Customs Cord/Lincoln Zephyr hybrid

I was surfing the internet and came across these pictures of what appears to be an 810/812 Cord with a 1936-1939 Lincoln sedan rear. Tail lights appear to be 1936 Ford. Does anyone know anything more about it?

 

Hmmm....interesting. I wouldn't say it's an improvement, but it isn't ugly either. I does seem to take away some of the sportiness of the original Cord design. It looks to be done by somebody who had some talent...nice job.

 

I remember a cord nut friend of mine tellin me about one that was wrecked in the rear and fixed with another car but I forget what it was. You may want to check out one expert and his site "josh Malks' CORDNET"
Or check out his new cord book "CORD COMPLETE"

http://www.cordcomplete.com/

This new book is supposed to be the ultimate reference availible. it was just released and i'm about to order mine at about $160.oo

What if they had gone another route and made an el camino out of it??? Oh Lord...

 

The back looks like a giant split window VW.

 

Yeah, that was my thought exactly,
I just didnt want to say it.

 

You look at the front of a Zephyr body with the fenders ,hood , and grill removed it looks almost exactly like an early bug. Not a coincidence. F Porsche was a guest of Henry while the Zephyr design was going down. The original concept was for rear engine. Porche stuck with that and downsized the unit body idea.

 

I have just received my copy of Cord Complete last week but have only got through the first couple of chapters. What an awesome book - Josh Malk's Opus Magnum.

Here is another photo I found and the car is located in the Reynolds Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin AB.

From the three quarter profile view it certainly is not an improvement over the original, and the rear fender looks as though it has been radiused and well butchered.

 

Loved the roadster/pheaton versions of the 810-812 series, would still take a Westchester or a Beverly Sedan just the same, Man-why wasn't I born a lil sooner so Gramps could've sold me one of the 3 roadsters he had back in the late 40's .

 

Bump for the morning crowd - anyone have any further information on this hybrid? Maybe someone from Alberta?

I have added photos of a stock 1936 Cord Westchester from similar angles for comparison - the original is far better looking IMO.

 

So....Mr Tjaarda was awarded a design patent for the Zephyr body styling in 1936. Does that mean that Mr Porsche was lucky to steer clear of patent infringement?

My opinion....the Zephyr body looks WAY better with the fender skirts. The body lines just work better that way. The cord would look much better too. Somebody should photoshop that in and see how it looks.

 

I just received an e-mail from Josh Malks - author of Cord Complete and the earlier Cord 810/812 The Timeless Cl***ic and he says he has never come across this hybrid Cord and knows nothing about it. Can the HAMB solve the mystery?

 

Are there any Cord coupes around?

 

It looks like they probably intended to use the skirts, but after they got the body all repaired and went to put the wheels and skirts on, they realized the track width was too wide and just left them off.

 

Interesting. I'd bet the car got in a wreck at some point a LONG way back, and due to the rarity of a Cord sedan, someone realized that a Zehyr was similar, and used that...

 

I think you hit the nail on the head. I doubt if it was done to create a custom car, just the simplest fix at the time.

 

Had a few minutes, so...

 

Yes. There's an original one in New Mexico that the guy has had since 1948.

Bob McEwan out of New Jersey built one in 1975 and has driven it all over the country.

And there's the Champion Sparkplug car in the ACD museum which is one of the original Cord Coupes.

Here's a link to an even wilder Cord Custom

http://www.guildcl***iccars.com/1936_Cord.htm

Cord Complete is is Fantastic! I read about a chapter a night. If you guys enjoy Cords, check out this link

http://forums.acdclub.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=4268

Have fun

 

And the coupe. Lengthened the door, shortened the roof and quarter window. Looks too short in the rear now.

 

oops:

 

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In 1975 Bob McEwan commissioned a copy of the very rare 2-p***enger Cord coupe. The work was executed by Doug Johnson, using Cords that would not have even been considered as parts cars by most folks. Bob and Stan Murman drove this car across the country on its maiden run.


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Damn that's beautiful Sunroofcord - thanks for sharing.

 

I've driven past that museum but I've never actually visited it. I'll have to head up there one of these days and see if that placard in front of the car tells the story.

Edit: I posted a link in the Canadian Bacon social group to see if any Albertan HAMBers recognize the car.

 

The "BIG TWO" Autobody shop in Olds Alberta had a pair some years back. The owner hand made a p***enger front fender that you could not tell was shop made.Yes ,I am an old bodyman.They were beautiful cars, but performed badly.Over $3000 new, The cars were rushed to meet deadlines,and shortcuts hurt the cars badly.Underpowered and bad c.v. joints.Very slow,low top end. A big block Caddy would cure that. Bud

 

Hell if your from Red Deer, drive up and ask the guys in the shop.I thought you were from the south. No, not just south of the museum.Anyway welcome aboard !

 

I live a few miles from the Reynolds Alberta Muesum in Wetakiwin. Great muesum. Orginally, Stan Reynolds, took the cord that had been hit in the rear and grafted a LZ rear section onto it. Looking at in person you would have no idea that he did.

 

When did he do it???? Way back or more recently???? I believe more recently

 

My faith in the HAMB's mystery solving prowess is 100% intact - thanks George!

 

I would agree with everything except underpowered, very slow and low top end. Cords broke many records and the Supercharged version was good for over 120 mph - in 1937 driven at Bonneville by Ab Jenkins (of Mormon Meteor fame). That would be like a 200 mph plus production car today. broke many records with Cords.

Ab Jenkins is quoted as saying"I drove both of those cars slightly over 120 mph - stop watch and we checked the tack (sic) against the watch so we could check the peak, but nobody's stock tires would stay on the automobile for even ten miles at 120 mph. The treads would fly off so we didn't attempt to make a one mile flying start record."

 

Here is a picture of the Champion Spark Plug Cord Coupe on display at the ACD Museum in Auburn Indiana.

 

Is that an Auburn hood ornament I spy? I'm not familiar with this car.