Vehicle Description
Unlike his extremely pragmatic father, Edsel Ford had a firm grasp
on the importance of style and fine design when it came to selling
cars. The younger Ford would often have special one-off cars built
for his own personal use; casually showing them off to his wealthy,
influential friends to gauge their reaction. Late in 1938, Edsel
Ford partnered with stylist Eugene T. "Bob" Gregorie to create a
one-off personal car based on the V12 Lincoln Zephyr. Lincoln
needed a new car at the top of its lineup, and the one-off car
created for Edsel proved to be a huge hit with his friends. From
his vacation home, he sent a telegram back to Dearborn proclaiming
he could sell thousands of the new car and thus, the Continental
was born. Having bridged the pre-war and post-war years
successfully, the Continental was discontinued in 1948. But by the
early 1950s, under the guidance of Edsel's son William Clay Ford,
Ford Motor Company began working on a new brand that would could
not only compete with, but surpass Packard and Cadillac. This would
be a car comparable to the likes of Rolls-Royce and Mercedes-Benz,
an American luxury car to take on the best the world had to
offer... and the name Continental was the perfect moniker for this
European flavored personal luxury car. For the Continental's second
incarnation, Ford created The Continental Motor Division which was
a separate, stand-alone division independent from Lincoln. Their
first model, the Mark II was designed from the ground up with the
goal of being the finest on the market. An all new chassis was
designed with outboard frame rails which allowed the body to be
mounted very low. Suspension was conventional, with some parts
sourced from other Ford divisions. Power came via a Lincoln-derived
368 cubic inch (6.0 liter) Y-block V8. What differed however, was
that each Continental engine was balanced, blueprinted, and
rigorously tested to ensure it met the quoted 285 horsepower
output. The new chassis was clothed in a body penned by John
Reinhart and engineered by the great Gordon Buehrig. At 18-feet
long and just 4-feet, 8-inches tall, it was no doubt imposing, but
Ford took bold step to buck the popular trend of chrome and fins in
favor of a look that was elegant, understated and minimally
adorned. It was a model of sophistication and in many ways, well
ahead of its time; judged today as one of the most beautiful
American cars of the era - and perhaps of all time. Aside from its
graceful style, the two-door coupe was built with the finest
materials such as Bridge of Weir leather and hand finished
paintwork. Every car had electric windows and seats, along with
power steering, power brakes, tachometer, and automatic
transmission. The only option available was air conditioning -
which cost a staggering $595 (more than $5000 today). Each car was
road tested and delivered in a special fleece-lined cover. Given
the meticulous nature of the Mk II's assembly and despite its
$10,000 price tag (the most expensive American car at the time) it
is said that Continental lost money on every car sold, and the
division was folded into Lincoln after 1957. Regardless, the
Continental Mk II made a bold statement that Ford was not afraid to
take on the best the world had to offer, and they did so with a
most breathtaking automobile that was embraced by celebrities and
business moguls the world over. Our featured 1956 Continental Mk II
is a very fine example that has covered just over 61,000 miles from
new and has been lovingly maintained and cosmetically restored to a
very high standard. This car is finished in its original and
desirable color scheme of black over a two-tone white and red
interior -the same as what appeared in many of Continental's
original promotional materials. According to a copy of the original
invoice, it was delivered via L&W Motors in Canton, Illinois to
Robert J. Burst. It appears to have spent much of its life in that
state before being sold to a buyer from Sweden in approximately
2008. While in Sweden, it was treated to a high quality bare metal
respray, all body rubbers were replaced and a new exhaust system
fitted, using parts sourced from American specialists. Today, this
Continental presents in beautiful condition, with an exceptionally
straight body and consistent panel fit. The black paint remains in
superb order, accented by high quality chrome bumpers and trim,
most of which appear to be outstanding originals. Given the cost
and complexity of restoring a Mk II, many have been mistreated or
neglected, so it is rare to find such a handsome and well-presented
example as this. The luxurious interior is trimmed in supple
leather as original, with white bolsters accented with red inserts
as per the original invoice. The seats and soft trim are in fine
condition, showing only light use. Door panels, dash and carpets
are excellent and all original switches and chrome fittings remain
in good condition. The beauty of a Mk II can be found in the
details, such as the quality of the ash trays and the simple but
elegantly styled instruments; details that reveal just how hard
Ford worked to ensure the Continental would be a true world-class
luxury car. Mechanically, these cars are known for their refinement
and robust build quality, and of course this example is no
exception. The big Y-block V8 is beautifully detailed and correctly
presented, with proper fittings, 1094 carburetor, and factory
correct paint finishes. It of course runs strong and delivers
excellent performance. The chassis and undercarriage are tidy and
well detailed, showing this as a car that has been sympathetically
restored but also carefully used and enjoyed. The Continental Mk II
is one of our very favorite post-war American classics. Bold and
brash in concept, yet subtle and sophisticated in the metal, it was
a true showpiece of what American car makers can do when brimming
with confidence. With only 3,000 built, the Mk II is also
relatively rare, with fine examples such as this proving very
difficult to come by. This car comes complete with the original
hardbound book that accompanied every Mk II, as well as restoration
receipts, invoice, original brochures and period sales training
literature. It is a fine example of what may be the ultimate
personal luxury car.
