1957 Mk II Lincoln Continental RARE Only 444 Built in 1957

1957 Continental MK II

A Peace of Automotive History For Sale

RARE

Unfortunately my 1957 Continental Mark II has to go up for sale. Have a look at the history about them on the internet.  

This is the only 1957 in UK at the moment it is extremely RARE.

I have been advised by Mark II Specialists that it is a very unique car and one of the last to be sold on 10th April 1957 to a company on Wiltshire Boulevard. LA (The Miracle Mile) before it split up in May- but from what we can find out the company was never there!

She is 1 of only 21 made in its original colour (only 4 left) and 1 of the very desirable 444 sold in 1957.

It came over to the UK in 1981 by an American gentleman who was the 2ndowner.

When it was imported over here it was completely original and used to be parked outside a restaurant in Battersea all the time. I don't know why but in the mid 80's she had the engine and colour changed. I do know that the engine was done by a Company called American Auto Parts here in the UK. Not long after this she was put into storage at a hotel in London until about 10 years ago and next owner (the one before me) used to use it as his everyday car untill he put it away in storage then I found her.  

The car is located in Croydon in UK. she's not immaculate or completely original but is an ideal candidate for restoration project or custom/hotrod. The engine has been changed for a 351 Cleveland (I do know where there is an original to go back in her then she is original again) and she has been painted white from the original light green.

It is a project at the moment and is running and driving just brake problem.

I started having the paintwork done and had to change jobs. Unfortunately have not got time to finish it off. what is worse and the sole reason I am having to sell is because I am losing the storage. It has got to go. hence the low price with no reserve. I paid £20. 000 for her just under a year ago. she starts and drives but has a leaking wheel cylinder on the brakes. (cylinders are cheep for these and easy to get I've just not got the time anymore) I've already paid the labour to have a new one fitted so if new owner gets the parts he can have them fitted free and drive her to her new home once insured (insurance only cost around £200)

THE LAST 3 PHOTOS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO SHOW YOU WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE IN ITS ORIGINAL COLOUR

Your welcome to come check it over; the guys at the workshop it's at will show people interested around as long as there is a phone call first.  

MOT & TAX FREE 

Any questions or to arrange a viewing please feel free to message me and I will give you my number. I work strange hours and can't have my phone ringing when working. The guys are at the workshop from 10am till 10pm most days so late night viewing is no problem and they're happy to answer questions if I'm unavailable.  

The lights. wipers (original vacuum) work ok. seats are a bit dirty but clean up ok. hasn't been cleaned since i've had it.

SENSIBLE OFFERS WILL BE CONSIDERED COME AND HAVE A LOOK

DELIVERY/SHIPPING can be arranged at the cost of the buyer 

No swaps or p/x's (YET!). Cash only and money talks. Once funds are clear or cash in hand car can be taken.

anyone with under 10 feedback message me before bidding

Continental Mk II History

The name 'Continental' was inspired by the 1940's Lincoln Continental powered by a large 12-cylinder engine. Bentley had used the name Continental on their model line. adding to the ambiance and prestige.  

In 1956 the Ford Motor Company formed the Continental Division for the production of the Mark II to better address their luxury car aspirations.  Its general manager was William Clay 'Bill' Ford. son of Edsel Ford and grandson of Henry Ford.  Many people associated the Continental as a Lincoln because it featured the trademark Lincoln spare-tyre hump in the trunk lid and it was sold and serviced at Lincoln dealerships. Many of the mechanical components were courtesy of Lincoln such as the drivetrain. The Continental Division lasted until 1957 when it was merged with Lincoln and the Continental Mark II was added as Lincoln's flagship model. The name 'Continental' would stay with the Mark line until the introduction of the Mark VII in 1984.   There never was a model designated as a Lincoln or Continental Mark I.

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 444 were produced for a total of just over 3000. Around 1500 still exist in modern time. Only three convertibles were created.

The 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-litre engine. Mounted on the hood and in the back was the four-pointed star that later became Lincoln's emblem. The Lincoln 368 cubic-inch V8 was matted to a Lincoln three-speed automatic transmission. The back had the signature Lincoln spare-tyre hidden in the trunk lid.  There were several safety features like deep dish steering wheel. optional padded dash and sun visors and front and rear seatbelts. along with Jet-age style separate right and left heater controls. Though sharing many similarities with the Thunderbird. these were completely different machines. The Continentals were mostly hand made; the paint was applied multiple times and then sanded. double-lacquered. and polished all by hand.

These rolling works of art were very costly.   Each of the 3000 or so produced in the course of the two year production run came inside a fleece lined bag within its own wooden crate. The $10. 00 price $11. 00 with A/C (one could easily buy a house. a Rolls-Royce or two Cadillac's for less).  Even at these high prices. Ford still lost an estimated $1. 00 per car. At the time Ford was a private company and was willing to incur these losses but when Ford became a public company. losses were not permitted. A stock Mark II was $10. 00 in 1956.  Derham and Hess & Eisenhardt both estimated a convertible conversion to cost $18. 00 to custom build. That's why there were so few Mark II convertibles.

The price and exclusivity attracted celebrities. business leaders and politicians who chiefly bought these cars. Frank Sinatra. Spike Jones. Louie Prima. Dwight Eisenhower. Barry Goldwater. Elvis Presley. Nelson Rockefeller. Henry J. Kaiser. Howard Johnson. the Shah of Iran and local favourite. Doris Day. were notable owners. Despite the loss of each car. Ford felt that some of the goals of the project had been successful. The image created a very positive influence for Ford's position in the competitive world of luxury autos. The best validation came as the mark II served as a stimulus for GM to develop the even pricier Eldorado Brougham. The hand assembly and array of custom choices in finish makes this the last bespoke car for any major US automaker.

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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