When Ford embarked on developing the Continental Mark II, it planned to produce the world’s best luxury car. Each Mark II left the factory loaded with creature comforts, and the only available option was air conditioning. Our featured Continental is one such classic, and it presents beautifully. The seller loves the Continental, but has decided to downsize their collection. Therefore, they have listed it here on eBay in Newberry, Florida. They set their BIN at $22,000 with the option to make an offer.
Ford created the Continental Division in 1955, positioning it above Lincoln as its most luxurious marque. It released the Mark II in 1956, focusing on a level of quality rarely seen in the automotive world. Engines came from Lincoln, but each was dismantled and blueprinted before being installed. The unique wheel covers weren’t one-piece stamped items but were hand-assembled from inner and outer sections and individual vanes. Workers installed every exterior panel to ensure perfect alignment, and then removed them before the body entered the paint shop. This Mark II is a first-year example ordered by its first owner in Forest Green. The listing image quality is relatively poor, but they allow us to make a fair assessment of this classic. The paint shines richly, the panels are straight, and there is no evidence of rust. The trim and glass look excellent, and the new Coker whitewalls add the perfect finishing touch.
The focus on perfection extended to the interior, with Continental pulling out all the stops with the Mark II. Trimmed in Bridge of Weir leather, each piece was vat-dyed to ensure consistent color throughout the interior. Standard equipment included power windows, power vent windows, a power front seat, full instrumentation, and a pushbutton radio. The only available option was $595 air conditioning, which this car’s first owner chose. The restored interior looks as impressive as the exterior, with no evidence of wear or other problems. It appears this beauty has been treated respectfully, with no aftermarket additions. The seller supplies no engine bay shots, but every 1956 Mark II featured the hand-built 368ci V8, a three-speed automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. The V8 delivered a fairly healthy 285hp and 402 ft/lbs of torque. It is worth noting that since the car weighs approximately 5,000 lbs, acceleration isn’t dazzling. However, the company focused on smoothness and low noise levels, and the Mark II is often praised for its eerie quietness. The seller confirms that this Continental is in excellent mechanical condition. It runs and drives extremely well and is a turnkey proposition for its new owner.
The Continental Mark II was an exercise in excellence, but that was also its downfall. No corners were cut during production, with a sole focus on quality. However, that approach meant that, for the company to sell the car at a price even remotely close to realistic, it lost money on every sale. The situation was unsustainable, and economic rationalism was required. Lincoln absorbed the Continental Division during 1956, and Mark II production ended in 1957. This 1956 example is a beauty, and with the listing heading into its final hours, it will be interesting to see if it finds a new home.
First time I’ve ever seen one of these before – beautiful car! Thanks for the insight, BF..
Would love to see this car “in person”. The e-bay pics do show several interior indicators of aging or restoration imperfections, 1) wrinkling of the dash cover behind the driver console and toward the center of the dash covering as well as an improper fit of the windshield trim, and 2) the seatback top cover of the right front seat. What can one expect for a prize seventy year old piece of true American made automotive “sculpture”? The $22,000 asking BIN price is much more than reasonable for this Continental, if as it appears, truly a bargain.