We Can't Decide If James Brown's Lincoln Mark Iii Or His Learjet Has More '70s Swagger

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James Brown, nan Godfather of Soul, had to beryllium emotion bully erstwhile he purchased a brand-new $713,000 Learjet 23 successful 1966 (that's conscionable awkward of $7.2 cardinal successful 2026 dollars). While Brown pegged nan acquisition arsenic a intends to summation nan number of shows he could play, nan level came to symbolize thing overmuch much important: occurrence successful nan Black community. Just 2 years aft nan Civil Rights Act of 1964 became law, Brown became nan first Black personification to ain a backstage jet, a milestone amid nan ongoing conflict for equality.

Though a groundbreaking buy, nan pitchy besides made consciousness for nan creator known arsenic nan "Hardest Working Man successful Show Business." His activity ethic, aft all, is what made it imaginable to recreation successful style, but not conscionable successful nan air. Brown later picked up a wholly leader 1969 Lincoln Continental Mark III, a stylish luxury thrust befit for Mr. Dynamite. It can't beryllium denied, nan man had style. But we can't dress up our minds, does nan far-out Learjet aliases nan outta-sight Continental person much swagger? Help america determine successful nan canvass below.

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James Brown's jet-powered charter enthralled his fans, starring immoderate to station up extracurricular nan airdrome successful nan performer's hometown of Augusta, Georgia, hoping to spot nan aircraft. As important a acquisition arsenic it was, nan Learjet 23 is historical successful its ain right. Introduced astatine nan extremity of October 1964, nan six-passenger (or a cramped eight) utilized 2 General Electric CJ610 turbojets to climb arsenic precocious arsenic 45,000 feet and deed a cruise velocity betwixt 485 to 518 mph. With a apical velocity of 561 mph erstwhile settled successful astatine 24,000 feet, it lands among the fastest backstage jets ever built. These capacity numbers helped the 23 motorboat a full caller market: business jets.

Beyond executives, nan 23 became a preferred intends of carrier for celebrities ranging from Frank Sinatra to Arnold Palmer. While nan level appealed to nan rich | and famous, nan interior hardly offered nan level of comfortableness 1 mightiness expect. With a compartment somewhat much than 4 feet wide by 4 feet tall, Learjet occasionally had to respond to critiques of nan cramped space. The company's rebuttal, per Aviation International News: "You can't guidelines up successful a Cadillac."

While nan Model 23 was innovative, Learjet built a small much than 100 before moving connected to nan upgraded 24. At nan extremity of 2015, nan FAA implemented a Stage 3 sound compliance norm that grounded immoderate remaining Model 23s without a hush kit installed. As of writing, a azygous LearJet 23 remains flyable and went to auction successful November 2025, though it did not meet its reserve. Several examples are displayed successful museums, but arsenic for Brown's jet? There's nary connection if it's still kicking around.

Many of James Brown's songs had beardown intersexual undertones, truthful possibly it's nary astonishment he bought a car pinch a hump — albeit an unsatisfying hump successful spot of a existent Continental kit spare tire. Hump aliases not, nan Continental Mark III, introduced for nan 1969 exemplary year, represented nan era's apogee of American luxury. Brown secured 1 for his individual thrust and was photographed pinch it and his Learjet successful 1970, arsenic seen connected nan James Brown Facebook page. Based connected nan visible windshield wipers (they vanished successful 1970), and clear move awesome lenses, it appears to beryllium a 1969 model.

Priced primitively astatine $6,741 (more than $63,300 today), nan guidelines Lincoln costs $30 much than a Cadillac Eldorado and sold 7,000 much than its Caddy competitor successful 1969. Granted, nan Continental was introduced successful early 1968 for nan '69 exemplary year, giving it a spot of a caput start. Each came disconnected nan statement equipped pinch a 365-horsepower 460-cubic-inch V8 connected to a Select-Shift Turbo-Drive three-speed automatic transmission. (For a spot much get-up-and-go, a V10-swapped Lincoln Continental wouldn't beryllium a bad choice.)

How Brown optioned his thrust isn't documented, but each came modular pinch powerfulness windows and seats. Factory upgrades included choices specified arsenic cruise control, a tilt wheel, aerial conditioning, and a assortment of radios. Hot take: Given it's a Los Angeles-based car, tin we presume he opted for nan AC and, being James Brown, nan champion imaginable sound system?

So would you alternatively spell "Night Flying" successful Brown's Learjet aliases "Drive Your Funky Soul" successful his Lincoln Continental?

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