Continental Mark II
If you think that Edsel is the only Ford’s failed luxury attempt, you’re wrong. In the mid-50s, Ford decided to establish a separate brand, called Continental Division, to produce new and luxury cars above the Lincoln brand. The success of the original Thunderbird showed the way. Ford decided it should build a more extensive, more advanced, much more expensive, and prestigious luxury coupe. The first and only car was the famed Continental Mark II, introduced in 1955 (via Motor Cities).
Ford’s idea was to present a superb luxury coupe with the finest technology and comfort and market it as a separate brand. The idea sounded well, but the market repose could have been better. The Continental Divison was shut down in five years following the disappointing sales of the Mark II coupe, despite being one of the finest American cars ever made the ultimate American personal luxury coupe.