'56, '71 Marks at Mecum Auction this weekend Th-Sun

[CarMan]

I noticed a few Lincoln Marks up for auction this weekend:

http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_detail.cfm?LOT_ID=FL0110-88479

http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_detail.cfm?LOT_ID=FL0110-89708

[Chuck Lutz]

Nice Mark II. I wish they'd show the VIN. :)

[Doc]

As Chuck notes, the Mark II looks like a nice restoration. Looking at pictures, though, I wonder if anyone else has that color interior (wish we had the complete code numbers); and if so, is the painted part of the dash/console the right/original color? Does anyone else have a carpet/tunnel nameplate that is on edge like that one appears?

[CarMan]

Was watching the Mecum auction to-night and saw the '56 Mark went to $47,000, but with no sale.

A few Chevy '57s verts went over the $90,000 range, even though they're resto mods. One was fuel injection, but not an original fuel injection. The guys on TV talked about this. Sometimes modifying a car hurts, other times it can greatly increase the car's value. Much depends on the quality of parts used. The 55-57 Chevys are hot now. Other big sellers are Corvettes and Shelbys.

[Chuck Lutz]

I thought the 1999 F355 was a good deal at $55k. Next tune up... $20K.

I'll stick with the Mark II. F355 is too tight for me. I got big bones :D

[Doc]

The reserve on the Mark II was $65,000, so it fell pretty short as Dave notes above. Not sure what that says about the true value of our cars--that one looked pretty good.

As the announcers said at the auction, "semi-nude" cars like ours, without the lavish chrome that was the hallmark of the mid-1950s, just don't seem to epitomize the era sufficiently for most car enthusiasts and they'll gladly pay twice as much for a Bel Air...

[Chuck Lutz]

The reserve on the Mark II was $65,000, so it fell pretty short as Dave notes above. Not sure what that says about the true value of our cars--that one looked pretty good.

As the announcers said at the auction, "semi-nude" cars like ours, without the lavish chrome that was the hallmark of the mid-1950s, just don't seem to epitomize the era sufficiently for most car enthusiasts and they'll gladly pay twice as much for a Bel Air...

I heard that "semi-nude" comment too... LOL, The Continental Division refered to it as "Modern Formal". I have to believe their demographic may not have been comfortable with all the chrome plastered on the new cars. IMHO.