1955 Lincoln Capri Special Custom 4-door Sedan

"There's something about Lincoln that no picture can capture — something that lies underneath its gleaming surface. And that's the way Lincoln feels when you drive it. At super highway speeds, there's an unbelievably smooth feeling. You almost think you're not moving at all, until the passing landscape, trees and telephone poles betray the fact that you're really traveling. This effortless ease cuts driving fatigue. Even after a long trip in a Lincoln, you feel fresh, relaxed. And it's unfair to talk about Lincoln without mentioning its Turbo-Drive. This has been called the most advanced improvement in no-shift driving in fifteen years. A few blocks of driving a Lincoln tells you why. With Turbo-Drive, there's no lag, no jerk. Just one sweep of utterly smooth, silent power, from start to super highway speed limits. Why not get a good, 'in person' look at America's really fine car at your Lincoln showroom? Your Lincoln salesman will be happy to let you drive it for yourself — and let you enjoy the greatest feeling you can ever get from behind the wheel of any car  . . .  anywhere."

Aside from a modern steering wheel, borrowed from a 1990s Chrysler Neon, this Lincoln Capri from Havana is in a remarkably good shape. The embellishment still shows its original golden hue, all the chrome trim is in place and, best of all, there is a mighty V-8 engine growling in the engine bay. That's not very common on Cuban roads today, but a Lincoln is a rather uncommon sight on the island, anyway.

When new in 1955, the Lincoln Capri was already in the final year of a four-year lifecycle and the next generation was being readied to get off the starting blocks in 1956. Yet, Lincoln didn't hesitate to spend money on a last extensive facelift. Reshaped rear fenders and "channeled" headlights should distract from the Lincoln's similarity to the lower priced Mercury, that had been all too obvious in the years before.

Yet, the Lincoln couldn't be mistaken for a Mercury on the open road: its mighty V-8 engine made sure that the pricey Lincoln remained the quicker car. For 1955, Lincoln implanted an all-new powertrain: the displacement of its V-8 engine rose from 317.5 cubic inches (5,203 ccm) to 341cid (5,588 ccm). Higher compression ratio and a new high-lift camshaft raised the output to 225hp, 10 percent more than the 205hp of 1954, and 15 percent more than the biggest available Mercury engine (195hp). The new "Turbo-Drive" automatic transmission replaced the "Hydra-Matic" that Lincoln had been buying from its competitor General Motors in previous years.

These technical improvements, however, didn't betray from the fact that this four year old Lincoln generation was an aging design. In a year of phenomenal sales industry-wide, just 27,222 Lincoln left the factory, more than a quarter less than in the previous year.

1960 Ford Taunus 17M DeLuxe P2

"Come see the car all America has wanted and waited for — the Taunus 17M! A precision-built economy car, the Taunus 17M is an easy-to-park, 'in between' size. Sturdy, safe and nimble in traffic, it carries the entire family in roomy comfort with up to 35 miles to a gallon for gas savings!

See the happy combination of German ingenuity and famous Ford economy: in the unique suspension system for a truly 'even keel' ride  . . .  in the fine German short-stroke engine  . . .  in the adjustable foam rubber seats and hydraulic safety brakes! You'll discover quickly that the Taunus has economy extras you've always wanted — plus many luxuries you haven't even thought of! Made in West Germany for the Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan, and sold and serviced in the United States by its selected dealers."

If "frenched" headlights and the distinctive color separation seem familiar to you, it certainly is because Ford designers around the world knew what was going on in the headquarters. Ford's international branches were operating quite independently, yet the designs for new models were generally developed in close coordination with Dearborn.

Compared to its American counterparts, the German Ford shows utterly different proportions, as it is a much smaller car. Just like GM and Chrysler, Ford had missed the sudden market shift towards compact cars in the late 1950s. For a short time, the company simply began importing German and English Ford models to battle the offers of the American "independents", before their own compact model, Ford Falcon, would be ready to hit the road in late 1959.

Built between 1957 and 1960, the Ford Taunus 17M received a minor facelift in 1959. The model year 1960 now sported a one-inch (3cm) flatter roof, new chrome moldings around the C-pillars and the municipal coat of arms of Cologne, Ford's German headquarter, at both front fenders. Our pictured Ford Taunus shows the complete embellishment, and thus was built after the so-called "Werksferien" summer break in the latter half of 1959.

1951 Kaiser DeLuxe 4-door Sedan

"If you're going to buy a new car — don't buy a car that isn't as new as the 1951 Kaiser. Because only Kaiser's Anatomic Design combines long, low beauty with new convenience . . . new safety . . . new driving comfort. Only Kaiser brings you the convenience of High-Bridge Doors, that let you in without knocking off your hat. Only Kaiser brings you the safety of a Cushion-Padded Instrument Panel. Only Kaiser brings you the new power of a Supersonic Engine, that's high on performance, low on gas and oil consumption. Thanks to Anatomic Design, the 1951 Kaiser is the newest thing on the road today! See it . . . drive it, at your Kaiser-Frazer dealer's right now."

Plastic bumpers and a makeshift windshield sans the characteristic "widow's peak" have notably altered the look of our pictured Kaiser DeLuxe, but notwithstanding the graceful curve of its roofline and the nimble proportions make this car stand out among other automobiles of its era.

Kaiser was a small fish among the American car manufacturers. Yet, their advertisement could stand any comparison with the boldest claims of the big contenders. For 1951, the copywriters invented "Anatomic Design" to praise the virtues of the new Kaiser, and the ad poetry nicely summed it up: "Anatomic Design . . . (Ana-TOM-ic) . . . is the newest, most advanced step in motor car making. It is the technique of styling and engineering every feature of the body and chassis to serve the needs of the human anatomy. The result is a harmonious blending of beauty, comfort, ease of handling and safety never before attained in a motor car."