NEIL & RHONDA McNICKLE’S

LINCOLNSTEIN

If you’re thinking this is straight out of a 1950’s sci-fi movie, you wouldn’t be wrong!

With the name of Lincolnstein you can bet there’s been some creations gone into the building of this machine that would scare a modern-day mechanic! If you ever get the chance to jump in one of these for a ride, seriously DO IT! It will be about the only time that you will get the chance to actually see what was involved in the building of these incredible automobiles. The ride itself is like floating on a layer of air but not bouncy castle like, it’s actually very smooth. For a vehicle from way back then, It will honestly blow your mind! Designed for the wealthy of the time and worth more than the average house to buy, you can bet there is every possible comfort option and shiny chrome lever or button to push to make you go “damn, it does that too!” It really is hard to believe that way back in 1959, Ford Motor Company thought, let’s build something totally cool and outrageous to take over the luxury automobile world to the point where they damn near couldn’t afford to do it anymore. Although this amazing example now didn’t quite look a wealthy luxury car when Neil found it.

Neil was busy trying to find one in the States to bring back but found this one sitting in Hamilton.

Complete with Texas dust in everything, no brakes and in need of desperate help, the engine still ran so that was it! That was around seventeen years ago and this piece of fifties art got driven around a fair bit before finally being parked up for a full rebuild around eleven years back. As most full rebuilds go, things stop and start and other projects roll in and out the door, but this one was there to stay for sure! Neil’s throw-back to the early days of cruising around in it stayed with the helicopter landing pad graphic being fully detailed onto the boot lid which goes to show the size of that boot lid! The actual boot now is fully detailed inside which could easily act as a bedroom for Neil if need be.

The interior of this vehicle is simply ‘stunning’ for a word. Everything is big! Big leg room, big arm rests, big vents and the seats themselves are more comfy than your lounge suite! Electric windows don’t just stop at the side windows, the back window also rolls down with the magic of electricity. This was probably the electric car of the era with the amount of switches that make things happen. There’s been a few custom tricks done to accentuate the 1959 styling tho. A few delicate touches to keep the spaceship lines flowing. The front fenders have been extended three

and a half inches (90mm for you youngin’s) door handles shaved and recess handles dropped into the top of the door frames. The rear fins have been de-chromed and reshaped to blend into the flowing lines to accentuate the designers vision back in the day. The detailing in this vehicle is simply stunning from factory it really didn’t need a lot to give it the stance and look that it has. The paint job certainly isn’t from back in the day. The full custom layers of colour is a work of art by itself. Complete with scallops, lace work and metallic gold detailing, this luxury liner is now a show piece of art for sure.

The detailing also flows into the engine bay with the 430ci V8 detailed in matching colours to bring it all together. There isn’t much in this car that hasn’t been replaced with new or built back to new in the exact styling of the day. Definitely take your time to check this ride out if you see it at a show, there really is a lot to take in! MAKE: 1959 Continental Model - Mark IV

COLOUR: New green paint with gold pearl. Scallops in coffee cream with white pearl and pin striping in gold metallic

ENGINE: Stock 430 ci M.E.L Engine 350 HP

TRANSMISSION: Stock three speed auto

DIFF: Stock DANA Diff

BRAKES: Factory Mighty drums

WHEELS/TYRES: 20 inch Steelies Wheel Co – smoothies. Painted in same coffee cream as the roof

INTERIOR: Interior all reupholstered with new domes etc hand made. Most done close to stock 59 continental. Trunk area re-carpeted with matching side panels.

EXTRA MODS: 4 x Jerry cans custom pinstriped by Dmac Studio Illustrate Create

Stereo mods: Portable Marley Bluetooth player

Front fenders extended 3.5 inches, door handles shaved off and moved to the top of the door. Rear fins de -chromed and reshaped

All done to accentuate the original designer’s vision