Mark II with Interior Exposed Clear Plastic Air Ducts?

[Chuck Lutz]

I just received a book this week. "25 Golden Years of Classic American Cars 1945-1970" by Nicky Wright. The pages for the Mark II show an interesting option (if that's what it was.

[Pat Marshall]

I've never seen that in a Mark II before. However the Lincolns did have such an arrangement. I'll do some checking.

FYI the Vin on that car is C56A1669, Spec 04-1A1A-???-?

[richroni]

I don't get what you are seeing.

[Pat Marshall]

Look in the rear window!

[richroni]

Ah, yes. I attach an enhanced view.

[Chuck Lutz]

I'm guessing they re-routed the ductwork in the trunk to the package tray and adapted the Lincoln accessory... but why? :confused:

[Pat Marshall]

After due consideration, I believe that it's an aftermarket system. The car has no nostrils so one would assume (with such a low serial #) this it was a non/ac car.

As I recall the Lincoln plastic ducting was a uniform diameter, the ducting in this car fans out at the top. Im guessing that these ducts didn't connect with under-the-headliner ducting (like the Marks and the Lincolns) but just ended at the top of the rear window and sent two spreads of air across the top of the cabin.

That would be a functional improvement from other after-market rear a/c systems which usually just had two adjustable vents in the package tray.

[Hal W May]

I remember Cadillac having those plastic ducts (factory) in the early '50's0like '52 or 3 thru '55. I think in '56 it became hidden like our Mark II's.

[Continentalfan]

I have seen a 53 or 54 Buick with the clear plastic tubes at the rear as well. Do not know if they connected to the headliner or simply distributed the cold air toward the ceiling so as to fall into the cabin of the car (Cold air falls etc.).

[Roger Zimmermann]

At Cadillac (till 1956) the ducts were connected to flat tubes located between the roof and headliner with 4 outlets similar to the ones of the Mark II.

[selwyngent]

Looks like it was adapted from the 1956/57 Lincoln Premiere.

http://s1033.photobucket.com/albums/a413/dgatz/56%20Lincoln/?action=view&current=56LincolnACvents_1.jpg

[Don Henschel]

Looks like it was adapted from the 1956/57 Lincoln Premiere.

http://s1033.photobucket.com/albums/a413/dgatz/56%20Lincoln/?action=view&current=56LincolnACvents_1.jpg

Or this
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/53-54-55-FORD-LINCOLN-MERCURY-NOVI-REAR-AIR-CONDITION-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQfitsZYearQ3a1956Q7cMakeQ3aFordQ QhashZitem5644858f77QQitemZ370516791159QQptZVintag eQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories