The Gawker Overlords have so far refused to buy us an Official Jalopnik Vehicle, no matter how much we've tried to convince them that something like a Citröen SM or Tatra 603 would give us such unassailable credibility that our competitors would simply fold their tents and go home. Now we've found what may be the perfect car for the NorCal Jalopnik office (which, conveniently enough, has just one employee):
this 1954 Lincoln Capri built to full Panamericana specs, a throwback to the era when you could utter the words "Lincoln" and "race car" in the same sentence and not confuse your listeners. A steal at $27,500! You listening, Overlords? [Craigslist Orange County; go here if ad disappears]













Comments
Needs more cowbell.
The Overlords might have a lead on a Nissan GT-R motor you could swap into the Lincoln and save its 317 from potential hoonage damage!
An awsome find! The one, the only, "Hot Rod Lincoln!"
All you would have to do is keep that pesky Alain de Cadanet from sneaking up and doing an hour long documentary about it.
@smokeydog001: Wow! Really?
I'd always pictured a Malaise aircraft carrier of a Lincoln floating down the highway at ludicrus speed.
A 460/365 backed up with a C6 from a Mark III would fit nicely in there.
The black steelies are perfection.
@voodoojoo: yeah but you have to admit you love the engine sounds on that show
By all means, MM, get the Gawker Overlords in line on this one. But please! There's a whiff of political correctness here that any Jalopniki should be ashamed of. "Panamericana specs"??? Please! These were known and loved as the "Mexican Road Race" Lincolns. We all followed their triumphs in Hot Rod and Motor Trend. That was back when those front "bullet" bumper guards were known as Dagmars, after the busty TV personality of the same name. 1954 was the last year of the Mexican Road Races and I recall the '54 Lincolns won their class (International Stock) that year. These '52-3-4 Lincolns had a new ohv engine (goodbye Ford flathead) that was pretty amazing, even outdoing the Chrysler hemis in output per cube. I kinda' remember the numbers on the doors being a little larger, but this thing looks way authentic. They were impressive looking cars when wearing their regular chrome Detroit suits, too. Understated luxury. Classy in a PanAmerican sort of way.
Oh come now Murilee; do you really think you could get all the Jalopnik to agree on which car should be the Official Staff Car?
This isn't the dot-com era. The best they'd probably spring for would be the Mark-7-achero from last week.
Tribute Cars, much like Tribute Bands give you most of the experience, at a fraction of the cost.
Cool car.
oh come on. if you are going to buy a car built to panamericana specs its gotta be that green DS on craigslist I pointed out a while ago. hot rod lincoln is cool but seriously, its go no hydraulic suspension!?!?
@smokeydog001: I think Comander Cody's Hot Rod Lincoln was a Model A with Lincoln power.
This definitely qualifies as an hot rod Lincoln, however.
@Eldorado: I'd want to see the list of parts from Bill Stroppe's shop before I'd confer "PanAmericana" spec status on this particular Lincoln.
While I'm not old enough to have followed the race in Hot Rod and Motor Trend, I've always had a thing for the original Carrera race cars. It's the bilingual, old-school stock car liveries, with Sinclair dinosaurs, anthromorphic cockroaches and Evita Peron's face, that make my pants fit funny.
The owner of Carrera Shocks here in Atlanta used to have a Panamerica Lincoln that he ran in the revival events. He had little postcards pritned up describing the car. It told how he was able to take 300lbs of weight out of the BUMPERS. I think his basically had a Rousch Nascar motor in it. With the two speed rear end it was quoted at being able to do some insane top speed 180 or 200. this car was from the early 90's/late 80's. I remember seeing the car in the late 90's parked and wasting away at some guys shop next to his house along with his short track stock cars.
@Scroggzilla: Looks like it's been outfitted to run the increasingly popular re-enactment event. If the Gawker Overlords do give approval, then the buyer is morally obligated to go to Mexico and do battle.
What's great about this race is that it commands such respect. It was probably the most dangerous race out there for the few years it was held (it was about as long as the Appalachian Trail), and even today's recreations make the Mille Miglia look like a kiddie parade.
@thunder: No, which is why the oldest Jalop (me) gets to choose it!
I had a chance to drive a '51 Lincoln Cosmopolitan that had run the Carrera. It was awesome. I think it owned me since I was not worthy to drive it for the weekend. I also wished I used the external speakers for impromptu parades. You should get this car.
Could the Overlords be sold on a '92 Town Car with P71 suspension and the engine from a Mark VIII?
Who says luxury barges can't be go-fast!
@brandegee: Agreed. Even when you crashed out you weren't safe. Like the time Carroll Shelby t-boned a rock with factory-backed Austin Healey 100/6....broken arm, in shock, stranded at roadside in the heart of B.F.E., along comes a couple of Indians who proceed to give him home made tequila.
I'm no doctor, but that home brew probably wasn't the right perscription for ol Shel at that moment. On the otherhand, I'm sure it took the edge off.
Like we wouldn't all tune in for some first hand coverage of La Carrera...
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