Ralph Stefano's 1955 Lincoln

Ralph's Lincoln as it looked when it was featured in Custom Cars June 1960. Photo by Tony Spicola.

Photo by Tony Spicola.

Photo by Tony Spicola.

Photo by Tony Spicola.

Photo by Tony Spicola.

On the cover of Custom Cars June 1960.

1955 Lincoln Capri restyled by teenage body men Bill Dickey and Otto Krueger of G&D Body and Paint for Ralph Stefano of Pueblo, Colorado. Upon finishing a hitch in the Navy, Ralph had definite ideas on customizing his Lincoln. He wanted a shaved deck lid, shaved door handles and a hood that was sectioned 5 inches and smoothed and peaked. He dragged the Lincoln over to the boys at G&D Body and Paint, who carried out his ideas. At the body shop, deck lid and doors became electrically operated by installing solenoids. The front was modified and fit with a 1956 Studebaker pan and a 1957 DeSoto grille bumper bar was cut to fit the stock opening. Hand-formed headlight housing were grafted onto the front fenders and fit with 1957 DeSoto quad headlights. The rear fenders were reworked and trimmed with round rods. Twin 1955 DeSoto taillights were placed in the taillight housings which were also filled with stainless mesh screen. Dummy aerials separated the twin taillights. The car was lowered 4 inches all around by using dropped spindles and lowering blocks. Once the bodywork was completed, the car was painted with a Candy purple lacquer. Jack's Upholstery in Trinidad was responsible for the new interior which was done in black frieze and white Naugahyde. Dual spotlights and lakes pipes were added in order to make it look even lower. Pin-striping by Tom Stratton wrapped up the restyling job.

Magazine Features

Custom Cars June 1960