Netflix’s The Lincoln Lawyer has captivated audiences with its compelling legal drama, but for many, there’s another star of the show: the cars, particularly the stunning classic Lincoln Continental. Based on Michael Connelly’s novels, the series centers around Mickey Haller, a Los Angeles defense attorney who, in a nod to the original books and 2011 movie, operates not from a stuffy office, but from the luxurious interiors of his Lincolns.
While the original Lincoln Lawyer stories and the Matthew McConaughey film featured the iconic Lincoln Town Car as Haller’s mobile office, the Netflix adaptation elevates the automotive game. We are introduced to not one, but a fleet of Lincolns. The most prominently featured, and arguably the most captivating, is a breathtaking 1963 Lincoln Continental convertible, boasting the vanity license plate “NTGUILTY.” This classic beauty shares screen time with more modern Lincolns, including a 2022 Navigator and a 2022 Aviator, showcasing the brand’s heritage and contemporary luxury.
1963 Lincoln Continental convertible NTGUILTY plates as featured in The Lincoln Lawyer promotional material
Connelly’s choice of Lincoln, as opposed to the Toyota of the real-life lawyer who inspired Mickey Haller, was a stroke of genius. While “The Toyota Lawyer” lacks a certain ring, The Lincoln Lawyer rolls off the tongue with perfect alliteration. And while Lexus might have offered a similar alliterative effect, the selection of Lincoln brings with it a rich automotive history and a distinctly American prestige. This heritage is beautifully embodied by the 1963 Continental convertible, the true “hero car” of the series.
As someone who once navigated life with a classic Lincoln in a manner not unlike Mickey Haller (minus the legal drama, thankfully), the allure of The Lincoln Lawyer‘s automotive choices is particularly resonant. The series opening introduces us to Haller, played with suave charisma by Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, as he navigates personal challenges while maintaining his legal practice. Despite being “down on his luck,” Haller’s lifestyle, complete with a Baldwin Hills residence and a stable of Lincolns, suggests a different kind of hardship.
Haller’s fortunes shift when he inherits a law practice, and surprisingly, an actual office, a departure from previous iterations of the story. His ex-wife’s suggestion to “Take one of the Lincolns” to handle the practice transfer immediately presents a crucial question: which Lincoln will he choose?
Mickey Haller choosing the 1963 Lincoln Continental convertible to drive to court in The Lincoln Lawyer
The answer, of course, is the 1963 Continental convertible. It’s the only logical choice for a lawyer with Haller’s panache. What’s truly remarkable is the apparent authenticity of this classic car on screen. Unlike many productions that modify vintage vehicles to anachronistic extremes, The Lincoln Lawyer‘s Continental appears refreshingly stock. It sports whitewall tires and factory wheel covers, staying true to the 1963 aesthetic. Credit is due to the production team for resisting the temptation to modernize the Continental with oversized wheels or air suspension, preserving its classic elegance.
One minor, almost humorous, deviation from stock is the absence of windshield wipers, replaced by billet studs. This detail humorously underscores the show’s Los Angeles setting, a city where rain is a rare and seemingly unnecessary phenomenon. In this fictionalized LA, windshield wipers are as superfluous as snow tires. Even the rearview mirror, while seemingly mounted slightly lower than factory standard, is commendably present, a detail often sacrificed for filming convenience in other productions.
Close up of the 1963 Lincoln Continental interior showing factory air conditioning vents
The Continental’s interior showcases a blue leather, consistent with the standard leather appointments for convertible models of that era. Determining the precise exterior color is more challenging due to the show’s stylistic color grading. Depending on the scene and lighting, it could be Nocturne Blue, Bermuda Blue, or even Riviera Turquoise. However, promotional stills suggest Nocturne Blue as the most likely candidate, although a custom respray remains a possibility. Regardless of the exact shade, the Continental looks magnificent, its blue hue a perfect complement to the car’s design.
The commitment to automotive realism extends to the driving scenes. While process trailers are a common filmmaking tool for car scenes, The Lincoln Lawyer skillfully blends these with shots of Garcia-Rulfo genuinely driving the Continental. Observing the steering wheel’s self-centering after turns provides visual confirmation of actual driving sequences, a level of dedication to accuracy rarely seen.
Behind the scenes shot of filming car driving scenes for The Lincoln Lawyer using a process trailer
It’s worth noting that while the 1963 Lincoln Continental garners significant attention, it’s not the only Lincoln in the spotlight. The more contemporary Navigator often takes center stage, realistically serving as a more practical mobile office. Yet, whether it’s the vintage charm of the Continental or the modern luxury of the Navigator, the cinematography consistently presents these Lincolns, and Los Angeles itself, in a visually stunning manner.
Exterior shot of the modern Lincoln Navigator featured in The Lincoln Lawyer series
Ultimately, The Lincoln Lawyer‘s connection to Lincolns is both thematic and stylistic. While a sentimental subplot links the ’63 Continental to Haller’s father, the cars are, in essence, a sophisticated prop that enhances the narrative and, undeniably, attracts car enthusiasts. And as a car enthusiast drawn in by the promise of classic Lincolns, this show delivers.
Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Mickey Haller standing next to the 1963 Lincoln Continental convertible in The Lincoln Lawyer
Beyond the automotive appeal, The Lincoln Lawyer stands as a well-crafted legal procedural, rich with season-long mysteries and unexpected plot twists. With excellent production quality, strong performances, and engaging storylines across its seasons, The Lincoln Lawyer offers compelling viewing that extends beyond just the allure of its classic and contemporary Lincolns.
