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Does anyone here know much about vintage Lincolns? Or maybe know someone that would know? A local guy is 87 and ask me for help to market his car. I am thinking it best to just put it on Bring a Trailer but he would like me to dig deeper and find someone that knows a little more about it and a possible value. It is a 1957 Lincoln Mark II and I guess they only made 442 or so of them. It was a very expensive car in 57 and heavily optioned. Even A/C. This one runs and appears to be a very solid car. I assume the brakes are bad after sitting for decades but it does start and run. Primarily looking for a contact if anyone knows much about them. I am not finding a comparable one to see what it could sell for.
First off, the car is not a Lincoln. They are commonly called Lincoln Continentals but in 56 and 57 they were Continentals which was a separate division of FoMoCo. The only option available was air conditioning. They sold for over $10,000 and Ford reportedly lost $1,000 on each car. They were selective as to they sold them to. People like EIvis (car is in the museum), Frank SInatra, Nelson Rockefeller and Ike had them. One of the studios had one painted the color of Elizabeth Taylor's eyes and gifted it to her. The guys that own OPG or NPD have like three of these. This one looks llke it needs lots of work, but it does have AC and that would be very desireable. I would to Hagerty Valuation and see what a #4 or 5 car is worth. I think these were one of the prettiest cars from the 50's.
I love these Mark II's. Here's some trivia. This car was supposed to be the original Skyliner retractable. They mocked one up and ran it but decided they'd lose too much money so they put it on the mainstream Ford Fairlane. The National Automobile Museum in Reno has one of these Marks with a 426 Hemi in it.
Elvis didn't own that car when he died but he did own it longer than other cars he had. It the Elvis movie there are scenes that show one sitting in the drive of Granceland along with other cars. Makes me wonder if they moved the car from the museum across the street to shoot the movie scene.
I agree with the advice you are receiving, it is a Continental MKII and if you refer to it as a Lincoln the learned will spend and waste all kinds of time chewing your ***, even if the title is notated 'Lincoln', Why not save some stomach lining and target your sales effort to a more qualified buyers venue, such as anyone of the targeted web sites, when you list it the word will spread very fast. CL or BAT will have your mailbox full of aspiring Richard Zocchi's and Daryl Starbird's wanting to trade a 74 Camaro and all other kinds of attempts to get over on your neighbor.
Don't underestimate the value of this car. My neighbors dad had one he bought in the 1960's and they restored, showed and sold it in the 1990's for big money. My fading memory recalls about $175k at the very dawn of the run up in values that came a bit later. These cars are a heartbeat away from becoming full-classics like a 1941 Cadillac so target your buying audience accordingly. It's great to see the car looking complete and well stored, mouse crap non withstanding, in a appealing color combo. I think it would be worth the small effort to get it running and at least yard driving.
Also a beautiful example in Pal Joey 1957 driven by cougar hottie Rita Hayworth's character, I think I read that car is still around:
Tell your neighbor to get it professionally appraised. Someone on the FB club should have leads?
Have it put on a lift to show the undercarriage, trunk/floor pans, rockers all metal seams etc...If its solid and ROT-free that will significantly increase its value as it sits.
