1966 Lincoln Continental Executive Limousine

Robert 'Pete' Peterson and George 'Skip' Lehmann founded Lehmann-Peterson in 1963. Mr. Peterson had an automobile racing history serving as chief mechanic and building racers for use at Indianapolis. Lehmann had received a large inheritance at the age of 21 from his father who died in Boston's Coconut Grove Night Club fire. The pair established a shop in a Chicago garage on Harlem Avenue. Using a standard 1963 Lincoln, they cut it in half and added a 34-inch stretch. They also added a plague that reads 'Executive Limousine by Lehmann-Peterson.' Only one example was ever created by Lehmann-Peterson in their Chicago garage. When production began, they moved to a shop at 2710 North Sawyer Avenue and one on Amitage Street.

The Ford Motor Car Company was impressed with the prototype example and especially enjoyed the seating arrangement which facilitated and inspired conversation. Ford retained the car for further testing and would eventually put 40,000 miles on the car. On February 25th of 1964, Ford and Lehmann-Peterson reached an agreement. The car was shown at the New York International Automobile Show in April of 1964.

Over the next six years, Lehmann-Peterson would produce nearly 600 limousines. In 1966, Lincoln began advertising these modified limousines in their Lincoln catalogue. The base price was $13,400 which was considerably more than the sedan which was selling at $5790. With options, the price of limousines often approached $20,000.

For 1966, there were 159 examples of the Lehmann-Peterson Limo produced. This example is painted in Nightmist Blue and is the only Lehmann-Peterson Limo to ever win best of show in a Lincoln and Continental Owner's Club national show. It is equipped with air-conditioning, AM-FM radio, power divider glass, and twin coolers built in to the stretch panels.

The original owner of this car was Robert Baird of Quoque, New York, in January of 1966. It has a wheelbase that measures 160-inches, a 462 cubic-inch engine rated at 240 horsepower, and a three-speed automatic transmission.

In 2009, this Executive Limousine was offered for sale at the Houston Classic Auction in Seabrook, Texas, presented by Worldwide Auctioneers. The car was estimated to sell for $70,000 - $90,000 and offered without reserve.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2009