1954 Lincoln Cosmopolitan Coupe

The Carrera Panamericana Road race was founded in 1950 as a way to celebrate and create awareness of the opening of the Pan-American Highway in Mexico.

Over the next four years, the event was rife with accidents and misfortune and would go on to be known as one of the most grueling in all of motor sports. The robust Lincolns of that era had great success in the stock car division, in 1952 and 1953 Lincolns finished in the top four places in that class.

A new race was organized in 1988 to celebrate the spirit of the Carrera and it continues as an annual event today. This Lincoln Cosmopolitan Coupe was reportedly used as a race car in the 1970s and circa 2005 was converted to rally specification and specifically built to withstand the rigors of the modern La Carrera Panamericana rally.

This 11-time Carrera participant earned the nickname “La Bestia del Norte” (The Beast of the North) and has benefited from numerous upgrades and modern rally improvements, including drivetrain, brakes, electrical, safety, and suspension modifications. 

The Ron Sturgeon Collection