[AUTO] LINCOLN ZEPHYR: THE ACCESSIBLE TOP OF THE RANGE, AMERICAN

[H O L D F I R E 流]

Lincoln, the premium brand of the giant Ford, unveiled in November 1935 a luxury vehicle more accessible than its usual productions: the Lincoln Zephyr, then available in three bodies. The V12 was inevitable for this brand at the time, so it's no surprise that we find such a block under the hood of all Zephyrs. Their aerodynamic and modern line allows them to meet an unexpected success, compared to the flop that made the Chrysler Airflow a year earlier, pioneer of the genre but less elegant. Zapping Autonews story Tractors: at the heart of automotive history - the video exhibition The Zephyr series allows the middle classes to access a luxury brand thanks to attractive prices, which is not usual at Lincoln, however. A boon for the brand, which thus inflates its sales to the maximum during the five years of production of the model (1936-1941). In the first year, the manufacturer sold no less than 15,000 copies, which represented around 80% of its sales. The work of Eugene "Bob" Gregorie, who had overseen the design of the American, was thus recognized. Just like that of Tom Tjaarda, who had meanwhile studied the modern unitary structure of the Zephyr. A sleek three-window coupe at the rear appeared in 1937. A year later, the Zephyr's front end was restyled. The 1939 vintage then saw the appearance of a significant technological advance: hydraulic brakes. The Zephyr's career ended at the beginning of 1942, the Second World War having pushed the Ford group to review its priorities. SEE ALSO - LINCOLN INDIANAPOLIS EXCLUSIVE STUDY BY BOANO: THE PHOTOS OF THE UNIQUE MODEL An avant-garde design Avant-garde design + 29 Photo Credit - © 2019 Courtesy of RM Sothebys The Lincoln Zephyr represents a major stylistic advance in the automotive landscape. Recall that it came out in the interwar period, at a time when the public is still used to seeing bodies separated from the chassis, rustic mudguards and large round lights placed outside the fenders. Quite the opposite of the Zephyr, with headlights integrated into very enveloping front fenders that surround an original grille in the shape of butterfly wings. The body is unibody, it perfectly integrates the rear wings and completely encompasses the chassis. In 1939, the general shape of the front face changed, it became more massive but also flatter. The interior, also designed by Gregorie, adopts a very modern style marrying perfectly the details resulting from the aeronautic and the "art deco" theme. All Zephyrs are powered by a 4375cc 75 ° V12 engine, derived from the widely used Ford 90 ° V8. Developing 110 hp, this unit transmits its power to the road via a manual three-speed gearbox. Enough to guarantee the Zephyrs a maximum measured speed of up to 145 km / h. In the 1939 vintage, the elegant Lincoln Zephyr Coupe two-door (model in photos) is not the only version available in the catalog, the range has grown to include five other bodies. Only 2,500 coupes of this type were built in this year of production. Considered one of the most beautiful cars of its time, such a car is now estimated between $ 125,000 (€ 106,250) and $ 175,000 (€ 148,750).