What do this 1956 Continental Mark II and the 1951 Packard have in common? Not much, but their styling teams were led by the same man, John Reinhart. It’s not a bad legacy to have one’s name attached to two luxury nameplates, although he apparently “hated every design [he] ever made.” It seems that Mr. Reinhart didn’t like the compromises a designer had to make with engineers and accountants and was never really satisfied with the final versions of his creations. Well, we are sometimes our toughest critics. Still, the Mark II is a bona fide classic no matter who else you ask, and it was certainly as accurate a rendering of opulence as one could buy in 1956. It had one option: air conditioning (sorry, this one doesn’t have it); everything else you’d want was standard. It’s also one of the few true classics that hasn’t really appreciated as one would expect. Barn Finds reader T.J. found this one for sale on Marketplace in Port Deposit, Maryland, for $33,800; the seller mentions that the Mark II has a documented 26,789 miles, has been “well-sorted,” and wears a fresh paint job.
Most Barn Finds readers probably know that the Mark II was not branded as a Lincoln, much like the Imperial was not branded as a Chrysler for two decades. For a few years in the 1950s, Continental was its own brand, and the Mark II its dazzling offering. Many of you also probably know that it was the most expensive American car you could buy in 1956, at $9,966. Just about every power device available at the time was standard, including power steering, brakes, windows, seat, and radio antenna. The dashboard is simple, with complete instrumentation in a binnacle right in front of the driver (including a tachometer). The climate controls echo those in the futuristic X-100 concept car. The seller says that everything works except for the original radio and power antenna, and the upholstery was replaced in 2009 by the second owner (the car’s seller is the third). The number of available colors and fabrics was staggering.
The Mark II was basically a standard Lincoln in the powertrain department, being powered by Lincoln’s 368-cubic-inch Y-Block V8. Continentals did wear an extremely attractive engine dress-up kit, which included a pair of spectacular ribbed valve covers. Notice how the exhaust exits through the engine compartment sheet metal; from there, it travels along the frame rails so that it doesn’t hang below the lowest point of the car’s undercarriage. This is probably aesthetic, but it’s also practical: designers wanted to make this car as low as possible. The Y-Block (different from Ford’s Y-Block, by the way) channeled power through Lincoln’s Turbo-Drive automatic. A fun fact: Lincolns had, until 1955, used GM’s Hydramatic.
If you have been looking for a Continental Mark II, this one is certain to appeal to you. The car was resprayed in 2022 in its original Dark Green Metallic, which may or may not limit the car’s value (some don’t like green, but I do). The brakes have recently been replaced and all fluids changed. Just about everything on the car works, including the lights and signals. All-in-all, it’s a nice, clean driver for a reasonable price that seems to have been well-loved and well-maintained for almost 70 years, just as a styling classic deserves.
This is just stunning. When I saw this on Fast Finds I was hoping it would get written up. Nice find T.J. great write up too Aaron. I’m with you Aaron….
This is an absolutely beautiful shade of green, and especially so on a Mark II. I remember as a kid trying to draw different cars, this was one of them. The lines to me are beautiful. The stylist was way too hard on himself. Correct me if I’m wrong here, but I believe the 368 Lincoln V8s were gone through ( maybe balanced?) By hand before installation, and they used top quality leather for the interiors, and the paint jobs were hand rubbed lacquer. I always thought the deeper, darker colors look better than the lighter ones, it seems to enhance the body lines. Again, nice car, thank you for putting it on here I enjoyed it.
yes, this is a stunning example of the 56 Continental. Remember how the conversations went about the unbelievable $10k price tag at the time, just a few years before I could get my drivers license. Made for great “dream substance” at the time, still does. I could buy it now and maybe drive it for a couple of years before I burn my drivers license but without a proper garage to put it in for protection and preservation I have to pass out of respect for the care it has received in it’s lifetime. Hope it continues to be cared for and appreciated by a new owner.
Beautiful.
The wheel cover is described as damaged due to a “recent disengagement”.
That sounds like that SpaceX joker calling an explosion a “rapid unscheduled disassembly”.
The wheel covers on them are prone to “disengaging” due to wheel flex particularly if you put radial tires on it as they bite harder than bias-ply tires. For a while owners were using a Ford 60’s 70’s turbine wheel cover for a driver and saving the real ones to show. A concours grade wheel cover is stupid expensive.
Too funny!!!!!!
I had a 1998 Mustang convertible in Pacific Green, a color very close to this one. I used to make excuses to go out in the garage (like taking out the garbage) to look at that car. I think this shade of green works on a lot of cars. This Continental is probably a bargain at this price.
This Mark II looks terrific in dark green with the contrasting two-tone green upholstery. Maybe I should say, it looks terrific, period.
“The number of available colors and fabrics was staggering.” Perhaps Aaron found the same document I found. It lists 14 single-tone paint choices, 5 two-tone paint choices, and (get this) 43 different color and/or fabric choices. Can you imagine, especially in the context of today’s always-black interiors? For example, black paint had 17 different choices for upholstery. And white had… 34.
Impressive car and seems like a decent price for what it is. I just can’t do any more green cars.
What a fantastic color. What a great car
Gorgeous car! Doesn’t seem overpriced. Wishing I had the garage space, too!
This vehicle was an absolute mistake for the Ford Motor Company to build. They lost money on every single one they sold, which wasn’t many. People saw it for what it was. Additionally, the styling is just flat boring for the time. The standard 1956 Lincoln Premiere makes this Mark 2 look antique. After all, this was the space age! However, this featured example does look nice. What did the original paint look like? The new paint job looks a little too fresh for the interior of the car. I do love the cars of the past, but the Mark 2 edition leaves me wanting. On the plus side, the 1968 Lincoln Continental Mark 3 was fantastic and was a money maker for Ford!
Lovely car. If I had both the funds and the garage, I would have to see if I could fix that radio and antenna.
Gorgeous. Beautimus. Plus, extra Kool!
Sorry fellas for my short comment.
How can you give this automobile any more accolades than what we are witnessing now.
Damn the torpedos, exquisite automobile.
While this is a beautiful example of what, as a boy for $10K seemed like the moon, it looks like an old rich dowager lady should be behind the wheel.
The repaint is just awful. The car looks like it was dipped in plastic. These modern water-based paints are just junk. Buyers of newer cars now accept the robot painted units which mostly are orange-peel wanna-be’s for good paint. We had lacquers and acrylic lacquers which offered the ability to sand between coats and lay on an extremely smooth coating. Yes, they would crack over time but the look and depth of color will never be the same. It is my belief while this car is priced well, I would have paid more to have the original paint left alone. I am 78 years old and know our airplanes are not coated with water-based junk paints, nor are our refineries painted with them either. Imagine the Golden Gate Bridge being painted in some form of water-based paint. The EPA should be shut down and give us back our good products which actually worked and held up over the years. Give us back our incandescent light bulbs too. S.
And get off my lawn!
To Stephen Lee Adams: I couldn’t agree with you more, on the government regulating us out of everything we have enjoyed! Not only INCANDESCENT light bulbs (which, being Autistic, I absolutely require); but toilets that FLUSH, washing machines that WASH: dryers that actually DRY; shower-heads which truly get you wet and allow you to rinse-off completely; oil-based paints (where appropriate); body-on-frame full-sized V-8 automobiles; leaded gasoline (where appropriate)… the list goes on and on.
Harry, it sounds like you have a number of issues that can easily be resolved.
All my toilets flush just fine; if only my wife would do that. My washer and dryer do both of those things, so maybe you need new appliances.
Shower heads are easy: I just remove the restrictors that inhibit the water flow, or, if necessary, I drill them out. Presto! Water flow!
Latex-based paints are actually better than the old oil paints, and are less stinky and easier to clean up. I don’t miss oil-based paints in the least (except I do like POR 15).
Finally, my old cars run great on unleaded gas and always have. No valve issues etc. I do use the non-ethanol gas in the old cars to ameliorate any vapor locking issues.
So, there are “work-arounds” and ways to skirt these pesky problems. You just have to be resourceful, creative, and innovative.
I don’t recall ever seeing one of these before, but it’s beautiful. I bet it would be fun to cruise around in. As a Sci-fi fan it looks like something Buck Rogers might have wanted to drive.. and the price was certainly strasospheric as well for the average person. Just four years after this was made my dad bought our first house in the suburbs of north Denver for $10k and it had three bedrooms and a full basement.
I remember vividly when this car came out late in 1955, I saw it featured in Ford Times, and I went to see it. My impression was, that its styling-cues were more 1954 than 1956. And its proportions, as a coupe, were nearly ugly, and definitely awkward. It desperately cried-out to be a four-door sedan. Had it not had such a ridiculously shrunken greenhouse, it might have been a classic that would have defied the stupid “rocket-ship” styling which overtook the late 1950s and tastelessly uglified nearly all of our cars. I was NOT a fan of all of the “space-age” obsession during the 1955-1959 era; though I did appreciate most of the music — even that which I must admit in hindsight was trash (though it’s MY trash, and I still love it — smile). “Every man to his own taste”, said the old woman as she kissed the cow.
I remember vividly when this car came out late in 1955, I saw it featured in Ford Times, and I went to see it. My impression was, that its styling-cues were more 1954 than 1956. And its proportions, as a coupe, were nearly ugly, and definitely awkward. It desperately cried-out to be a four-door sedan. Had it not had such a ridiculously shrunken greenhouse, it might have been a classic that would have defied the stupid “rocket-ship” styling which overtook the late 1950s and tastelessly uglified nearly all of our cars. I was NOT a fan of all of the “space-age” obsession during the 1955-1959 era; though I did appreciate most of the music — even that which I must admit in hindsight was trash (though it’s MY trash, and I still love it — smile). “Every man to his own taste”, said the old woman as she kissed the cow.
It sounds like you’re a bit older than I am Harrison. I was six years old in 1956 and space ship stuff was pretty cool to me and I thought the cars were neat too, but then again so were the early western guys like Roy Rogers or mountain men like Daniel Boon (I had a cowboy outfit complete with six shooters, AND a coon skin cap both) and I loved movies like Thunder Road.. so I was pretty eclectic and I still am. Many would say I’m downright weird.. which I do not deny whatsoever, and I dig this old girl.. although not nearly enough to want to drop that kind of cash on it. Honestly I’d rather have something like the ’58 Ford Fairlane survivor I’ve seen a local kid driving around, or a Plum Crazy Challenger, but those are much too rich for my blood at the moment.
“Understated Elegance” is what always comes to mind when I see one of these beauties. Replacing that interior requires a substantial investment. One of my Bucket List vehicles, although one or two other cars precede this one. Hope I get to it before the bucket is empty.
My thoughts exactly. A previous commenter said it looks boring; I don’t think it was boring as much as it was restrained and classy. It has aged so much better than anything that ever flowed from Virgin Exner’s pen IMO. Stunning example in a beautiful color.
That trunk looks huuuuge!
My favorite Classic Lincoln MK II! I’ve always wanted and who knows someday may have to own one.
To JohnMichael: yes, I am (considerably) older than you are. I remember children your age, with their Davy Crockett or Daniel Boone coon-skin caps, and their toy cap-gun six-shooters and Mattel Fanner-50s, running their sweaty little selves and chasing each other all over the neighbourhood: “Jeff!! — I SHOT you! — YOU have to fall DOWN!” — and other inspired silliness, watching “Sky King”, “Wyatt Earp”, and every other action-western on television — while I tried to keep far out-of-range of all of that, studying, and listening to my 78s, and wanting to own that 1939 Buick Century up the street. 70 years ago: where did all the time go? Though I was surrounded by old people, I never thought that I would ever be old… but, here I AM — withered, white-heared, gently-careful on my feet, to guard against falls, and ANCIENT!
Thanks for that Harrison, I loved the part about “I SHOT you!” because I actually had a simiar experience once, and I’d totally forgotten about Sky King. :-) I liked my parent’s 78 records btw, especially the big bands, and their generation of music was cool to me. We had an old Victrola back in the day and I used to listen to Tommy Dorsey and other folks I don’t remember at the moment when they’d crank it up. Then later on when I was in my 30s I had a friend who was a sax player and he played for the Jimmy Dorsey band for a while and my wife and I went to one of their concerts in MD. That was long after Jimmy had died of course but the band had carried on, and it was great fun for me. And yes indeed, where did the time go? I’ve had an ongoing rant with God on that very topic.. Methusala at least had a fighting chance, but by the time I finally got things figured out (sort of) I’m already 75? What’s that about? I barely have a chance to enjoy it. I have yet to receive a reply on that despite my demands, but I’m not giving up. On the gray hair, yes for sure and a lot of it somehow mysteriously disappeared, but on the body I’ve decided I’m not going down without a fight so every day I’m out fast walking on a local trail and working out with my 40lb dumbells. My plan is to have RFK Jr’s body when I’m 100. Or maybe a fascimile thereof but we’ll see what happens. :-)
Harrison, I keep tapping the thumbs up, no response.
Damn site..
To JohnMichael: my “baby” brother is about to turn 76, and it was he who watched every western known to man, and played “cowboys and indians” with all of his little friends outside, and was big on both Davy Crockett and Dan’l Boone; I made the observations I made in the post above, remembering him. He was a ball of energy; whereas I was much older and more sedate. Now the poor guy is bald and deaf (the most advanced hearing aids won’t help him), and he had to have his knees replaced with only so-so results. He beat himself up badly with sports injuries, he went to Woodstock (definitely NOT my kind of scene!), and to all sorts of hard rock and heavy metal live concerts — then he was a flight mechanic in the Air Force — he will tell you, “I never wore earplugs or ear protectors of any kind, because I was young and stupid — and I blew my ears out. By the time I realised that all of the ringing meant that I was losing my hearing, it was way too late — so I have only myself to blame.” Our older sister, who is going to turn 90, does better than both of her younger brothers. I hope you WIN your battle to a younger body and long coming years! Best wishes! By the way, Jimmy Dorsey had a big hit in 1957: “So Rare”, which I have on a Fraternity 78. He did not live long after that to enjoy the success. Both of the Dorsey brothers died young, sadly. The late Tommy Dorsey’s band, led by Warren Covington, had a huge 1958 hit, “Tea For Two — Cha-Cha”.
To JohnMichael: my “baby” brother is about to turn 76, and it was he who watched every western known to man, and played “cowboys and indians” with all of his little friends outside, and was big on both Davy Crockett and Dan’l Boone; I made the observations I made in the post above, remembering him. He was a ball of energy; whereas I was much older and more sedate. Now the poor guy is bald and deaf (the most advanced hearing aids won’t help him), and he had to have his knees replaced with only so-so results. He beat himself up badly with sports injuries, he went to Woodstock (definitely NOT my kind of scene!), and to all sorts of hard rock and heavy metal live concerts — then he was a flight mechanic in the Air Force — he will tell you, “I never wore earplugs or ear protectors of any kind, because I was young and stupid — and I blew my ears out. By the time I realised that all of the ringing meant that I was losing my hearing, it was way too late — so I have only myself to blame.” Our older sister, who is going to turn 90, does better than both of her younger brothers. I hope you WIN your battle to a younger body and long coming years! Best wishes! By the way, Jimmy Dorsey had a big hit in 1957: “So Rare”, which I have on a Fraternity 78. He did not live long after that to enjoy the success. Both of the Dorsey brothers died young, sadly. The late Tommy Dorsey’s band, led by Warren Covington, had a huge 1958 hit, “Tea For Two — Cha-Cha”.
I guess it was a generational thing and was dependent on what was going on at the time, because your bro was on par with where I was at during that period. I would’ve gone to Woodstock myself because the hippie movement (if it can be called that) was definitely my thing at the time but I didn’t hear about it until after it was over. I did go to what was touted as the second Woodstock in Dallas the following year, but it was a big nothing burger overall. Some of the original folks showed up but not many as I recall and sitting in a field a thousand yards from the stage wasn’t all that much fun, so a friend and I stayed for a day and a half and left. I did find out how amazingly good a Chevelle could do on gas with an overdrive in it though because mine got 30mpg with a 283! That’s a real number btw.. and we were doing over 65mph between Denver and Dallas. I do know something about the ear thing your bro is dealing with too, but mine it just in the left ear and was from stupidly putting a set of quarter wave CB antennas on my 4×4 Toyota pickup rear view mirrors and driving with the windows down in MD summers because I didn’t have air. Nevertheless my heart goes out to him because it sucks not having good hearing. Our decisions (and arrogance in my case) definitely do have consequences. Thanks for the heads up on Jimmy’s ’57 hit too, I’ll check that out. And on the ageing thing.. who knows what will come of me this time around but I think it’s awesome that you and your sister and brother are still carrying on. :-) I still like the car btw, and if I had the money I think I’d take a closer look at it because it’s definitely growing on me. I could put on a Buck Rogers out fit and cruise around Tucson and blow everybody’s mind. =:0)
I gotta tell you, you guys are adding a whole new dimension to this website and I love it. My own story is dad was sent to Korea during the conflict. Mom didn’t know anyone in California that she could stay with so someone from dad’s company hooked them up with a family in Oakland, which was where and when I was born. The family my mom stayed with was none other than the Brady’s (no, not them!). Fast forward to the mid 50’s. One of my favorite shows was Roy Rodgers (of course I was in love with Dale Evans! But, Annette Funicello was a close second!). At about 5 years old I asked why the jeep was named Nelly Belle. She explained something but that’s when she also told me Pat Brady is/was my godfather. For years I wanted that jeep and knew if I did get one, I’d name it Nelly Belle. Unfortunately that never happened but the Roy Rodgers show still holds a special place in my memory banks!
Thanks for posting this Mick.. it has for sure been a cool conversation. I loved Dale Evans and Annette too, although I have to admit I liked Annette a lot more, probably because of my love of music and her being in the Mickey Mouse Club and way closer to my age.. and she was super cute. That’s sooo cool about your godfather being Pat. I remember the song he did with Sons Of The Pioneers called “Old Nellybelle”. The Sons were a favorite of mine, especially their song “Cool Water”.
Hello, mick! You are so YOUTHFUL! I was not quite old enough to go to Korea, but not very far off, either. You must be around 71 or 72, or thereabouts: I was so YOUNG at that age and failed to realise it. I’m drastically older now in body, than I was then! It’s strange how things just begin getting stiff and creaky, and muscles weaken… but I have to admit that most of my contemporaries are no longer living — so I have no complaints.
Hello, JohnMichael! And mick! I remember Pat Brady very well! SUPER fan of The Sons Of The Pioneers! I have many, many of their 78s and 33s, including their 1947 RCA Victor four record 78 rpm set, “Cowboy Classics”, signed by Hugh Farr and Karl Farr (the first song in which happens to be their 1945 recording of “Cool Water”) — I also have their 1941 version on a DECCA 78. They recorded it again in 1959 on an RCA Victor Living Stereo 33, and I have that as well. Small world! That album is entitled, “Cool Water”, and their next album was “Lure Of The West”, which I also have. I have their 10″ album, “Western Classics”, which features, “(Ghost) Riders In The Sky”. I have a 78 rpm four-record set of Hymns and Spirituals, as well as two extended play 45s, one featuring “Room Full Of Roses”, and the other featuring “Empty Saddles”. And I have very many single 78s, on DECCA and on RCA Victor especially. Their instrumental style updated at the end of the 1950s, featuring smooth strings and a Nashville background, instead of their distinctive western fiddles, and I did not care for that change. But then, their 1934 78s sound quite different to the ones from 1937 to 1954 or so. Numerous personnel changes did not alter their essential harmonies and presentation. Anyway, you hit a pleasant “nerve” with this: SMALL WORLD!
Wow Harrison.. that is a fantastic collection! I’d love to be able to hear all of them. I’ve come across some on Youtube but nothing like what you’re talking about. Maybe you should open a channel and upload them.. that would be super cool! I agree, it is a small world, and this entire conversation has been delightful, so thank you, and thanks Mick as well! :-)
Thank you to you guys, too. I hope our paths cross again,
either here or . . . ?
Happy Trails to you!
I became interested in “Barn Finds”, when it popped-up on my ‘phone. And it was easy to post here, at least for a short while. Then my ability to follow what I was doing became blinded by full screen pop-up ads (usually for 2025 S.U.V.s or trucks of one sort or another, or new motorcycles). I expressed frustration over this, and it was suggested that my problems with pop-up ads and what I was typing moving suddenly up or down, would end, if I joined — and so I did. That worked for (maybe) a week to ten days. Then the ads returned so aggressively, and attempting to get around the first half-screen ad would have me instantly confronted with an entire-sceen blinding ad. Trying to get around THAT one would produce another; then working to get out of THAT one, would knock me off the page entirely, and I would have to get back on, having lost whatever I had been composing to post. This would happen again and again, costing me HOURS of wasted time! I am seriously tempted not to bother anymore, altogether — look at the cars if I want to — but keep any comments to myself. Can’t something be DONE about this?
To JohnMichael and mick: Happy Trails to both of you (to quote Roy Rogers and Dale Evans). If it weren’t for friends such as you two, and some others like Dave in PA and RICK W and Queen_Cadillac_Diva (I never can renember her complete title, unless I am looking at it), I’d have been OUT of here already, owing to the relentless ads. I have no idea how to open up a channel, or I would have done so long before now, and up-loaded LOTS of old music. There are some extensive Bear Family boxed sets of CDs on The Sons Of The Pioneers, as well as a good number of 33 L.P.s; however, unusually for them, the sound on the pre-1960 material is nowhere near as good as on the original 78s. Most often, Bear Family re-issues are superb — so I have no idea what happened with the SONS.
The Sons of the Pioneers:
Cool Clear Water
youtube.com/watch?v=amDo-KqUjpA