I know things are a bit behind the times in North Korea, but I didn’t exactly expect Kim Jong-Il’s “hearse” to be thirty-five year old Lincoln. But there it is, unmistakably so (well, it could a year or two older). There’s video from AP too, if you want to see it move under its own (non-nuke) power: (it wasn’t available to be embedded yet) Follow this link to google news, and click on The Associated Press video box (it may have changed by the morning). But there’s more goodness: more vintage Lincolns on parade. So quit your sobbing and sniffling, and enjoy this parade of fine American iron.
I see Kim has to ride outside in the snow didnt the state treasury run to a proper hearse even a used Lincoln so as to fit in the fleet.
This may be a sign of a conspiracy and an attack on American values, given that he has been replaced by his son, Kim W. il.
I’d read that he had quite a few luxury cars, but the platform shoes and the hairdo go better with a ’70’s Lincoln, I’d say.
I’m sure the “Bring a trailer” and Hemmings crowd is happy that at least North Korea gets it and is willing to retain and restore fine American cars from the glory days.
No oriental crap in the NK hood, Yo.
Is it just me or am I the only one to whom the rear quarter panel says Lincoln but the grille says Mercury?
Not just you, it definitely look like the ’76 Grand Marquis front clip.
Just did a quick check, the ’74 Lincolns look like those pictured (after that, they took on Parthenon grills), and the Grand Marquis got the ’74 Lincoln grills. So these are probably either ’74s, or an amalgamation of parts, as they were available, Cuba style?
Although I am a big Lincoln fan, I will agree that the 75-76 grille was sort of lacking in style and imagination. You are right, it may as well have been on a Marquis. Still, I would take a 75-76 big Lincoln over a corresponding Cadillac. The Imperial/New Yorker would make me think a little harder.
It WAS on a Marquis, wasn’t it?
That was my first thought – a Mercury limousine.
I never followed the Lincoln evolution. I’ll take the North Korean’s word that it’s a Lincoln and not a Marquis…but doggone, it sure looks similar.
No wonder they had an identity problem in those years. Which was interestingly solved later by grafting the Mark IV front clip onto the Town Car…
Someone who knows the history of the companies of the 70s that did limo conversions might be able to shed some light on this. (It doesn’t look like a factory job, those limos were usually stretched at the C-pillar.) Either that or these cars were perhaps thrown together at the end of a model year with a mishmash of parts. If we had higher res photos at least we could tell what short of hood ornament the car had.
It is a Lincoln. See attached shot from oldcarbrochures:
Here is a better photo from The Atlantic
http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/12/north-korea-mourns-kim-jong-il/100215/#img27
Thanks; just updated the pictures with those.
Here’s the Mercury version. Smaller grille, and no opening in the bumper:
Sorry Paul, I just remembered the Lincoln grille being SO much taller and less wide, but then you’re talking to a kid born in 1977.
Right you are, I thought that they switched earlier than that. My mind probably went Marquis so quickly because that’s all my grandparents drove from ’73-’89.
Definitely a pre-’77 line of Lincolns. Lehman-Peterson conversions??
Definitely a pre-’77 line of Lincolns. Lehman-Peterson conversions??
I am suprised the cloistered anti-American North Korea regime wasn’t using Soviet-Era ZIL’s or Pullman 600 Series Benzes – 60’s vintage.
No, by the mid 70s L-P was out of the Lincoln-stretchin’ business. They could be from AHA or maybe Stageway(?)
Elvis’ funeral – sixteen white Cadillacs behind the Caddy hearse in line with his 1955 Sun record “Mystery Train”.
I knew I had seen these before, way back in 1994 when the previous North Korean dictator died there was a very brief news snipet on CNN that showed this exact scene, but with the previous murderer…..ahem, and I said, in my head “wait…is that a Lincoln?” and then the news moved on to something else.
Vindication!
In the video, there are at least 3 70’s Lincoln Continentals, whats the story on these cars , where did they get them?
I seem to recall one or more Lincolns being presented as a gift to Breshnev from Nixon in the early 70s, so perhaps they are castoffs from the old USSR. Pure speculation, however.
Kim Il Sung rode in the same car. Maybe the old Linc is the family legacy..
Aside from the whole “superme leader” thing of course..
“superme leader” Priceless! 😀
The vehicle with the giant portraits looks like more of the same. It’s interesting to note that the escort appears to be rolling a Mercedes Geländewagen rather than the more usual GaZ but it is appropriate given the North Korean apparatchiks’ fondness for the 3 pointed star.
Kim may have been a colossal asshole but he did like American movies and American cars.
As long as they were for HIS consumption and not that of his people.
http://kimjongillookingatthings.tumblr.com/
Lol, some funny images on that site (in an ironic way!)
I’m liking the chromed headlight doors. If you’re going over the top may as well push it to the limit!
Hidden headlights live on!
When you put a coffin on top of a limo, does that turn it into a hearse?