1953 Lincoln Facts, Figures, and Specifications
Five Fast Facts You May Not Know
1953 Lincoln Capri Convertible
1. 317 CID OHV V-8 Gets 205 Horsepower
2. Styling Changes Minimal
3. Power Steering Addeed
4. Lincoln Places 1-4 in the Panamerican Road race
5. GM's Hydramatic Plant fire causes loss of over 7,000 in sales
1953 Lincoln – More Power, More Features
With the exception of an emblem inside a chrome “V” on the upper section of the grille and “Lincoln” printed across the front face of the hood, the styling was exactly the same as 1952. The V-8 remained at 317 CID, but horsepower went to 205 with the addition of a 4-barrel carburetor, higher compression and increased camshaft lift.
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1953 Lincoln Facts – Body Paint Color Mix Codes
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1953 Lincoln
| 01 Regent Black | |
| 02 Crown Blue | |
| 04 Majestic Maroon | |
| 05 Kingsbury Gray | |
| 08 Embassy Brown | |
| 09 Castle Tan | |
| 10 Colonial Blue | |
| 12 Esquire Green | |
| 14 Empire Green | |
| 15 Oxford Gray | |
| 16 Place Green | |
| 18 Royal Red | |
| 19 Cavalier Yellow |
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1953 Lincoln Facts and Specifications
General Year Information – 1953 Lincoln
With the exception of an emblem inside a chrome “V” on the upper section of the grille and “Lincoln” printed across the front face of the hood, the front fascia styling was exactly the same as 1952. On the forward edge of the rear fenders, the name[ate now included a “V” as well. At the rear, no changes were seen. It takes a good eye to spot the differences.
The V-8 remained at 317 CID, but horsepower went to 205 with the addition of a 4-barrel carburetor, higher compression, larger intake valve head diameter, and increased camshaft lift. Power Steering was a new option, while power seats and window lifts continued as option, except on convertibles where they were standard.
The maximum duty kit was still available, and it did find its way into no racing Lincolns. Significant was the GM Hydramatic transmission plant fire that completely destroyed the facility. This forced Dynaflow transmissions into Buick, Cadillac, Oldsmobile and Pontiac cars, but dried up the resale to makers like Lincoln. This tragedy dealt a loss of approximately 7,000 sales of Lincoln automobiles and made a 3-speed manual transmission standard until the next year, but also forced Ford into developing their own 3-speed automatic – that would appear in 1955.
Historical
Lincoln again placed 1-4 in the Panamerican Road Race – proving it’s smaller 317 CID V-8 could stay with the larger Cadillac and Chrysler V-8s. This improved Lincoln’s image among buyers and increased sales by over 35% to 40,762, even with the loss of automatic transmissions from GM!
1953 Lincoln Factoids
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- 317 CID OHV V-8 Power Rises
- GM's Hydramatic Plant Fire Hurts Lincoln Sales
- Power Steering Becomes an Option
Like all premium V-8 manufacturers, the release of the Carter WCFB 4-barrel carburetor, when fitted raised HP significantly and this was true for Lincoln, going from 160 to 205! Aside from the carburetor, Compression was up to 8.0:1 and more significantly, what was learned in race competition resulted in a more aggressive camshaft with higher valve lift and better intake ports/runners, with 2.00″ valves.
GM suffered a disastrous plant fire that entirely destroyed the facility. Lincoln, who purchased these transmissions, was out of luck and had to resort to only offering their old 3-speed transmission, available as a special order previously. The estimated loss of sales due to this tragedy was approximately 7,000 units.
Like all other luxury brands, Lincoln offered power steering for the first time, and this option may have helped to offset the lack of availability of automatic transmission.
1953 Lincoln Facts – Models Offered
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The Capri was the top line. It was indistinguishable externally from its sister model, except for the nameplate, in script on the leading edge of the rear fender. Interiors were upscale and included leather in some models.
Three body styles were available: 2-door Hardtop, 4-door Sedan, and Convertible.
The Cosmopolitan continued as the lesser line. It was indistinguishable externally from its sister model, except for the nameplate, in script on the leading edge of the rear fender. Interiors were less ostentatious but otherwise similar.
Two body styles were available: the 2-door Hardtop and the 4-door Sedan.
1953 Lincoln Facts – Engines
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317 CID V-8: Overhead valves. Cast iron block. Five main bearings.
Displacement: 317.5 cubic Inches.
Bore and stroke: 3.8 x 3.5 inches.
Compression ratio: 8.0:1.
Horsepower: 205 @ 4200 RPM.
Torque: 305 @ 2300 RPM.
Valve lifters: Hydraulic.
Camshaft timing: Intake: 256°, Exhaust: 256°, Overlap: 38°; Lift: Intake 0.354″, Exhaust 0.354″.
Carburetor: Holley four-barrel 2140 model EAD-H1 or EAD-K or EAD-M.
1953 Lincoln Facts – Chassis Features
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- Wheelbase: 123.0 inches.
- Overall length: 214.1 Inches.
- Overall width: 77.5 Inches.
- Overall height: 62.7 inches.
- Front tread: 58.5 inches.
- Rear tread: 58.5 inches.
- Tires: Convertible” 8.00 x 15 All Others: 8.00 x 15 (all 4-ply tubeless).
1953 Lincoln Facts – Powertrains
- Four Speed Automatic Transmission Ratios
- All: 1st – 3.819:1, 2nd – 2.634:1, 3rd – 1.450:1, 4th – 1:1, Reverse – 4.304:1.
- Three Speed Manual Transmission Ratios
- 1st – 2.526:1, 2nd – 1.518:1, 3rd – 1:1, Reverse – 3.158:1. NOTE: This transmission was initially special order but became standard when supplies of GM’s Hydramatic transmission ran out.
- Rear Gear Standard Ratios
- 3-Speed SMT – 3.91:1, Optional 3.31:1.
- 3-speed AMT – 3.31:1.
- Engine Options
- NONE.
1953 Lincoln Facts – Powertrain Options
- Transmissions
- Three speed manual was special order – part of the “maximum duty kit”. NOTE: This transmission became standard when supplies of GM’s Hydramatic transmission ran out.
- GM Hydramatic automatic transmission was standard.
- Engines
- 317 CID OHV 205 HP V-8 was the only engine available.
1953 Lincoln Facts – Significant Options
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- Back-Up Lights.
- Front and rear bumper guards.
- Heater.
- Manual Transmission.
- Outside Rear View Mirror.
- Power brakes.
- Power steering.
- Power seat (standard on convertible).
- Power windows (standard on convertible).
- Radio.
- Spotlight.
- Tinted Glass.
- Tinted windshield.
- White Sidewall Tires.
- Windshield washer.
1953 Lincoln – Downloads and Images
1953 Lincoln Facts – Related Document Downloads
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1953 Lincoln Prestige Brochure
1953 Lincoln Print Advertisements
1953 Lincoln AMA Specifications Sheets
1953 Lincoln Capri Road Test – Mechanix Illustrated Magazine
1953 Lincoln Facts – Related Images
Related Images to the Lincoln will appear below
1953 Lincoln Capri Convertible
The 1953 Lincoln Capri Convertible was the most luxurious Lincoln in 1952 with many options standard. 2,372 were produced.
1953 Lincoln Capri 2-door Hardtop
The 1953 Lincoln Capri 2-door Hardtop was the top level 2-door and the most popular offering in the line this year, with 12,916 sold.
1953 Lincoln Capri 4-door Sedan
The 1953 Lincoln Capri 4-door Sedan was the upscale 4- door with more luxurious interiors, but not much else different from the Cosmopolitan. 11,352 found buyers.
1953 Lincoln Cosmopolitan 2-door Hardtop
The 1953 Lincoln Cosmopolitan 2-door Hardtop was the lower level 2-door this year,, but only differed in the interior level. 6,562 found buyers.
1953 Lincoln Cosmopolitan 4-door Sedan
The 1953 Lincoln Cosmopolitan 4-door Sedan was the entry level Lincoln this year, though there was little difference between this car and the Capri version, with the interior a bit less luxurious. 7,560 were purchased.