1964 Lincoln Continental Prototype Limousine

This Lincoln Continental was built in 1965 at the special request of the Vatican to Ford Motor Company to convey Pope Paul VI through New York to address the United Nations on World Peace. The work was done quickly, and completed in a mere two weeks from receipt of the request to delivery of the finished parade car to New York on October 5th of 1965. It was based on Lehmann-Peterson's initial prototype which the only available car that could be modified in time. It has a wheelbase that was stretched to 160-inchs with an overall length of nearly21 feet. There are exterior step plates and handrails for security. Inside, there is additional seating for aides and prelates, a raised seat for the Pontiff, supplemental interior lighting, public address system, and auxiliary power from a bank of seven batteries. These were just a few of the many detail changes.

The most visible attribute is the removable roof section, transparent rear landaulet roof and roof-mounted auxiliary windshield to protect the Pope and his entourage.

The Pope used the car while on his visit to New York which included his address to the UN at Turtle Bay, his Mass at Yankee Stadium and his long trip across the Bronx and Queens to the World's Fair in Flushing Meadow.

After serving the duties for the Pope's visit, the car was loaned to the city of Chicago - after removal of the bubble top, Papahl chair and associated internal fittings - where it served as a parade car and courtesy vehicle for visiting dignitaries. In 1968, the car was used again for another Papal visit, this time to Bogota, Columbia for the 39th Eucharistic Congress. With just 12 days from receipt of the request until its shipping date, Ford and Lehmann-Peterson again marshaled their resources.

The car was thoroughly prepared for the Papal's visit to Colombia and the altitude change which was 8,600 feet above sea level. Changes were made to the engine and there was a comprehensive kit of tools and spare parts assembled for the journey. The Papal's chair and fittings had been damaged in a roof collapse while stored at Lehmann-Peterson and had to be quickly re-done. The work was done, the commitment was kept, and once again the Continental performed its monumental task flawlessly.

The Apollo 8 mission, the first manned space flight to orbit the moon, splashed down in the Pacific on December 27th of 1968. The astronauts later were paraded through the streets of Chicago in this Lehmann-Peterson Lincoln Continental, as would the Apollo 11, 13 and 15 astronauts.

After its parade duties were served, the car was sold to a Fort Dodge, Iowa ophthalmologist, Dr. Swanson, then to an Arizona collection before entering a long 16 year ownership in a French collection of state limousines. In 2006, it became part of the O'Quinn collection.

In 2011, this vehicle was offered for sale at the Quail Lodge auction presented by Bonhams. It was sold for the sum of $243,500 inclusive of buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2011