Sun Star 1956 Lincoln Premiere Hardtop

Here’s the first of the promised Platinum Collection ’56 Lincoln Premiere coupes, following the brilliantly done black convertible. To call it superlative is faint praise. True, I might have chosen the black and white color scheme for the coupe rather than for the convertible. But Sun Star’s release of each new “Platinum” model in a variety of interesting colors shows a further, tangible commitment to its customer.

The coupe sports a continental spare (as it appears they all will), which will prove an irritant to some, but not to me. Aesthetically it works on this long, lean beauty, rests on a beautifully sculpted bumper extension and is graced (like so much of the rest of the model) by exquisite chrome trim and foil script. The fine detail, flawless fit and finish and nearly perfect paint quality evident on the convertible are here, too. The “Huntsman Red” is most appealing, not a glaring “fire engine” hue, but with some subtle orange and perhaps just a touch of coral…the sort of paint that takes on its own special character, depending on your lighting. And of course, the roofline complements the design just as it should, with no glazing or window divider simulating a center post, perfectly painted and expertly trimmed in chrome. The articulated wipers feel floppy simply for what they are intended to be and will remain a controversial feature, I suppose. They do feel a bit more secure overall than they did on the convertible, though, and perhaps better scaled, too.

Unlike the convertibles and the ’58 Buicks, this one has no set of luggage and obviously, with the conti-kit, no trunk spare (hardly deal beakers, especially if you already have the aforementioned cars). And I do remember another collector found that the wheel covers seem a little small in the context of the rims and whitewalls…nothing that bothered me. Overall though, if Sun Star hasn’t hit its stride yet with this new Collection, they’ve come close.

The superbly designed Platinum packaging has helped deliver another model in pristine condition. Nothing is missing, loose, broken or poorly aligned. Top it off with the “hang tag fob” and the sales brochure reproduction, and here’s a ‘50s replica almost beyond reproach. By now I’ve come to regard the Platinum Collection as the most compelling new series introduced so far this year, whether judged by product quality, subject matter or value for money. A bold (and perhaps inevitable) step forward for a company who’ve already left an indelible mark as one of the leaders in the budget-range field. While I continue to anticipate forthcoming releases from the established manufacturers in the $50 - $60 price range with keen interest, I can say that Sun Star’s new high detail line has firmly joined their ranks. Bravo!

-John Richards