Yesterday, after watching the Lincoln MKZ vs. Lexus ES commercial, we remembered there was a time when the Dearborn-based automaker was able to overtake its competitors without bragging about an optional retractable sunroof.
It all happened back in the 1950s and 1960s, when the Continental was one of the best luxury car money could buy. Our favorite is the Mark II, which was sold in 1956 and 1957 as a two-door hardtop. It was 218 inches log (5.5 meters), had a 6.0-liter Y-block V8 under the hood, and were driven by many celebrities, including Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and the Shah of Iran.They were anything but cheap and it seems they’re pretty exclusive nowadays, especially since less than 3,000 were built. And by exclusive we mean they can fetch up to $100,000 and beyond, depending on condition and specs. But this gorgeous gold Mark II did way better than that, swapping owners for no less than $700,000.
However, don’t go thinking this is a rare version or Elvis’ former daily driver, because the crazy price is the result of a charity auction, with proceeds that benefited the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital. It’s amazing how this museum piece will help transform the lives of ill children
