Named after the famous Indianapolis 500 race, the one-off concept came to life when Henry Ford II asked Turin-based coachbuilder Boano Carrozzeria to create a sporty coupe capable of rivaling Ghia-bodied Chryslers.  The Indianapolis was completed in time to debut at the 1955 edition of the Turin Motor Show where it stunned visitors with its futuristic, aircraft-inspired design and its bright orange paint work.  Awestruck, Henry Ford II bought the concept on the spot and had it shipped to Dearborn, Michigan.
Ford briefly drove the 221-horsepower V8-powered Lincoln around Dearborn but complained of its excessively bad build quality. Â He gave it to actor Errol Flynn and it subsequently went through a series of owners over the next two decades until an electrical fire destroyed part of its interior. Â
The coupe was meticulously restored to its original Turin show specification a little over ten years ago and it took first place in the Postwar Custom Coachwork class at the 2001 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.  Since then, it has been kept in like-new condition by a private owner and taken out only for select high-profile car shows across the country.
RM expects the 58-year old concept to fetch anywhere between $1.5 million and $2.5 million when it crosses the block.
In addition to the Indianapolis concept, RM will auction off a 1933 Auburn Twelve Custom Speedster, a 1954 Pegaso Z-102 Coupe and a desirable 1957 Dual-Ghia convertible.
Photos courtesy of RM Auctions.<![CDATA[
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