Doc
09-23-2009, 04:15 PM
I want to introduce myself to the forum and its members and thank Shelly for starting the forum and Barry, Nick, and all the other contributing members for providing so much great information. This forum is a really great resource for all of us--I'm really glad I found it; it's something Mark II owners have needed.
Our Mark II is C5691209 and was originally purchased by my father in October 1954, just prior to the Mark II's official debut. The car is a typical "introductory" or "early production" unit: black with no AC. It was sold by Wright Lincoln-Mercury in San Diego, California, and was the first Mark II delivered to San Diego and, I believe, one of the very first California cars. I have every bit of documentation available--the letters from Ford, all the manuals, even the canceled checks for its sale.
The car has been in our family ever since. It was my mother's daily driver until the 1990s, when she essentially stopped driving. At that point the car went into somewhat haphazard storage, including some long periods in a metal storage building. Predictably the California sun took its toll and the leather, rubber, etc. deteriorated badly. When I took possession of the car about three years ago, I began a pretty extensive restoration and have completed all the paint and body work, chrome and stainless, and the interior. All the mechanicals were redone or were already OK. The engine compartment and chassis are ongoing, but at this point the car frankly looks better than new from the outside and on the inside. We've done a couple of shows since restoration and the car has been very well received--including a first in class at a local show where it was shown by my wife; she now claims its first blue ribbon...
I do have a question for anyone that can help: everyone asks us how many were made and what number ours is? I've read all the standard stuff, including some of the threads on this forum, but am still confused. Do we start counting at 975 or 1000 or 1001 or? Is 3014 the accepted total number produced or is there a more accurate number? I realize it's not all that important ultimately, but it is a constant question at every show (second only to "did they really cost $10,000?") and I'd like to know what I'm talking about. Barry, anyone, can we all agree on a total number and sequence of production?
Our Mark II is C5691209 and was originally purchased by my father in October 1954, just prior to the Mark II's official debut. The car is a typical "introductory" or "early production" unit: black with no AC. It was sold by Wright Lincoln-Mercury in San Diego, California, and was the first Mark II delivered to San Diego and, I believe, one of the very first California cars. I have every bit of documentation available--the letters from Ford, all the manuals, even the canceled checks for its sale.
The car has been in our family ever since. It was my mother's daily driver until the 1990s, when she essentially stopped driving. At that point the car went into somewhat haphazard storage, including some long periods in a metal storage building. Predictably the California sun took its toll and the leather, rubber, etc. deteriorated badly. When I took possession of the car about three years ago, I began a pretty extensive restoration and have completed all the paint and body work, chrome and stainless, and the interior. All the mechanicals were redone or were already OK. The engine compartment and chassis are ongoing, but at this point the car frankly looks better than new from the outside and on the inside. We've done a couple of shows since restoration and the car has been very well received--including a first in class at a local show where it was shown by my wife; she now claims its first blue ribbon...
I do have a question for anyone that can help: everyone asks us how many were made and what number ours is? I've read all the standard stuff, including some of the threads on this forum, but am still confused. Do we start counting at 975 or 1000 or 1001 or? Is 3014 the accepted total number produced or is there a more accurate number? I realize it's not all that important ultimately, but it is a constant question at every show (second only to "did they really cost $10,000?") and I'd like to know what I'm talking about. Barry, anyone, can we all agree on a total number and sequence of production?