Vehicle Description
• Highly desirable three-window variant • Authentic comprehensive
restoration • Original engine equipped with speed heads and
carburetors • Stunning Art Deco design In the early 1930s, Edsel
Ford saw a need to fill an ever-widening gap between the top Ford
Deluxe models and the ultra-exclusive, coach built twelve-cylinder
Lincoln K series. The era of custom coachbuilding was waning, as
buyers sought a more affordable "off the shelf" luxury car, and
Ford witnessed the success of Cadillac's junior LaSalle brand. The
solution came late in 1935 when Ford Motor Company introduced the
all-new Lincoln Zephyr. A streamlined, luxuriously appointed
production car, the new junior Lincoln was positioned as the
style-leader at Ford Motor Company, yet it still offered the
prestige of a twelve-cylinder engine. Priced for volume sales, the
Zephyr would prove to be the right move for Lincoln, remaining
popular with buyers from its introduction through the car's
replacement in 1946. To create the Zephyr, Edsel Ford teamed up
with the accomplished stylist Eugene T. "Bob" Gregorie to design
the gorgeous, streamlined body. Characterized by its pronounced
brow, waterfall-like grilles and pencil-thin chrome detailing, the
Zephyr was a masterpiece of Art Deco industrial design. It is also
credited as the first commercially successful American streamlined
car, particularly when compared to the relative failure of the
Chrysler/DeSoto Airflow line. Using advanced techniques designed by
the brilliant engineer John Tjaarda, the Zephyr bodies were built
in steel by Briggs Manufacturing. This clever form of manufacturing
was a precursor to the modern unibody and allowed for a light yet
robust platform. The 70-degree V-12 derived from Ford's venerable
flathead V-8 boasted a generous 110 horsepower from 267 cubic
inches and delivered its power with turbine-like smoothness. The
Zephyr offered buyers outstanding performance and handling for its
day, and its success secured Lincoln's future as a leader in the
American luxury car market. Particularly in three-window coupe
form, the Lincoln Zephyr is seen by many as one of the most
beautiful mass-produced American automobiles of all time. This
stunning 1939 Zephyr is a beautiful example of the elegant and
highly desirable three-window coupe. Fully restored to a very high
standard, this rare Zephyr is 1 of just 2,500 of this body style
built in 1939. Thanks to a comprehensive, detailed restoration,
this stunning Zephyr Coupe's paint quality and beautifully sculpted
body present in excellent condition. Exterior trim remains in great
order as well, with high-quality plating and polishing on the
subtle chrome trim. Occupants are treated to a finely restored
interior with tan leather and the original switches, controls,
radio, and heater remain intact. The hallmark of the 1939 Zephyr
interior is the "waterfall" center stack, with the big instrument
cluster sitting front and center; a lovely Deco touch that
complements the exterior styling. On the road, this Zephyr truly
impresses. The 267-cubic-inch V-12 starts with ease and runs with
its signature smoothness; barely perceptible at idle. It drives
beautifully, performs well, and has a well-sorted feel even at
highway speeds. The engine is properly detailed and has been
upgraded with period-correct speed equipment that includes polished
and color-keyed finned aluminum cylinder heads and a polished
aluminum intake manifold with dual carburetors topped with Art
Deco-inspired air cleaners. Of the six body styles offered in the
Lincoln-Zephyr lineup, it is the three-window coupe that is favored
by collectors for its elegance and purity of form. This Zephyr
Coupe is beautifully presented, with outstanding detail and
quality. It is a wonderful example that will surely reward its next
caretaker for many years to come.
