The 1956-57 Capri borrowed its look from two space-age show cars, the Mercury XM-800 and the Lincoln Futura — Lincoln chasing the Space Race on a production sedan.
Lead trim: Capri 368 cu in Lincoln Y-block V8 (285 hp, 1956) · up to 300 hp
Lincoln Capri1956–1957
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Lincoln Capri yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactThe 1956-57 Capri borrowed its look from two space-age show cars, the Mercury XM-800 and the Lincoln Futura — Lincoln chasing the Space Race on a production sedan.
For 1956 the Capri shared a division-wide restyling and gained the new 285 hp 368 cu in (6.0 L) Lincoln Y-Block V8 (four-barrel carburetor, 9:1 compression), with an all-new 12-volt electrical system to cope with the proliferation of power accessories. It moved down-market to become Lincoln's entry-level model as the newly introduced Premiere based on it became the upper Lincoln-branded model; the convertible disappeared from the range. On a 126.0 in wheelbase (223.0 in long in 1956 and 224.6 in in 1957, 79.9 and 80.3 in wide, 60.0 and 60.2 in high, 4,500–4,700 lb) with the 3-speed Turbo-Drive automatic, its appearance borrowed from the Mercury XM-800 and Lincoln Futura concept cars. Sales dropped to 8,791 in 1956 (hardtop Sport Coupe US$4,119; total Capri and Premiere production 50,322) and 5,900 in 1957 despite the addition of a four-door landau hardtop. 1957 introduced a driving light below the sealed beam giving the look of stacked dual headlights, more pronounced fins and a new camshaft that boosted output to 300 hp (the page also says the camshaft did not raise compression, so no compression ratio is entered); total 1957 Capri and Premiere production was 41,123. There were 20 colors and 34 two-tone selections for 1956, and 76 two-tone and 18 single-color selections for 1957.
Collectors Spotted in the Lincoln Capri Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Lincoln Capri yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
2 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capri 368 cu in Lincoln Y-block V8 (285 hp, 1956) | 1956–1956 | 6.0 L V8 | 285 hp | 402 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
| Capri 368 cu in Lincoln Y-block V8 (300 hp, 1957) | 1957–1957 | 6.0 L V8 | 300 hp | 415 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
This Capri was one of the largest cars Lincoln ever built — bigger than the Cadillacs and Imperials it competed with, with styling even its own era called excessive.
The 1956-57 Capri borrowed its look from two space-age show cars, the Mercury XM-800 and the Lincoln Futura — Lincoln chasing the Space Race on a production sedan.
The Capri wasn’t just a showroom cruiser — it raced in the Pan American Road Race’s stock car class from 1952 to 1954, sweeping first through fourth in 1952 and 1953, then first and second in the race’s final year.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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