L.A. Auto Show: Lincoln rolls out Liz Taylor’s 1956 Continental Mark II

Elizabeth Taylor’s 1956 Continental Mark II headlined a bundle of classic Lincolns on display at the L.A. Auto Show on Wednesday.

Like the actress who once owned it, the Continental Mark II stole the show. That’s thanks to its elongated hood and unique color, which was designed to match Taylor’s famously blue eyes.

Under the 1956 Continental Mark II’s hefty hood was a 386-cubic-inch engine capable of 285 horsepower. The classic Lincoln was built under the leadership of Edsel Ford’s son, William Clay Ford. When the car was being built, Lincoln’s goal was to put together “the most luxurious, carefully crafted production car in America.”

Photos: Classic Lincolns at L.A. Auto Show press day

But just like “Liz and Dick,” the recent Liz Taylor biographical TV movie starring Lindsay Lohan, the Continental Mark II had poor results. (As an aside, Lohan was arrested early Thursday after a New York City bar fight.)

Lincoln charged more than $10,000 for each car -- a princely sum in those days -- and Ford still lost $1,000 on each one sold, according to CarConceptz.com. So the luxury vehicle went out of production after just two years.

Accompanying the 1956 Continental Mark II at the auto show were six other Lincoln classics. They include the 1929 Lincoln L Dietrich Convertible Coupe, the 1932 Lincoln KB LeBaron Convertible Roadster and the 1937 Lincoln Derham Sport Sedan. The classic lineup also included the 1937 Lincoln-Zephyr Coupe-Sedan, the 1940 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet and the 1961 Lincoln Continental Sedan.

Unfortunately, the classics were only on display Wednesday, but you can get a look at all seven models in our photo gallery.

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