The Continental Mark II was one of few elite automobiles of the 1950s that was coveted by the rich and famous and some examples ended up in the hands of such celebrities as Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Louis Prima and President Dwight D. Eisenhower to name but a few.

The Mark II was not made by Lincoln, but by the short-lived Continental Division of the Ford Motor Company. The Mark II had a sticker price of $10,400, twice the price of the standard 1956 Lincoln offerings. Much of the car was assembled by hand, and Ford claimed it lost approximately $1,000 on each example sold. The unprofitable Mark II and the Continental Division were discontinued after Ford went public in 1956, even though these cars brought people into the showrooms to buy additional Ford products.

Ford originally planned to build about 2,000 Mark IIs a year for five years. The reality turned out to be 2,550 built in the 1956 model year and 444 more in the following year. It is reported that approximately 1,500 examples are still in existence.

This two owner car is an original, unrestored example. It is reported to have been purchased new by a father and daughter team that were dealership owners and collectors. It was driven from 1956 through 1967 when it was placed in storage. It was sold at an auction in 2007 to the current owner who purchased the car with 39,000 original miles registered. The Continental currently shows 40,900 miles driven.

Powered by a 368-cid V-8 and backed by an automatic transmission, this conservative, but distinctive car has an impressive list of standard equipment. This includes power steering, brakes, windows, seat and door locks; heater, full instrumentation, AM radio, carpet throughout, dual exhaust, whitewall tires and pushbutton lubrication.

Many original service records accompany the car. The current owner has receipts that total $35,000 and reflect the work executed on the by going through the engine, replace belts, fit new tires and bring the Continental to the fine and comfortable luxury of 1956.