Enclosed Classic Car Transport — The Right Way to Move America’s Rarest Luxury Car
In 1956, the most expensive American car you could buy cost $10,000.
It was not a Cadillac. It was not a Chrysler. It was the Continental Mark II — a hand-built luxury coupe produced by a special division Ford created specifically to house it, positioned above even Lincoln in the company’s hierarchy.
It was America’s Rolls-Royce. And almost no one talks about it today.
That is about to change. The 1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II just made Hagerty’s 2026 Bull Market List — signaling that the collector market is waking up to a car that has been hiding in plain sight for decades.
Genesis Exotic Transport recently moved one. Here is why this vehicle matters — and why transporting it requires the same level of care you would give to a Ferrari.
What Is the 1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II?
Ford Motor Company created a separate Continental division in 1956, specifically to produce one car: the Mark II.
The goal was to build the finest American automobile — not the fastest, not the flashiest, but the most refined. Every Mark II was essentially hand-built. Engines were individually tested before installation. Paint was applied by hand. Each car was inspected multiple times before leaving the factory.
The Mark II featured:
- A 368 cubic inch Lincoln Y-block V8
- A Multi-Drive automatic transmission — Ford’s own design
- The first use of a modern perimeter frame in American cars
- A roofline and proportion that still looks contemporary today
Ford reportedly lost money on every single car sold. The Mark II was never about profit — it was about image.
How Rare Is It?
Only 2,550 Continental Mark IIs were built in 1956. Another 444 followed in 1957 before the model was discontinued. Of the roughly 3,000 total produced, approximately 1,500 are believed to still exist.
Famous owners included Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Elizabeth Taylor. The car was not sold at volume — it was sold to people for whom money was not the question.
Why the Mark II Is Surging in 2026
Hagerty’s 2026 Bull Market List identifies collector cars that are currently undervalued relative to their historical significance, rarity, and quality. The Continental Mark II’s inclusion is significant.
At an average good-condition value of approximately $40,000 — Hagerty’s own assessment calls this “a bit low” — the Mark II is trading well below what its rarity and provenance suggest it should be worth.
For collectors who study the market, this is a buying signal. And when buyers arrive, transport demand follows.
Why a Mark II Requires Specialized Transport
The Continental Mark II is a 70-year-old hand-built vehicle. Its value lives in its originality — original paint, original chrome, original interior. These cannot be replaced with factory parts. They can only be preserved.
Transport risks for a vehicle of this age and rarity:
- Road debris impact on original paint — irreplaceable
- Moisture and humidity affecting original leather and trim
- UV exposure fading original finishes
- Vibration and road stress on a 70-year-old chassis
Open trailer transport — the default for most carriers — exposes the Mark II to every one of these risks for every mile of the journey.
How Genesis Exotic Transport Handles Rare Classics
Rare, historically significant vehicles receive the same enclosed transport process as modern hypercars:
Documentation: Every detail photographed before loading. Chrome, paint, interior, mechanicals — all recorded.
Loading: Low-angle, controlled loading. The Mark II’s long wheelbase and classic proportions require careful positioning.
Securement: Soft straps at wheels only. The original body receives no contact, no pressure, no risk.
Enclosed transit: Sealed from weather, debris, temperature swings, and UV. The car travels in the same environment as a museum piece.
Delivery: Re-inspected at destination. Every detail compared to the pre-transport record.
Serving Classic Car Collectors Nationwide
Genesis Exotic Transport moves rare and historically significant vehicles for private collectors, museums, dealers, and brokers across all major U.S. markets — from Florida and the Southeast to New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and beyond.
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Transporting a rare classic, historically significant vehicle, or one-of-a-kind collector car? Contact Genesis Exotic Transport. We understand what you have — and how to move it.
Genesis Exotic Transport — Enclosed. Trusted. Nationwide.
