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Lincoln Mark LT Chopper Up for Bid on eBay to Benefit Habitat for Humanity(R) Hurricane Relief

- Lincoln will put up for bid a Mark LT Chopper - a custom motorcycle built by Orange County Choppers - during the Habitat for Humanity International(R) Charity Auction to be held on eBay Oct. 3, 2005-13.

- Proceeds from the winning bid will benefit Habitat for Humanity International's(R) 'Operation Home Delivery' for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in New Orleans and other communities along the Gulf Coast.

- Lincoln Mark LT-inspired chopper valued at $150,000. Opening bid is $25,000.

DALLAS, Sept. 29 -- It's big. It's bad. It's up for bid. After revving up millions of fans at the country's premiere auto shows and cruising into Lincoln Mercury dealerships nationwide, the Mark LT Chopper will head home with a lucky motorcycle lover next month. Show-goers attending the State Fair of Texas will get a close-up look at the famed chopper before it goes up for bid to benefit an important cause.

Inspired by Lincoln's Mark LT luxury truck and built by well-known custom motorcycle builders Orange County Choppers of The Discovery Channel's "American Chopper," the Mark LT Chopper is valued at $150,000. Lincoln will list the distinctive chopper on eBay during the Habitat for Humanity International(R) Charity Auction benefiting "Operation Home Delivery," Habitat's rebuilding program in New Orleans and elsewhere along the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

"Fans have been raving about the Mark LT Chopper since the moment we unveiled it," said Al Giombetti, vice president, North America Sales, Ford Motor Company. "We're glad we can donate this unique chopper to help people rebuild their lives. We anticipate motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world will be eager to enter their bids and show their support for such a critical cause," Giombetti said.

The Mark LT Chopper will be on display at the State Fair of Texas Sept. 30 -- Oct. 23. Those attending the fair on Oct. 3 will have an opportunity to meet the chopper's designers, Paul Teutul, Sr., Paul Teutul, Jr., and Mikey Teutul, as bidding begins for the Mark LT Chopper that day at $25,000. The charity auction runs through Oct. 13. To pre-qualify for bidding, go to http://www.ebay.com/marklt or link there from http://www.lincoln.com/occ.

"We are delighted to be in such great company with Ford, Lincoln and the Teutels and the causes they have represented in their fabrications -- the New York Fire Department, the POW-MIA movement," said Jonathan Reckford, Habitat for Humanity International's(R) chief executive officer. "We are humbled to see the proceeds from the listing go to another great need -- the families who, though they lost their homes in Hurricane Katrina, must not be allowed to lose hope as well. This charity auction will help rebuild more than homes. It will help rebuild lives."

Lincoln Luxury on Two Wheels

Designed for customers who want equal amounts of luxury and capability, the Lincoln Mark LT provided the Orange County Chopper team with plenty of inspiration for this distinctive chopper. Lincoln had the bike created to show customers how the Mark LT might look on two wheels and to highlight the key luxury features of the truck.

The Mark LT Chopper stretches over 9 feet and sits on a 21x3.5 front tire and an 18x10.5 rear tire to give it a beefy truck-like stance. Lincoln's trademark waterfall grille inspired the design of the gas tank, handlebars, air-cleaner housing and oil tank. The dark toreador red metallic paint, the light parchment leather seat, chrome accents and Lincoln badges were cloned from the Mark LT.

"When designing the bike I wanted to give it a substantial stance to match the truck. So I went with a wide tank and lowered it by inverting the front end," said Paul Teutul, Jr., Orange County Choppers, Inc. "I really liked the grille and chrome accents so you can see how we carried that theme throughout the bike. The paint color with the chrome really worked great together. I can honestly say that this is probably the classiest looking bike we've built at OCC."

The chopper also has a set of custom chrome rims that feature a patented "friction drive" system that tumbles three embedded Lincoln star logos in each wheel as they turn. Raised and etched Mark LT lettering adorn the belt drive and housing cover. The exhaust's sweeping design ends in a custom flare that copies the seat's unique shape. The chopper's power comes from a 2150cc motor that produces 131-horsepower and 141 ft. lbs. of torque. The motor connects to a 6-speed manual transmission and belt drive system for a smooth and powerful ride.

Mark LT -- Taking Luxury to a Whole New Place

The Lincoln 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. The Mark LT offers four full doors, front captain's chairs and a full rear seat, all providing ample comfort for five adults.

The Mark LT's exterior features a theme of chrome accents, asserting the vehicle's status and enhancing its appearance. Its dominant signature waterfall grille, wide taillamps and thick-spoked wheels give it an unmistakable family resemblance to today's Lincoln lineup. The Lincoln Mark LT uses contemporary finishes and warm colors to create an environment that is both inviting and stimulating. The Mark LT delivers with a standard 5.4-liter, 3-valve Triton(TM) V-8 engine that produces 300 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 365 foot-pounds of torque at 3,750 rpm.

About Lincoln

Lincoln is a brand of the Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., which manufactures and distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With nearly 325,000 employees and 110 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo. Its automotive-related services include Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, visit http://www.fordvehicles.com/.

About Habitat for Humanity International(R)

Habitat for Humanity International(R), based in Americus, Ga., is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since 1976, Habitat has built more than 200,000 houses in nearly 100 countries, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for one million people. http://www.habitat.org/.

About Kompolt

Kompolt was retained to manage the charity auction. Kompolt is the highly regarded "go-to" online auction agency for creating successful, high value, and high profile promotional and charity auctions for top brand companies and nonprofits. For more information, go to http://www.kompolt.com/