Lincoln created a dramatic new look in 1956 with the Premiere, abandoning the dated early-50s look of the road-race-winning Capris and going headlong into the future with the dramatic new design. The new car was seven inches longer and three inches wider than the car it replaced, but weight about the same, so performance remained impressive. A long list of standard equipment made it an appropriate competitor for Cadillac, and the styling has aged extremely well. Today, like many collectable Lincolns, the Premiere remains a fantastic bargain relative to its GM counterpart, allowing entry into this very exclusive club for a very modest investment.

This particular 1956 Lincoln Premiere sedan shows an amazing 11,522 original miles (not a misprint). Its early history is not known, but it spent a majority of its life in a museum in the southern US, and presents today in almost 100% original condition. The paint, interior, chrome and chassis are all circa 1956, and the only items that are not 56 years old are service items like tires, belts, hoses, and the battery.

Finished in Presidential Black, the long Lincoln looks elegant and sophisticated, and seems to eschew the glitz and glamour that would follow in subsequent years. The styling was heavily influenced by the Mercury XM-800 show car, and even the Lincoln Future, which many of us know as the famous Batmobile from the ‘60s TV series. The family resemblance is certainly uncanny, and Lincoln stylists gave the Premiere a forward-looking attitude that makes one of the most pure designs of the 1950s. Of course, as a survivor, this car shows a few signs of use and age, but the overall presentation is quite impressive. The black paint has a lustrous gloss that only vintage lacquer can achieve, and while there are a few bumps and bruises on its surface, there’s simply no call to restore or refinish any panel. There is absolutely no sign of rust anywhere, and not a single panel has been refinished or replaced during the car’s lifetime. It is a survivor in the strictest sense of the word.

While chrome was still a primary styling element, the Premiere used it judiciously, primarily on the heavy front and rear bumpers which are very neatly integrated into the overall look and not just tacked on as battering rams. The Premiere doesn’t have a grille per se, but the harmonious front end has a minimum of clutter and a fantastic look. The car’s length is emphasized by bright moldings along the lower edge of the body, all of which remain in excellent condition with no dings or road rash, and the fender skirts fit flush with no signs of rust in this trouble-prone area. Of note, the hood ornament is a bust of a knight’s helmet, anodized gold and fitted so as to appear to float, and a matching helmet on the deck lid serves as the keyhole cover when you flip up the knight’s face shield. All the glass, including the panoramic front and rear windshields, is in excellent condition with no scratches, cracks or even major signs of delamination.

The industry’s fascination with aircraft design and controls is evident inside, where the immaculate black and white leather interior was state-of-the-art in 1956. Equipment includes power windows with the controls mounted on the left edge of the dashboard, heat and defrost controlled by aircraft-style levers ahead of the speedometer, and a simply gorgeous steering wheel that’s a work of art in itself. Secondary controls for lights and wipers are located on a second tier and faced in textured stainless, giving the dashboard the look of a high-end watch. Everything is fully functional, including all four windows, the AM radio, and even the clock, which has merely been disconnected to prevent draining the battery while parked. All the markings and gauges are as new, with few signs of age. Seating surfaces are unblemished, although the white door panels show some light soiling that could be easily remedied with an afternoon’s worth of detail work. In back, there are limousine-like accommodations, including a lovely oversized ashtray that appears to have never been used. Carpets, headliner, door panels, and even the top of the dash are in exemplary condition thanks to years of careful care and storage.

The trunk has been reupholstered in black carpet, which is not correct nor original, but they were careful to retain the original mat underneath, and while a bit dirty and faded, remains in usable condition for HPOF showing and competition. A look under that mat reveals a completely rust-free original floor with exactly zero issues. The spare looks suitably old to be original, although I’m not sure Lincoln was using Dunlop tires, but it’s certainly possible, and a full jack assembly is included.

The Premiere uses a 368 cubic inch version of Ford’s newly developed Y-block V8 making a substantial 285 horsepower, which was more than enough to be competitive with the Cadillacs from across town. In fact, despite the substantial increase in size for 1956, the Premiere was the fastest Lincoln yet. The engine has been recently tuned, so it starts easily and idles with a muscular hum, and out on the open road the boundless reserves of torque make it feel as effortless as the QE2. Completely original aside from service items, the engine bay shows a high degree of authenticity and no evidence of rust or damage. Authentic finishes such as the turquoise paint on the block, proper plating on things like the power brake booster, and original wiring are all intact. It could perhaps use a good scrub and detail, but otherwise it shows quite well.

Interestingly enough, Lincoln was using a GM Hydramatic automatic transmission until 1955, when the all-new Turbo-Drive transmission was introduced. On this car, it clicks through the gears unobtrusively, and thanks to tall gearing out back it is a superlative highway cruiser, although you’ll have to get accustomed to its built-in tendency to start in second gear unless you really prod it (this is how the factory designed them, by the way), but once it’s up to speed, it is surprisingly quick and agile for such a big beast. Apparently all those years of road racing in Mexico taught the Lincoln engineers a few things about handling and performance. The ride is pillow soft on the highway, and it loafs along with only the wind whispering past the side mirrors reminding you that you you’re going 70 MPH. Braking is firm and adequate for the car’s performance, and the newer L78-15 Coker wide whitewalls look authentic.

The ’56 Premiere was so popular that even after the restyled ‘57s came out, buyers came to Lincoln showrooms looking for leftovers. Today, the understated elegant look is a wonderful contrast to much of the late ‘50s angularity and flash, and few cars have as commanding a presence as this one. Superbly preserved, ready to drive, show, and enjoy, this is an under-rated collectable that delivers everything its looks and reputation promise.