CBoz

Phil - I'll try to post some pics of the one I have, and jot down any numbers. I also think Rolf has hit on a key point -- it's very likely that at dealerships (and perhaps even at the factory?), folks installed these radios where it made sense to them, or where it was convenient. For example, I've noticed on the '37s, factory literature will show the radio head installed on the *passenger*-side ashtray, but I see it on either side in cars, including ones that haven't been restored.

I know the one I bought was installed under the passenger seat, and the cables leading to the dial head must be 5 - 6 feet long. I suppose they could be put anywhere, though. Regarding sharing of the radios across models, I was at the February swapmeet and someone had a radio from a K model. The box was exactly the same as mine.

Thanks for the comments, KRK! I was wondering about that tire iron -- I'll make a note on the site tonight that it is not part of the set. For the wrenches, do you mean "thin" in the sense that they don't get fat in the middle of the handle? I've seen two different types, and the ones I have are thin. I'd love to have a good picture of the pliers. And you're right, it doesn't make any sense not to have a screwdriver in the set. So if anyone needs a tire iron, let me know...

Don't know if anyone is interested, but I've added another page to my website, this one covering some of the tools that came with the '37 Zephyr: http://home.mindspring.com/~bozarth/id7.html I'm trying to update the site as I find time. If you want to see something in particular, and if you find any errors / omissions, please let me know.

The one you posted pictures of is for sale on ebay at 22K, and it will not sell at that price -- too high. A fairly complete '37 3-window got up to 17K in bidding a month or so back, but the '37-'39 3-windows tend to sell for more than the 40-41 versions. The fact that your car is taken apart doesn't help either. Without seeing any pics, I'd *guess* low teens. But before we can help you further, you need to check a couple things that will make a difference: 1. Are all the external trim pieces there (grill, body moldings, etc.)? What condition are they in? 2. What condition is the body in? Is there any rust? If so, where? 3. Are the internal pieces -- knobs, handles, seat trimming, etc., all there?

I'm not familiar with the '39s and how they go together, but you might first call Merv Adkins in CA (see "sources" section of website). He may have a good pair all ready to go.

What a beautiful job your dad did! I bet he got some interesting responses from people when he told them that he was the one who restored it.

The issues generally come at the *end* of the cover date, so not to worry.

Time for Drake or Carpenter to take notice and start reproducing them, don't you think? And while there at it, there's some '37 parts I'd like them to make as well ...

Hey Rolf - Actually, we are *both* right. Tjaarda (sp?) designed the original version, but Gregorie was at Ford by then and was responsible for the final styling, changing the front-end completely (hence the similarities to the '37 Ford). I think it's fair to say that Gregorie had more of a hand in the '38 and up styling. In any case, I think we can both agree that E.L. Gregory wasn't involved at all

Reading more about the history of Scrape on the Deco Rides site: http://www.decorides.com/scrapezephyr.htm Apparently, the Lincoln Zephyr was designed by one E. L. Gregory to compete against Chrysler's Airflow! I guess this would have been news to E.T. Gregorie, and why Lincoln would want to directly compete against a car that was already a commercial flop by 1936 is beyond me And looking down further on the page, I didn't realize one could "copyright" a car design. If so, too bad Lincoln didn't do it back in the 30s.

Per V12Bill's posting below, here is the apparent source for the reproduction Zephyr convertibles and coupes: http://www.decorides.com/zephyr.htm Personally, I am very thankful that they are doing this. They are good-looking streetrods, and their price should make it uneconomical to modify a nice original. The only question I have is, how big is the market for 4-foot tall drivers???

Bill - There was a 41 convertible http://www.barrett-jackson.com/events/scottsdale/vehicles/cardetail_list.asp?id=178908 that sold for $62,100 before commission. There was a '39 glass convertible http://www.barrett-jackson.com/events/scottsdale/vehicles/cardetail_list.asp?id=178196 that sold for $64,800 Finally, there was a 40 3-window http://www.barrett-jackson.com/events/scottsdale/vehicles/cardetail_list.asp?id=178082 that sold for $54,000. Interesting to note that these prices aren't much different than what you would expect for 41-41 Continentals. But then again, the Barrett-Jackson auction is a strange bird.

Hey Bill - I doubt you do, but need any 37-38 era stuff? I think I *almost* have all of the big pieces I need, but we'll see.

Woah, Nelly! "Useless slug of an engine"? The V-12 may have had it's reliability problems (which are fixable), but I've never heard it called a slug. Everything I've read has shown me that, in its time, its horsepower and top speed numbers were consistent with those of the junior Packards, Cadillacs, and Buicks it competed against. V12Bill? Rolf? You all are much more knowledgeable than me. Your thoughts?

Hello - They come up all the time on ebay; I may even have an extra set if you can't find some. I'd guess $100 for a good set that needs to be blasted, but has no obvious flaws.

I would think it would be fine to post that information here. TWOTZ posts new vendor offerings of interest to club members, so why not?

Another pic of the ex-Thorson coupe sedan, this time the interior. It's amazing to me how much it changed in just one year.

Attached is a pic of the car Craig's dad restored. I apologize, but I don't recall the source of these pics. Anyone know who took them?

Cash value was $370, including the horn button. I had an extra core wheel to trade, so I paid less than that. Not cheap, but the work was done extremely well and I don't have to fool with it again!

And a follow-up: When I got the wheel back, everything looked perfect -- except I was sure that they had forgotten to apply paint on the outer rim of the horn button. I checked my pictures of top-notch show cars, and they were all painted. Well... I looked back at old pics of mine, and it didn't have the paint there. And attached is a pic of another horn button that looks to be unrestored. It looks like the outer rim is unpainted; certainly it is a different color than the center. So what's the verdict? Anyone know for sure? Anyone care? Anyone rather drop in a Chebby smallblock and paint their car Plum Crazy Purple?...

A vendor success story: The bakelite hub of my steering wheel had been pretty busted up by someone who tried to use a conventional puller on it. They had also bent the metal inside it as well. While the grip was in good shape, it clearly needed restoration. I sent it to Automotive Specialties in Pickens, SC (they advertise in Hemmings) to be restored. Attached is a pic of how it looks now. They did an exceptionally good job, and I'm very pleased. In fact, they matched the paint to a brake handle I sent them, and sent me a clean sample to match to my other interior components later on. So consider this one "thumbs up" for a source.

And it's NOT good: http://forums.autoweek.com/thread.jspa?forumID=31&threadID=11668&start=0&tstart=0 I agree with the posters. This car is not a worthy heir to the Zephyr name.

48LCCOUPE, who was within $351 bucks of the final bid amount. But since the car didn't sell, Rolf *technically* doesn't have to give up all his parts.

Interesting thread. Even though there's so much interest in the 3-window coupes, I think one could argue that they were an antiquated design by the late 30s -- heck, the last Ford 3-window was in '36. I've always thought the Zephyr club coupes were sharp looking cars, and a very nice mix of practical and sporty. I'm surprised they didn't sell more. I actually looked at a 41 club coupe a couple years back, and it was amazingly roomy.