This 1956 Continental Mark II was originally built as one of approximately 2,550 first-year coupes, and in 2007 it was refurbished and modified with work that involved cutting off the roof and fitting front bucket seats. The car is powered by a 368ci V8 paired with a three-speed automatic transmission and is finished in blue over blue and white leatherette upholstery. Features include knock-off wire-spoke wheels, whitewall tires, an AM radio, and power windows. The seller acquired the car out of Santa Cruz, California, in 2020. This Mark II is now offered at no reserve with the removed roof and seat, refurbishment photos, and a clean California title in the seller’s name.
Continental was introduced as a stand-alone luxury subsidiary of the Ford Motor Company with the debut of the Mark II at the Paris motor show in October 1955. Finished from the factory in Pastoral Blue (04), this example was converted to a roadster style by removing the roof and was repainted in 2007. Features include a wrap-around windshield, a driver-side mirror, an egg-crate grille, chrome bumpers and trim, and dual exhaust outlets that exit through the rear bumper. The driver-side taillight swings away to reveal a fuel filler, and a spare-tire hump is integrated into the deck lid. Blistered paint, corrosion, and other imperfections are pictured in the gallery below.
Chrome-finished Dayton 15″ knock-off wire wheels are said to have been installed in 2015. They are mounted with American Classic whitewall tires. The car was equipped from the factory with power-assisted steering, and braking is handled by power-assisted drum brakes. The seller states that the suspension and the brakes were overhauled under prior ownership.
The interior was refurbished in 2007 with replacement of the factory bench seat with the current front bucket seats, which are trimmed in white and blue leatherette upholstery. Interior appointments include aircraft-style auxiliary controls, anodized dash trim, an AM radio, a cabin heater, and electric front and rear windows. The seller notes that the left-rear power window does not operate properly.
The three-spoke steering wheel has a chrome horn ring and frames a 140-mph speedometer, a 5k-rpm tachometer, a combination gauge, and an electric clock. The five-digit odometer shows 88k miles, approximately 4k of which were added under current ownership. The fuel gauge is inoperable.
The 368ci Y-block V8 was factory rated at 285 horsepower and 402 lb-ft of torque. An electric fuel pump has been installed, and the fuel tank has been replaced. The seller notes a leak from the water-pump hose.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a three-speed Turbo-Drive automatic transmission and a limited-slip differential. Corrosion is noted on underbody components, particularly the exhaust system and its silencers.
The car does not have a convertible top or frame, but the removed metal roof section that will accompany the vehicle is pictured above. The included removed bench seat is shown in the gallery.
The identification plate decodes as follows:
- C – Continental Mark II car line
- 56 – 1956 model year
- C – January 1956 build month
- 2307 – Sequence number
- 04 – Pastoral Blue paint
- 1N6B – Medium Blue and White leather upholstery
- 109 – January 9 build date
- 3 – Rotation number on production day
