Should I buy it?

[aaahbiteme]

Hi there,

I am considering buying a 1940 Lincoln Zephyr. It is in pretty good shape but the original engine has been replaced with a Ford 302. This doesn't bother me so much as I was thinking of rodding it out a bit. I like to do the resto-rod thing that keeps the outside of the car stock but upgrades the guts. My problem is that I like to get an idea of the potential return when I finish a car and I can't find any Hotrod Lincolns (couldn't resist!) Anyway, your club seems to be more about restoration, but I wonder if anyone has any thoughts on rodding or any idea if there would be a demand for one, etc. I usually just build what I like and almost never lose money on a car (Sometime I'll tell you about my nightmare 62 Galaxie 500!) but I still like to hear what people think to help me decide. Any input is welcome, Thanks in advance, Ed.

[Rolf]

I am not going to touch the question of whether you should buy or not, way too subjective, a 302 is a good choice if you are going to convert the engine, cubic inches are very close to the original 12, and it remains Ford, the best market for a Zephyr is with the V-12 in it, but if you are just going to drive and enjoy the car, obviously it should suit your taste. My son has built a '41 with a 302, AOD etc etc, but retained the stock outer appearance, here is a pic of it, good luck,

[aaahbiteme]

First, thanks for the pic, very nice looking car. I have been looking around and I have seen several nice 40 Zephyr hotrods, including the one that sold for $436K at barrett/ Jackson. All of them have been coupes, Here my ignorance of these cars shows, I thought they were a whole different model! Anyway, The one I am looking at is a four door sedan. Anyone have an example of a four door that has been rodded? I am starting to get pretty excited about the project!

[Rolf]

Hey AAH, maybe this on e-pay is more to your liking, no duplicated $400K custom here, this is definitely one of a kind!! Thanks , I guess< to Phil Knapp who follows E-Bay Motors pretty closely, the # is 160015394215 The very best of luck, sorry it isn't a 4 door sedan, just kidding, Rolf

[imported_Phil Knapp]

Truly, a "one of a kind" custom (attachment). Does the phrase "Some assembly required" ring any bells? I supose those "1938 Ford" headlights COULD be adapted to the contuors of the 1940 Zephyr front frnders (they look more like 1939 Ford headlights to me). The job of making the grilles fit is going to be monumental (they're 1941 grilles, NOT 1940s). One might wonder if they have discovered that they have painted themselves into a corner and are trying to bail out.

By the way, the $400K Lincoln Zephyr that sold at Barrett-Jackson is really a 1938. It was voted America's most beautiful street rod before it went to Barrett-Jackson. It is powered by a superbly tricked out V-12 engine mated to a Ford C-4 automatic transmission. The car was built from a rust bucket in Spokane, Washington and is now in a private collection in Chandler, Arizona.

Happy e-baying!

[imported_Phil Knapp]

In case you don't remember the $400K Lincoln Zephyr, here's a picture of it in it's new home in Chandler, Arizona.