1956 Continental Mark II, 2 door
On loan from: Jeff Knapp of Kearney, Nebraska
Original cost: $9,695 – $9,966 (cost of a new Cadillac at that time was less than $5,000)
Number made: 1,325
Engine, etc.: OHV V-8, 368.0 c.i.d.; 285 hp; 126.0 inch wheelbase; 218.5 inches long; 5,190 lbs.
The cost of the Mark II was twice that of 1956 Lincolns and Cadillacs, five times the cost of an average Ford, and half the cost of the average home in 1956. It cost as much or more than a Rolls-Royce. It was the most exclusive car on the market and had a commanding presence and authoritative elegance.
The Continental Mark II was the elite 1950’s automobile for the rich and famous. Buyers included Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Louie Prima, Dwight Eisenhower, Barry Goldwater, Spike Jones, Nelson Rockefeller, Henry J. Kaiser, Howard Johnson, and the Shah of Iran.
The Mark II was not made by Lincoln. Instead, it was made by the short-lived Continental Division of the Ford Motor Company whose general manager was William Clay “Bill”Ford, son of Edsel Ford.
There never was a model designated as a Continental Mark I.
The car was designed to personify American luxury in the spirit of the great pre-war classics and be, in effect, the American Rolls-Royce. It debuted at the 1955 Paris Motor Show. Designers used an understated European-influenced simplicity instead of heavy use of chrome popular then.
Much of the car was assembled by hand and Ford lost $1,000 on each Mark II sold.
The Mark II’s engine was meticulously hand assembled. It had a tachometer, power steering and power brakes, tinted glass, a dual heating system, premium AM radio, and full trunk carpeting. The interior was appointed with the finest imported Scottish leather. Air conditioning was the only major option. The unit was housed in the trunk and cool air was delivered through four registers set in the headliner. The exterior had multiple coats of hand-sanded paint, double-lacquered and polished to perfection. Several safety features were incorporated including a deep dish steering wheel, optional padded dash and sun visors, front and rear seatbelts, and separate right and left heater controls. Chrome plating was used extensively, not for appearances, but to protect door end panels, doorjambs, etc. Each chassis was given a 30-mile test drive before the body was mounted.
The hand assembly and custom choices made this the last bespoke car from any U. S. automaker. Each car came in a fleece lined cover, wrapped in a plastic bag, within its own wooden crate.
Marketing for the Mark II was confusing to the public: Continentals were sold by Lincoln dealers and had a Lincoln powertrain. Customers had trouble differentiating the two.
The Continental Division was discontinued when Ford went public in 1956 even though the car attracted people to Ford showrooms to purchase other Fords.
Sources:
http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z7531/Continental-Mark-II.aspx
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1956-1957-lincoln-continental-mark-ii.htm
http://www.hemmings.com/hcc/stories/2005/04/01/hmn_feature9.html