1956 Continental Mark Ii on 2040-cars

A Rare Beauty

This car has been out of the public eye for over 20 years. The car was gone over mechanically and it’s in great shape. It’s running and ready for someone with a passion to take it home.

The previous owner was preparing the car for restoration and the car has a new interior, a new stainless steel exhaust system (a very expensive installation), the car also received a complete brake job including busters, new brake lines and rebuilt cylinders, the engine and transmission were rebuilt before we purchased the car. 

All the bright work (which is almost impossible to find) is all here including hubcaps in close to new condition. 

This car has the Lincoln 368 cubic-inch V8 which is matted to a Lincoln three-speed automatic transmission. The back has the signature Lincoln spare-tire hidden in the trunk lid. These Continental Mark IIs were mostly hand-made and the quality has stood the test of time.

This car’s history

The Continental Mark II was sold to the rich and famous. This particular one was ordered by California car dealer Holmes Tuttle for his wife, Virginia.  The dealership was Beverly Lincoln-Mercury, Inc. (8955 Olympic Blvd in Beverly Hill, California.) Just weeks before Tuttle had received a similar Mark II for a famous client, Frank Sinatra. Tuttle was a friend and confidante of another famous actor, and later President, Ronal Reagan. This sale includes documentation of the car’s delivery to the dealership and its first owner, Virginia Tuttle. 

A very special and important car

The search for a successor to Edsel Ford's Continental began in 1952 with a special design section under William Clay Ford tucked away in the old Henry Ford Trade School without interaction with George Walker's main Ford studio. The first concept was completed in late 1952. Henry Ford II's reaction to it was succinct, "I wouldn't give you a dime for that car." W.C. Ford began again, this time however putting the project out to four independent design groups, plus the Trade School team, in a winner-take-all competition to be completed in April 1953. Five senior Ford executives independently viewed the proposals; all of them unsigned and presented in the same views, scales and colors. All five picked the same proposal, which turned out to be the internal Ford group's concept. Considering who they were it should have been no surprise: John Reinhart, formerly of Packard, Gordon Buehrig, designer of the Cord 810, Fred Beamish, also a Packard veteran, and others. 

The Continental Mark II was introduced in October 1955, stealing the limelight from the completely re-designed 1956 Lincolns, and has gone on to be one of the most respected and appreciated automobiles of the second half of the last century with long, sleek lines, a compact greenhouse and refined chrome trim. This 1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II beautifully shows the Mark II's sleek, low design and materials. Like all Continental Mark IIs it is fully loaded with every accessory and assists possible including air conditioning (not currently operational) and has benefited secure dry storage.

This 1956 Continental Mark II (keep in mind that there never was a model designated as a Lincoln or Continental Mark I) is a rare beauty. These rolling works of art were very costly back in 1956 and where only built for a few years. Today it is estimated that only about 1,500 still exist. 

The Continental Mark II was debuted to the public at the Paris Motor Show in 1955. During the close of 1955, around 1300 Mark II's were sold. For the entire 1956 model year, another 1300 were sold. In 1957, around 450 were produced for a total of just over 3000.

Their $10,000 sticker price was equivalent to a Rolls-Royce back in the day. Even at these high prices (Cadillacs were just $5,000 back in 1956), Ford still lost an estimated $1,000 per car.

The Continental Mark II had an understated beauty; it was elegant without the need to be flamboyant. Unlike the flashy American style of the time, it was very tasteful in its design. It did not use chrome, two-tone paint, or sharp styling cues to accentuate its beauty. At the front was an egg-crate style grille and straight fenders. The hood was long and curvy, perfect for concealing the 6-liter engine. Mounted on the hood and in the back was the four-pointed star that later became Lincoln's emblem.

If you are interested

Please do not bid unless you are serious buyer, the deposit is due within 24 hours. The balance is due within 5 days. Please email any questions you may have. It’s a clean New Jersey title and is ready to be signed over. 

This car is offered as is. It is a 57-year old car and I am providing as much information as I can as accurately as I can, based on what I know about the car. The car is being sold privately and I offer no warranties or guarantees.