Macon Magazine

JUNE/JULY 2013 MACON MAGAZINE I 109 paint and two coats of lacquer with hand-sanding between each coat. Every car was given a series of road tests before being wrapped in fleece-lined cloth covered in plastic to be shipped to dealers. Leather for seating was imported from Bridge of Weir, Scotland. The extraordinary quest for quality underlying the philosophy behind the creation of the Mark II was summed up by a Ford executive in an address to the Society of Automotive Engineers: "…an essential requirement of elegance is enduring value. Rhinestones are no substitute for diamonds." The Mark II was not a rhinestone. In October of 1955 the new Continental debuted at the Paris Auto Show. Then came a series of invitation-only showings across the United States. Guests were greeted and addressed by William Clay Ford, brother of the company's president and head of the Continental division. The Mark II was displayed on a softly lit, slowly revolving platform while a classical pianist played "The Continental," winner of the first Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1934. The new Continental Mark II created a national sensation. By Jan. 1, 1956 Ford had received 1,300 orders for the new car. But, at a price tag of $10,000, a huge amount in 1956, the market for it was limited. By comparison, a Ford of that era cost less than $2,000. The company had expected to lose money on the project. Their motivation was to boost the company's prestige and specifically to unseat Cadillac as "the standard of the world." Their expectations proved correct. The 1956 model and the little-changed 1957 model together sold only 3,015 cars. Ford was said to have lost $1,000 on each car sold. During the 1957 model year the decision was made to suspend production of the Mark II. But the automobile did not simply fade into obscurity. Current state records indicate that approximately 2,200 of them are still registered. Some collectors own several. They may warehouse them to preserve them while others drive them regularly. They've also increased in value. On the Hemmings website, which is a collector car marketplace, a 1956 Mark II is offered for $74,900. The current owner of the Mark II pictured here fell in love with the car years before he was old enough to drive. In the 1990s he bought his first one, but a few years later sold it as "impractical." And so it was. But what a pleasure it was to own and drive. Early this year he saw an ad for this Mark II, pursued it and acquired it from an owner in Michigan. It is now housed in an enclosed garage and brought out for exercise and special occasions. It's still a very special car. People stare at it, blow their horns and give a thumbs-up on the road or, if it's parked, ask him "What is that car?" or, almost always declare: "That's a beautiful car." It is indeed a land yacht and steers like a large boat, very different from today's cars. But its ride is still soft and smooth, its power is strong and sure, and behind its wheel the driver is ensconced in style. And, as the owner asks, "What can be more satisfying than driving a life-long dream?" Bridge of Weir leather from Scotland covered the seats and instrument pod on the dash of the Mark II. Controls for heat and air were suspended below the dash and featured levers similar to controls on an airplane. Four simple dials above the steering wheel housed gauges including a tachometer. So that the smooth sculpture of its side panels would be unbroken the Mark II gas filler was concealed behind its le tail lamp. e spare tire was stored inside the raised portion of the rear of the trunk lid which was an inspiration for the "Continental kit" seen on other cars.

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