LAST OF THE HAND-BUILT CONTINENTAL MARQUE, HIGHEST $ AMERICAN CAR OF THE TIME!!

Description

In the mid-50s, there was a revival of hand-built luxury cars that could rival anything built before the war, with Ford pulling out all the stops with the Continental Mark II. Not merely a Lincoln, but an entirely new brand called Continental, these magnificent motorcars were perhaps the last cost-no-object machines ever built by a domestic automaker and are suddenly finding a very strong market for their unique brand of luxury.Despite the illusion provided by its exquisite proportions, this is a truly mammoth car. Weighing every bit of 6000 pounds, the beautifully built Mark II was personal luxury at its finest. And for many years, these cars languished as also-rans in the collector car hobby, but not anymore. Collectors are appreciating their wonderful combination of poise and luxury and the look is like nothing else of the era. Where every other car was laden with hundreds of pounds of chrome trim, the Mark II wears its bodywork like a tailored suit, almost devoid of ornamentation of any kind. There's the distinctive body line running along the flanks and the close-cropped roof line, so it's quite distinctive, but it's the shape that does all the talking. Finished in a white pearl, this handsome car certainly looks expensive in every way and is just a little bit more interesting than the original basic white. Fit and finish are good, but you have to remember that these were hand-built cars, so they aren't going to be perfect no matter how much money you throw at them. The chrome that is on the car is excellent and experts will spot that little scoop on the quarter panel, indicative of factory A/C living within.The bespoke interior is black and white leather that is impeccably tasteful in every way. The upholstery appears to be entirely original and in excellent condition, a testament to both quality and care. The instrument panel was influenced by both aircraft and clocks, with wonderfully detailed dials and levers for the HVAC controls, making for a very unique driving experience. A tachometer was standard equipment, more a curiosity than anything else in 1956, and the lovely textured face of the dash still has a bright finish. Power windows, power seats, and power locks were part of the package, and as I mentioned, the factory A/C is a very desirable option. The original AM radio is still in the dash, too! The trunk, even with the A/C system tucked behind the front panel, is truly massive and has been nicely upholstered in black carpet for a luxurious look.The 368 cubic inch V8 was ostensibly the same as those powering other Lincolns, but rumors persist that the Continental engines were specially selected and tested to ensure they were the best of the best. With a 4-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust, it's effortless but there's also a lot of mass to move, so while it's not a drag racer, it does have a feeling of inevitability and there are few finer highway cruisers. The engine was rebuilt to stock specs save for an electronic ignition system, and the beautifully ornate valve covers and gold engine enamel signify something special is under the hood. It features a proper air cleaner, a reproduction battery, and those wild exhaust manifolds that dump out through the inner fenders. A 3-speed automatic transmission and 3.07 gears ensure that it's comfortable at any speed and the suspension is so smooth that you hear bumps more than feel them. Big Bridgestone wide whites are fitted to steel wheels with those ornate hubcaps that are made up of dozens of separate pieces and are worth a small fortune all by themselves.Documented with restoration receipts, maintenance records, an owner's manual, and other paperwork, this is a wonderful Mark II that's truly a class of one. Call today!