An Emerald Beauty... [PIC]

   The original design of the Continental Mkll began in 1953 and their was always a plan for a convertible with a 3rd crossmember on the frame just for the extra stiffening a convertible would need. By 1955. the first convertible in black was shipped to a Continental dealership as a demo car for potential customers to test drive. Hess and Eisenhower fitted a retractable with a power pack in the trunk. A  second convertible was built by Derham in October of 1956 for the Texas State Fair originally in white but later changed to Honolulu Blue, William Clay Ford's favorite color. By 1957, the convertible project was scrapped and it was the last year for the Mark ll. The Mkll cost $2000 more than the top Cadillac and Ford still lost $1000 per unit on what just turned out to be a vanity project. Both cars were ultimately sold, the second cv by Mr Ford himself.  Both cars have undergone various modifications including having the trunk opening backwards to receive a more modified top that mimicked the shape of the hardtop. There is a lot of pics of the #2 cv that has made the collector car circuit including a Pebble Beach win. As to Franklin Mint's model, I love the Teal finish, but I've not found any record of either car being in this color.