Unpublished Mark II RETRACTABLE pictures

[Barry Wolk]

Some very cool Mark II pictures have just come into my possession. The person that took the shots is 80+ and swears that they've never been published.

These are shots of the famed Mark II RETRACTABLE. There was only one made. It was the test bench for the retractable hardtop. The top assembly was used in mass production to make the Ford Skyliner and later the slab-side convertibles of the '60s (sans sheetmetal).

The car was regularly seen around Dearborn as it used as a daily driver by one of the team leaders. I was told he came back from vacation to a cancelled program and a reportedly crushed Mark II Retractable. I've heard from a number of sources that the car was liberated from Continental when the program was cancelled. It is reportedly in a garage in Dearborn. The person that is supposed to possess this rarest of Continentals fears the loss of pension and prosecution by authorities. I would think that Ford couldn't care less and the statute of limitations has certainly run out.

The picture is marked 1954. Production didn't start until May of '55. Look closely at the front end. It certainly looks a lot different than a production Mark II. Also note that there is no "hump" in the trunk.

These photos were given to me by Joe Scibor, who worked on the Mark II project as a draftsman.

[Amphicar BUYER]

Barry - I love you man! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> This is the type of thing I live for. The rare of the rare. This is the beginnings of one of my elusive (so far) dreams cars is none other than the 57-59 Skyliner.There is a 59 about 3 miles from my house that I have been working on buying for 10 years now.

It took me 3 years to get him to answer the door, another 2 to have a real conversation with him and the last 5 to get him to allow me to open the door and hood! We spoke of money BRIEFLY and gave me his phone number. Maybe another 2 and she'll be mine all mine! I will have to cut down a 25' tree to move it if I can get him to allow me to adopt it. White w/blue interior, 99% complete, possible runner.

My neighbor said he was on the engineering team for the Skyliner, I will show him these and see what he knows. He's a nice guy of about 84 now.

[R W Burgess]

That'll get him going John. Keep dropping hints that,

"It sure would be cool to see your '58 back on the road again, wouldn't it?" <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Wayne

[Joe Block]

Nice looking car, I actual like the lines. and the top is reall cool man!! you dig it. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

[Barry Wolk]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This is the type of thing I live for. The rare of the rare.</div></div>

If you liked those, you'll love these. I met someone at a Concours that said that they worked on the HVAC for the Mark II. They sent me these photos.

These are pictures of pre-production Mark II desert and mountain testing.

Note the steering wheel.

[Barry Wolk]

This might float your boat too. This was buried in a box at the Benson Ford Research Library. I later found a highly detailed engineering study that would have become the first Continental with suicide doors.

[Amphicar BUYER]

Barry - Yup those all were very interesting! Historical and informative! The experimental and eng studies are always the best stuff. Failres to sucesses all are worth noting. Thanks Barry and keep them coming!