Making of the 1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II

1948 saw the last year of production Continentals until a reintroduction of the line in 1956. This short film presents the story of the 1956 Continental from concept to final production.
It is interesting to note that the 1956-1957 Continentals were amongst the most expensive production cars of the day. In 1956 a new Continental would cost $10,000 or more. Compared to a standard Ford car which would cost less than $2000.

[@FRANCIS6189]

Simply the most beautiful car ever created, as far as I'm concerned.

[@brule1961]

Lincoln needs to start putting this kind of thought in their new cars.

[@save16thave]

Elvis Presley had one of these. I saw a video of his mother driving it in the snow. Also, Jerry Lee Lewis said the first time he ever met Elvis he drove up in a 57 Continental Mark II. These cars costed around 10 grand new. That was alot of bread back in 56! A T-Bird only costed around $3,000. I wonder what a Rolls costed back then, whatever it was there is no way they could compete with the Mark II.

[@critchley3819]

These MK11 are wthout dought one of the most beutiful automobiles to come out of the US,

[@fearlesscrusader]

I'd love to have seen what this car looked like in it's "blackout disguise" when it traveled coast-to-coast early in '55 (10:38). When they talked about the leather interiors (12:32), they didn't mention that the leather came from a particular breed of cattle, grown only in Scotland, because it was the finest leather in the world. Jayne Mansfield had the only pink Mark II ever made, but it was destroyed in a fire before she ever got to enjoy it. I've dreamed on owning one since 1955.

[@bagelboi66]

Imagine, they did all this without the aid of computer modelling too. Notice the masculine pronouns used throughout. Car making sure was a boys club back then. A very enjoyable video clip!

[@thetandy2]

You're correct. it was a part of the Ford motor company's Continental division. The Continental's star ornament was later integrated into the Lincoln marque.

[@rubentorres42]

the car is in houston, texas, at gallery furniture. it was bought by the furniture store owner and is on display there.

[@solangun73]

wow. this was a nice video. i owns a 56 continental who is been build up from a wreack. alot of work, but its fun to see it lokks like a car again:) so i hope it will look like this one soon. my car is a late 55 mod and black with white and blue inside:)

[@restoreyourford]

@315tomr Thanks for the comment. In answer to your question archive.org is where I found this gem. Check it out, they have all kinds of fantastic old films.

[@sgomez64]

I can't believe I just saw this. What a treat, what a pleasure!! Thank you so much. May I be a bit picky and point out that the Continental Mark II wasn't officially a Lincoln. It was the only product of the very short lived Continental Division, shot down with the whole project by HFII which caused bad blood between him and brother his Bill Ford Sr. HFII needed resources for the rolling disaster that the E car (a.k.a the Edsel) would turn out to be. Great job and thanks again!!

[@garywood9525]

I liked this car ever since I saw it in a movie re-run from about 1957. The Mark III was also nice and both looked good in the high-gloss black finish.

[@markmarshall39]

now that is a coupe

[@315tomr]

Just saw this video, absolutely magnificent. Where did you get it ?

[@TheLincolnGuy]

Imagine the value of the model they were using.

[@restoreyourford]

@save16thave Great comment, I had never heard that before. Thanks for sharing!

[@thetandy2]

The Rolls Royce was a comparable price in 1956

[@adoreslaurel]

Bet he guys who painted them had their health wecked,spraying that paint giving off strong fumes in a confined space.

[@bulldogbarks55]

I wouldn't blame Henry The Deuce for stopping production on this car. Most of the blame should go to Robert McNamara who was a "one marque" guy and a notorious bean-counter. Big Mac tried to kill off the Mercury and Lincoln lines completely but the Ford bros. stopped him. He did however kill the two-seat T-Bird even though it was outselling Corvette by a huge margin. He didn't like sporty cars. If Mac had his way Ford would have sold only Falcons because they were cheap and easy to make.

[@markb289]

I recognize the narrator's voice, but I can't place the name. Anyone know who it is?

[@Gaygarious]

I think a Rolls at that time was less than 5,000!

[@gimelgort]

I wondereded what it costed to have one restoreded? I would like to driveded one!

[@HFX1955]

While a very clean design, the Mark II, even today, has only a limited appeal. It is not a car which has people lusting after it. During the early parts of the film I was thinking of the 1953 Studebaker coupes and how elegant that design was.

[@fearlesscrusader]

I'd love to have seen what this car looked like in it's "blackout disguise" when it traveled coast-to-coast early in '55 (10:38). When they talked about the leather interiors (12:32), they didn't mention that the leather came from a particular breed of cattle, grown only in Scotland, because it was the finest leather in the world. Jayne Mansfield had the only pink Mark II ever made, but it was destroyed in a fire before she ever got to enjoy it. I've dreamed on owning one since 1955.