The incredibly gorgeous Lincoln Continental Mark II, made only in 1956 and 1957, was a money loser for Ford Motor Company despite its astronomical $10,000+ purchase price. The car was virtually hand-built, with expensive materials. Only 3,005 were made, and one of them is available here on eBay at Mission Classics in Brooksville, Florida. Bidding is at $20,000, with the reserve not met—understandably. The current average sale price for these cars on Classic.com is $54,331.
This example looks pretty darn good, with a maroon body and white Bridge of Weir leather trimmed in complementary maroon. The engine is the 368-cubic-inch Y-block V-8, coupled to a three-speed Turbo-Drive automatic. This elegant transport rolled out of Ford’s Allen Park Body and Assembly in Michigan on January 30, 1956.
The car has had the AC, power steering, power brakes, power wing windows (yes, it has those) and power front seat upgraded. The wiper motor also got an upgrade. The correct hand-made hubcaps are in place with new 15-inch-wide whitewalls.
The selling dealer says the paint and trim are “decent,” as is the cargo area. The engine bay is “tidy,” and the bumpers are well fitted. Most of this will have to be taken on faith because the photos only show the exterior. More photos are “coming.” Celebrity owners of the Mark II include Barry Goldwater, Dwight Eisenhower, Frank Sinatra and Elizabeth Taylor. Sinatra, who seemed to have bought every car in sight, probably first encountered the Mark II in his film High Society with Grace Kelly (she drove Rovers, though).
The second-generation Continental followed the similarly understated 1939-1948 model, which had been marginally updated after World War II. The Mark II was the most expensive American car of the period. By contrast, a 1956 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible was only $7,286. This car appears to have led a relatively easy life, without a restoration necessary. A close inspection might unveil some to-dos, though. The mileage is only 57,351. If the bidding doesn’t go too much higher, someone is going to get a real bargain.
This a beauty and THE ONLY way to buy one of these. Forget any field or Forrest specials. I believe the only option on these was the ac and this one is a great color. Most of these were white and white on these makes a large car look gargantuan. A very striking example here.
If you buy one of these needing parts or cosmetics you will regret it forever. I’ve had one of them for 22 years though mine is a grey metallic that I bought from a friend who had it and two others that were actually each pretty nice but each had things missing. After selling mine he realized that, excepting used there are no parts to be had and each was too good to be parts for the other. for an example the front fenders are made of, I think, multiple different panels that are welded together and finished. I’ll eventually find mine a new home as I never drive it and I’m likely losing my storage space and it hasn’t had to sleep outside in 40 years that I know of.
I have one of these less the A/C. I put it up for a Mecum auction which it did not meet my reserve and had trouble reaching $30,000.00. I only hope the value is what is stated. I like the style of the vehicle and only wish they would of made a production model that was a convertible.
It has been a while and I may be incorrect but the retractable design was suppose to be for the Mark II and Ford dropped that idea because of costs and poor sales out of the gate.
This may be my childhood favorite car including the color. The school library had a book with pictures of classic cars.
The headlight treatment, I don’t know how else to describe it, is unique.
You can call the headlight treatment “frenched.” The recessed headlight look was popular in hot rod culture of the day.
Frenched,yet extended.
Requisite sharkskin continental cut suit not included?
Gorgeous ride, stunning color.
Always wanted one. Why there wasn’t a drop top version surprises me.
That is sweet. I love the color.
Colour looks like the Concord Maroon of our 63 Rambler.
I just wish it wasn’t left-hand drive and nineteen feet long.
Running the risk of being pedantic,,, the 56 – 57 Continental was not a Lincoln, but a stand alone marque for the two year run of this hand built car that was built by Ford to compete with Rolls Royce Silver Cloud and Bentley Continental. I remembered that these cars were a stand alone marque, but Wikipedia furnished the facts to back up my faulty memory. Originally a full model line including convertible were planned, but over $1000 per unit loss forced a re-think of the plan. It was 69 before the Marklll came out as a Lincoln, although the Lincoln Continental came along in the interim.
Compared to a Continental Mk.II? A ’56 Cadillac looked like a fat chick in a mu-mu.
Right. And the Continental never had the head room or any other room that the Caddy had but if you are with ok with second best, go for the Lincoln.
You took off your Pork Pie hat when you were riding in your Lincoln. But, Grandad always left it on, when he was driving his barge Cadillac, along with his turn signal.
Agreeing with an earlier commenter, the Mark II was not a Lincoln, but a separate Continental division under the auspices of William Clay Ford. Henry Ford II had assumed the role of Ford CEO from grandfather Henry and tried to find corporate roles for his younger brothers. William Clay was given the lead of the short lived Continental Division. When the division was shut down William Clay and younger brother Benson struggled to find meaningful roles within FoMoCo. Both struggled with alcoholism and William eventually assumed ownership of the Detroit Lions and straightened himself out. Benson was not so fortunate. For those interested “The Fords” by Peter Collier is a good read. A troubled family indeed.
my 1st 1/25 model car assembled at age 10.
Not a Lincoln and not sure why it is always referred to as such, especially here where we have seen a bunch of these.
One in this same color was always seen tooling around our town. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen that beauty in awhile.
It’s rather ironic that this car (and its respective division) failed because it was too good. Ford was looking to make the best car in the world, and they did just that with this one. Problem was they charged $10g’s (which most people refused to spend on a single car) for a car that cost them $11g’s to build.
On the other hand, Ford knew this in itself would not be a profitable venture; they counted on making their money back indirectly, by having the best car in the world draw increased interest in the lower brands: “I bought a Mercury; it’s made by the same people who make the Continental.” But, that wasn’t the case; any increases in Ford sales were marginal.
But its failure was not total, as many Lincoln enthusiasts are aware. After his involvement with the outrageous ’58 Lincoln design, Elwood Engel swore to do exactly opposite of that; so he designed a Thunderbird concept with styling of the Mark II. That concept was then chosen by the Ford hierarchy (specifically, Robert McNamara, JFK’s Secretary of Defense before he became Secretary of Defense) to become the design theme for Lincoln in the ’60s. So, Bill Ford’s truncated dream came full-circle.
If this car had been fitted with curved side glass it would have really been an amazing sight, even more so than it is (and it really is, no other car of the ’50s could match its aesthetics). I can only guess what the reserve is; whatever it is, it’s appropriate.
This car looks like a giant 1st gen t bird car.
That’s how I always describe it to someone who’s never seen it. :)
I have a creme colored one I’ve been restoring for over one year parts are a tough find but I’m getting there definitely my favorite car in my collection!! Drives nice with pretty good power for its weight
They’re neat cars and I’m glad to hear there are a few parts still around. If you can find a set there was a big Ford set of vaned wheel covers from the 60’s/70’s that decently mimicked the originals to use as drivers. The original wheels would flex and throw the originals in a sharp curve/intersection and they’re hard to find. Depending on what I’m doing the originals are in the trunk or shop.
Oh, you’re looking for a mini Cooper??