Long appreciated for its timeless design, the short-lived 1956–1957 Continental is the epitome of mid-century American luxury and style. To add exclusivity to the largely hand-built Mark II, Ford established a separate Continental division within Lincoln. As the upper class reached for more luxury in daily life, motoring required supreme comfort—something the new Continental offered with style and elegance. Priced at around $10,000, the Mark II was the most expensive American car in 1956, resulting in just 2,550 examples delivered that year and 444 in 1957. Despite its lofty price, Ford Motor Company reportedly lost money on each Continental Mark II sold.

The Continental Mark II offered here, a stealth hot rod whose elegant, close-to-stock appearance conceals a healthy dose of 21st-century performance, is the brainchild of the late, auto enthusiast brothers Calvin and Leon Moore of Nashville, Tennessee. The heart of any automobile lies under the hood and the engine in this custom Continental is fierce: Built by Robert Pond Motorsports of Los Angeles, California, which specializes in 427 Ford fuel-injected engines, it features their bespoke aluminum block, bored and stroked to 482-cubic-inch and fuel injected to produce a claimed 650 horsepower. Like so many elements of this classy resto-mod, the engine deftly blends old and new, with the eight velocity stacks of its Dynatek Classic Fuel Injection system lending an impressive period look.

The Moore brothers customized the chassis to incorporate a coil-over suspension system that features a chromed independent rear setup by Kugel Komponents of La Habra, California, with a 4.11:1 differential. Wilwood four-wheel disc brakes and rack-and-pion steering further enhance the driving dynamics. The finish on the underside of the car is a sight to behold with chromed and polished components contrasting with the glossy powder-coated frame. The interior is equally impressive, fully customized with nearly every surface coated in red leather, including customized bucket seats for all four passengers. It features power windows, seats, and locks, as well as polished retro gauges in a custom dash. A Kenwood head unit with CD player fills out the center console. Service invoices on file from 2015 and 2022 delineate work carried out on the transmission, starter, and various other ancillary items.

Sporting a subtly lowered stance riding on 17-inch wire wheels with wide whitewall tires that mimicking the Continental Mark II’s factory setup, this impressive resto-mod is a perfect stealth cruiser with style and comfort aplenty. All it takes is one touch of the gas pedal for eight cylinders of big-block thunder to reveal its true nature.