New Member Monterey County CA

[Blight]

Hello members! I have an unrestored '56 Mk II. She's rust free and fully intact, and resting in my garage near Monterey CA. I've been slowly gathering a few missing parts over the years to bring her back to original spec.

About all I need now is a chrome headlight ring. One of them fell off when I was driving it home and I ran over it, crushing it.

Any thoughts for a source? I haven't had a chance to peruse the site, but I will and hope to offer my experiences as well!

Regards,
BLIGHT
C56A1766

[SLK]

Welcome to the site. I'm sure someone can help you find the headlight ring and there is a thread to explain how to keep from losing them.

Post some pictures and any background you have in the car so Pat Marshall can update the registry.

[Dan]

Welcome aboard!
There are vendors listed in the Marketplace section that can help.
Also watch on e-bay for parts.
good luck!
(please post pictures!)

[Hal W May]

Welcome-you're gonna like it here-Headlight rims-I got one from Jack Rosen (Mkii Enterprises) a while back-it's worth a phone call (so is he) 951-686-2752. You might check your vin #-my guess is that you don't need the 9 at the end (they only made around 3000 of these gems.

[Pat Marshall]

You've probably looked up your cars history in the Registry by now, so I have a couple of questions-

The earliest owner who we've been able to identify was Les Huckins of California who owned it at least from 1971 to 1982. In 1982 he apparently put it in a Rick Cole Auction in Hollywood. The car bid up to $7,000 but did not sell.

Then we have an ownership gap from 1982 to 1988. In 1989 the LCOC Directory showed that you owned the car.

Can you fill in the gap from 1982-1988?
When did you actually buy the car?
From whom did you buy the car?
Do you have any information regarding the orignal owner of the car?

Welcome to the Forum. I'm sure that you'll find that being a member is a worthwhile experience.

[Blight]

You've probably looked up your cars history in the Registry by now, so I have a couple of questions-

The earliest owner who we've been able to identify was Les Huckins of California who owned it at least from 1971 to 1982. In 1982 he apparently put it in a Rick Cole Auction in Hollywood. The car bid up to $7,000 but did not sell.

Then we have an ownership gap from 1982 to 1988. In 1989 the LCOC Directory showed that you owned the car.

Can you fill in the gap from 1982-1988?
When did you actually buy the car?
From whom did you buy the car?
Do you have any information regarding the orignal owner of the car?
Welcome to the Forum. I'm sure that you'll find that being a member is a worthwhile experience.

Hello all... sorry for the mixup, it's 1766, not 1769. I had the '9' from the registration card, but everybody drops the 9 it seems. Here's what I could find for #C56A1766:

1) Nichols & Co. (publishers? Boston) original owners from Clark & White Dealership 1955-sold 1967
2) A.O. Wallman Palm Beach FL, 1967-1976
3) No ownership info from 76-78...
4) Fred Cianilli of NY owned the car from 78 to 87.
5) Jim White of Oildale, CA purchased the car in 1987, sold in 1988
6) Brian Light (that's me) bought the car from Jim White in 1988 and I'm the present owner.

The car now resides near Monterey CA.

Never heard of the 'Les Huckins' name as being an owner but that's interesting, eh? Could be how the car got to CA around 1987-1988.

Thanks for your help!
BLIGHT

[Pat Marshall]

Hello all... from what I could find, the original buyer was A.O. Wallman (gas pump manufacturer?) and the car was purchased in Boston MA from Clark & White, Inc.

Secondary owners were indicated to be Fred Cianilli of NY from 78 to 87. I bought the car in California around 1988 and at that time the owner was Mr. Jim White in Oildale, CA... I have owned it ever since. Not sure if Wallman owned it from 56 to 78... there may be someone in between but I don't have a record.

Never heard of the Les Huckins name as being an owner but that's interesting, eh? Could be how the car got to CA.

Thanks for your help!
BLIGHT

Brian this is really confusing - You posted your car as #17669 which was not a Mark II number and...

...the history you gave includes parts of both 1766 and 1769 that has been documented

Here is 1766 - showing similar information to what you provided
OWNERSHIP HISTORY:
1955-Nichols & Co. (FROM FOMOCO RECORDS)
Clark & White, Inc.
Boston MA
1955-10/19/65 Nichols & Co. Boston MA (FROM LCOC RECORDS)
10/19/1965-1977 Arthur O. Wellman Palm Beach FL (FROM LCOC RECORDS)
1978-87 Fred L. Ciannilli NY (FROM LCOC RECORDS)

Here is 1769 - updated with part of the information you provided.
OWNERSHIP HISTORY:
1971-84? Les Huckins, CA (FROM LCOC RECORDS & CMOA MAGAZINE)
1984?-1988 Jim White Oildale CA (FROM BLIGHT)
1988-12 Brian K. Light Monterrey CA (FROM LCOC RECORDS & BLIGHT)

Originally I assumed your car is 1769 because the LCOC Directory showed that was your car

So please disconfuse me, which is your car's VIN 1766 or 1769?

[Blight]

Brian this is really confusing - You posted your car as #17669 which was not a Mark II number and...

...the history you gave includes parts of both 1766 and 1769 that has been documented

Here is 1766 - showing similar information to what you provided
OWNERSHIP HISTORY:
1955-Nichols & Co. (FROM FOMOCO RECORDS)
Clark & White, Inc.
Boston MA
1955-10/19/65 Nichols & Co. Boston MA (FROM LCOC RECORDS)
10/19/1965-1977 Arthur O. Wellman Palm Beach FL (FROM LCOC RECORDS)
1978-87 Fred L. Ciannilli NY (FROM LCOC RECORDS)

Here is 1769 - updated with part of the information you provided.
OWNERSHIP HISTORY:
1971-84? Les Huckins, CA (FROM LCOC RECORDS & CMOA MAGAZINE)
1984?-1988 Jim White Oildale CA (FROM BLIGHT)
1988-12 Brian K. Light Monterrey CA (FROM LCOC RECORDS & BLIGHT)

Originally I assumed your car is 1769 because the LCOC Directory showed that was your car

So please disconfuse me, which is your car's VIN 1766 or 1769?

Sorry for the confusion... I think the error was just a typo on my insurance card. The actual number stamped on my VIN plate in the door jam is C56A1769. I just went out in the garage and checked it. Apparently an extra '6' was added on my insurance card. I'll have them fix it.

So... all that stuff above on 1766 was for somebody else's car!!!

Looking over the data sheet it does not say who was the original buyer. So, I guess there's still hope it was somebody famous in California!! Cary Grant or somebody like that... I wonder if Les Huckins knows any more or if he's still alive?

If it was sold originally in southern CA, then it's not such a long trip to Oildale, CA and then to end up in Monterey!

I'm really sorry for all the confusion. I was really hoping to learn more about the car's history over 56 years.

[linmk2]

Hi and welcome. Glad to have you with us. I too lost a headlight ring many years ago. I was able to find a replacement in very short order and in good condition. I bet you will be able to find a replacement as well. You have come to the right place for Mark II info.

[Pat Marshall]

I'm really sorry for all the confusion. I was really hoping to learn more about the car's history over 56 years.

Don't give up hope, no one's said "That's All Folks", yet!

[Blight]

Well, I found a Les Huckins in Tehachapi CA. He graduated from South Gate, CA High School in 1941, and he's 88 yr's old. Could be a good candidate, eh?

I have a phone number and mailing address (thanks, internet) so I tried calling him a few times today. Busy signal for a couple of hours... could be dial-up internet connection or a phone off the hook.

I'll keep trying, and see if he's the 'right' Les Huckins for MKII #1766, and if he knows any more about the previous owner(s) and the dealership that sold the car originally. It could well have been Kitchen-Boyd Lincoln Mercury (Continental dealer) in Bakersfield, CA

I was born in Bakersfield, CA and lived there for 42 years until moving to Monterey County in 1997. I used to go down to Kitchen-Boyd Lincoln Mercury in the early 70's (I was in high school) and remember drooling over, and sitting in the DeTomaso Panteras in the showroom. They were priced at an 'astronomic' $10,000 (!)... at a time when a new fully-optioned Mercury Capri was only about $2700.

I'll keep trying to get in contact with Mr. Huckins and see if he knows any more car history. Stay tuned...

Cheers,
BLIGHT

[Blight]

Still getting a busy signal from Mr. Huckins. Several tries today... hope he's OK.

BLIGHT

[Blight]

Still getting a busy signal from Mr. Huckins. Several tries today... hope he's OK.

BLIGHT

Got a message machine, and left a message to call me back, but that was 4-5 days ago.

Must not be the right Les Huckins, or, he just doesn't want to talk to me!

BLIGHT