1956 Continental Mark II Coupe

After an 8-year hiatus, the much-awaited replacement of the original classic Continental was hailed as a design success at introduction in 1956. By this time, Ford had created a separate Continental Division to better address their luxury car aspirations. Deviating from the chrome-laden design excesses of the time, the Mark II received rave reviews for its uncluttered, pure design. Considered European influenced by many, original equipment included a tachometer. There were several safety features like deep dish steering wheel, optional padded dash and sun visors, and front and rear seatbelts, along with Jet-age style separate right and left heater controls. Despite the whopping $10,000 price (one could easily buy a house, a Rolls-Royce or two Cadillacs for less), Ford is said to have lost over $1000 on each car. Each of the 3000 or so produced in the course of the two-year production run, came inside a fleece-lined bag within its own wooden crate. The car is largely hand assembled with a great deal of lead work in each body. Although the engine is the 358 cubic-inch 'Y' block as used in the production of Lincoln cars, each was hand assembled from parts meeting rigid specifications and specially balanced. Each completed chassis was given a 30-mile test drive before final completion and sign-off. A convertible version was developed for the Mark II, but when it became evident that costs would never be recouped, this mechanism was adapted to the late 1950s Ford retractable, 50s and 60s T-Birds and 60s Lincoln Continental convertibles.

The price and exclusivity attracted celebrities, business leaders, and politicians who chiefly bought these cars. Frank Sinatra, Spike Jones, Louie Prima, Dwight Eisenhower, Barry Goldwater, Elvis Presley, and local favorite Doris Day were notable owners. Despite the loss of each car, Ford felt that some of the project's goals had been successful. The image created a very positive influence on Ford's position in the competitive world of luxury autos. The best validation came as the Mark II served as a stimulus for GM to develop the even pricier Eldorado Brougham. The hand assembly and array of custom choices make this the last bespoke car for any major US automaker.

This example was acquired from the original owner's widow in Riverside, California, by Richard and Carolyn Gray in 1989. Dr. and Mrs. Melvin Judkins purchased the car new from the Lincoln-Mercury dealer in Lodi, California, on January 3rd, 1956, making it a fairly early car. Dr. Judkins was a well-known Radiologist who invented the special catheters used to perform coronary angiograms and to place coronary stents. This fact was not lost on Dr. Gray, a Cardiologist living in Los Angeles at the time.

The car is largely original, but deterioration of a nonoriginal shade of green applied in 1962 necessitated a repaint in the original light green. The data plate indicates a black exterior, but disassembly reveals no track of black whatsoever, suggesting an error in the data plate. With the exception of the bumpers, all of the chrome and stainless is original, the interior and the running gear are all original although there has been an engine-out detailing under the hood and door weather striping was replaced only because of the repaint.