- Highly desirable three-window variant
- Authentic comprehensive restoration
- Original engine equipped with speed heads and carburetors
- Stunning Art Deco design
LOT 612
Addendum: Please note: This Lincoln has the original engine equipped with speed heads and carburetors.
Selling on Saturday Evening
1939 Lincoln Zephyr V-12 Coupe
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 lovely 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 Edelbrock 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.
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