Chassis No. C56T3953

With the vision to create an ultra-luxurious automobile, Ford set up the Continental brand at the beginning of the 1950s. The "Special Products Division," for which Henry Ford II's brother William Clay Ford was responsible, were given enormous financial resources with a clear objective to develop a luxury vehicle that ranked above the previous American luxury brands, and, in fact, aimed directly at customers who had previously owned a Rolls-Royce.

Penned by legendary designers Gordon Buehrig and John Reinhart, the Continental Mark II was launched at the 1955 Paris Auto Salon and stunned with its now-timeless design and presence. The Mark II was both technically and luxuriously ahead of the competition, and was assembled by hand in a designated factory, where the paintwork was elaborately done in numerous time-consuming steps, and the engines were extensively balanced. The price was nearly $10,000; in comparison, the most expensive Cadillac models cost about half, and a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupe cost "only" $6,820. Representing the pinnacle of luxury American automobile manufacturing at the time, the list of prominent owners included Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, and Elvis Presley. Less than 3,000 examples were made before Ford ceased production, as the enormously high manufacturing costs made it uneconomical to sell the Ford family's "labor of love."

According to the Continental Mark II Database, this example was completed by hand during May of 1957, and painted as it appears today in Medium Green Iridescent (code D20) matched by a light and medium green leather interior (code 1C2D); one of just 139 examples in this livery. The Continental is known to have resided in the mild California climate for many decades and was by the 1990s owned by William B. Edwards of El Sobrante. One of just 444 examples produced in the 1957 model year, the Continental today displays an older repaint, while the interior features a blend of original and restored finishes. Offered from the estate of a long-time collector car enthusiast and member of the renowned Burlingame, California-based Candy Store classic car club, the Continental Mark II has enjoyed devoted ownership, while being shown at various Concours d'Elegance events over the years, and a badge attests to a major award in National Competition at the Lincoln Continental Owners Club. The epitome of 1950s American luxury, the elegant Continental Mark II set the standard for the era and remains one of the most coveted designs ever conceived.