Classic Car Review: 156 Continental MK2
by: Steven Bryan
Posted on: Tuesday, March 25th, 2008 at 5:10 pm by: Steven Bryan
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For luxury and style, few cars from the 1950s could compete with the 1956 Continental Mark II.
For the nuclear family of the 1950s, a car needed a combination of reliability, practicality and efficiency, which made the 1956 Continental Mark II an unusual, though stylish, entry into the automotive arena. Created by the Continental Division of the Ford Motor Company, the Mark II was an expensive, luxurious ride that consumed gas at a frightening rate.
1956 Continental Mark II: Scottish Leather and a “Cow Belly” Frame
With cars, you typically get what you pay for, and with a price tag close to $10,000, consumers who bought the Continental Mark II were treated to a fine-leather interior created by Bridge of Weir , a Scottish company that has been making high-quality leather upholstery for more than 100 years.
Interestingly enough, for a car with a classy chassis, the Mark II had what was affectionately called a “cow belly,” a frame design in which the passenger area hung low enough to create comfortable seating without raising the roof. The trunk also sported a very noticeable and rounded spare-tire “bump.”
1956 Continental Mark II: Other Features
The Continental Mark II came standard with power-adjust seats, and tinted windows were available at no extra cost. Air conditioning also was available, but it added to the cost of this luxury vehicle.
Cherry picked from the production line to ensure the best possible performance, the 1956 Continental Mark II featured a 368-cubic-inch V-8 engine that classic car specialist Quentin Wilson said was, “stripped down and hand-balanced for extra smoothness and refinement.”
1956 Continental Mark II: The Car of the Rich and Famous
Not surprisingly, a car such as the Continental Mark II did attraction the attention of some movers and shakers, including Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and the Shah of Iran. Even with celebrity endorsements such as these, the high cost and poor sales forced Ford to discontinue the Mark II in 1958. Still, more than 50 years later, the 1956 Continental Mark II remains one of the sweetest rides ever made.
1956 Continental Mark II: Fast
Sticker price: $9,695
Fuel efficiency: 16 mpg
Engine: 368-cubic-inch V8
Sources:
The Auto Editors of Consumer Guide, “1956-1957 Continental Mark II”
Lincoln-club.org, “1956 Continental Mark II - An American Rolls Royce”
Auto Lemon, “Continental Mark II”
Conceptcarz.com, “1956 Continental Mark II Convertible”
