Customized Mark IIs

[Barry Wolk]

http://image.streetrodderweb.com/f/18279280+w750+st0/0906sr_11_z+1956_continental_mark_ii+right_view.jp g

(Editor: The photos in this instructional, educational thread are reproduced per US Code 17, 107 (http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html)).

[Barry Wolk]

http://blog.hemmings.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/goldbubbletopcustom_resized.jpg

[Barry Wolk]

http://www.zocchicustomcars.com/images/56lincolncontinental.jpg

[Barry Wolk]

http://www.rickdore.com/images/cars/remarkweb.jpg

[vancec]

There's a red parade car that is the epitome of a custom Mark II I saw this year at a hot rod show. It is quite well known but I can't think of the name of the builder. I took pics of it I will post when I get home. I am on an Island right now!

[vancec]

The gold bubble-top is well known too but it makes me throw up in my mouth a little

[Barry Wolk]

Oh, my!

http://image.lowridermagazine.com/f/16532834+w750+st0/lrmp_0907_21_z+hot_rod_lowrider+lincoln_mark_ii.jp g

[Barry Wolk]

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg18/barry2952/1%20Mark%20II%20docs/Jan1901.jpg

[Mad Scientist]

The gold one with the bubble top, Oh please, yuck, pewee, no way.:p The rest of them are so so, but I wouldn’t want any of them. The grill on the low rider is definitely out of place.

[Shelly Harris]

but I wouldn’t want any of them.

I strongly agree. Proof of the excellence in the stock car's design and appearance is the fact that all these customized versions fail to improve its appearance. Some more than others, but they all fail. The car's styling, design and appearance as it left the factory can't be improved. It's magnificent. Like all revolutionary works of art, when released in 1956 amid all the over bearing chrome laden designed vehicles popular at the time, the Mark II was criticised by a short sighted public who didn't appreciate it or understand it. Now all of us do. You can't better the Mona Lisa, or Michael Angelo's David... same for the Mark II. (although with the advent of Radial bias tires, introduced years after the Mark II, I would agree that the tires need a bit wider stance)

[Nick DeSpirito]

Yesterday 11:41 PM
Mad Scientist The gold one with the bubble top, Oh please, yuck, pewee, no way. The rest of them are so so, but I wouldn’t want any of them. The grill on the low rider is definitely out of place.


The Bubble Top was made by Barris. I have a black and white picture of it somewhere.

The H&E Victoria is no longer owned by Ed & Miki Pease. They sold it long ago to a person in FL.

[Jim Rohn]

Here is an early magazine (article) I have with that Mark II in it, not in color:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26/JimRohn/mark2/56mark2custom.jpg


Speaking of customs or accessories, here is a markII I saw at the B-J sales some years ago:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26/JimRohn/mark2/mk2skirts.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26/JimRohn/mark2/mk2skirt.jpg

[Barry Wolk]

Well done, but not attractive with skirts.

[Nick DeSpirito]

Doesn't do anything for me either, Barry. I think the exposed wheel is more attractive.

[johnnybgoode]

The guys at Mad Fabricators society made a video about the unknown side of customking George Barris, as a photographer. showing his talent behind the camera.

In the teaser they have aired on Youtube, there is some shots af a MK II with landau irons, custom hupcaps and such, check it out here:

Or go to their website (http://madfabricators.com/) and buy the whole thing.

[Shelly Harris]

Some of the ugliest cars I've ever seen..........

[Barry Wolk]

I'll say. I know Barris through the Glenmoor Gathering where he's the Grand Marshall and Grand Letch. He's always got some half-naked floozy on his arm. I'm not impressed with his work or his hangers-on.

[Jim Rohn]

it took awhile but I just realized that the hood ornament is not on that Mark II that he is standing next to

[Barry Wolk]

This was listed as a '56 Lincoln, but I think it might be a Mark II.:eek:

http://www.johndagostinokustomkars.com/images/56%20Lincoln%20Royal%20Empress.jpg

[Pat Marshall]

Another One!

http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/featuredvehicles/1005rc_1957_lincoln_continental_mark_ii/index.html

[Shawn Newcomb]

I know, huh!? I posted that one and another black one from Streetrodder in the 'what cars have you seen today' thread. Both were in their respective March 2010 editions. I guess they were/are the "in" thing to do. Matter of fact the brothers that did the black one are working on another more radical one as a follow up.

[Barry Wolk]

Meh. Not my cup of tea.

[Don Henschel]

Meh. Not my cup of tea.

I agree! They should pick on something else.

[depmike38]

:eek:Only thing that would make it worse is if it jumps up and down

[Mad Scientist]

I'm not to fond of the low-rider approach but that is a typical hot-roder thing and don't like eliminating the tail lights. But all things consider I've seen a lot worse.

I would be interested in knowing what condition the car was in before the modifications. If it was a real basket case then this might have been the only realistic way to save it.

[Shawn Newcomb]

Unfortunately, they usually have so much time and money tied up in the custom body work (where their real interest is) that they avoid doing any basic body repair work by buying really great cars to start.

[Ian Cowie]

I emailed the Zocchi web site last week and received the following reply from Cherie Zocchi:

Rich & Cherie Zocchi of Walnut Creek, California are the proud owners of a 1956 Continental MK II, Vin: C56D2828.

Thanks and by the way, the car is for sale...we have 16 customs and are running out of space !

So, another one to add to the database Chuck!

[Barry Wolk]

It looks like it has IRS. Other than that I don't like it at all.

[crystal59]

Lets hope this does not become the cool car for oversized athletes. Gary

[Chuck Lutz]

I emailed the Zocchi web site last week and received the following reply from Cherie Zocchi:


So, another one to add to the database Chuck!

Duly noted and listed as "Modified Custom"

[Barry Wolk]

Here's another OMG!

http://photos.aaca.org/files/6/0/3/3/4/1957_lincoln_mark_ii_convertible_-_mod_-_candy_apple_-_fvl_240-med.jpg

[Mad Scientist]

Nice paint.

[Pat Marshall]

Another One!

[Pat Marshall]

Another One!

[Mad Scientist]

That one is not all that bad. I've seen a lot worse.
I always wonder what happen to the originals.

[Shawn Newcomb]

Pat,
That white one has shown up here in other threads with other angles of the car. With comments from the owner - in Australia I believe. The rear of the car has elements from one of the design submissions that was rejected during initial Mark II planning. I asked if it was accidental or intentional. They hadn't ever seen the design studies. Turns out it was by sheer coincidence...imagine that!

I think they did a nice job and the elements incorporated work well with the design.

[Barry Wolk]

Meh, to me it's like pasting a beard on the Mona Lisa.

Do any of you really think that any of these cars has enhanced the appearance of the design?

I'm not a pure purist by any means but these examples of excess, IMO, are what went wrong with car design.

[Shawn Newcomb]

Apparently I don't have the fever or ferver for the Mark II that some on the board do. The Mark II is a nice looking car. Stylish. But NOT without its flaws and ackward bits as well. I like the car. I chose one and bought it, but the Mark II in convertible form or not is certainly nothing to be put on a pedestal and worshipped.

[Barry Wolk]

You know what they say about opinions.

While I would agree that there are certainly better designs in the '50s, this one speaks of stature, in the vein of Duesenberg of the of the '30s. That's what attracted me to the design way back in '64, when I first encountered one. It was in the garage in a mansion my parents were looking at in the city of Detroit. The house came with all contents, even the car. We didn't get it. The cost of utilities spoiled the deal.

Some people are not fans of the design of my Porsche, yet the form is iconic, as is the Mark II. Maybe that's why I cringe when I see distortions of the originals.

[Shawn Newcomb]

Barry, as a collector you may appreciate this. What I find most intriguing about art in any form is often not what it actually is, but what it represents to us as a reflection of our own thoughts, feelings, or experiences and how differently any two people can view the same object. The broad spectrum of reaction to the object is often more interesting than the item itself.

[Pat Marshall]

Some time ago I was talking to Miki Pease of Narragansett Reproductions. During that conversation she mentioned that she and Ed had owned "The Derham Car". Not knowing any better I thought she was talking about the Mark II convertible conversion made by Derham for the Continental Division.

She said no, that it was the Mark II that was modified by Derham and had a Continental Tire kit on the rear. Later I asked Lowell Domholdt about it and he subsequently sent these pictures to me.

[Nick DeSpirito]

Pat,

Yes, Miki and Ed owned that car. Unfortunately, I never got to see it as they sold it long before I met them. Miki told me that they sold it to someone in Florida. I've always wondered if the car is still around and who owns it.

There's a picture of it in Buddy's book.

[Pat Marshall]

LCOC member Herb Elmers of Connecticut owned it from 1981-88. I have no other ownership information.

Its VIN is/was C5681083.

[selwyngent]

This one is repeatedly for sale on Craigslist.

[selwyngent]

I think this one takes the cake. Don't know why someone would even bother.

[SLK]

I think that someone else said this before, but let me repeat it since I agree. I hope the Mark II doesn't become the next "it" car for NBA & NFL players, Rappers and other wanna be stars to pimp out.

[Barry Wolk]

I think that someone else said this before, but let me repeat it since I agree. I hope the Mark II doesn't become the next "it" car for NBA & NFL players, Rappers and other wanna be stars to pimp out.

Why? The more that are ruined, the better the chances are that yours will become more valuable. In fact, the very reason that the prices on Marks are nowhere near what they should be is that so many of them survive. Mark IIs are hardly rare, therefore less valuable.

[Barry Wolk]

Meh, it's their car. If you bought a FLLW home and wanted to put an addition onto it, shouldn't you be able to?

[Don Henschel]

Why? The more that are ruined, the better the chances are that yours will become more valuable. In fact, the very reason that the prices on Marks are nowhere near what they should be is that so many of them survive. Mark IIs are hardly rare, therefore less valuable.

They are alot rarer than most of the newer muscle cars fetching a much higher dollar:rolleyes: It's not the matter of more of them being ruined that makes them more desirable, the cost of the parts, the difficulty getting parts and most people not even knowing what they are makes them less desirable. How many people have you run across that didn't ask you what is it?? A Cadilac, a T-Bird? If it is so common why do most people not know what it is? Some would call it "An old mans car with few friends:(", but obviously since I drive a 50 Merc. and a 56 Continental I obviously don't care if it's an old mans car:p

[norseman]

They are alot rarer than most of the newer muscle cars fetching a much higher dollar:rolleyes: It's not the matter of more of them being ruined that makes them more desirable, the cost of the parts, the difficulty getting parts and most people not even knowing what they are makes them less desirable. How many people have you run across that didn't ask you what is it?? A Cadilac, a T-Bird? If it is so common why do most people not know what it is? Some would call it "An old mans car with few friends:(", but obviously since I drive a 50 Merc. and a 56 Continental I obviously don't care if it's an old mans car:p

Don

I bought my car 28 years ago, at the old age of 24. Maybe that wasn't a normal car for a guy 24 years old to buy, but I just looked at it as a 1956 T-bird on steroids....a plusher, bigger, stronger classier car than the thunderbird. I guess I kind of viewed it as a big sporty, personal luxury car, and wanted something similiar to the very common thunderbird of the same era, but a little more exclusive.

As far as rarity is concerned, Don, the Mark II really isn't rare in the true sense of the word in the automobile world, as there are possibly and quite probably, around 1800 still in existence. You live a half hours drive from me (in the Mercedes, not the Mark II), so they're not that rare, it's just we don't drive them enough, lol, so folks can see them (me anyways). On the other hand, they're definately not common...anywhere. But I know what you're saying - in the eyes of the ordinary person, they are quite rare. In the car world, a Bugatti Royale is rare, in the true sense of the word.

Don, as I told you a bit ago, I knew the guy you bought your Mark II from, 30 years ago. At the time, he had a truly rare car (amongst many others including Packards, V-12/V-16 Lincolns and Cadillacs), which I could have bought for $15,000 dollars at the time. Maybe he still had it when you bought the Mark II, as I wasn't at his farm for quite a few years after that. The car I'm talking about is his 1953 Buick Skylark convertible, red and white (I guess they were all convertibles), the first one off the assembly line, the very first serial numbered Skylark. That was a rare car. Hmm, maybe we should start a thread about "The Car I Should Have Bought".

[Don Henschel]

He had a mid thirties Cadillac with a V16 undergoing restoration when I bought his Mark. I guess I'm probably beating this one to death:dead_horse but I have seen alot of 55-57 birds in my life most of which were bringing alot more money than the Marks and they are certainly alot more common. But as Arnie at Arnie's Specialty Cars mentioned to me when he found out I bought a Mark, you would throw rocks at the Bird after driving the Mark II (after laughing about how miserable the Mark is to work on)

[norseman]

He had a mid thirties Cadillac with a V16 undergoing restoration when I bought his Mark. I guess I'm probably beating this one to death:dead_horse but I have seen alot of 55-57 birds in my life most of which were bringing alot more money than the Marks and they are certainly alot more common. But as Arnie at Arnie's Specialty Cars mentioned to me when he found out I bought a Mark, you would throw rocks at the Bird after driving the Mark II (after laughing about how miserable the Mark is to work on)

Don

I totally agree with you Don that the Mark II is rare when compared to the little Thunderbirds of the same era, which are very common, and they bring a whole lot more money on average. But I think that's because it's so much easier to restore one, with used and reproduction parts all over the place. These little birds seem to be forever changing owners, as they go from one dealer to another, before they end up in a collector's hands. It's just not feasible for dealers and such to make a quik profit on a Mark II, compared to the Thunderbird. The Thunderbird appeals to a huge segment of the population compared to the Mark II, also, which drives the price up.

With that being said, it's my opinion too, that the Mark II is hugely underpriced, and probably should be bringing double or triple what it does. As for myself, it makes no difference what it's worth on the market, because it will never be for sale (at least by me), but it's still an interesting topic for discussion.

I've know Arnie since I was a little kid, and when I was about 18 or 19, a couple times he'd throw me the keys for one of his little birds and tell me to take it for the weekend, as he knew I loved old cars, and I can say from experience the Mark II makes the t-bird look like a toy, in the way it drives. I love the look of the little birds, but not much fun to drive. Anyways, my opinions only, for what they're worth.:)

[Rick Payton]

I have owned 3 little birds and I would never give up my Mark II for one... They are beautiful cars with large following but they are not that great of a car. If you ever caught in the rain you are going to get wet, the little bird has more holes than a kitchen colander. I had a CTCI senior car and every time I drove the thing something would break. The way the Mark II is built and designed you can tell the quality that went into compared to other cars of the same vintage. The CTCI was started in 1962 just 5 years after the production stop of the 2 seat little bird.. The guys in the club think they are way undervalued as well. the problem is almost everyone of them was saved... We would joke the best thing to help the value was for half of them to be destroyed... same thing with the Mark II they were so expensive that the original owner kept it for a long time and most were saved. just my 2 cents..:dead_horse

[Don Henschel]

Actually acording to my Aug. 2010 price guide, the price has gone down for the 55-57:confused: Nothing over $70K for a number 1 except for 1957 "add 100% for the supercharged V-8 (code F) and 25% for the "T-Bird Special" engine. I guess the baby T-Bird craze has cooled down abit with the Mark II finally rising in value, but still not enough for all the trouble and expense one has to go through to have a number 1 or 2. Like my father said when he first saw mine, "I hate to say this but I think you bought a money pit"

[Pat Marshall]

I was searching the H.A.M.B. Forum for Mark IIs and found this one that was at the 2010 Hotrod Hoedown. It's a complete custom, but it still has good ole Mark II Hood.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=7387777&highlight=continental+mark+ii#post7387777

I haven't gotten a VIN yet.

[Shawn Newcomb]

Pat, you posted a link to a magazine feature article on this car once before. Maybe you can find answers there. see forum thread Customized Mark IIs post #20

[richroni]

Yes Pat, you did post it before. Here's the Registry entry.
http://www.markiiforum.com/showthread.php?t=2702&highlight=torrie

[Continentalfan]

The gold custom is actually very close to stock with a cleanup on the chrome and a different grill. Just shows that there is not much you can do to improve on a MKII

[Pat Marshall]

So many cars............" Well, thanks for setting me straight, at least I don't have to research the VIN...again.