How Awesome Would Have It Been If Lincoln Produced Its 1983 Quicksilver Ghia Concept?

The 1980s were responsible for some pretty wacky and amazing automotive concepts, such as the Citroen Karin, Ford Maya, Buick Wildcat and the Corvette Indy Concept. And yet, neither of those were as weirdly practical or intriguing as the Lincoln Quicksilver concept, created by Carrozzeria Ghia.

This took place in a time when Italy’s Ghia was a division of the Ford Motor Company, with the unveiling being held at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland (remember the days when we still had auto shows?).

At first glance, it’s nearly impossible to believe that you’re looking at a Lincoln – especially if you bring to mind the brand’s portfolio in the 1980s, but that’s because you’re not, at least not technically. It may wear a Lincoln badge, but underneath its futuristic Italian styling is an AC 3000ME chassis, stretched by 11 inches (279 mm).

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This design would have made much more sense for something with a Citroen badge for example, but even as a Lincoln it withstood the test of time. In fact, the car was displayed at multiple shows in the 1980s, although unfortunately no production model was ever based on it, unless you count the front fascia of the Ford Probe taking after the Quicksilver Concept’s nose a tiny bit. Oh and yes, this was an actual working car, not just a show piece.

It almost looks like a mix between a DMC DeLorean and a Citroen XM, which isn’t necessarily a stretch since both of those were also drawn up by Italian design houses – Giugiaro and Bertone, respectively.

As for its interior, there’s nothing that screams Lincoln (or Ford for that matter) about it. The design is clearly very European, which is part of the reason why rear leg room wasn’t quite as generous as you’d expect from a Lincoln – though most of the blame goes to the mid-engine setup.

Power came from a 2.8-liter Ford V6 unit, mated to a 5-speed manual transmission, both of which were placed in front of the rear axle. Everything went to the rear wheels exclusively.

Back in 2014, the Quicksilver concept was sold to the highest bidder through Mecum Auctions, where it was expected to fetch between $60,000 and $75,000. According to Autoweek, the concept was previously sold for $45,825 during a separate auction back in 2002.

Photos Mecum Auction