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Continental Mark II
Out now: Autocade Yearbook 2024

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1956 Continental Mark II.jpg

Continental Mark II. 1956–7 (prod. 3,014). 2-door coupé. F/R, 368 in³ (V8 OHV). Ford’s Continental division set out ‘to craft the finest automobiles in America’, inspired by Edsel Ford’s 1939 Lincoln-Continental and the 1940–8 production models that followed, with a long hood and short deck. Styled by John Reinhart inside Ford, free from the chrome and tailfin excess of 1950s’ US design. Very heavy, at 4,825 lb—add another 365 lb with air conditioning—so the regular Lincoln V8 (with 285 bhp) and Turbo-Drive three-speed automatic struggled to move the car. Restrained interior. Quality far above anything Ford made, with twice as many hours to build a Mark II than a regular Lincoln; materials were the best available, and power seats, power steering, tinted glass, and AM radio with two speakers were standard. Priced just shy of US$10,000—Rolls-Royce territory in those days. The ’57s had a power hike to 300 bhp and some new colours. Light steering, geared for comfort. Not popular, and Ford probably lost money on each, but a classic.


Manufacturing location: Wixom, Michigan, USA

Marque: Continental | Predecessor: Lincoln Continental (1940–8) | Successor: Continental Mark III

 

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Out now: Autocade Yearbook 2024