Drive Home in a Lincoln Mark LT Autographed by Some of Country's Biggest Stars and Make Music on a One-of-a-Kind Lincoln Inspired Gibson Guitar

Drive Home in a Lincoln Mark LT Autographed by Some of Country's Biggest Stars and Make Music on a One-of-a-Kind Lincoln Inspired Gibson Guitar

NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Country music fans have a chance to share a different sort of 'front row seat' with an impressive list of country stars and legends. Along the way they'll be helping drive awareness and excitement about the nation's number one country music museum.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050315/NYTU176 )

The Country Music Hall of Fame(R) and Museum is teaming up with Ford Motor Company's Lincoln brand and Gibson Guitar to auction an all-new 2006 Lincoln Mark LT pickup truck autographed by dozens of country performers. In addition to the new truck the winner will receive a Gibson Custom Lincoln Mark LT guitar produced exclusively for the auction only and not available for sale anywhere else. Finally, the winner also will get the chance to come to Nashville for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

All proceeds will go directly to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

The front passenger seat of the Mark LT is autographed by some of the biggest names in country music today, including many Hall of Fame members, plus a number of rising stars. Examples of those who signed on the Lincoln leather include Hall of Fame Board of Officers and Trustees President Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Tim McGraw, Reba McEntire, George Strait, Shania Twain and new Hall of Fame member Kris Kristofferson.

"Many performers deeply believe that by supporting the Hall of Fame, we're supporting the roots of country music and making sure they stand strong for future generations," said Vince Gill. "We're grateful that companies like Lincoln and Gibson are behind us as well. That's why so many artists' names can be found signed on this special Lincoln truck."

The auction of the Lincoln Mark LT and the one-of-a-kind Gibson Custom guitar will begin March 18 and go through April 30, 2005. To participate, potential bidders can go to http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com/. The truck will be delivered to Nashville later this spring. The winning bidder will be able to select his or her own choice of color and it will come with an extra front passenger seat so the winning bidder is able to preserve the autographed seat.

"Country music and Lincoln automobiles share one very key distinction -- both are steeped in American tradition," said Al Giombetti, sales manager for Lincoln Mercury and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Board of Directors. "Donating one of the earliest of our all-new 2006 Mark LT trucks is one small way to bring us together and benefit both traditions."

"Nashville has always been a haven for music and both Gibson Guitar and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum are partners in preserving that citywide personality," said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. "We are proud to be a part of this campaign and look forward to lots of auction action for two great products."

Lincoln Mark LT bring Luxury to a Whole New Place

The 2006 Lincoln Mark LT is designed for customers who want equal amounts of luxury and capability. The Mark LT has indisputable truck credentials with outstanding payload and towing capacity and adds an additional level of style and sophistication beyond high-end pickup trucks on the road today.

During the past decade, buyers flocked to the traditional pickup truck segment, more than doubling annual volume from 1.1 million to 2.3 million units. Lincoln's customer research predicts continued growth in the high end of both the truck and SUV segments.

"We believe the Mark LT will create a new segment in the market -- a true luxury pickup -- just as the Lincoln Navigator created a luxury SUV segment," said Giombetti.

The Lincoln Mark LT is available in 4x2 and 4x4 configurations with a 5.5-foot box plus available bed extender. Its standard 5.4-liter, 3-valve Triton(TM) V-8 engine produces 300 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 365 foot-pounds of torque at 3,750 rpm. The starting price for a Mark LT is $39,995.

The exterior design sets the truck apart from other pickups with a theme of chrome accents, including a dominant signature waterfall grille, wide tail lamps and thick-spoked wheels. A hefty band of chrome wraps around of the vehicle, highlighting its toughness. The chrome theme continues with available 18-inch chrome-plated wheels that display the Lincoln star at the center and optional box rail moldings adorned with chrome.

The Lincoln Mark LT offers a modern design interpretation of the brand's heritage with luxury enhancements such as real Ebony wood accents, soft Nudo leather seating surfaces and an indulgent level of standard equipment. Another ongoing Lincoln trait is attention to detail, depicted in the Mark LT with a special French-styled pleating in the seats.

More information on the Mark LT and other Lincolns can be found at http://www.lincoln.com/.

About Gibson Guitar

Gibson Guitar is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, MI and headquartered in Nashville since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corporation's family of brands includes Epiphone, Dobro, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Slingerland and Maestro. Baldwin, founded in 1862 in Cincinnati, is one of the oldest and most respected American piano makers, and the Baldwin Company, which also includes Wurlitzer, joined the Gibson family in 2001. Gibson's new digital guitar represents the biggest technological advance for the electric guitar since the instrument was invented 70 years ago. Visit Gibson's website at http://www.gibson.com/ or http://www.gibson.com/press.

Country Music Hall of Fame(R) and Museum

"We are grateful to Lincoln, Gibson Guitar and to the artists who have signed the truck," said Kyle Young, Director of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. "As a not-for-profit museum, this type of corporate and individual support is critical to our ongoing efforts to protect the legacy of country music history past and present." Accredited by the American Association of Museums, the Country Music Hall of Fame(R) and Museum is operated by the Country Music Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization chartered by the state of Tennessee in 1964. The Museum's mission is the preservation of the history of country and related vernacular music rooted in southern culture. With the same educational mission, the Foundation also operates CMF Records, the Museum's Frist Library and Archive, CMF Press, historic RCA Studio B, and Hatch Show Print. The Ford Division of the Ford Motor Co. is a Founding Partner of the $37 million Country Music Hall of Fame(R) and Museum, which opened on May 17, 2001. More information about the Country Music Hall of Fame(R) and Museum is available at http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com/ or by calling (615) 416-2001.

The complete list of autographs on the Mark LT is: - Duane Allen Oak Ridge Boys - Bill Anderson, Hall of Fame Member - Joe Bonsall Oak Ridge Boys - Suzy Bogguss - Ronnie Bowman - Jim Ed Brown, Grand Ole Opry Member - Junior Brown - Sam Bush - Kate Campbell - Melonie Cannon - Beth Nielsen Chapman - Elizabeth Cook - Jerry Douglas Alison Krauss and Union Station - Duane Eddy - Phil Everly, Hall of Fame Member Everly Brothers - Jimmie Fadden Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Danny Flowers - Radney Foster - Janie Fricke - Vince Gill, Grand Ole Opry Member - William Lee Golden Oak Ridge Boys - Vern Gosdin - Amy Grant - Jack Green, Grand Ole Opry Member - George Hamilton IV, Grand Ole Opry Member - Jeff Hanna Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Michael Jeffers Pinmonkey - Carolyn Dawn Johnson - Kris Kristofferson, Hall of Fame Member - Shawn Lane Blue Highway - Jim Lauderdale - Brenda Lee, Hall of Fame Member - Hank Locklin, Grand Ole Opry Member - Jimmy Martin - Martina McBride, Grand Ole Opry Member - Delbert McClinton - Del McCoury, Grand Ole Opry Member - Ronnie McCoury The Del McCoury Band - Rob McCoury The Del McCoury Band - Ronnie McDowell - Reba McEntire, Grand Ole Opry Member - Jonathan McEuen Hanna-McEuen - Tim McGraw - Jesse McReynolds, Grand Ole Opry Member - Jimmy C. Newman, Grand Ole Opry Member - Joe Nichols - Louis Nunley The Jordanaires - Maura O'Connell - Brian Prout, Grand Ole Opry Member Diamond Rio - Jeanne Pruett, Grand Ole Opry Member - Eddy Raven - Robert Reynolds The Mavericks - Michael Reynolds Pinmonkey - Marty Roe, Grand Ole Opry Member Diamond Rio - Tim Rushlow Rushlow - Dan Seals - Jeannie Seely, Grand Ole Opry Member - Tim Stafford Blue Highway - Gordon Stoker, Hall of Fame Member The Jordanaires - Richard Sterban Oak Ridge Boys - George Strait - Jerry Sullivan - Tammy Sullivan - Shania Twain - Debbie Wade Sisters Wade - Julie Wade Sisters Wade - Ray Walker, Hall of Fame Member The Jordanaires - Billy Walker, Grand Ole Opry Member - Lari White - Curtis Young The Jordanaires

Web site: http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com http://www.gibson.com http://www.gibson.com/press http://www.lincoln.com

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050315/NYTU176 AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/ PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com Source: Lincoln Mercury

CONTACT: Tina Wright, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, +1-615-416-2084, twright@countrymusichalloffame.com; Sara Tatchio, Lincoln Mercury, +1-313-575-8140, statchio@ford.com; Caroline Galloway, Gibson Guitar, +1-440-338-3469, caroline.galloway@gibson.com; Erin Morris, The Press Office, Alison Auerbach/AAPR, +1-615-269-6440, publicity@thepressoffice.net

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