1937 Lincoln Zephyr

The Lincoln-Zephyr was displayed to the public at the 1936 New York Autoshow, wearing 'Teardrop' and 'Art Deco' styling, with the theme repeated in the front and rear lights, the grille emblem, and the fender skirts. It was one of the first successful 'streamlined' cars on the road, unlike Chrysler's unsuccessful attempt with its streamlined Airflow. The interior continued the Art Deco theme with a centered circular console with symmetrical driver's side and passenger side glove compartments and ashtrays. The attractive styling was well received and it quickly became Lincoln's best selling car, also serving as the foundation for the 1940 Lincoln Continental. The styling was applied to both Fords and Mercurys of the period.

The name 'Zephyr' was sourced from the radically streamlined Burlington Zephyr high-speed express train, itself named after Zephyrus, the mythical Greek God of the west wind. The Lincoln Zephyr's body was styled by Dutch-born designer John Tjaarda, who was an employee at Briggs Body Corporation, Ford's longtime partner. During pre-production, the styling was revised and refined, especially at the frontal aspects of the car, by Eugene T. 'Bob' Gregorie, who worked closely with Lincoln president Edsel Ford, himself a noted designer.

The styling was complemented by equally impressive mechanical technology. The body was the first unibody to be designed as a stressed structure, like an airplane, and made it both lighter and stronger than conventional body-on-frame construction. The engine was a new V12 based on Ford's proven flathead V8. The L-head, 267 cubic-inch unit had aluminum alloy heads, cast steel pistons, a downdraft Stromberg carburetor, and developed 100 horsepower. It was backed by a dashboard-mounted three-speed synchromesh transmission and braking was handled by four-wheel mechanical drums. An optional two-speed Columbia axle was available to improve highway performance.

Initially, for 1936, four body styles were offered, including a two-door Sedan, two-door Coupe, four-door Sedan, and four-door Town Limousine, with a Convertible Sedan added for 1937. 1937 Lincoln Zephyr sales were strong, with 29,997 examples produced. Mild styling updates were applied for 1937, with refinements to the grille, side vents, front bumper, and new sweeping moldings. There were now five pairs of horizontal bars on the radiator grille and a more accessible rear trunk compartment. The dash panel was also redesigned with glove compartments on both sides divided by a central console housing the controls and instruments.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe Sedan

The Lincoln Motor Company responded to a diminishing American luxury car market by introducing the streamlined Lincoln-Zephyr V-12 for 1936. In creating this car, Lincoln borrowed heavily on the technical and manufacturing expertise of its Ford Motor Company parent as well adapting several Ford V8 design concepts and numerous mechanical components.

After initially offering only two Zephyr body types for 1936, both sedan. Lincoln expanded the 1937 line-up to also include a coupe and town-limousine. This year's Zephyr was promoted as a car 'priced below its specifications.' The Zephyr was powered by a 267-cubic-inch L-head V-12 engine that was designed in the image of the Ford V8 and developed 110 horsepower.

The Ford influence was also seen in the car's employment of transverse-leaf front and rear springs. The Lincoln-Zephyr's single and major innovation was its one-piece welded all-steel body and frame construction (now known as 'unitized'), making it one of the first American cars to use the concept.

This particular example is the Model HB-730 six-passenger sedan, which was priced at $1,265, and had a production run of 23,159. It was found in northern Michigan, where it had languished in a barn for more than 30 years. The ground-up restoration, done by the owner, took 11 months to complete.

Coupe
Chassis number: HB7202212

The 'teardrop' styling theme of this Art Deco car is repeated in the front and rear lights, the fender skirts, and in the grill emblem. The style along with the V12 engine made the Zephyr one of the first successful 'streamlined' cars and one of Lincoln's best selling cars.

The interior followed the same elegant and stylish persona as the exterior, with a centered console with symmetrical driver's side and passenger side glove compartments and ashtray.

The Zephyr was Ford's first vehicle to feature unibody construction and was designed as a stressed structure. This meant it was lighter than but just as strong as conventional body on frame construction.

The V12 engine was based on Ford's proven flathead V8 and was a significant departure from the overhead valve V12s of Packard and Cadillac.

This example has been restored by its current owner within the last twenty years. It is factory correct throughout.

In 2008 this 1937 Lincoln Zephyr Coupe was brought to RM Auctions 'Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook' where it was estimated to sell for $50,000-$70,000. The lot was sold for $66,000 including buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe Sedan

The Lincoln-Zephyr, introduced in 1936, was one of the first cars with a truly modern aerodynamic design. It was named after the famous streamlined locomotive, the Burlington Zephyr, and was one of the first cars to use one-piece unitized all-steel body and frame construction - a major innovation. The split grille, which has the appearance of a boat breaking through water, still appears on today's Lincoln models. After initially offering only two Zephyr body types for 1936 Lincoln expanded the 1937 line-up to include a coupe and town-limousine.

Coupe
Chassis number: H66822

Lincoln offered six body styles on the 1939 Zephyr lineup. This example, a Coupe, has remained in its stock trim, with its monocoque body and chassis that was engineered by Briggs Manufacturing Company's John Tjaarda. It is finished in deep red over tan broadcloth. The interior features an art deco dashboard and a floor shifter. Power is from a 267.3 cubic-inch, Flathead, V12-engine fitted with a single 2-barrel carburetor and offering 110 horsepower. There is a 3-speed manual transmission with Columbia Two-Speed axle and 4-wheel Hydraulic drum brakes.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe

The 1936 Lincoln Zephyr was available as a 2- and 4-door fastback sedan. The following year a three-window coupe and a town limousine model was added the following year. The three-passenger coupe had a production run of just 5,199 units with factory list price of $1,165, making it the lowest-priced Lincoln ever offered.

This 1937 Lincoln-Zephyr Coupe was given a restoration that was completed in the late 2000s. Optional equipment includes a Columbia two-speed rear axle, heater/defroster and wind-wings.

Chassis number: H31734

The Lincoln Zephyr was designed by John Tjaarda of Briggs with refinement by E.T. 'Bob' Gregorie of Lincoln. Powered by a 267 cubic-inch L-head 12-cylinder engine with aluminum alloy heads and cast steel pistons, and downdraft Stromberg carburetor, it produced 110 horsepower. Its aerodynamic body and stylish exterior made it sensational and popular, becoming Lincoln's best selling car.

The 'Teardrop' themed car was introduced at the 1936 New York Auto Show. Both the interior and exterior are Art Deco in design. So popular was the design, that it became the foundation for the 1940 Lincoln Continental, as well as Mercury and Ford models.

This 1937 Lincoln Zephyr Coupe has undergone a recent restoration. It was auction at the 2006 RM Auctions in Meadow Brook where it estimated to fetch between $75,000 - $100,000. The lot was sold at a price of $85,250.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe
Chassis number: H40716

This 1937 Lincoln Zephyr Coupe was offered for sale at the 2007 RM Auctions held in Amelia Island, Florida. The car was offered without reserve and estimated to sell between $75,000 - $125,000. The car is powered by a 267 cubic-inch L-Head twelve-cylinder engine capable of producing 110 horsepower. It has a three-speed synchromesh gearbox and four-wheel mechanical drum brakes. The body rests atop a 122 inch wheelbase.

The Lincoln Zephyr was first introduced to the public at the New York Auto Show in 1936. Its elegant Art Deco styling and teardrop configuration was a highlight of the show. The front teardrop style gave the impression of the vehicle in motion, even at a stand-still. The rear fenders were nearly enclosed which aided in the vehicles aerodynamics. The teardrop style was applied to many aspects of the vehicle, including the front and rear fenders, grill emblem, and lights.

This was the first Ford Motor Company vehicle to utilize a unibody construction. The technique allowed for a reduction in the vehicles overall weight, while maintaining a great deal of rigidity. The power plant was based on the Ford flathead V8.

The exterior of this example is finished in black and has a burgundy interior. It is an older restoration and shows some signs of aging; yet it is still in excellent condition. At auction, this car found a new owner, selling for $71,500.

In 2008, this car was brought to the 2nd Annual Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey presented by RM Auctions where it was estimated to sell for $60,000 - $80,000. It was offered without reserve. Those estimates were proven accurate when bidding reached $62,700 including buyer's premium. The lot was sold.

The Lincoln Zephyr pioneered unitized construction and was the first Ford product to have an all-steel roof design. The Zephyr models were fitted with front and rear transverse leaf springs and a V12 engine that displaced 267 cubic-inches and produced 110 horsepower. The V12 engine was based on the existing V8 Ford architecture and benefited from the 'lessons learned' over the years. The Zephyr models were available as a four-door fastback sedan or as a two-door sedan coupe. For 1937, a three-passenger coupe and the limited production Town Limousine were added to the line-up. For 1936, nearly 15,000 examples of the Zephyr were produced and accounted for over 90 percent of Lincoln's total production. The 1937 models were mostly unchanged and production nearly doubled, with nearly 30,000 examples produced.

This 1937 Lincoln Zephyr Coupe is painted in black and wears an older restoration. There is red pin-striping, dual rearview mirrors, wind wings, wide whitewall tires, body-color artillery wheels, and chrome hubcaps.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe Sedan
Chassis number: K 6205

The Lincoln-Zephyr was introduced in 1936 wearing styling initially penned by John Tjaarda and brought to fruition by E.T. 'Bob' Gregorie. While some streamlined designs of the era were unsuccessful, the Lincoln-Zephyr was uniformly embraced by the public. Its Avant-grade styling was harmonized with its 267 cubic-inch V-12 engine offering 110 horsepower.

This particular 1937 Coupe is finished in dark green over a tan cloth interior. Revisions to the initial design include V-shaped bumpers, modified side louvers and grille, and a new dash with centrally positioned instruments.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe

Lincoln needed a moderately-priced car to help it endure the tough times of the post-Depression era; responding in November 1935 with the introduction of the Zephyr. The streamlined teardrop styling was credited to designer John Tjaarda of the Briggs Body COmpany with help from a young Ford designer named Eugene T. 'Bob' Gregorie. The name echoed that of the new-fangled streamlined modern diesel trains in operation on the Burlington Railroad. A V-12 engine derived from the standard Ford flathead V-8 provided power. No doubt sales of the Zephyr helped keep the Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company alive. Production of the Zephyr continued through 1948 (excluding 1942-1945) though the Zephyr name was dropped in 1947. 1948 marked the model's final year of production.

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 Zephyr 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.

by Dan Vaughan