Unrestored Original: 1957 Continental Mk II
It’s so tempting to call this car a Lincoln Continental. But it’s not. In 1956, Ford – hoping to carve market share away from Packard and Cadillac – created a new luxury vehicle division: Continental. Its first car was the Mark II, a follow-on to Edsel Ford’s Lincoln-Continental. The name evoked European flair, and every example was largely handbuilt. Options were numerous – more than 40 interior fabrics and 19 exterior colors, along with the best technology of the day to please occupants: four-way power seats, power just-about-everything-else, a Travel Tuner AM radio, optional air conditioning. The car cost a hefty $10,000 at its introduction, assuring that only the wealthiest individuals could become owners. Only about 3000 were made over two years – the short production run explained by the $1000 that Ford lost on each copy. Here on eBay is a 1957 Continental Mk II bid to $25,100 in a no-reserve auction. The car is located in Henderson, Nevada.
The engine is Lincoln’s 368 cu. in. V8, making 300 hp by 1957, and mated to a three-speed automatic. The engine received special attention from Continental before installation, including extensive dyno testing. Still, the car weighs over 5000 lbs when equipped with AC like this one (the condenser is installed in the trunk), so performance is ponderous. Meanwhile, Cadillac’s Eldorado Brougham boasted 325 hp, and a four-speed automatic – not that it sold very well either given its $13,000 price. The seller indicates that this car is “all original” but I’m not sure the engine bay paint matches the exterior. Other than that quibble, the car is said to start, run, and drive well with no leaks or smoking.
The interior is tolerable, with moderate wear and soil evident throughout. But the windows, seats, lights, and gauges all work – a minor miracle! All the glass is good, and the rubber seals appear intact, though after all these years, I’d expect some vulcanization. The delicate climate controls are a reminder that aircraft design was ascendant in the 1950s. This car was sold new in Las Vegas and stored for much of its existence; the odometer reading of 58,000 is said to be true mileage.
Speaking of design, the Continental was nearly devoid of the style tricks embraced by Cadillac – no fins, no stainless roof, no splashy chrome, no bullet bumpers. The one nod to excess was the faux continental bump in the trunk lid, which wasn’t completely “faux” as it did serve to surround the spare stored upright in the tail. This example has a few dents in its acreage of sheet metal, and the chrome is hazed. Still, for its various cosmetic faults, the price is still reasonable at just under Hagerty’s “fair condition” valuation.
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Comments
Wow, what a great write-up, Michelle. You are really hitting your stride. Brava!
Really? I thought it was rather pale, myself. But thanks!
Rex is flirting with you. :)
Totally solid write-up. Give yourself credit.
Well said, Rex.
Don’t sell yourself short, Michelle. You know what you’re talking about, you know how to explain to lay people and experts alike what it is you know-and that’s not really an easy task.
Stay the course!
These were hand built cars. Very high quality and why they were so expensive
Agreed! Much better than some of the other stuff we see here.
Just confused – is it in Nevada or Florida….and it has had a repaint and a fender bender….but hey it’s a nice one with A/C…..
the broker is in florida, the car is in Henderson, adjacent to las vegas. dont let the eye candy fool you, the only other one i knew of was a flatbed queen. The write up was fair enough detail is seeing this car in person in Nevada :)
I dig those finned valve covers!
Those valve covers cost very serious money when you can find them! … same is true for the finned stainless steel hubcaps! … those items are very close to “unobtainium”!
Yes!
I agree, good write-up Michelle.
I can recall seeing only a handful of these in real life, typically at high-end car shows. At these shows, and when one is featured here, I’m always impressed by how clean and classy they look. When the styling trend was quickly headed to over-the-top, they certainly must have impressed with their restraint… or maybe they were considered too restrained. Whatever, their price and limited production made them rare back then, and not commonly seen today.
Looks like a pretty good example. “…kids will scrape it with there (sic) bicycles.” Been there, done that on the family car; Dad didn’t get too angry with me.
Needs an LS! Not really. I always thought these were great looking cars and would love to have one that was 100% authentic. I understand the desire for modern safety and convenience items, but it’s always a letdown looking at a vintage car and seeing digital gauges or a steering wheel that looks like it was at purchased from the bargain bin at Pep Boys
I agree Tbone…mostly everyone seems to want to do an LS swap. And I get it..their plentiful, cheap…for the most part and produce good hp. I found my 63 GP that Russ did a bit on here last year. (Trailer find). All there and the original 389 runs…she doesn’t drive yet but, but thats coming. Only thing I want to change is that Slim Jim with a TH200 or TH350, but needs the adapter kit for the block for that to work..or do a 3 pedal conversion with a Muncie, but now I’m getting into big $$ lol…unless I get a 64 ^ block for the starter mount then skys the limit, but want to keep her original power plant. Ahh to each their own I guess.
Keep us posted on your progress! Enjoy seeing cars like these brought back to life.
There are only 6 known 100% original MarkII cars known to exist! Those examples are 6-figure-type of garage jewelry!!
Per LCOC of America,there are less than a dozen 100% original Mark IIs known to exist! Those cars are 6-figure garage jewelry!
Here’s some Continental trivia…One of these is in a scene from “Sweet Smell of Success”. Burt Lancaster (big scumbag) has an interaction with Tony Curtis (lesser scumbag)…Lancaster gets in his Continental, driving off blowing exhaust smoke in Tony Curtis’s face. Great writeup.
I noticed that too. A symbol of success, J.J. Hunsaker was driven in the coupe. Remember what his apartment looked like? J.J. was super successful in that 50’s period. M♣️🏛
Great write up indeed; have a cousin with an extensive collection of cars and a preference for Lincoln Continentals. He currently owns a ‘56 previously owned by Charleston Heston – Moses himself! lol. All original and has not been touched – only maintained – since 1978.
technically ‘continental’ it was exclusive back then $$$$
There should be air intake scoops between the C pillar and trunk opening if it has factory AC I believe.
Only on the ’56s. On the ’57s the intake air came from the front and was routed via a duct in the rocker panel to the evaporator in the rear.
I think the ducts in the quarters were originally only to be on the A/C cars but were eliminated altogether just as the cars were being introduced due to problems. I have them in/on mine (#1506) and they’ve never been a problem but it hasn’t been out in the rain since about 2001. I’ve never heard that about a duct in the rocker panel and the ones on my 56 is the route the factory used to run the exhaust. Don’t let a bare leg touch the stainless steel rocker moldings. That bright idea wasn’t too well thought out. The dashboard is supposed to be covered with a thin leather cover the same as the seats not painted like this one. No one I know of makes the correct type as I need it myself.
You are correct. only the ’57 model year offered AC with the air inlet “scoops at the top of the quarter panels. Per the ad,this one has that option as evidenced by the engine bay photo and one of the pics where the left quarter panel scoop can be discerned.
Michael Freeman, I own ’56” Model year #184. I acquired it in 1984 from the original owner’s estate …. just under 57,000 original miles.
Still one of the best looking cars of the ’50’s, or any other time period. Another bucket list car for me. But recently, I’ve noticed that the bucket has a hole in it, or something…
Bucket list car here, too. Minor correction.The AC evaporator is what is in the trunk. The condenser is likely placed just ahead of the radiator as in most air-conditioned cars. Condensers reject heat to the outside and evaporators absorb heat to cool the air in the car’s interior.
Correct! The evaporator and the spare tire in the trunk of the AC cars render the trunk accessable/usable for only a bag of groceries and a small tool bag! Ha,ha.
Interesting. I thought only the late 40s early 50s Cadillacs had the fuel filler neck under the taillight assembly. This design was more than likely before intellectual property infringement laws. Life and times were much simpler then.
Odd thing about the fillers in that the Cadillac and Chevy’s that had that feature flipped on a spring making the lens face forward when it was open. An engineer didn’t like that, thought it was a safety issue, and made the one on the Mark II swing to the left on an articulated hinge so you could still see the brake, turn signal if left open.
Yes … and that articulated hinge is made of Pot Metal! … So VERY important to know how to swing it “out and over to the left somewhat “gingerly”!
In retrospect maybe not a good idea and design considering gas fumes and potential spark from the taillight bulb.
If you want to see one that has been modified to the Nth degree, there is one for sale at Barrett Jackson Scottsdale.
https://robbreport.com/motors/cars/1957-lincoln-continental-mark-ii-restomod-barrett-jackson-2024-scottsdale-auction-1235442988/
The Mark II’s are beautiful cars. They avoid all the excesses of 50’s cars. They will look good forever.
Is it just me or does that engine bay have that ” radiator boiled over look ?
That’s not an indication of a boil over. That’s good old desert dust. I’ve lived in southern Arizona for many years and unless you wash the engine compartment regularly it will look just like that. I’ve bought old cars with an engine bay that looks like that and a simple garden hose spray reviled original engine paint in good condition
Me thinks it is just dusty/filthy-dirt! I fealt can’t understand why the seller would not just perform a rudimentary engine bay wash?!
A nice, solid example close to my mother’s home. It always baffles me why these haven’t reached six figures for a #1 example, given their rarity and especially given that some Eldorado Broughams have sold for north of $100K. Granted, the Brougham was more unique and it had little in common with other Cadillacs other than the engine. My only guess is that they shared too many parts with Lincolns and people had the mistaken thought that they were merely gussied-up Lincolns.
Other than engine, transmission, wheels, and tires they really share nothing with anything else Lincoln built. That’s why if you look for one you need an intact car to restore or better yet buy one already restored.
These hand built cars are underappreciated and don’t bring the money they should. My dad had a very clean 56 back in the mid 70s but even then too costly to paint and new leather interior vs value
After I graduated in ’61 I worked at Krogers. I got to know a lady shopper and love to do her carry-out because she had a beautiful ’61 red and white Corvette. One day I took her carry-out into the parking lot looking for the vette. Behind me she said “I don’t have the vette today” here’s my other car. It was a Continental MK II and this car is it’s twin !
Today I do have a ’17 Continental and three Corvettes, I would love to park this one beside them !
Sounds like a lady that many of us would’ve loved to get to know, but I would imagine she was married.
Timeless design and very distinctive! I remember a friend of my father buying a used one around 1964 and coming over. All the neighbors came over to check it out. It was an eye turner for sure!
You folks with all the glowing comments need to be talked down from the ledge. Yes, this is a seductive car, but it needs everything. And because it’s so huge, it’ll need extra time, effort, and money. Leave this one for Mr. Deep Pockets and find another that’s already restored–for half the money and none of the time.
I’ve always loved these ever since I saw one through the school bus window in 1956. As far as I remember it was the only one in Savannah, Ga. This car looks like it has been regularly driven and not really treated like a valuable car that it is. Just enjoyed and used. Looks like it has been driven on some dry dirt roads judging by the under-hood coating of dust. Not to criticize it, but it really needs body work and a premium paint job to bring it up to the condition it deserves. Will be nice if the buyer is financially well off to give it what it needs.
Great write up and car. Unfortunately, another one was just featured on here this morning in black that is a scam.
You are correct! I checked out your find and it is certainly a total scam! How are these kinds of thieving trolls not identified by various websites? I would think that places like barn finds would have big-data parsing capability to identify such nefarious activity. Hmm.
My dad had a 56 in the mid 70’s that I spent quite a lot of time behind the wheel of and it was quite the freeway flyer, running I-45 between Dallas and Houston with my Fuzzbuster on the dash, 90 mph was easy cruising!
FuzzBuster! Ha! I had two of them! They worked pretty well for the old straight-up radar! Saved my pocket-book many times!
slow down around Corsicana. There is a bear’s den there. Ask me how i know.
Good catch! … Total Scam!