1956 Continental Mark II & 1971 Buick Riviera

In this episode of My Classic Car, we'll head down to Ocala, Florida to check out a couple of beauties with very distinctive bodies: a suave 1956 Continental Mark II and the radical 1971 Boat Tail Riviera.
#Buick #Continental #Riviera #NPD #boattail
S12E26

[@thisfastlife1486]

That Continental is gorgeous. With the 1969 running gear, it must be an absolute pleasure to drive.

[@NitroModelsAndComics]

Stunning automobile. A high water mark in American manufacturing.

[@frankwood7878]

THIS CONTINENTAL RIDE IS FIT 4 ROYALTY TO DRIVE. A REAL DREAM CAR. THE COLOR BLUE IS PERFECT 4 THIS CLASSIC RIDE

[@mikegehre570]

I have an original sales brochure for the Mark II. It's a hard bound book. No photos, just illustrations. Classy presentation for sure.

[@ms.sonshine8878]

I think the '56 and the '63 are the most beautifully designed and classiest cars ever designed. And the Buick is stunning.

[@enerrivers4392]

In '72, my dad had a brand new 1 with 455cid STAGE 1. He loved it. In the summer we would drive it all the way to Coral gables. He didn't get the cruise control, instead he got the Speed Alert buzzer set @ 75mph. We kids would hear it buzz many times. It was a car that would go faster than you thought. Cruise & float all the way on the interstate #95. The way my dad drove, the secondarys would get a turn ALWAYS on highways. When Buick Riviera GS was a true sleeper. My dad fell in love with the Buick Riviera GS since the l8 '60s. Every 2/3 years he would buy a new one Depending on the changes. Boy, was he NOT A HAPPY CAMPER when the 455 lost power & discontinued. But, he switched to the Smaller Caddy because they had a V8. He was a lil happy with the 500cid fuel injection in '76. We still took our east coast trips but now he had other drivers. Terrible back seat driver he was. I wish he was around even in the back seat.♥️

[@leopoldonotarianni8663]

Elegant and beautiful

[@danielrodriguez248]

The Continental mark II is gorgeous,

[@flatrockufo]

I remember when i was eleven my local Sinclair gas station owner bought a new 71 Buick Riviera. I had never seen anything like that car.It was gold on gold , truly an eye catcher. I remember when the 1982 Buick Riviera came out and won MTCY , i entered the Motor Trend win the Car of the Year contest to try and win that Beautiful car. It was my dream car.The next year Ford brought out the 1983 Mercury Cougar and that's what i bought. The Buick Riviera was way out of my price range. I have been a fan of the Buick Riviera every since i laid my eyes on the 71 model year Riviera and even after GM down sized it.

[@danam0228]

I love the Mark II. So classy. The shade of blue used, so perfect. I could watch videos on that car endlessly. Thanks mustache guy! 😜

[@pokeytrucker5296]

Two very different cars, but both equally beautiful!

[@RandyFelts2121]

My boss used to let me drive his 1967 Riviera for weeks at a time. Lots of fun for a poor teenager. :)

[@steveflor9942]

Gorgeous.

[@Snake-ms7sj]

I had a 73 Riviera. Bought it in 84. Was my first car. White with blue interior. Bought it for $1000. Had a little rust, mostly under the trunk lid, but could have easily been restored. The interior was mint. Traded it after I blew the engine. Wish i had that car today. Rare. The 73's had slight styling changes because of new bumper regulations. The rear point was flattened, the front bumper was much bigger. Technically it was no longer a boat tail as the rear bumper no longer ended in a point. Not quite as nice looking as the 71 & 72 but still had the style. Power went down a bit. I think mine put out 280 hp. I could still spin the rear tires at times though and it would get up and move. 12 mpg highway though with that 455.

[@searleflesher6689]

OMD what a beautiful machine I really love the continental mkii so elegant

[@johnmichaelkarma]

such a unique rear end on the Riv deserved a lift of the trunk lid, good vid

[@stevezielonko1386]

The 73 I had in the early 80s had a split bench and an 8track. The 73 I bought last October has a console and a cassette. The old ford's you could get in any color:as long as it was black. These rivieras came with any engine as long as it was a 455. The gs had a 455 with 10 more horsepower

[@chuckselvage3157]

It's gorgeous.

[@nathansharma87]

Imagine having your own manufacturers engineering at your disposal and pulling in with your car saying "put this and that in it....make it happen".

[@curlymyhero]

Luv the historical nod 2 these timeless cars! Keep it up plz!

[@ajsmith5295]

Continental mark 2 is my favourite car 1956 especially in white

[@RuthAmezcua-rx9gp]

Lovely.

[@usmale4915]

Your video is not only entertaining, it's also educational! I always thought that the 1956 Continental Mark II was Lincoln Continental. I hadn't realized that they were two different automobiles. Thank you for the well put together video, I actually learned something today. I have subscribed, too!

[@troybrown6012]

Both of these are awesome

[@donmoore5716]

These cars are gorgeous.

[@richardmorris7063]

I love the 71 riv.,back in 73 i almost bought one.took it for a short test drive & I watched the gas gauge go down quickly.I could see myself sitting in those long gas lines running out of gas & pushing that thing up to the pumps.

[@cmans79tr7]

Richard Morris - especially when you kicked in the Secondaries. Was almost like having a hole in your gas tank.

[@Snake-ms7sj]

My first car was a 1973 Buick Riviera with the 455. Yeah, 12 mpg highway.

[@richardmorris7063]

@@Snake-ms7sj they were iconic looking cars though.

[@Ratboy2004]

I looks like a classic coupe. What a beauty. Thanks

[@avirtualworld4U]

Most Beautiful car on the Planet!!

[@terribelbliss9646]

The split window design was to facilitate production. I have a 72 Riviera and it has a 60/40 split bench seat. It easily holds six. The truck is awkward but easily accommodates a couple sets of golf clubs. These were known as banker's muscle cars at the time.

[@zok.9840]

Terri Bel Bliss I got a 72 boat tail too never gonna sale

[@Imnotyourdoormat]

back in the day...the legendary mommie dearest joan crawford drove 1 of these fine beauties no doubt hers had the optional dealer installed coat-hanger convenience shifter package.

[@frankwood7878]

ELVIS PRESLEY HAD ONE OF THESE BABIES TOO

[@bruceferguson6637]

I had a '72 Riviera 455 (2bbl) that I bought in 1982 for $800. Big cars with big engines did not hold value on the used market very well after the Arab Oil Embargo. Even after the oil crisis, the trend was toward high-MPG cars, hence, I bought it from the original owner on the cheap. The car was clean and rust-free (just needed the paint rubbed out), with around 80k on the clock. It was finished in gold, with a tan or saddle colored leather interior. Thank goodness it didn't have a vinyl top as many big cars of the era did. Despite the EPA motor, the big block torque gave it decent acceleration. Of all the cars I've owned, I wish I'd kept this one! After two years, I sold it to my then girlfriend's mother for $400. What was I thinking?

[@gordocarbo]

Worked at a tow yard in the 80s...we would get cars like that in all the time. Usually could buy for the tow bill plus 100 for the boss pocket. 400 bucks bought you a nice car back then it was great!

[@marcob4630]

Both cars are stunningly beautiful! However the guy with the old fashioned mustache would fit perfectly in an old Ford T .

[@palefeathervaldez3563]

WOW, WOW, WOW..... Breathless, this is one hell of a car.

[@94q45t]

All of the large GM cars in ‘71 had those vent louvers in the trunk lid (including our Delta 88), and maybe all of them did. The idea was the slipstream coming off the roof would create a mild vacuum and pull air from the interior. That was the only year GM did it. GM discovered that under some conditions caused negative pressure zones and actually draw exhaust gases back into the car.

[@haroldb2663]

Yes I remember the vents on my fathers 1971 Delta 88 also and I remember my father giving me the same explanation regarding them. My friends dad, our neighbor, had the 1971 Riviera which i thought was the coolest car, even cooler than his wife's 1970 split bumper Camero. Now that I'm older I have sorta flipped on that one :). Great times!

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

My father's 1971 Chevrolet Impala Sport Sedan had them...it was a universal design found in only the full-size GM cars that model year, including the clamshell wagons. This was GM Engineering's solution to the discontinuation of the vent panes in the windows of the front doors. Supposedly, that ventilation system would also draw in cold air on frigid mornings from vents in the hood but there was no way to turn off that from the instrument panel. Customer complaints resulted in the rear vent louvers being eliminated for 1972.

[@jnucci1]

This was an early version of GM's "constant flow" ventilation system which replaced ventilation via the old fly windows. GM had a lot if issues with this early design and eventual redesign resulted in the vent panels moved to the rear door jambs. The blower motor was also constantly on at a very low setting. To solve the cold air flow in winter before the heater core warmed up I remember quite a few people hacking the vent system by placing an additional switch in line with the motor to they could manually turn it off. I believe the vent panes also had issues with water and debris intrusion, so moving them to inside the door jamb helped solve that.

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

In the early 1970s smoking rates were much higher and AC was still an expensive option so ventilation was very important. By that time vent windows were considered old-fashioned by the stylists and the bean counters wanted to get rid of them to save money on parts and labor assembly. As a child I remember helping my dad wax our 1971 Chevrolet Impala with those slotted vent holes in the decklid. The paste wax was so hard to wipe off around that area. KZbin has a television commercial for the 1971 Impala explaining the ventilation process.

[@UberLummox]

@@jnucci1 You and @Apple Man Have the most complete info on this topic. Thanks for the knowledge. I had a '71 Riv, but didn't own it long enough to delve into the workings of the vent system.

[@JC-qx5hd]

Your Mark 2 is beautiful.I would feel like the bees knees driving around in that !

[@bighardtop]

I had to go back and replay the video at the 3:55 mark because I thought I heard "the 400th anniversary." Gorgeous car.

[@rogerclyde2720]

One of the Cars that Elvis purchased and kept till he died . On didplay at Graceland.

[@Joseph1NJ]

Wow, enjoyed watching the whole video without having to hear the words, "Mclaren P1."

[@danam0228]

or "Nurburgring" I can't stand how the word luxury is attached to so many cars nowadays that are clearly not luxury cars, but only have luxury options which even Hyundais and Kias make available on their cars

[@Pisti846]

The vents are part of the flow-through ventilation system.

[@ronschwolsky1626]

My Dad had a '71 Impala coupe and it had that same ventilation system.

[@garagedweller7159]

Thanks,I always learn something here.

[@timothylaws4549]

awesome cars, wish I had them.....

[@garrettperkins9021]

Two amazing cars!!!!!

[@marshallbell933]

Mr. Chu's you're cool old school I like the way your cruise it man I like to be like you when I grow up much love

[@MisterMikeTexas]

I can only imagine if Frank Costanza were to accidentally sit on that Continental hood ornament! 😂😂😂

[@garyjones7044]

BEST CAR SHOW EVER, caps aren't locked that's shouting.

[@wernerdanler2742]

Both those boats, I mean cars, are absolutely beautiful. I bought a 1975 Riviera in 1980 and had it for a few years. It had the crap 454 motor and I had nothing but trouble with it.

[@gordocarbo]

Rolling art!! Lincoln reminds me of Brutus? car in Popeye...the Riv and that boat tail is classic, BOP always had way nicer interiors than the Chebbies .

[@jwelchon2416]

I noticed that the Continental air conditioning vents are in the roof. In theory, that would be the ideal position for them.

[@sarahdeshay1394]

JWelchon we had a 56 Lincoln when I was a kid, I remember having my own air vent in the back seat headliner.

[@peterpeterson3266]

Possible most beautiful car ever produced!

[@josepharcher9620]

Yea, it's beautiful but against the Mark V??

[@marblegrimes]

now that,s a beautiful car

[@paymankhayree8552]

the moustache is much more epic than the car

[@MyClassicCarTV]

You’re too kind! 👍

[@IvanTerreroDDS]

18 people did not like this episode?!?!?!?! Are they nuts?

[@jeffjones9813]

What a beautiful automobile.

[@DWilliams-ce8nb]

My favorite car since the day it was released.

[@W1ZM3]

Also, If you ever bothered to read the 1971 Buick Owners Manual on page 25 you would know that the things you call louvers are VENTS and part of the new VENTILATION SYSTEM, they were not there for looks.

[@danam0228]

nut they sure looked cool, probably made some people think that the engine might be in the back lol

[@TimmyP1955]

I like the older Rivieras. Though I'm an old guy, I was not familiar with the Continental.

[@aarongranda7825]

The riviera vents are for flow through ventilation.

[@dearbrad1996]

Open the hood , button it up! Yes Sir! I'm driving! Yes Sir Mr Big Mo

[@SpockvsMcCoy]

Each of Henry Ford's grandsons, Henry Ford II, Benson, and William Clay, for many years had their own Continental Mark II. Benson drove a green one and Henry II drove a black one. About 3000 of them were built of which around 1500-2000 survive in all conditions. That survival rate is high for such an old car. FoMoCo lost about $1000 on each produced which is a loss relative to the dealer invoice price of around $8000 which was substantial. At the time FoMoCo marketing had the right idea that the next new automotive niche was the specialty luxury coupe. But they aimed too high in the market with this car, thus the loss on each produced. Realizing their mistake they moved downward in price with the 1958 Thunderbird which was a profitable vehicle. Surprisingly, many of these facts were not discussed in this video.

[@danam0228]

thanks for sharing, I heard of these facts on a different video by an equally respectable video series

[@james5460]

I find these videos of classic cars are often better with the sound off. Just watching the car in action is what I want, not the rather sterile discussion about "wow, that's a big engine" and so forth.

[@davidtosh7200]

1956 and 1957 are the only two years for Lincoln Continental Mark II, and it only came with 2 door hardtop. No two tone paint was offered, but it came with several colors, such as black, blue, green, maroon, red, and white. If they would have a 1958 Lincoln Continental Mark II, it would have 4 headlights, like most 1958 cars and all pick up trucks, but it does not happened.

[@MyClassicCarTV]

In 56 and 57, they weren’t even Lincolns. Continental was its own division for those two years.

[@jeffthornton6998]

That car would come to a hair under 96K today. For a top of the line luxury car; that about in line with today’s prices.

[@richardmorris7063]

True,but nowadays you see lots of 96,000$ escalades & navigators.back in 56 if you seen one of these Bob hope or frank Sinatra was driving it.

[@jeffthornton6998]

Richard Morris You’re right about that. I saw a KZbin video that said up until the 70’s; most people only bought cars that they can actually afford. In these days of easy credit and keeping up with the Joneses; everybody is showboating in something big and flashy.

[@edwardkantowicz4707]

@ Jeff Thornton, Indeed a staggering amount, yet I have read the build quality of these was meant to be on par with a Rolls, Bentley, or other British, hand-built, "World-Class" models. I have more recently seen the same allusion made in a documentary about these old Continentals. They even sourced the same hides as Rolls-Royce. I'm not quite sure if it was known as Connolly leather back then, however that is their legend. Other parts were originally sourced from Britain as well, but later to be replaced by somewhat "more practical" inferior substitutions.

[@richardmorris7063]

@@edwardkantowicz4707 I heard that lincoln lost money on the 61-64contis ,those Were my favs.love those suicide door gangster sedans.

[@frankburns8871]

Love it, but I think the Mark III looks even better inside and out.

[@MisterMikeTexas]

Nice car! And 460 powered!

[@Lord_KillerBee]

The downfall of the continental was being too expensive for the clientele Ford Motor Company had. But is still a very elegant and classy ride, plus having that car being owned by William Ford Sr certainly makes this one more special.

[@COTTERO]

Amazing car, amazing story, I mean the Continental.

[@samsonwilkinson8090]

'They decided to try their luck' ÝUP, sounds like a good corporate strategy...

[@Mr.Higginbotham]

Wow

[@adoreslaurel]

Wow it has even had the lousy vacuum wiper thing replaced by an electric one.

[@2574mcu]

I bet that car would look great in a high gloss black.

[@Doobie1975]

Despite the low compression 455's offered in the 1971-72 full sized Buick's they could still haul ass in drivability and performance.

[@opera93]

Thanks, admittedly, it is a little more extravagant than my 1956 FORD/4D/Thunderbird Engine/auto/ ac(?, did not work)White with Blue Velour INT,ETC, a low Mileage Florida ( supposedly)car that we bought in 1965: was totaled in early 1966.. Anyways, I had plans for that 56,; interestingly do not see many 56 Deluxe(?) Fords in shows, most cumstomized.

[@sylentxtinction2097]

Although I prefer the '70... '71 and later Rivieras are the ones to own. Their lower compression ratio lends better to modern ethanol blended fuels... but the Q-jet carbs still boil over.

[@markbehr88]

Two great cars on my to buy list but I prefer the 73 model. Those rear vents leaked water.

[@WOODR52]

I had one of these continentals in 1972. paid 700.00 for it. should have kept it. in the end, the rich end up owning everything cool.

[@willjones7132]

They are some of the best looking cars ever made, but don't look back, I'm about to sell my classic and am having the same thoughts, but in the end it costs money to store it and maintain it, and that money can be used for better things like I'm sure you know deep inside.

[@djdonrack5592]

Wooow !!!

[@javierbarrientos9927]

Nice Mark II but The battery at the worst possible uncomfortable place. Riviera a full size corvette window

[@jamesgeronsin5904]

Beautiful. Car. Indeed.

[@ajsmith5295]

Elvis Presley had a white 1956 continental mark 2 and in 1958 he had a phone fitted,,,, car phone in 1958!!!

[@zakbrowne8470]

To my eye it bears resemblance to Thunderbird.

[@danam0228]

I have thought the same thing

[@adoreslaurel]

Was not LTD, the Lincoln, Thunderbird division? or so some said.

[@zbigniewnazimek1628]

Piękny samochód

[@lucindathomas1016]

💕

[@johnhenrymcmahon6878]

Hey big bro Dennis! Unbelievable cars that your friend has here, man. Love them both-very different eras but both over the top exercises in awesome American style! I would kick my floppy sneakers off my tubesocked stocking feet and jump in the backseat with a chick in either one. Tho I think I would prefer the Riviera! :) JV Johnny

[@ChrisJones-jz6el]

Gangster ass cars both of them

[@richardmorris7063]

True that,I'd throw in a suicide door 64 lincoln in there too.

[@frankwood7878]

YEP YEP, THATZ 4 ZHOR !!!!$$$$$$$$$

[@gordocarbo]

Those rear vents not only kept the fumes out but Im wondering if it was to help with cig smoke, back then everyone did No new cars that I know of didnt have a cig lighter and ashtray even in the back seat . I was young enough to be around when you could still smoke in restaurants.

[@fredhuck266]

Do you have any videos on the 1964 Chrysler New Yorker?

[@pontiacgrandprix733]

I know one thing, back in 77 when New York was burning, my buddy had a coca brown, w tan split vinyl top, tan interior, Spokes and White walls, and that car turned heads, used to play The Trammps on the8 track, and cruise till we were out of gas money, it burnt it by the hr

[@shonnyNOR]

Interesting that in the mid-50's Citroen came out with the DS 19 which was 50 years ahead of anything else, and light years ahead of anything made in the US.

[@adoreslaurel]

Oh good, this one has electic wipers.

[@UberLummox]

The interior of this Riviera appears to be from the otional GS package, but this is not a GS car. My '71 had a very plain looking bench but the exterior color was a remarkable medium brown w/a pinkish tone (tope???) LOVE the history on the Continental!!!! 460 C6 is perfect especially given the history. GM has always been considered the styling leader, but this I'd have to say more restraint than a Cad but just as stylish making it dare I say "technically" more stylish, as were the '60s Lincolns. Not that I didn't love my 5 '50s/60s Cadillacs, but my '66 and '71 Lincolns were cars amazing too.

[@buffsheeri]

hand made parts....ooh $$$$$$$$

[@russcunn6580]

The Lincoln remains me of a 1st gen buick Riviera

[@emjayay]

"Riviera" as a name used a lot by Buick over the years. But the separate car you refer to, to compete with the four passenger Thunderbird, also had a lot of classic references and was supposed to be very clean like the Mark II.

[@26TptCoy]

The Lincoln looks very similar to one owned by Elizabeth Taylor, What happened to the Lincoln used in the 40's Batman serials?

[@luizmiranda1950]

1956 Continental Mark II (aut. 3) Continental Mark II (aut. 3) , model year 1956, version for North America U.S. (up to November) 2-door coupe body type RWD (rear- wheel drive), automatic 3-speed gearbox petrol (gasoline) engine with displacement: 6029 cm3 / 367.9 cui, advertised power: 212.5 kW / 285 hp / 289 PS ( SAE gross ), torque: 545 Nm / 402 lb-ft characteristic dimensions: outside length: 5550 mm / 218.5 in, width: 1969 mm / 77.5 in, wheelbase: 3200 mm / 126 in reference weights: shipping weight 2189 kg / 4825 lbs estimated curb weight: 2270 kg / 5000 lbs how fast is this car ? top speed: 193 km/h (120 mph) (©theoretical); accelerations: 0- 60 mph 11© s; 0- 100 km/h 11.6© s (simulation ©automobile-catalog.com); 1/4 mile drag time (402 m) 18© s (simulation ©automobile-catalog.com) 1956 Continental Mark II (aut. 3) Detailed Performance Review fuel consumption and mileage: average estimated by a-c©: 22 l/100km / 12.8 mpg (imp.) / 10.7 mpg (U.S.) / 4.5 km/l, more data: www.automobile-catalog.com/make/continental/mark_ii_continental/mark_ii_continental/1956.html

[@new2dayuser151]

They just don't make em like they used to!!

[@tracylemme1375]

Was the 368 a Y-block ?

[@marcchavez6658]

$10K got a anice house in 1955

[@deannascott3475]

I bet he does not have a 1966 Stainless Steel Lincoln from Allegheny Ludlum...In the early 70s the CEO of Allegheny Ludlum in Pittsburgh parked his car on the VIP 1st floor of the Mellon Square parking garage, and we would walk past it each Sunday waiting in line after church to pay the parking tab...

[@deannascott3475]

automotivemileposts.com/lincoln/lincoln1966stainlesssteel.html

[@W1ZM3]

Stop telling lies about the back glass, all 1971,1972 and 1973 back glass are the same, not only on 71, guess you never bothered to look at 72/73. That's not a two piece it's one piece with a mold seam, and no they never came flying out in a crash, that's an urban myth.

[@mystras100]

CORRECT V

[@danam0228]

lol, gotta love urban myths like the wings on the Dodge Daytonas and Plymouth Superbirds being outlawed necause they decapitated pedestrians who were hit when crossing highways and sent flying over the car lol, silly city slickers 😜

[@willjones7132]

I'm curious about the seam in the back glass, do you know if it's like a kiln fuse, it looks like two molded pieces that were fused later making one piece, can you see the seem inside of the glass, or is it just a flashing remnant on the outside? I looks so different from anything else.

[@mystras100]

5 PASSENGER ,,,,,,,,,,,,, I HAD 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@mukhumor]

eye candy.