The 1956 Continental Mark II was intended to be the finest car you could by in 1956. It succeeded.The 1939-48 Lincoln Continental was a handbuilt luxury car designed under the direction of Henry Ford's son Edsel. Its clean, elegant lines were sensational at the time and heavily influenced the design of many cars to follow.
Ford execs decided the company needed a "halo" car in the early fifties and set designers to work on a modern interpretation of the classic Continental. The 1956 Continental Mark II (technically not a Lincoln) was introduced at the 1955 Paris Auto Show. Handbuilt of the finest materials with a blueprinted V-8 engine, only Rolls-Royce could compete with it. But the Continental left the Rolls choking on loser's dust in any performance contest. And the Rolls was so. . . stuffy. A ye olde English coach made for trundling down manicured country lanes with the Queen safely ensconced at her writing table in the rear. But the Continental Mark Ii was a fire breathing, V-8 powered American rock and roll highway star. Elvis Presley drove one. Frank Sinatra did, too.
Around 2600 Continentals were sold for the 1956 model year and another 444 in 1957.Though it was the most expensive American car available and sold for $10,000 (same as a Rolls) Ford lost $1,000 on each one sold. When Ford became publicly owned, the idea of losing money on a car for the prestige it brought lost appeal and the Continental program was cancelled.
Ford used the Continental name on various Lincolns through the decades, but they were mass produced models. It never handbuilt an ultra-premium Rolls-Royce competitor again.
Cadillac answered the new Continental with its Eldorado Brougham, an even more expensive, exclusive car you can read about by clicking here.
Today, the Continental Mark II is a highly underpriced, "sleeper" collectible. Ironically, the car's timeless elegance has led to it being overlooked as it lacks the soaring fins, copious chrome trim, and outrageous styling of its 1950s peers.
For more info check the slide show below and:
1957-58 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham: Beyond the standard of the world
How Lincoln got its groove back
Frank Sinatra's Rat Pack drove rare classics
1955-57 Ford Thunderbird: Taking the world by storm
1958-60 Ford Thunderbird: It's hip to be square
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