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03-31-2025, 07:54 AM
https://barnfinds.com/26k-miles-well-sorted-1956-continental-mark-ii/
By Aaron Toth March 23,
2025
What do this 1956 Continental Mark II and the 1951 Packard have in common? Not much, but their styling teams were led by the same man, John Reinhart. It?s not a bad legacy to have one?s name attached to two luxury nameplates, although he apparently ?hated every design [he] ever made.? It seems that Mr. Reinhart didn?t like the compromises a designer had to make with engineers and accountants and was never really satisfied with the final versions of his creations. Well, we are sometimes our toughest critics. Still, the Mark II is a bona fide classic no matter who else you ask, and it was certainly as accurate a rendering of opulence as one could buy in 1956. It had one option: air conditioning (sorry, this one doesn?t have it); everything else you?d want was standard. It?s also one of the few true classics that hasn?t really appreciated as one would expect. Barn Finds reader T.J. found this one for sale on Marketplace in Port Deposit, Maryland, for $33,800; the seller mentions that the Mark II has a documented 26,789 miles, has been ?well-sorted,? and wears a fresh paint job.
Most Barn Finds readers probably know that the Mark II was not branded as a Lincoln, much like the Imperial was not branded as a Chrysler for two decades. For a few years in the 1950s, Continental was its own brand, and the Mark II its dazzling offering. Many of you also probably know that it was the most expensive American car you could buy in 1956, at $9,966. Just about every power device available at the time was standard, including power steering, brakes, windows, seat, and radio antenna. The dashboard is simple, with complete instrumentation in a binnacle right in front of the driver (including a tachometer). The climate controls echo those in the futuristic X-100 concept car. The seller says that everything works except for the original radio and power antenna, and the upholstery was replaced in 2009 by the second owner (the car?s seller is the third). The number of available colors and fabrics was staggering.
The Mark II was basically a standard Lincoln in the powertrain department, being powered by Lincoln?s 368-cubic-inch Y-Block V8. Continentals did wear an extremely attractive engine dress-up kit, which included a pair of spectacular ribbed valve covers. Notice how the exhaust exits through the engine compartment sheet metal; from there, it travels along the frame rails so that it doesn?t hang below the lowest point of the car?s undercarriage. This is probably aesthetic, but it?s also practical: designers wanted to make this car as low as possible. The Y-Block (different from Ford?s Y-Block, by the way) channeled power through Lincoln?s Turbo-Drive automatic. A fun fact: Lincolns had, until 1955, used GM?s Hydramatic.
If you have been looking for a Continental Mark II, this one is certain to appeal to you. The car was resprayed in 2022 in its original Dark Green Metallic, which may or may not limit the car?s value (some don?t like green, but I do). The brakes have recently been replaced and all fluids changed. Just about everything on the car works, including the lights and signals. All-in-all, it?s a nice, clean driver for a reasonable price that seems to have been well-loved and well-maintained for almost 70 years, just as a styling classic deserves.
Editorial note:
1211 sold on FB $33,800 3/28/25
No Air Conditioning -Beautiful 3 Owner. Color 05 Dark Green Metallic. Painted August 2022,Base-Clear. Bumpers have been Rechromed. Original Interior 1J2F. Deep Green Leather Biscuit. Medium Green Leather Bolster. Deep Green Leather Welt. Beautiful Headliner.
Working Gauges and Clock. A Well Sorted Mark ll. Located in Port Deposit, Maryland 21904. All Pictures taken on March 20,2025.
VIN: C5691211
SPEC: 05-56C-4-914-5 (1J2F)
PROD ORDER NO: 204 (a)
ENG#: 233 BODY TAG NO: None
DSO NO: 4
DSO DETAILS: SPECIAL TRIM: Deep Green Leather Biscuits, Medium Green Bolsters, Deep Green Welts, Light Green Headlining
By Aaron Toth March 23,
2025
What do this 1956 Continental Mark II and the 1951 Packard have in common? Not much, but their styling teams were led by the same man, John Reinhart. It?s not a bad legacy to have one?s name attached to two luxury nameplates, although he apparently ?hated every design [he] ever made.? It seems that Mr. Reinhart didn?t like the compromises a designer had to make with engineers and accountants and was never really satisfied with the final versions of his creations. Well, we are sometimes our toughest critics. Still, the Mark II is a bona fide classic no matter who else you ask, and it was certainly as accurate a rendering of opulence as one could buy in 1956. It had one option: air conditioning (sorry, this one doesn?t have it); everything else you?d want was standard. It?s also one of the few true classics that hasn?t really appreciated as one would expect. Barn Finds reader T.J. found this one for sale on Marketplace in Port Deposit, Maryland, for $33,800; the seller mentions that the Mark II has a documented 26,789 miles, has been ?well-sorted,? and wears a fresh paint job.
Most Barn Finds readers probably know that the Mark II was not branded as a Lincoln, much like the Imperial was not branded as a Chrysler for two decades. For a few years in the 1950s, Continental was its own brand, and the Mark II its dazzling offering. Many of you also probably know that it was the most expensive American car you could buy in 1956, at $9,966. Just about every power device available at the time was standard, including power steering, brakes, windows, seat, and radio antenna. The dashboard is simple, with complete instrumentation in a binnacle right in front of the driver (including a tachometer). The climate controls echo those in the futuristic X-100 concept car. The seller says that everything works except for the original radio and power antenna, and the upholstery was replaced in 2009 by the second owner (the car?s seller is the third). The number of available colors and fabrics was staggering.
The Mark II was basically a standard Lincoln in the powertrain department, being powered by Lincoln?s 368-cubic-inch Y-Block V8. Continentals did wear an extremely attractive engine dress-up kit, which included a pair of spectacular ribbed valve covers. Notice how the exhaust exits through the engine compartment sheet metal; from there, it travels along the frame rails so that it doesn?t hang below the lowest point of the car?s undercarriage. This is probably aesthetic, but it?s also practical: designers wanted to make this car as low as possible. The Y-Block (different from Ford?s Y-Block, by the way) channeled power through Lincoln?s Turbo-Drive automatic. A fun fact: Lincolns had, until 1955, used GM?s Hydramatic.
If you have been looking for a Continental Mark II, this one is certain to appeal to you. The car was resprayed in 2022 in its original Dark Green Metallic, which may or may not limit the car?s value (some don?t like green, but I do). The brakes have recently been replaced and all fluids changed. Just about everything on the car works, including the lights and signals. All-in-all, it?s a nice, clean driver for a reasonable price that seems to have been well-loved and well-maintained for almost 70 years, just as a styling classic deserves.
Editorial note:
1211 sold on FB $33,800 3/28/25
No Air Conditioning -Beautiful 3 Owner. Color 05 Dark Green Metallic. Painted August 2022,Base-Clear. Bumpers have been Rechromed. Original Interior 1J2F. Deep Green Leather Biscuit. Medium Green Leather Bolster. Deep Green Leather Welt. Beautiful Headliner.
Working Gauges and Clock. A Well Sorted Mark ll. Located in Port Deposit, Maryland 21904. All Pictures taken on March 20,2025.
VIN: C5691211
SPEC: 05-56C-4-914-5 (1J2F)
PROD ORDER NO: 204 (a)
ENG#: 233 BODY TAG NO: None
DSO NO: 4
DSO DETAILS: SPECIAL TRIM: Deep Green Leather Biscuits, Medium Green Bolsters, Deep Green Welts, Light Green Headlining