility. It is too bad the
company decided to compromise on their so-called quadraheadlight
system, which in reality is just a pair of regular sealed
beams augmented by foglamps. The installation was obviously
designed for the real thing; just as obviously there will
be a running changeover later in the year.
Useful interior gimmicks include
the electric door latches with a warning light should a door
come unlocked, and an outside rear view mirror that can be
adjusted from within. Upholstery, needless to say, is luxurious.
Why Buy?
Award-winning styling made even
more beautiful ... Smooth, quiet power from a well-proved
engine . . . Meticulous attention paid to insulating car and
occupants from road noise and shock . . . For the first time,
complete range of body styles.
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