The Car Brand Loved by Celebrities, 'Lincoln'

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] Ford Motor's luxury brand Lincoln celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Over its 100-year history, Lincoln has been loved by many. Especially, American celebrities have favored Lincoln as their personal vehicles or boldly customized the cars to make them uniquely their own. In the 20th century, Lincoln proudly established itself as the official car for many U.S. presidents.

Actor Matthew McConaughey

◆Lincoln Loved by Hollywood Stars= When thinking of Lincoln cars, the first person that comes to mind is actor Matthew McConaughey. He first connected with the Lincoln brand through the 2011 film "The Lincoln Lawyer" and has been the face of Lincoln advertising since 2014, serving as the brand's representative promotional model.

Superstar Elvis Presley’s prized car was the Lincoln Continental Mark II model. This model featured a 6-liter V8 engine and a 3-speed automatic transmission, delivering a top performance of 300 horsepower. At the time, Lincoln Continental vehicles were widely used by various celebrities and the wealthy as a means to showcase themselves and were highly cherished.

The 1956 Continental Mark II, known as the second-generation Continental, was loved for its simple and elegant design, especially by female celebrities. Warner Bros. gifted actress Elizabeth Taylor a blue Continental, matching the color of her eyes, when she decided to star in the film "Giant."

Some Hollywood stars have shown their passion and love for Lincoln cars through personally customized vehicles. Actor Dax Shepard, better known as the husband of Kristen Bell, the voice of 'Anna' in Frozen, owns a Lincoln car he customized himself. He replaced the engine with a powerful one used in Ford Racing and reformed the car’s exterior. He also appeared with the car in his film "Hit and Run," reportedly driving it himself in all the dangerous stunt scenes.

Tennis queen Serena Williams was a fan and owner of Lincoln cars even before becoming a brand ambassador. Williams bought a Navigator as her first car and affectionately nicknamed it "Ginger," showing her love for the vehicle. In fact, she owns various cars due to her special interest in automobiles.

In addition, many celebrities and famous figures such as Sandra Bullock, Halle Berry, David Beckham, Eva Longoria, and Will Smith, as well as former high-ranking officials, have shown special affection for Lincoln by receiving official cars, owning them, or featuring them in their works.

◆Lincoln Featured in Films= Lincoln has also made a mark in films. Over its long history, it has been exposed to the public through various media and has become a frequently appearing vehicle in movies and dramas.

The most representative film featuring Lincoln is "The Lincoln Lawyer," so much so that the title itself was inspired by Lincoln. Recently, a Netflix original drama with the same title was released, gaining great popularity worldwide. The 'Lincoln Navigator' featured as the protagonist’s car showcases its unique luxury and grandeur, catching the audience’s eye as the perfect vehicle for a competent lawyer.

The Navigator, known as the top model of American luxury full-size sport utility vehicles (SUVs), is Lincoln’s flagship model that best reflects the brand’s core philosophy of "my own sanctuary." The scenes showing the lawyer Mickey working in the spacious back seat vividly display the luxurious interior designed around the roomy and generous space typical of a large sedan.

The iconic Lincoln vehicles also appear in "The Godfather," one of the most representative American noir films. This film, which deals with the lives and conflicts of the American mafia, features Lincoln’s Zephyr model and Continental Coupe. These cars help portray the immense economic power held by the mafia at the time. Notably, the Zephyr model, with its iconic design, even appeared on the film’s poster.

Lincoln cars also appear in the classic American action film "The Matrix." The Lincoln Continental used in the chase scenes, despite its brief appearance, makes a strong impression. The Continental, which shares the same vibe as the protagonist Neo (Keanu Reeves), helps set the tone of the film. The Lincoln Continental model featured in The Matrix is the 1965 Lincoln Continental.