1957 Lincoln Typhoon Concept

The 1957 Lincoln Typhoon is a concept car designed by Eugene Bordinat, Bill Schmidt, and John Najjar and built by Ford's Advanced Design Studio. The Typhoon was intended to showcase Lincoln's design and engineering capabilities and to gauge public interest in a high-performance luxury car. It was introduced at the 1957 Chicago Auto Show as a follow-up to the 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis concept car.

The Typhoon's most distinctive feature was its roof, which consisted of two large, transparent panels that extended from the windshield to the rear deck. The roof was made of tinted Plexiglas, giving the car an open-air feel without sacrificing the comfort and security of a closed car. The roof panels were operated by electric motors and could be raised or lowered independently, allowing for a range of different configurations.

The Typhoon's body was made of fiberglass, a relatively new material for car bodies at the time. The car's styling was characterized by its long, sleek lines and sharply angled fins, giving it a futuristic look that was popular in the late 1950s. The car was painted metallic silver, adding to its high-tech appearance.

Under the hood, the Typhoon was powered by a modified version of Lincoln's 368-cubic inch V8 engine, which produced 330 horsepower. The engine was paired with a three-speed automatic transmission, and the car featured power steering and power brakes, which were still relatively uncommon features at the time.

The Typhoon remains an iconic example of the cutting-edge automotive design and engineering that characterized the late 1950s. The Typhoon was never intended for production, and it remained a one-of-a-kind concept car. However, it did influence the design of future Lincoln models, notably the 1958 and 1959 Lincoln Continental.

Source: Lincoln