I am listing this nice old car for my friend Brad who lives nearby. I trust him and my feedback lets you know you can trust me so bid with confidence. I took all the pictures of this car below and have rode in it several times so I know it starts, runs, drives and most importantly, stops. It is being offered as-picture, as-described and is being sold as-is. You can talk to Brad direct if you like at 404-917-4120 and I will relay any/all questions that come through eBay mail. The car is in the Tampa Bay area on Florida’s West Coast.


No bidders with excessive negative feedback. Zero (0) bidders must e-mail me and identify themselves before bidding or they will be removed. This is to make it fair for all legitimate buyers


Classic 1956 Continental Mark II in unrestored, mostly original condition. The car appears to have been the Barris customized Continental and is indicated as such in the Mark II registry. There is no actually written documentation from Barris but the circumstantial evidence is very compelling to include the presence of the landau bars as indicated in the pictures. Google up “George Barris” and read the history of cars he customized including the Batmobile that just auctioned

for over $4 million.


The auction starting price is the least Brad feels it is worth and it takes in to consideration what he paid for the car and what was spent on it in light restoration/parts and nothing to do with the Barris ownership/customizing speculation. Obviously if that can be documented the car will be worth a whole lot more. Brad did contact George's daughter, sent pictures and numbers but both her and dad were very busy so that's as far as he got. Perhaps someone who knows the Barris family personally might spot this auction and see what they can find out. I will update this description with any documented information that comes along.


Barris's 1956 Continental MK II when new



George Barris posing in front of the same car with his camera and Professional Photographer license plate as mentioned in "Historical Information" below.

 

 

This is a running, driving car. The body has no serious rust through and no evidence of major work or repair, the frame is solid, and the rust issue is as pictured in the drivers floor pan where the heel pad would have been. The car is not an original color which also gives credence to the Barris thing as seen in the old photos.

Rebuilt cylinder heads
Re-cored radiator
New water pump
New brass cooling line fittings
New thermostats and baffles
New tires
New breaks and hoses
Rebuilt power-booster, master cylinder and wheel cylinders
New exhaust
New suspension and shocks front and back (as original)
New power steering lines
Rebuilt carburetor and fuel system (tank cleaned)
All lights and gauges functional
New rubber, front and back windshields and doors ($678) not installed

Notes from Brad, the owner
1.) I have do not have conclusive George Barris documentation! (IMO Least important thing about the car, just fun speculation)
2.) The car is not a parts car! It is a running, driving, registered, tagged, and insured automobile! Can be seen frequently driving up and down the beach. Not the prettiest condition but definitely the prettiest car!
3.) The car is 110% complete. No missing pieces and some extra (things I've gathered but not installed). Some parts of the car are disassembled as I've been repairing as I moved along. Didn't make sense to put things back on that would need to come off prior to paint and body. Nothing that affects drivability or safety or street legal-ness is apart. I drive this car!

Basically it is what you see....

 

More information

VIN C5601419
Mileage 71108 (actual)
Leather seats (ha ha)
Power windows,  Power seats
Automatic 2 speed transmission
8 Cylinder, 368 cu in, Engine # 432

Mark II Forum webpage for historical discussion

http://markiiforum.com/index.php


History of this car as-known, taken from this link

http://markiiforum.com/showthread.php?t=2062&highlight=1419

VIN: C5601419
SPEC: 08-1L6H-104-4
PROD ORDER NO: 464
ENG#: XXXX BODY TAG NO: XXXXX
DSO NO: NONE
DSO DETAILS: NONE
NAMEPLATE: XXXX
*
OWNERSHIP HISTORY:
Invoice Date: 10/7/55
Broward & Morrison, Inc.
201 East Main Street
Anderson, Indiana
No Customer Name

1956-1957? George Barris?, Los Angeles, CA (M)(1)(I)(2)(3)
1958?-?? Unidentified Owner, Palm Springs, CA (I)(5)
2000-06 Robert Jones MI (L)
2006-3/2011 Unknown Owner (Alaska) Car in Waterford, MI (M)(4)
3/2011-7/2011 Piotr Chibowski Davie, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (I)(5)(M)(6)(7)
7/2011-2013 Brad Clement Seminole, Florida (M)(8)(9)(10)
*
HISTORICAL INFORMATION:
(1) Forum Note: The relationship between George Barris and 1419 is circumstantial. Barris is alleged to have owned a Mark II and to have customized it. Current owner of 1419 reports that the car shows evidence of having been customized in the same manner that Barris customized a car in c1956. The Forum Historian believes 1419 is the car that Barris owned and customized, but must report this relationship as proven circumstantially until positive documentation is discovered.

(2) KUSTOMRAMA Traditional Rod and Kustom Encyclopedia (Cited Source: The Big Book of Barris) - George Barris bought a brand new 1956 Lincoln Continental, George really wanted something easy to drive. It was certain it would not stay stock for long. The car was lowered an inch and repainted it with 25 coats of Pearlscent Rust. A padded white vinyl top with Landau irons was installed. The hood ornament was removed and dual spotlights and custom hubcap bullets from Eastern Auto were added. The interior was upholstered in tan leather. George was shooting tons of photos for car magazines and he had a press photographer "P.P" license plate attached to the car. He used the car for about a year before he sold it to an eager buyer.

(3) 6/1/2011 Posted on H.A.M.B. - This was 55 years ago (Forum Note: 1956) so hopefully the memory is accurate. Was at a friends house in San Francisco when George Barris pulled up in one that had been painted a metallic burgundy with lots of the chrome pieces replated in gold. He was up north and had stopped to see Ed (Ed Bosio) who knew everone.

(4) 12/2009 Posted by Forum Member David Hall - #1419 owned by a seller living in Alaska Not named located at Waterford Mich sitting no guarantee of running claimed to have much work done and restoration under way for sale Dec 09

(5) 12/2009 For Sale on EBAY #330388306433 No Sale - "...I purchased this vehicle in 2006 and had it bought from Ann Arbor, Michigan to Waterford, Michigan in hope of one day having it restored and brought to Alaska...This particular Mark II was registered in Palm Springs, California for many years. The car was fitted with a padded top and landau irons that are now removed...The car requires a complete restoration and is not running (engine stuck)...The car was running in 2000 according to the owner..."

(6) July 2011 Contributed by Forum Member Piotr Chibowski - Hi. I am quite a new to this site and I joined to find more history of my newly acquired Mark II. After looking around on the forum i didnt find to much history so since i have the car in person i will try to get you some current facts.

Here is what i can tell you about this car. March, 2011 I bought it from an auction from Detroit with an original title(from Alaska?). I transported it to Fort Lauderdale, Florida where it is currently located. It does not run but i am already taking steps to hear the v8 roar. Car is all original and all numbers plus the color combination match. Frame/body/chrome is exceptionally rust free but it has some surface paint rust. The interior has a lot of tears cracks, everything is in place, but it's not something that would only need a touch up but a complete replacement. This would be a great full restoration project but I doubt I will take this route due to my other project. Once i get it to run i will sell it and hopefully the new owner will put it into good care. I attached a photo of the VIN and if you need any other photos i wont have any problem getting them for you. I hope my most recent information helps your vehicle registry.

(7) July 2011 For Sale on EBAY (by Piotr Chibowski Davie, FL) Reserve Not Met

(8) 12/4/11 Contributed by Forum member Brad Clement Seminole FL. "Long time reader, first time writer! I've had my Lincoln since the end of July and it's been some of the most expensive fun I've ever had! But after buying parts in spurts from Jack and others I'm almost ready to say she's safe and road worthy. Still not much to look at and the neighbors think I've lost my mind, but I'm the only kid on the block that has one....!"

(9) 10/1/12 & 10/13/12 Contributed by Forum member Brad Clement - "Do we know anything else about what happened to this car? Incredibly as I've joked before about a previous owner of my car.....It had a vinyl top and landau bars at one point. I've even got the landau bars in the trunk! They look the same. Not saying it's the car but it could be a bad copy cat!...So after many emails, phone calls, and photos exchanged I'm no closer to an answer from the Barris folks. I've included some pictures to hopefully gain some input from the to good folks here at the forum. I personally believe I have the car! Who else would have the stones or poor taste to put a vinyl top and landau bars on a Mark II?!"

(10) 10/14/13 Contributed by Forum member Brad Clement - "So here it goes. 1956 Continental for sale. The forum has helped me out tremendously, and I'll be member for life. I work for the government and so we're now having a fire sale 'cuase my wife and I enjoy eating more than the car!

I have done a top end engine rebuild. (the car runs great!) New exhaust, re-cored the radiator, rebuilt the brakes to include the powerbooster, have 110%of the parts to put it back together! I need it gone! BUY IT! I hate to sell, but we need to eat first! The car is ready for the "pretty parts"....and the next owner is luckier than I was! Call me and let's make it yours! (404-917-4120, the car is in the Tampa Bay area)"

OTHER INFORMATION:
Original Invoice Specifications -
Continental Color: Deep Bronze
Trim: Medium Beige Leather Seat Biscuits & White Leather Seat Bolsters
Tinted Glass
Firestone Tire Size: 8:00x15 4 Ply
15 GAL GAS, 6 QTS OIL, 5 QTS. ANTI-FREEZE
Invoice Amount - $7,452.78
Invoice Hand Written Notation: No Radio

SOURCE CODE INDEX:
(C) Continental Mark II Association
(D) Lowell Domholdt
(F) FoMoCo Records
(I) Internet Research
(L) LCOC Records
(H) Buddy Holiday
(M) Mark II Forum
(O) Owner Supplied Information


No bidders with excessive negative feedback. Zero (0) bidders must e-mail me and identify themselves before bidding or they will be removed. This is to make it fair for all legitimate buyers


Brad's MK II as it looks now, all pictures below taken 12/15/2013. This is the car on auction.