In the early-1950s, while Cadillac was setting style trends with airplane-inspired fins and "Dagmar" bumpers, Lincoln was quietly sweeping its class in the Carrera Panamerica. Lincolns of that era were swift and handsome but clean to the point of being benign. However, by 1956, a brand-new Lincoln made subtlety a thing of the past. Influenced by the 1954 Mercury X-800 and 1955 Lincoln Futura show cars, the 1956 Lincoln finally gave luxury buyers a stylish alternative to the Cadillac juggernaut. Offering 285 horsepower from a new 368ci V8 with "Turbo-Drive" automatic and a wheelbase that grew three inches to 126, the 1956 Lincoln was a car that embraced Atomic-era futurism at its finest. The nation's car buyers agreed, spiking production to over 50,000 units – an improvement of over 85% from 1955.

The Premiere series debuted for 1956 as the new top-line model (the Mark II was under the Continental banner) and pushed the Capri down a notch. Available as a sleek two-door coupe, dignified four-door sedan, and convertible, the Premiere (and Capri too) came standard with power seats, windows, braking, and Push-Button Lubrication. Optional air condition positioned an air inlet over each door. With a base price of $4747, the Premiere convertible was not cheap, but it was more than half the price of the Mark II. At that price and with only 2,447 built, exclusivity was guaranteed. For 1957, Lincoln added "QuadraLite" headlamps to become (along with Nash and certain Chrysler products) the first car to feature quad headlights. Tweaked rear fenders with soaring fins were also new. In contrast, embracing trendiness at the expense of subtlety shows how superb the 1956 Lincoln really is.

This black and red 1956 Lincoln Premiere convertible exemplifies everything that makes the brand stand out from Cadillac's shadow: Sleek, show-car looks, regal presence, and opulent luxury. Part of a prominent Texas collection, this Lincoln is ready for your ego adjustment – just hop in and you'll own the road for eternity.

Without reserve