Vehicle Description
Most desired color combination of Black over Red/White leather with
factory air conditioning! These opulent offerings from Continental
were the finest luxury vehicles the American automotive industry
had to offer! Exclusive in every respect with just 2,994 sold to an
elite group of original owners! Truly Gorgeous!
The Ford Motor Company had made great strides to identify itself as
a premiere, luxury brand through the Lincoln division all through
the 1920's and 1930's. After World War II, most manufacturers
eagerly pursued new innovations and designs to regain the vast
market share of a booming American economy. As the 1950's era
rolled in, also did automobiles with sleeker body lines, more
powerful engines, electronic accessories, and much larger price
tags. With Cadillac arguably being the front runner on luxury car
lists, William C. Ford set forth to trump the impressive top of the
line Eldorado with a complete redesign and introduction of a
standalone Continental brand. They featured terrific "long & low"
body aesthetics, with build qualities second to none!
During production, all body panels were fully test fitted and
perfected before being painted with a superb lacquer finish. Only
the best materials available would be selected to adorn the
interior, along with fully featured power accessories. Each car
would have to pass through 14 quality control stations during
assembly, with each one road tested before delivery. The only
available option would be factory air conditioning. Appropriately
named the Continental Mark II, only 2,994 units would be sold to
the public during a short 2-year run. Each with an astounding price
tag of over $10,000 when equipped with air conditioning! With Bill
Ford's obsession to make the finest car on the road, it would
quickly attract buyers from all around to own such an exclusive
automobile. Some of the most famous names would include Frank
Sinatra, Dwight Eisenhower, Elvis Presley, Howard Johnson, Nelson
Rockefeller, among many others!
Offered here is a beautiful 1956 Continental Mark II finished in
factory correct Black (01) over White Leather biscuits &
bolsters/Deep Red welts & piped seating upholstery with Deep Red
Carpet. Powered by a 368ci V8 engine producing a stout 285
horsepower through a Turbo-Drive 3-speed automatic transmission.
Features on this example include the exclusive, trunk-mounted air
conditioning system with ceiling ventilation, power windows, power
steering, power brakes, power front seat, tinted window glass,
driver's side outside mirror, front license plate bracket, wide
whitewall Coker 235/75R15 radial tires, full wheel covers, Town &
Country signal seeking AM radio, heat/defrost, passenger vanity
mirror, courtesy lights, and more!
This was a December 1955 production example sold new from Times
Square Motors Inc to Paul W. Jones, co-founder of Brown-Jones Drug
Company operating in northwestern Pennsylvania, likely as an
extravagant year-end Christmas gift for the family. Fast forward to
the year 2013, and this super solid Continental has now made it way
to Tulsa, Oklahoma joining the collection of Tom McCartney.
According to verbal records, the car was repainted once in
approximately 1995 in its original color but otherwise continued to
remain virtually all original upon his acquisition. He would
finally come to sell it in September 2019 where it found its way
David Lewis of A-1 Auto Body in Broken Arrow, OK. He would commence
some overdue servicing beginning with the removal of the engine and
transmission. The transmission would be overhauled internally, with
both components entirely resealed with fresh gaskets. This included
a new flex plate and carrier bearing. The engine would then be
detailed with correct high temp gold paint. Inside the cabin, he
would contribute all new leather upholstery to the seating
surfaces.
Upon arrival to the Museum in June 2020, we performed a
comprehensive inspection followed by a thorough servicing of all
other components. This included a complete conversion of the air
conditioning system to R134a with newly installed York compressor,
lines & fittings; fresh drive belts, new heater control valves,
fresh engine oil & filter, rebuilt original carburetor, rebuilt the
power steering gear box, new driveshaft u-joints, new brake wheel
cylinders, front hoses, and rear brake shoes, new front sway bar
bushings & end links, and new upgraded rear quarter window motors
with fresh weather stripping.
Our upholstery shop installed a new white headliner and door wind
lace to improve their aged appearance. It comes with one set of
keys, an original sales brochure, recent service records, factory
production order sheet and invoice records from The Henry Ford
archives. Complete with factory supplied brass "Continental" plaque
on the transmission hump with original owner's name. For those
looking for a prestigious automobile that checks all the boxes in a
classic luxury arena, look no further! This remains as exclusive an
automobile today as it did in 1956, perhaps even more so! Please
call to visit more about this Continental or to schedule a chance
to view it person. Thanks for looking!
