1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II – 368 V8, AUTO, POWER STEER/BRAKES

Vehicle Location: Lithia Springs, GA
Auction Type: Reserve
Mileage: 2109
Engine: 368ci V8
Transmission: 2 Speed Automatic
Exterior: Maroon
Interior: Maroon
VIN: C5691360
Party: Dealer

There is a certain level of luxury reserved for the discerning few, and this 1956 Continental Mark II truly represents this upper echelon of rare vintage vehicles. Yes, it was even above Lincoln in the hierarchy, but we did list it in the name. As you read on, you’ll see this extremely rare Mark II has been treated with the right respect and preserved correctly to remain both vintage and premium.

The Mark II was a statement about having European luxury with American flair. You see it in a design with exceptionally clean sheet metal that could rival the best of the pre-war French designs balanced with mammoth chrome bumpers that are so well integrated into the design that you barely notice the exhaust under the taillights. The elegance of this car is further heightened by a color like maroon. It brings the boldness of red but in a more sophisticated tone. The finish is glossy, but it’s at show car standards, and that’s no accident.

You’ll see from the overall impression here that this car is clean and complete, but also in a very driver-ready total package. Since these Mark IIs are a rare sight on the road, this one wants to make sure you’re not nervous about getting it out there. But for those of you who want a show-stopper, we bet you’ve also recognized that the value price can leave room in your budget for upgrades/updates.

After all, this one already impresses, right down to the details, like turbine-style wheels, whitewall tires, and all the correct badging. And of course, you’ll love the graceful bulge in the center of the trunk where the spare tire lives underneath – an iconic namesake feature for the Continental.

The maroon and white interior carries the color theme of the exterior and whitewall tires inside, and so it has a strikingly tasteful appearance. It looks particularly nice on the seats with their contrast piping. Plus, the carpeting, door panels, dash, and headliner all come together to a uniform appearance.

The instrumentation feels more like piloting a private plane with the full set of crisp dials and aircraft-inspired levers for all your convenience controls. It’s a fantastically original-style presentation that stays true to its ultra-luxury nature. That’s why you have provisions for features like power windows, an AM radio, a tachometer, and air conditioning (they will need servicing to ideally function again.)

The 368 cubic-inch V8 was the best Lincoln had to offer in the day, and it was rumored the Continental engines were even further refined for the best quality. You can see this connection in the well-presented engine bay that features stock elements like the Continental star valve covers.

The V8 fires eagerly as it inhales deeply with a four-barrel carburetor, and it exhales through the dual exhaust. That may read like the kind of features for a muscle car, but in this application, it’s all about providing effortless power with plenty of refinement. And a car this nice deserves to be driven with distinction. That’s why the refined ride is combined with easy driving features like power steering, power brakes, and a smooth-shifting automatic transmission.

The sale comes complete with the owner’s manual and maintenance records. With only around 3,000 examples ever produced over its short production run, and so few surviving this complete 65 years later, this Continental Mark II is a true rare luxury classic. So when you can pick up a distinguished example of America’s Rolls-Royce at an obtainable price, you know this is a fleeting opportunity.