A friend of mine has had this '39 Zephyr tucked away for years. I am trying to convince him to restore it, and would like to help him determine the history on it. The story he got from the previous owner was that it had a Carson style top and was used in some very old movies. Does it look familiar to any one? I know someone on here has to know.
Very nice lines.. Your friend should work on it no matter of its history. That car deserves better than sitting there. I do not think I have seen this one before.. or at least not any old photos of it. But back in the late 1940's early 1950's Sports Customs Like this were built all around the US. Some were better than others, and this Lincoln sure belongs a**** the better looking once. As for the car has been in an old movie... perhaps it is mistaken for the Willys that was used in the Captain Video series. There is a HAMB thread about this car HERE.
Very cool car, hope it gets restored. ...though you might get some ex-mini truckers asking how to achieve that "sick-stance"
Thanks guys! I am trying to convince him to restore it to however it used to be. It is just hard to tell exactly how that was.
I wouldve liked to have seen it when it was completed like the Willys. Both would be cool! Posted using the Full box of Crayons on the Kitchen Walls App!
It's hard to say... Until recently he was thinking he wanted to put it back to stock. I think I have him convinced that it would be veluable either way, but 10 times cooler to take back to the original custom version. Just would like to find the history and maybe a pic of it in its former glory to show him. I mean, how many Zephyr cabrio's did they make? If that is what it was originally.
The Zephyr cabriolet coupe was the only model I'm aware of with vent windows. It's also the only one that has that straight windshield header like the car in your pics. I'm with you, after looking at other pictures of Zephyrs I think it is a cabriolet.
It would sure be a bummer to go thru all that effort/$$$ to restore back to stock, and then later find out it was built by somebody important. Regardless it is a nice old custom, and customs are an art form that deserve to be preserved. It actually is very tastefully done. Even if it was built by a nobody, whoever did it seems like they had some skills - I'd sure love to see how it once looked if it ever made it onto the streets. Sure hope you find some photos of that!
I'm with Royalshifter on this one. The lines are much cleaner than the Willys that Rik posted. As an aside I believe the car from the original Topper movie was a customized Cord. Torchie.
That car has so much potential, it's a shame to see it sitting out in the dirt like that. If you can't convince him to restore it, at least try to convince him to try and get better storage for it.
I've got to say that is my exact thought on it. I'd think restoring it to be period correct for when it was most likely modified with a somewhat stock drivetrain (with proper performance mods) would do the car the most justice than cutting it apart to turn it back into a showroom stock vehicle. One can visualize that car cruising up the coast highway in the late 40's with a starlet in the p***enger seat headed to a hideaway in Carmel.
37 or 38 Buick. I'd have to think someone diced the top off of a coupe (!) then had at it. The W/S frame is veed, the front modded to something akin to a 41 Ford. Really has that "coulda been" look to it. Kinda diggin the set back headlights.
This car does not have the flat windshield like the Cabriolet pictured in post ten. Look closely at the photo from the rear and you can clearly see the "Vee" in the dashboard. As for proportions, I like it would look better with about 12" removed from behind the doors. IMO, a bit too long immediately behind the ****pit.
It looks like it started life as a 39 zephyr convertible, you can see the long peak going down the trunk. Appears someone took some time and made some really well thought out sections and splices to get the 'chunkyness' out. The dash is not a 39, the grill openings have been changed,and it appears the doors may be modified originals .. its damn ***y. I'm sure someone on here could get her going
This is a weird one. The basis of the car looks to be a 1939 or 1940 Lincoln Zephyr coupe, that has been sectioned, roof cut off, and partly filled inn with sheet metal. The rear fenders are definitely 38/39 Zephyr, but the dashboard looks to be 1940 Zephyr. The doors also appears to be 1940, since 1939 didn't have vent windows. The dashboard on these cars are welded, and very hard to interchange. This leads me to believe its a 1940. The thing that has me puzzled is the windshield, is it V-eed?
Absolutley, the car looks to be a 39/40 hybrid. Notice that the rake on the 39 convertible windshield are similar? There have been few coupes,cabriolets and four door convertibles from 38/39 that have surfaced with the vent window ;Maybe an option? Marcy probably knows, she knows all things Z. Regardless The more I look at it the more I love it.
Yes......those "home made" sports cars were popular in the 40s and 50s. As an example, here is one made from two 46 Hudsons in the late 40s by a guy down the street from where I lived as a kid.
Link to a Zephyr custom (or kustom) http://www.flickr.com/photos/80643375@N00/2519851129/in/photostream/lightbox/
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