1956 Lincoln Continental for sale $67,995

The new Continental was not intended to be the largest or most powerful automobile; ratherand#44; the most luxurious and elegant American car availableand#44; designed to recapture the spirit of the great classics of the prewar period with prices to match.

There was something of the style of the early Ford Thunderbird at the frontand#44; which was introduced earlier at the Detroit Auto Show on February 20and#44; 1954and#44; with a tasteful egg-crate grille; a longand#44; curving hood; and straight fenders to the headlights. The fender line went back to behind the doorsand#44; at which point the line kicked up a little before curving back down to the taillights.

Little chrome was used compared to other vehicles of the timeand#44; and the only two-tone paint combinations offered were limited to roofs being contrasted with bodies. The car had power steeringand#44; power brakesand#44; power windowsand#44; power seatsand#44; power vent windowsand#44; and a tachometer. The vanes on the wheel covers were individually bolted inside the frame of the cover. It sported a high greenhouse and a wraparound windscreen. Fueling was accomplished via a swingaway left taillight. The Continental Mark II had only one optionand#44; air conditioningand#44; for $595. Cars with A/C had different body parts.

Most of the car was hand-built to an exacting standardand#44; including the application of multiple coats of paintand#44; hand sandingand#44; double lacqueringand#44; and polishing to perfection.

From todays vantage pointand#44; it can be argued that the Continental Mark II was successful at being what it was intended to be: an American Rolls-Royce or Bentleyand#44; and a re-creation of the grand cars of the thirties

Todayand#44; approximately half of the original 3and#44;000 cars still exist.