for sale 1939 Lincoln Zephyr *SOLD*

[Matt Harwood]

 

SOLD! I think this is flat-out the most beautiful car you can buy for less than $100,000. I'm sure some will disagree, but look at it--if you don't think this Zephyr is gorgeous then you might not have a pulse. It's the pinnacle of Lincoln's Art Deco movement, blending the superlative Continental-style front end with the sleek fastback bodywork that defined the first Zephyr in 1936. There's not a bad line anywhere on the car and I find myself looking at it over and over and finding new things to delight the eye. Look at the wind wings, the hood ornament that doubles as the hood latch, the split rear window, and those lovely taillights perched at the points of the rear fenders. Bob Gregorie gets most of the credit for the design, although he actually facelifted a previous design by a pair of Briggs Manufacturing stylists--regardless of who penned it, the car is enough to make everyone stop in their tracks.

 

Anyway, on to this particular car, which comes out of long-term ownership where it was properly maintained but rarely driven. My gut tells me that it's never been fully restored, but it has obviously been repainted and then touched up, at least partially, and there's an overall patina that's quite appropriate. There's no sign of rust or previous damage and all four doors close with authority. The glass and weather seals are original, and that's what tells me that it has never been apart. The chrome is quite good, and I suspect the bumpers have been refinished, but the rest is probably original and in fine condition.

 

The interior is likewise mostly original, although I believe the upholstery on the seats has been replaced at some point. It's quite old, so it was done some time ago, but someone else suggested that those are fitted seat covers and it was common at the time to actually stitch the seat covers onto the seats rather than just laying them on top. Regardless, I haven't probed underneath, it looks just fine the way it is. The unique center-mounted gauges might be one of the earliest examples of a center console, and they all work. There's also a column-mounted fan (I can't figure out how to turn it on, so it might be broken), accessory AM radio (inop), and a Southwind heater under the dash (it'll roast a turkey!). The clock ticks away reliably and all the knobs and controls are operational. The only real demerit is the steering wheel, which has the usual cracking, although it seems to work in the car and I'm not sure I'd restore it. The trunk is full of spare tire, but pull it back and you'll find it's on a spring-loaded hinge and just glides out of the way, revealing a reasonably spacious trunk. Even the trunk light works!

 

I don't think Lincoln's 292 cubic inch V12 needs any introduction. This one starts easily with a little choke and idles almost imperceptibly from behind the wheel--more than once I thought it had stalled when I was moving it around the shop. It's very correct with no notable modifications save for an electric fuel pump in the rear of the chassis. I haven't pushed it and obviously it's not very warm out so I can't vouch for its ability to keep its cool under duress, but I will say that the last owner loaned it to a friend whose father owned the car for many years--that guy is a client of mine and he drove it all summer two years ago without incident. I'll call it healthy. The three-speed gearbox shifts neatly with the convoluted shifter and yes, it has overdrive, so it should cruise at 70 MPH without too much effort. The brakes and suspension were just rebuilt by the fellow who borrowed it two years ago and it sits on relatively recent Firestone wide whites.

 

It comes with a lot of extras, including spare parts, an original jack assembly, and lots of paperwork for its history. It's criminal that these cars are not more valuable than they are, and to me, the $37,900 asking price seems like a screaming bargain--I'm full up on '40s luxury cars, but if not, I'd very much like to have this one in my fleet. A wonderful car that's just right for touring and casual shows. Thanks for looking!

 

    

 

    

 

    

 

    

Edited May 4, 2018 by Matt Harwood
SOLD! (see edit history)

[Matt Harwood]

 

[neil morse]

Looks gorgeous, Matt!  I especially love that "binnacle" dash.  And I love your write-ups.  Good luck -- anyone who buys this car will be fortunate indeed.

[Matt Harwood]

SOLD! Thank you!

 

[Man I'm sorry to see this one go.]