1940 Lincoln Zephyr news, pictures, and information

The Zephyr was introduced in 1936, a radical and beautiful example of the streamlining trend of the 30s. Zephyrs were all V-12s. The Zephyr was sold alongside the traditional Lincoln K models until the K was dropped at the end of 1939. The Zephyr and the new Continental became Lincolns full line. After World War II, the Zephyr body continued through 1948, but the Zephyr name was dropped.

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Coupe

In mid-1940, management decided to add a coupe body style to its established Continental cabriolet. While it is common to create a convertible from a coupe, Lincoln created the coupe by adding a roof to the cabriolet. The Lincoln custom body department built 54 coupes at the rate of one per day. Less than 10 are known to remain. This car is a time capsule, having only 600 original miles on the odometer. It is absolutely unrestored, having only battery, fan belts, radiator hoses, brake seals and inner tubes replaced to maintain operational condition over its 65 years. Purchased new by John Watson of Wayne, PA, as a backup for his 1940 Continental cabriolet, it remained garaged and covered. Sold by his estate in 1964 to Alfred Holmes, Jr., and then to Floyd Moore in 1970, Jim Schmidt has been, since 1997, its fourth caretaker.

Coupe
Chassis Num: H100569

This 1940 Lincoln Zephyr Continental Cabriolet was brought to the 2007 Monterey Sports & Classic Car Auction presented by RM Auctions, where it had an estimated value of $60,000 - $80,000. It was offered without reserve. Mounted under the bonnet is a 292 cubic-inch 12-cylinder engine with downdraft Stromberg carburetors and 120 horsepower. There is a column-mounted three-speed synchromesh transmission and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.

The design for the Zephyr was handled by Designer Bob Gregorie who created the sketch in less than an hour It had the outline of the two-door, four-seat body over an outline drawing of a Zephyr sedan. The front fenders were extended and the hood line and cowl were lowered and pushed back. The unique folding top had blind quarters and there was hardly any bright trim which gave the vehicle a very simplistic, clean, and smooth appearance. Plus, there was little time to create these one-off pieces.

It was dubbed the Zephyr Continental and in 1941 would become the Lincoln Continental. A total of 404 examples were built in 1940 with 350 being cabriolets and the remaining 54 being coupes. All were hand built, expensive, and exclusive vehicles tailored to the prominent and wealthy in society.

This example has been in the present ownership since 1990. The color is burgundy with a camel colored Haartz cloth top and a matching burgundy leather interior. It was treated to a restoration, which was completed a number of years ago. Its appearance, fit and finish still shows well in modern times.

The selling price for this vehicle fell within the estimated value, selling for a high bid of $63,800 including buyer's premium.

In 1936 Lincoln introduced the Zephyr, named and styled after the streamlined Burlington Zephyr express train. The train was an aerodynamic diesel powered streamliner that brought an end to the steam-engined trains and set many new speed-records. The Zephyr stayed in production until 1942 when it was discontinued to make way for the new Mercury line which was in a similar market segment. Since the Mercury's were derived from a Ford running gear and chassis they were cheaper to produce, Lincoln decided to cancel the Zephyr after only six years of production.
The styling was courteous of the Dutch-Born designer John Tjaarda of the Briggs Body Corporation, however, prior to production Ford's stylist Bob Gregorie restyled the front end. Under the hood was a Ford-derived V-12 that produced 110 horsepower, not enough to do justice to the Zephyr name and what it represented, but a modest amount to carry the vehicle where it was tasked to travel.

In 1936 around 15000 Zephyrs were constructed, nearly 80% of all Lincolns sold. Nearly 1500 were given coupe/sedan body-styles which were a two-door sedan configuration built on a chassis that could have accommodated four-doors.

In the year 2005, Lincoln reintroduced the Zephyr. To help create excitement at auto shows, Lincoln purchased a 1936 Zerphyr serial number H-5739, to tour with the modern Lincoln Zephyr.

Due to the onset of World War II, Lincoln switched to war-related production. Production resumed in 1946 and continued until 1948.

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