1957 Lincoln Mark II 2-Door Hardtop at Mecum auction

[CarMan]

Saturday. October 24, 2009. No reserve. For those interested in how the market values this car, the auction would be a good indicator. Photos and details here:
http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_detail.cfm?LOT_ID=HE1009-82623&entryRow=20

[Don Henschel]

Nice all around but that air cleaner kinda hurts my eyes:)

[Nick DeSpirito]

I've seen that car on Ebay before. I think it's from California. Someone has been trying to sell postcards with a picture of this car on Ebay for over a year. http://cgi.ebay.com/1957-LINCOLN-CONTINENTAL-MARK-II-COUPE-POSTCARD_W0QQitemZ270472768804QQcmdZViewItemQQptZL H_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3ef96eed24

[Chuck Lutz]

I'm a big fan of Mecum and love watching their auctions. As a matter of fact that were I acquired my car. I subscribe to their emails and get updates.
In looking over the 57 Heaven Auction materials there's a note in the brochure that all these cars prepared for long term exhibition with fluids drained, etc. (I'm not even sure in this case what "etc" comprises). I wouldn’t expect to drive one home :D

[CarMan]

1957 Lincoln Mark II
368/300 HP, Automatic

Sold Price: $60,000
Mecum Oct 2009

Some top selling car were:
1957 Chrysler Dual Ghia Convertible
315/260 HP, Automatic
Sold for $300,000

1957 DeSoto Adventurer Convertible
345/345 HP, Automatic
Sold for $250,000

No. 3: Lot S56
1957 Cadillac DeVille Convertible
365/300 HP, Automatic
Sold for $245,000

[Chuck Lutz]

That's a lot of clams for some of those cars and the Mark II only gets $60k. Real shame. Oh well, I guess it's just one of those best kept secrets, huh?

[Nick DeSpirito]

Looking at the pictures of the engine bay, I can see why the car didn't sell for more. I've never seen a red air cleaner before. :eek:

[Shelly Harris]

Thank you Carman for that information which brings serveral thoughts to mind.

Auction prices are very deceptive because the actual condition of this car is unknown. If it was a consours or near concours car then the buyer stole the car thanks to a bad economy. If you ever wanted one, now is a great time to buy your Mark II as the sick economy is lowering prices as "shallow pocket" sellers cash in their vehicles. Also don't be fooled, the price might in fact be the seller's bid taking back the car that ended the auction. So you never know.

I'm going to guess that it was probably a decent, good looking "driver" and if so, it sold for more than the price of a nice, good looking driver. Argue with me if you'd like but I put current market value of a Mark II driver, depending on condition in the $35K to $50K range.

[Keith W Colonna]

I'm sorry to say Gents, but I can put my hands on 1/2 dozen MKII's for under 20K each....and I know the good cars from the bad.
If you want a car though, who cares...and money should be no object.
But we should not inflate these cars...they are not investments as I have said before, they are art objects to be preserved. Enjoy them like a day of golf.

[Will Hawk]

When it come to old cars you love money is only an object when you don't have it. A lot of the cars at this sale were feathered in a book I had on American automobiles from 1957. I can tell you that a lot of those cars were restored to better than new. That is the reason for some of those lofty prices. Restore a car from the 50's to better than new then add up the tab and you will see why the sell for so much. In the book on 57's, the car used for the mark II was not the one from this collection. My guess is that because it wasn't nice enough. Probable a nice (maybe really nice) driver at best. At any rate I think this auction should have brought out all the serious buyers.