[1][2] A full-size luxury car, the Lincoln Capri derives its name from an Italian island in the Gulf of Naples.

Competing against the Cadillac Series 62, Chrysler New Yorker, and Packard Pacific,[3] 14,342 Capris were sold in its debut year,[3] and nearly double that, 26,640, in 1953.

[7] In 1955, the Capri featured a new somewhat larger 341 cu in (5.6 L) but much more powerful 225 hp (168 kW) engine, with a higher 8.5:1 compression ratio[3] and a four-barrel Holley carburetor,[3] mated to a standard (Ford-built)[3] 3-speed Turbo-Drive automatic transmission.

[3] The Capri was also one of the first vehicles to offer an automatic headlight dimmer as optional equipment.

[3] For 1956, the Capri shared a division-wide restyling[3] and gained the new 285 hp (213 kW) 368 cu in (6.0 L) Lincoln Y-Block V8[3] (with a four-barrel carburetor and 9:1 compression),[3] as well as all-new 12-volt electrical system to cope with the proliferation of power accessories.

[2][3][11] In addition, the convertible disappeared from the model range, which already lacked for a four-door hardtop.

[3] Sales dropped dramatically, to only 8,791 in 1956 while the listed retail price for the Hardtop Sport Coupe was US$4,119 ($46,161 in 2023 dollars [5]).

[2] While advertising brochures made the case that Continental Division was still a separate make, the car shared its body with that year's Lincoln.

[2] Lincoln lost over $60 million during 1958-1960, partly reflecting the expense of developing perhaps the largest unibody car[16] ever made.

[18] After John Najjar was relieved of his responsibilities as Chief Stylist of Lincoln in 1957 he became Engel's executive assistant, and the two worked closely together in the "stilleto studio" in developing the 1961 Lincoln Continental, which of course won an award for its superlative styling.

[18] Alex Tremulis, who was Chief Stylist at Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg in the mid to late 1930s and famous for his work on the 1948 Tucker Sedan, was head of Ford's Advanced Styling Studio during this period, and it was his Ford La Tosca concept car, with its oval overlaid with an "X" theme, that gave birth to the "slant eyed monster" nickname to the 1958 Lincoln front end.

[2] Following its use by the Lincoln division, the Capri nameplate would see subsequent use by both Ford and Mercury for the next three decades.

From 1970 to 1978, the Ford Capri was sold by Lincoln-Mercury in North America (without a divisional nameplate).