Projects Norwegian Zephyr Roadster Kustom

I started this project last year, turning this rusty Lincoln Zephyr sedan into a 40s style roadster kustom. I've been working on it for a while now, but I'm rarely on the hamb so I havent made a thread yet. I figured its about time!

The car was sold new here in Norway in 1938, and was seized by the Nazis during WW2. The Gestapo used it as a police car. Although I appreciate its history, I have no interest of restoring this to original condition.

Someone started restoring it in the 60s, and it has been sitting since. Here's how it was when I got bought it:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9770228241/"****le="zeph 001 by matsheinrich, on Flickr"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9770428385/"****le="zeph 003 by matsheinrich, on Flickr"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9770210332/"****le="Kopi av zeph 008 by matsheinrich, on Flickr"></a>


And here is a quick sketch of what I'm hoping to end up with: (the sketch got a bit distorted in the scanning prossess, I dont know why)

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9770482573/"****le="zeph 014 by matsheinrich, on Flickr"></a>

 

Going by your sketch,it certainly looks the goods,good luck,Gaz !

 

I look forward to seeing this one progress!


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First off I did alot of rust repair. I'm not gonna bore you with alot of of that. I also got hold of a parts car that was in even worse shape, but it had a complete V12 with one (!) aluminum head.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9770227581/"****le="zeph 002 by matsheinrich, on Flickr"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9770516943/"****le="zeph 004 by matsheinrich, on Flickr"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9770443884/"****le="Kopi av zeph 005 by matsheinrich, on Flickr"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9770885186/"****le="zeph 004 by matsheinrich, on Flickr">
</a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9770867715/"****le="zeph 003 by matsheinrich, on Flickr"></a>

 

I started the roadster-conversion with lengthening the doors. Since I'm not gonna have side windows, I decided to weld the front part of the rear door from the oposite side to the front door. Did anyone get that? Remember the Zeph has suicide doors.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9770436984/"****le="zeph 006 by matsheinrich, on Flickr"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9770238462/"****le="zeph 007 by matsheinrich, on Flickr"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9770433784/"****le="zeph 009 by matsheinrich, on Flickr"></a>

 

The next step was moving the pillars and making new rocker panels in the same prosess.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9770417145/"****le="zeph 010 by matsheinrich, on Flickr"></a>

I decided it was easier to roll some new sheet metal to fill the rear door gap rather than using the rear doors.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9770231142/"****le="zeph 011 by matsheinrich, on Flickr"></a>

At this point the old zeph was just getting uglier and uglier by the day:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9770412585/"****le="zeph 013 by matsheinrich, on Flickr"></a>

 

Very interesting project for sure.

Keep posting as the project continues as I would like to see the rest of the metal work as it takes shape.

Seems really cool to me. Jimbo

 

Finally its time to decapitate the old zeph!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9770226862/"****le="zeph 015 by matsheinrich, on Flickr"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9770421224/"****le="zeph 016 by matsheinrich, on Flickr"></a>

 

very cool project. watching with interest. i take it the original drivetrain is going to be used?

 

Sick!

 

Yeah, I plan to use the V12 (it would be a shame to build a Zephyr with anything else in my opinion). I'm also thinking about using the original mechanical brake system. Why not?

The next step was to figure out the lines for the rear end lines. I did a lot of tweaking on this part, letting it sit a few days for each adjustment until I thought I had it.

I tried using measurements from a coupe, but it turned out to high.

Too low:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9771969171/"****le="zeph 005 by matsheinrich, on Flickr"></a>

What I settled on:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9771967551/"****le="zeph 006 by matsheinrich, on Flickr"></a>


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9770223982/"****le="zeph 017 by matsheinrich, on Flickr"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9770406775/"****le="zeph 018 by matsheinrich, on Flickr"></a>

 

Great to see your project as a thread here Mats! I look forward to see the Zephyr coming alive and then see it rolling in the gate at next years Bonanza show! Keep up the good work!

 

Thanks for the feedback! I'll try to get it done by next year! I think I have a little more time on my hands this winter. You should come visit more often, Superfleye!

Anyway, I built the frame for the rear end out of steel rods and started hammered out some sheet metal to go with it. I tried to do the major part out of a single piece, but had to give in and make it out of two instead.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9772536474/"****le="zeph 009 by matsheinrich, on Flickr"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9772368571/"****le="zeph 011 by matsheinrich, on Flickr"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9772584884/"****le="zeph 010 by matsheinrich, on Flickr"></a>

 

Nice metal work, can't wait to see more. A few questions.

1. What are the plans for the motor, stock rebuild, maybe some porting?

2. Also will you be saving a lot of weight with this snip up?

3. Will you fab a convertible top or planning on leaving it just an open roadster? ( I am thinking you will leave as open roadster)

 

I'll stop by next time I'm around for sure

 

BITCHIN! Great start on a wicked phantom roadster. Love the zephyrs. A roadster should be one of a kind and the history makes it that much cooler. Metalwork looking great so far good luck on the rest.

 

1. I'll run the V12. I got two of them, one thats completely in pieces and one thats complete and turning. I don't know the condition of the complete one, but I'm hoping to run that one the first year or so while I rebuild the other one. I have a set of aluminum heads that I'll use, and I'm looking for a dual carb intake, but they're pretty expensive, and its not my first priority.

2. Yeah, I think so.

3. It'll get a carson top sometime in the future.

 

The front windshield is chopped 2", I think that is enough. The proportions on this big boat is quite different to a Ford, and I think it easy to mess it up if the windshield is chopped to much.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9770395955/"****le="zeph 026 by matsheinrich, on Flickr"></a>


I did the trunk out of sheet metal leftovers from the roof. I'm planning to do a recessed license plate also.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9770410016/"****le="zeph 027 by matsheinrich, on Flickr"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/101906403@N07/9770400105/"****le="zeph 023 by matsheinrich, on Flickr"></a>

 

I love the trunk! thanks for the updates

 

Im diggin the direction your heading with the Zephyr, thanks for sharing with us.

 

Looking good - nice to have a condensed build thread sometimes.

 

Wow wow wow! From an elephant to a gazelle, great look to this one!!!

 

I like it a lot, it would have been an interesting phaeton as well. Good work!

 

You make that look easy, which is the mark of a good job! Good eye, and a great vision.

Brian

 

Looking good! Dream of building something like this someday.

 

Looking good! A daring and ambitious project......I like it!

 

I was hoping you would say that. Looking good so far dude.

 

Liking the lines already.For me,keeping the original drive train is a plus.
The sheet metal work is outstanding.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

 

Nice lines, and cool too see another Norwegian build here. Especially when it's a rare car too

 

I love roadsters from this era.