Mario's Tribute to 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis Concept Car

1 The 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis concept car was created by Carrozzeria Boano of Italy, using the chassis, and running gear from the 1955 Lincoln.

2 The only time it was shown to the public as a new concept study was at the 1955 Turin Motor Show in Italy.

3 The 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis was meant to be a design study only, so Boano felt free to indulge himself.

4 1955 Lincoln 5.6 L 341ci V8 engine 255hp Torque 332 lb⋅ft mated to a four-speed automatic transmission.

5 The black and white upholstery interior is clean, the dashboard rather thin, and the instruments were hidden under rotating panels.

6 The interior is nicely evocative of the shapes outside, with the color-matched metal dash shape flowing right from outside to inside, a design feature that extends to the door panels.

7 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis debuted at the 1955 Turin Motor Show in Italy.

8 The Indianapolis was finished in time for the Turin show and, unsurprisingly, it was a big hit.

9 1955 Turin Motor Show, Italy.

10 Auto Age put it on the cover of its Nov 1955 issue with the caption “Is This the Next Lincoln”.

11 1955 Lincoln 5.6 L 341ci V8 engine 255hp Torque 332 lb⋅ft mated to a four-speed automatic transmission.

12 Three sawed-off (faux) exhaust outlets appeared behind the front fender in front of each door. The true exhaust exits beneath each taillight.

13 Most of the air ducts for the Lincoln Indy concept are below the beltline, which is a futuristic idea that would become quite popular in the 1990s.

14 Boano used the orange color seen on this concept in a couple of other design studies.

15 The greenhouse is perhaps the most recognizable design element, and was featured in one form or another on a number of Boano-bodied Ferraris.

16 The desire for miraculous styling direction and stunning concept cars led to all the non-GM American car brands to pair off with Italian styling houses.

17 During this flurry of deals, Ghia signed up with Chrysler, Bertone for Packard and Carrozerria Touring with Hudson.

18 Lincoln went with a less-renowned name of Felice Paolo to dress a rolling chassis with a coupe bodywork ahead of the Turin motor show.

19 The orange lacquer paint was barely dry on the 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis Exclusive Study by Carrozzeria Boano Torino when it was rolled onto the rotating platform of the Turin auto show.

20 This sporty coupe wears styling so unusual that its failure to inspire many Lincoln production cars is not unexpected.

21 Henry Ford II was in charge of the style template for the unloved Edsel nose, and also later became the owner of this concept.

22 There’s no delicate way to say it; Henry Ford II had weird taste in cars, and his idea of beauty did not resonate with the buying public.

23 This car was not a surprise. The drawings and look were undoubtedly approved by Ford management before being painstakingly created in steel.

24 The shutlines and panel of the fender flare nicely flows into the windshield graphic.

25 A halfhearted racing flag and minor chrome embellishment decorates the front and rear fenders.

26 But the really nice chrome detailing is in the coach builder’s badges.

27 A wide and featureless hood crown looks a bit like a UFO versus the wide and tall grilles that were typically worn by all cars of the era.

28 Combined with the broadly curved nose and hood were dual stacks of headlights inside tall fender corners.

29 Lining the top of the bumper area is a chrome mustache, and truly there does not seem to be enough bodywork to be a real automobile.

30 Sold for $1.21M at RM Sotheby’s Auction in Fort Worth TX in 2015 to a private collector where it remains today.