BF Auction: 1959 Lincoln Premiere Hardtop
With only 4,606 examples rolling off the line in Wixom, Michigan, the 1959 Lincoln Premiere 4-Door Hardtop is a relatively rare beast. It combined all the luxury buyers expected from the marque but with surprising performance for a vehicle of its type and weight. Many of these classics have succumbed to old age and rust, but this project car is a solid example. It would make an excellent restoration project for the right person, particularly if they like to sink back into its inviting, well-appointed interior as the world races past at an unrelenting pace. It is part of an extensive collection the owner is downsizing, so he has listed it exclusively with us at Barn Finds Auctions with No Reserve.
The owner purchased this Lincoln from an estate sale, discovering it is a solid vehicle. Returning it to its former glory should be straightforward, and with its Presidential Black paint shining like a mirror, it would attract crowds of admirers at a show or a Cars & Coffee. Its panels are straight, with no significant dings or dents. There are some rust spots, but well-crafted patches should address these without the buyer resorting to wholesale panel replacement. A couple of trim pieces are missing, and others would require a trip to the platers as part of any restoration. The passenger-side front window is cracked, but the remaining tinted glass is in good order.
Life aboard a Lincoln is meant to be luxurious, and this car is no exception. Few options were offered in 1959, meaning they were well-equipped when they rolled off the line. This Premiere’s new owner receives air conditioning, power windows, a four-way power front seat, an electronic headlamp dipper, and a Town & Country radio. The Red and Black interior trim is distinctive and classy, with items like the door trims and dash needing nothing but a clean to present acceptably for a drive-grade restoration. The seats appear to have worn protective plastic covers most of their life, and removing the covers to expose the original upholstery might produce a pleasant surprise. One thing that is beyond help is the carpet. This might be a prestige car, but replacement carpet won’t cost the winning bidder a premium price. Complete kits for under $200 are typical and would lift the interior enormously.
The 1959 Premiere is a surprise packet for those who slip behind the wheel. At 5,222 lbs, it isn’t what most people would consider light. Therefore, it required something special under the hood if progress was to be anything but glacial. Lincoln came to the party with its 430ci V8. It sent 350hp to the rear wheels via a three-speed automatic transmission, with standard features of power steering and brakes. The drivetrain combination allowed the Premiere to blast through the ¼-mile in 17.1 seconds, with 124mph in reach for those willing to keep the pedal to the metal. Most buyers were less concerned about the car’s outright performance than its ability to devour the miles effortlessly. This beauty could do that and should cruise happily on the freeway at 70mph all day. The Lincoln ran when the owner purchased it, although it had some bent pushrods. He went out to buy replacements and received a nasty surprise by the time he returned to his workshop. An employee ignored his instructions, pulling and dismantling the engine against the owner’s express wishes. I am unsurprised that the person in question was shown the door immediately. The 430 has never been reassembled, but everything is present and included in the sale. The owner raises the idea of an electric conversion, and with kits readily available that produce 1,000hp, it would make an already quiet car almost eerie.
Tackling a restoration project like this 1959 Lincoln Premiere may seem overwhelming, but potential buyers shouldn’t feel that way. Their construction and drivetrain components are no more complicated than any other classic from the era. It’s just there is more steel to sand and prepare for a repaint. However, returned to its former glory, it will provide a wonderful motoring experience isolated from the outside world. I can’t think of a better reason to bid.
- Location: East Point, Georgia
- Mileage: TMU
- Engine: 430ci V8
- Transmission: Automatic
- VIN: 963P165281
- Title Status: Bill of Sale
Bid On This Auction
Pud0043 bid $1,700.00 2023-05-22 11:31:28
Jag bid $1,300.00 2023-05-22 11:30:44- Pud0043 bid $1,200.00 2023-05-22 11:28:27
- Jag bid $1,000.00 2023-05-22 11:27:41
- Pud0043 bid $900.00 2023-05-20 06:46:38
Dr George Tompkins bid $755.00 2023-05-20 05:04:50- Pud0043 bid $600.00 2023-05-17 19:08:12
gt bid $500.00 2023-05-17 02:11:34
Hauser Weiler bid $400.00 2023-05-15 19:51:01
johnny41164 bid $300.00 2023-05-15 12:08:12
Da_realblkninja bid $200.00 2023-05-15 11:48:01- johnny41164 bid $100.00 2023-05-15 10:12:53
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Comments
Looking at the photo of the left front wheel area, I can see all the way thru to the other side of the car, so it looks like the former employee pulled the entire engine.
Noooooo electric conversion imo.Cool car though.Glwts.
To afraid to show under the hood huh?. Hard pass
Did you not read that the engine was removed by an employee who was then fired? There is not much to see under the hood except a big hole.
Long ago late 1980s the exact twin of this one sat neglected in a tiny parking spot behind an apartment building that was accessed by a narrow alleyway about two blocks from Grace Cathedral atop Nob Hill in San Francisco. How had such a colossal machine been maneuvered into such an obscure, tiny space and why? I can only speculate that it had once belonged to the Episcopal church (the Cathedral) and was used to transport senior clergy, VIPs and dignitaries who were constantly coming and going. It looks fit for a King or The Pope. Grace cathedral home to the Episcopal church and part of the greater Anglican church, has long been one of the seats of real power in San Francisco and home to a who’s who of the movers and shakers who built the state since the Gold Rush. Further speculation leads me to believe that only Jesus Christ himself could have parked that Lincoln in that spot. The last time I looked, about 10 years ago, it had disappeared. Getting it out must have been a treat considering all the tires were flat.
These are extraordinary symbols of Cold War era American prestige during the transition from Eisenhower to Kennedy and just like the nuclear weaponry of the day, not suitable for every day use in a crowded city.
I once was acquainted with a notorious collector back in the 1970s who tried to parlay his spectacular economic success speculating upon exotic coach built Delahays, Delages and similar exotics among the Pebble Beach folks by trying to corner the market on 57-59 Lincolns especially the convertibles by buying every nice original example and parts stash justifying the money spent on his “hunch” that these were going to be “the next big thing” and he was going to be the man in the right place with the right stuff when the universe aligned.
The universe was not listening. He went bankrupt and had the onerous job to unload all this stuff that no one wanted or rather no one was willing to pay what he had invested. The big problem he had was the same fundamental problem they still have. They are too damn big. He was spending a fortune on garages and storage for them. Because he had assembled a collection of pristine originals they could not be left outdoors to deteriorate. He needed secure, climate controlled storage and it sucked him dry. It may have been what killed him finally. That and the heavy smoking. I don’t think he ever unloaded all of it and his kids probably sent the remainder to the junk yard. There’s some hard lessons here. The “Peter Principle” is real and just because you know Bill Harrah don’t try to be Bill Harrah unless you have the resources of a Bill Harrah
From the era when Lincoln tried to out-Cadillac Cadillac so hard that they forgot to make the cars attractive. An electric conversion is intriguing, especially considering that customers complained of poor fuel economy (even at 1959 gas prices) frequently enough that Lincoln switched to a 2-barrel carb for 1960.
I’ve always had a like for some of the Lincolns, and a “ugh” for other Lincolns… this one is an “ugh”.
I took my driving test in one of these in 1964. My mother’s car. She loved it. We showed her how to burn rudder especially when she was mad a dad.
She had the model with the rear electric window which was cool, except that my dog once decide to take a walk on the trunk while driving. That was a bit scary. Like driving a boat because it is so heavy.
breezeway window Fomoco called it.They were neat.
Ya have to look beyond the condition of the car today and recall the beautiful flowing lines of the biggest production car ever made in America. A true gas guzzling, fire breathing, smoke belching monster of better days in the automotive business.I’ve owned a couple of these sleds but not a 59 although they were all built the same.This would be an easy restoration and reassembling the engine will be a snap once you locate the missing or damaged parts. I got mine from Egg in California I think. Do keep the original engine and get it rebuilt if you can’t do it yourself and everything else too.Much cheaper to rebuild the old parts than to try and find newer stuff that also doesn’t work well. I’d watch this one closely and buy it it if the price doesn’t go over 3 to 4k. You’ll never buy a better car.
Would be helpful if they posted a photo of the data plate on the driver’s door hinge pillar and we could see the real serial number of this car rather than the bogus number posted. Makes one wonder what else is amiss with this rare Lincoln?
Wow, gonna sell for less than a grand? Bargain!
The front of this car would scare the heck out of Christine!
You will need a detachable goose neck to move it.cool car
When moving this car be sure to remember that it’s twenty feet long, 7’6″” wide and tips the scales at about 5000 pounds.It will just barely fit on a standard roll on-Roll off truck flat bed. It’ll hang over the back end a couple of feet but you can get it onboard with enough room to chain it down really good. It will make a ro-ro top heavy too. The rear bumper will drag the ground as the car is winched up on the deck before tilting it forward. Without the engine installed the back bumper will keep the car from being winched up without damaging it.
Last but not least remember that the car is of unibody construction. It can only be lifted by using the jack pads under the car without twisting the whole body. One bad twist and the car can never be straightened again. Relatively minor accidents caused insurance companies to total many of these cars since they can’t be fixed once they are bent. I still love these old sleds and I wish I had a place to put this one and the time to work on it. They can be dangerous but once you sit behind the wheel with that big 430 running you’ll never be happy sticking your foot into the firewall after goosing one of these behemoths. The power behind that engine is huge and you’ll never forget the first time you “go for a ride.
i live in california.If i buy cars on barnfinds can it be delivered?
Hi Luis, you would need to get it shipped. Our broker can get you a quote on what it would cost. Give Dakota a call at (971) 246-6601 and be sure to give him promo code barnfinds22.
No problem with delivery as log as the buyer pays for it.
This Lincoln will be a great buy for someone. Wish it could be me.
How long is the wheelbase on the car? Not the car’s over all length.
I wanted to know so that I could see if my trailer was long enough to carry the car. I once went and the way to Great Falls MT to pick up a BB Ford truck that I was assured was 132 inches. Which would fit my trailer. When I got there from Florida it was 157 inches, 18 inches longer than the trailer floor. Had to carry it 2500 miles with the rear wheels setting on the loading ramps pulled out under the wheels.
The seller just sent me a photo of the car’s engine sitting on the stand.
Looks ok to me. They all look that way until they get rebuilt. Take the water pump off and remove the two small thermostats that go to each head. You don’t need them any more. Do replace the diverter with a new one and the t-stat too. Also replace the freeze plugs in the whole block. Some you can’t get to with the engine installed and hooked up. Don’t forget the plugs under the intake manifold. This will all be done anyway if you have the engine rebuilt. By all means rebuild THIS engine so you will have the original power. Replace the starter before installing the engine as you usually have to loosen the engine and jack it up to get the old starter out. The exhaust pipes are in the way.
Pud0043 you now possess a really great car for an extraordinary low price. The car is worth about 4k as it is. Buy a service manual printed by Ford for this car. It tells you everything you need to know about the car. If you need any advice please let me know. I’ll be glad to help any way I can.
The reputation these Lincolns have are usually pretty negative. To big, to hard to Park, and too expensive to operate. Yes, they are huge, and had over the top styling, even for the late 50s. But, I have always liked them. The closer you look at them the more there is to like about them. A lot of cool features that were ahead of their time, and still are today. They were beautiful and elegant, comfortable to ride in and had plenty of power even by today’s standards. As far as their bad reputation, they definitely have held a place in automotive history. If you watch movies and TV shows produced in the late 50s, these Lincolns are featured when the scene was of upper class settings, and they were used a lot and photographed well. These Lincolns out numbered Cadillacs and Imperials in the media It was Lincolns like this one that that represented money. I wish I had one today. This one needs a lot of work to return it to it’s full glory, and if I had the time, money, and the place to keep it ( I’m thinking dry dock) I would love to take it on. Good luck to who is able to make this happen. You won’t regret it.
I never could understand the negative reputation these cars had. I always liked them from day one when I was a kid. A few years ago I came across a web site that showed the history of Lincoln in picture. It started with the first car and went all the way through each year to the most recent product. When it came to 58,59 &60, all three years were missing. It was a shock to me and like those three years never existed. There was no explanation either They just weren’t there at all. Fortunately for me I was able to own three of them over time and was able to learn a lot about them and ride in pure luxury for many years.