The post-war period led to continual economic growth and the spreading of prosperity around the country. This kind of market naturally presents more consumers with the means to buy luxury goods, and auto manufacturers were happy to oblige them. Lincoln tried its hand at courting the highest echelon of automobile buyers with its ultra-exclusive Continental Mark II.
Not only was the branding separated from Lincoln, but production also occurred in its own facility. This was the Continental Division, which was filled with the most skilled designers and engineers in the company who were tasked with building a car that would recall the glamor of the Lincoln Continental of the ’40s. The car that resulted from this effort met and exceeded all expectations. While including cues to the earlier model, the overall design was fresh, sleek, and elegant all at once. The car was also quite large, weighing in at more than 4,800 pounds. However, it had a big 368 V8 with 300 horsepower on tap to get to its top speed of 115 mph.
Craftsmanship and quality were also in good supply. Nuts and bolts were tightened to aircraft tolerances and paint was applied with precision and care. Furthermore, the interior was supple and elegant, including power windows, brakes, and seats, and even had zoned heating. No expense was spared, but that also led to its cancellation after only two model years. It was just too expensive –- its price met that of a contemporary Rolls-Royce.
