The Ford Barn

frnkeore · 02-27-2021, 02:35 PM

One of my favorite cars, of all time. I never owned one but, when I was a mechanic (62-70) I got to work on and drive one.

The first 15 minutes of the video, are about how the car came to be.

Enjoy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdjN970hx4w

scicala · 02-27-2021, 06:15 PM

Very nice. Very long too.

Thanks, Sal

Dobie Gillis · 02-27-2021, 06:46 PM

The Mark II had just the right combination of elegance and sportiness. Ford lost big bucks on every one they built but it was a beau geste for sure.

rotorwrench · 02-28-2021, 01:05 PM

Those cars were more about Ford Motor's prestige than making money. Owners like Elvis preferred them over the Caddies that he purchased for friends & relatives.

Their limited manufacture makes them difficult to source parts for now days. Some were converted to modern 460 Ford drive train in stead of the old Lincoln engine and Turbo-Drive.

frnkeore · 02-28-2021, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

Those cars were more about Ford Motor's prestige than making money. Owners like Elvis preferred them over the Caddies that he purchased for friends & relatives.

Their limited manufacture makes them difficult to source parts for now days. Some were converted to modern 460 Ford drive train in stead of the old MEL engine and Turbo-Drive.

They had a engine, that I always admired, the 368 Lincoln Y block, Fomoco's first OHV V8. 4 x 3.66 B&S (in '52 317 ci, 3.8x3.5), with a deck height of 10.94. More than 3/4" taller than the FE engine.

scicala · 02-28-2021, 04:05 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Quote:

Originally Posted by frnkeore

They had a engine, that I always admired, the 368 Lincoln Y block, Fomoco's first OHV V8. 4 x 3.66 B&S (in '52 317 ci, 3.8x3.5), with a deck height of 10.94. More than 3/4" taller than the FE engine.

Yes, they were like a larger version of the Ford Y-Block. Too bad Edelbrock and others didn't make much speed equipment for them. I'm sure there were cams available. I know Hilborn made mechanical fuel injection for them.

Sal

JimNNN · 02-28-2021, 05:55 PM

Probably one of the nicest looking American cars of the last half of the 20th century. I've heard they were probably the most hand-built of any of Ford's production cars. Also cost about 10 grand new - or three to four times what a typical full sized car was priced at back then. I think there were only like 3000 of the Mark II's made.

So how many of us will kick ourselves in the future for not getting one while they're still within the realm of affordable? They're not cheap, but nice examples of this rare car can still be had for not much more than the cost of a new Chevy Suburban.

mercman from oz · 02-28-2021, 08:21 PM

The 1956-1957 Continental Mk II are certainly beautiful cars.
They were styled conservatively with the best of workmanship going into each unit.
I believe that a few have been imported into Australia, but not very many.

mercman from oz · 02-28-2021, 08:33 PM

William Clay Ford standing next to the all new 1956 Continental Mk II.

CrownVic55 · 02-28-2021, 09:28 PM

I came close to buying a 57 in 1961 but couldn't bring myself to trade in my 55 Crown Vic-which I still have. That 57 was loaded and was very quite on the road test.

frnkeore · 03-01-2021, 03:43 AM

I found this info on them.
http://www.classiccardatabase.com/sp...56&model=27119

The '56 was almost $10k and 2556 were made. They dropped the price to $8,800, for '57 but, only made 444. And then they were gone

Hp for '56 was 285, '57 was 300.

Mercman, thank you for the pictures.

Added:
I liked Mk I and Mk II cars but, nothing else until the Mk VIII. I have one of those. The Mk VIII is almost the same HP but, 1200 lb lighter.

mercman from oz · 03-03-2021, 04:50 PM

The all new 1956 Continental Mk II all wrapped up in a Lincoln Dealership.

Dobie Gillis · 03-03-2021, 06:39 PM

The Mark II was one of those rare instances where the stars aligned, producing looks that simply could not be improved. The Facel Vega HK500 was another.

https://images.honestjohn.co.uk/imag...K500%20(1).jpg

mercman from oz · 03-04-2021, 06:51 PM

Early photo of the all new 1956 Continental parked outside the new Continental Division Factory.
What a classy car. They don't come any better than this.

frnkeore · 03-05-2021, 12:03 PM

After seeing the original price of this car, in '56, I looked up the inflation rate today.

Quote:

Today's prices are 9.62 times higher than average prices since 1956, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index. A dollar today only buys 10.40% of what it could buy back then.

That makes the first year price, in today's money, $95,873. That puts in in the Mercedes "S" class range, their high class.

mercman from oz · 03-11-2021, 12:51 AM

Just check out the beautiful lines of this 1956 Continental Mk II.
There is only one word for it, "timeless beauty".

KULTULZ · 03-11-2021, 07:13 AM

What does the roof line remind you of?

Had they eliminated the wing glass, it would have look much more better (IMO).

dmsfrr · 03-11-2021, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KULTULZ

What does the roof line remind you of?

It could be this one?

frnkeore · 03-11-2021, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Had they eliminated the wing glass, it would have look much more better (IMO).

Yes, but, smokers would have been upset (I used to be one of them), you gotta have that "Wind Wing" to flick your ashes, out of the car

KULTULZ · 03-11-2021, 03:34 PM

Notice how clean the BIRD looks w/o the wing glass and the A-Pillar slanted forward?

I would find something to b!tch about in a pie factory ...

mercman from oz · 03-13-2021, 06:07 AM

1956 Continental Mk II from the original Sales Brochure

frnkeore · 03-26-2021, 02:19 AM

I would like people, that are interested in these cars, to know that one is available, the only one one I've seen in decades, in my area.

I have no connection to it and haven't even contacted the seller. I only found it while searching for '54 Ford stuff but, if it had come up, while I was looking for my '54, I would have tried to get it. I'm to invested in my '54 now, to even think of doing anything with it.

It needs a little bit of most everything but, I'd like to see it go to a good home:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...8-64c2ede050d9

If nothing else, you'll enjoy the pictures!

Dobie Gillis · 03-26-2021, 08:26 AM

Eight grand is a steal for a pretty complete car like that one.

Herman Munster · 03-26-2021, 09:18 AM

The previous owner had asked $5K for it several years ago. It needed a lot of work then. Looks all the current owner did was clean it up a little. The engine wasn't stuck then either. I'm just suspicious why the current owner didn't get it running.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...#post-11303025

Dobie Gillis · 03-26-2021, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herman Munster

The previous owner had asked $5K for it several years ago. It needed a lot of work then. Looks all the current owner did was clean it up a little. The engine wasn't stuck then either. I'm just suspicious why the current owner didn't get it running.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...#post-11303025

Good question. Cost maybe? LYB parts are available but not cheap. Mk II body parts are pretty much made of unobtainium but the body looks to be in pretty good shape needing only rust repair in the usual spots.

Herman Munster · 03-26-2021, 10:19 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

The floors were in bad shape when I saw them and there were signs of front end damage that wasn't repaired too well. Zapato said the car had sat for many years in a barn before he got it and someone had stolen the original air cleaner then.

I would have probably bought it if it wasn't for all the rust. I'm wondering if the original frame is shot since the seller is including another one? It was hard to get a good look at the car back then. It was in a very tight garage.

Dobie Gillis · 03-26-2021, 11:19 AM

The original frame may have been bent in the accident that caused the front end damage. Just speculating...

Herman Munster · 03-26-2021, 11:48 AM

Good speculation but a frame would have to really badly bent for me to replace it.

frnkeore · 03-26-2021, 12:24 PM

The last date, in Zapato's add was 11/16. Someone said that he has passed so, this guy may have bought it from his estate?

I'm guessing that he is trying to double his money and may take a bit less.

My '54 is in similar shape, as this car and I paid 4K for it, in Jan. I think 6K would be a good deal on this.

Remember, they only made 2556 (I think about 400 more '57's) of these cars and that's both good and bad. The bad part, is that it will be very difficult to find many replacement parts.

For those that don't know where Corvallis is, it's mid point in OR and only about 15 miles, off I-5. About 180 miles above me.

Herman Munster · 03-26-2021, 02:16 PM

Yes, Zapato did pass away a few years ago. He had a few projects that he had been working on that included a shoebox and a 57 Ford 2dr post. I don't doubt they were sold off.

I passed on his MKII because it would have cost too much to make it even a driver compared the others that were driver quality.
I'll never forget a nice original that was for sale in my home town. The owner wanted only $10000 for it but that was in 1980.
It was this exact color. Maybe it's the same car?

Dobie Gillis · 03-26-2021, 02:59 PM

It's something Jay Leno may be interested in if somebody knows how to get ahold of him. He did a segment on a MK II on Jay Leno's Garage recently but it wasn't his car.

02-27-2021, 02:35 PM	#1
frnkeore Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 782	'56/'57 Lincoln Continental Mk II One of my favorite cars, of all time. I never owned one but, when I was a mechanic (62-70) I got to work on and drive one. The first 15 minutes of the video, are about how the car came to be. Enjoy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdjN970hx4w __________________ Frank '35 Ford Model 51 '48 Ford F3 '54 Ford Tudor Mainline

02-27-2021, 06:15 PM	#2
scicala Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Detroit suburb, MI Posts: 3,712	Re: '56/'57 Lincoln Continental Mk II Very nice. Very long too. Thanks, Sal

02-27-2021, 06:46 PM	#3
Dobie Gillis Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Middle TN Posts: 1,060	Re: '56/'57 Lincoln Continental Mk II The Mark II had just the right combination of elegance and sportiness. Ford lost big bucks on every one they built but it was a beau geste for sure. __________________ Often wrong but never in doubt.

02-28-2021, 01:05 PM	#4
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,487	Re: '56/'57 Lincoln Continental Mk II Those cars were more about Ford Motor's prestige than making money. Owners like Elvis preferred them over the Caddies that he purchased for friends & relatives. Their limited manufacture makes them difficult to source parts for now days. Some were converted to modern 460 Ford drive train in stead of the old Lincoln engine and Turbo-Drive. Last edited by rotorwrench; 03-12-2021 at 05:10 PM.

02-28-2021, 05:55 PM	#7
JimNNN Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 522	Re: '56/'57 Lincoln Continental Mk II Probably one of the nicest looking American cars of the last half of the 20th century. I've heard they were probably the most hand-built of any of Ford's production cars. Also cost about 10 grand new - or three to four times what a typical full sized car was priced at back then. I think there were only like 3000 of the Mark II's made. So how many of us will kick ourselves in the future for not getting one while they're still within the realm of affordable? They're not cheap, but nice examples of this rare car can still be had for not much more than the cost of a new Chevy Suburban.

02-28-2021, 08:21 PM	#8
mercman from oz Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 10,401	Re: '56/'57 Lincoln Continental Mk II The 1956-1957 Continental Mk II are certainly beautiful cars. They were styled conservatively with the best of workmanship going into each unit. I believe that a few have been imported into Australia, but not very many.

02-28-2021, 08:33 PM	#9
mercman from oz Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 10,401	Re: '56/'57 Lincoln Continental Mk II William Clay Ford standing next to the all new 1956 Continental Mk II.

02-28-2021, 09:28 PM	#10
CrownVic55 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Collinsville, OK Posts: 171	Re: '56/'57 Lincoln Continental Mk II I came close to buying a 57 in 1961 but couldn't bring myself to trade in my 55 Crown Vic-which I still have. That 57 was loaded and was very quite on the road test.

03-01-2021, 03:43 AM	#11
frnkeore Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 782	Re: '56/'57 Lincoln Continental Mk II I found this info on them. http://www.classiccardatabase.com/sp...56&model=27119 The '56 was almost $10k and 2556 were made. They dropped the price to $8,800, for '57 but, only made 444. And then they were gone Hp for '56 was 285, '57 was 300. Mercman, thank you for the pictures. Added: I liked Mk I and Mk II cars but, nothing else until the Mk VIII. I have one of those. The Mk VIII is almost the same HP but, 1200 lb lighter. __________________ Frank '35 Ford Model 51 '48 Ford F3 '54 Ford Tudor Mainline Last edited by frnkeore; 03-01-2021 at 03:49 AM.

03-03-2021, 04:50 PM	#12
mercman from oz Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 10,401	Re: '56/'57 Lincoln Continental Mk II The all new 1956 Continental Mk II all wrapped up in a Lincoln Dealership.

03-03-2021, 06:39 PM	#13
Dobie Gillis Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Middle TN Posts: 1,060	Re: '56/'57 Lincoln Continental Mk II The Mark II was one of those rare instances where the stars aligned, producing looks that simply could not be improved. The Facel Vega HK500 was another. https://images.honestjohn.co.uk/imag...K500%20(1).jpg __________________ Often wrong but never in doubt.

03-04-2021, 06:51 PM	#14
mercman from oz Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 10,401	Re: '56/'57 Lincoln Continental Mk II Early photo of the all new 1956 Continental parked outside the new Continental Division Factory. What a classy car. They don't come any better than this.

03-11-2021, 12:51 AM	#16
mercman from oz Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 10,401	Re: '56/'57 Lincoln Continental Mk II Just check out the beautiful lines of this 1956 Continental Mk II. There is only one word for it, "timeless beauty".

03-11-2021, 03:34 PM	#20
KULTULZ Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: IN A 'GALAXIE' FAR FAR AWAY Posts: 6,553	Re: '56/'57 Lincoln Continental Mk II Notice how clean the BIRD looks w/o the wing glass and the A-Pillar slanted forward? I would find something to b!tch about in a pie factory ... __________________ *** - AT MY AGE, ONE APPRECIATES A STURDY HANDRAIL -**

03-13-2021, 06:07 AM	#21
mercman from oz Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 10,401	Re: '56/'57 Lincoln Continental Mk II 1956 Continental Mk II from the original Sales Brochure

03-26-2021, 02:19 AM	#22
frnkeore Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 782	Re: '56/'57 Lincoln Continental Mk II I would like people, that are interested in these cars, to know that one is available, the only one one I've seen in decades, in my area. I have no connection to it and haven't even contacted the seller. I only found it while searching for '54 Ford stuff but, if it had come up, while I was looking for my '54, I would have tried to get it. I'm to invested in my '54 now, to even think of doing anything with it. It needs a little bit of most everything but, I'd like to see it go to a good home: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...8-64c2ede050d9 If nothing else, you'll enjoy the pictures! __________________ Frank '35 Ford Model 51 '48 Ford F3 '54 Ford Tudor Mainline

03-26-2021, 08:26 AM	#23
Dobie Gillis Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Middle TN Posts: 1,060	Re: '56/'57 Lincoln Continental Mk II Eight grand is a steal for a pretty complete car like that one. __________________ Often wrong but never in doubt.

03-26-2021, 09:18 AM	#24
Herman Munster Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: SW WA state. Posts: 564	Re: '56/'57 Lincoln Continental Mk II The previous owner had asked $5K for it several years ago. It needed a lot of work then. Looks all the current owner did was clean it up a little. The engine wasn't stuck then either. I'm just suspicious why the current owner didn't get it running. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...#post-11303025 __________________ 1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan 292 V8 with Ford-o-Matic

03-26-2021, 10:19 AM	#26
Herman Munster Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: SW WA state. Posts: 564	Re: '56/'57 Lincoln Continental Mk II Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) The floors were in bad shape when I saw them and there were signs of front end damage that wasn't repaired too well. Zapato said the car had sat for many years in a barn before he got it and someone had stolen the original air cleaner then. I would have probably bought it if it wasn't for all the rust. I'm wondering if the original frame is shot since the seller is including another one? It was hard to get a good look at the car back then. It was in a very tight garage. __________________ 1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan 292 V8 with Ford-o-Matic

03-26-2021, 11:19 AM	#27
Dobie Gillis Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Middle TN Posts: 1,060	Re: '56/'57 Lincoln Continental Mk II The original frame may have been bent in the accident that caused the front end damage. Just speculating... __________________ Often wrong but never in doubt.

03-26-2021, 11:48 AM	#28
Herman Munster Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: SW WA state. Posts: 564	Re: '56/'57 Lincoln Continental Mk II Good speculation but a frame would have to really badly bent for me to replace it. __________________ 1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan 292 V8 with Ford-o-Matic

03-26-2021, 12:24 PM	#29
frnkeore Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 782	Re: '56/'57 Lincoln Continental Mk II The last date, in Zapato's add was 11/16. Someone said that he has passed so, this guy may have bought it from his estate? I'm guessing that he is trying to double his money and may take a bit less. My '54 is in similar shape, as this car and I paid 4K for it, in Jan. I think 6K would be a good deal on this. Remember, they only made 2556 (I think about 400 more '57's) of these cars and that's both good and bad. The bad part, is that it will be very difficult to find many replacement parts. For those that don't know where Corvallis is, it's mid point in OR and only about 15 miles, off I-5. About 180 miles above me. __________________ Frank '35 Ford Model 51 '48 Ford F3 '54 Ford Tudor Mainline

03-26-2021, 02:16 PM	#30
Herman Munster Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: SW WA state. Posts: 564	Re: '56/'57 Lincoln Continental Mk II Yes, Zapato did pass away a few years ago. He had a few projects that he had been working on that included a shoebox and a 57 Ford 2dr post. I don't doubt they were sold off. I passed on his MKII because it would have cost too much to make it even a driver compared the others that were driver quality. I'll never forget a nice original that was for sale in my home town. The owner wanted only $10000 for it but that was in 1980. It was this exact color. Maybe it's the same car? __________________ 1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan 292 V8 with Ford-o-Matic

03-26-2021, 02:59 PM	#31
Dobie Gillis Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Middle TN Posts: 1,060	Re: '56/'57 Lincoln Continental Mk II It's something Jay Leno may be interested in if somebody knows how to get ahold of him. He did a segment on a MK II on Jay Leno's Garage recently but it wasn't his car. __________________ Often wrong but never in doubt.