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Lincoln-Zephyr V12 - American aerodynamic success of the pre-war years

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Created on August 15, 2014

Reading time 3min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Olivares - Courtesy RM Auctions

Robin Adams - Courtesy RM Auctions

Scott Nidermaier - Courtesy RM Auctions

Ford Motor Company

Ned Jackson - Courtesy RM Auctions

Bonhams

Archiv

Daniel Olivares - Courtesy RM Auctions

Robin Adams - Courtesy RM Auctions

Scott Nidermaier - Courtesy RM Auctions

Ford Motor Company

Ned Jackson - Courtesy RM Auctions

Bonhams

Archiv

Lincoln-Zephyr Coupe (1939) - als Lot 157 unter dem Hammer an der RM Auction in Monterey am 15./16. August 2014

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Lincoln-Zephyr Coupe (1937) - als Lot 126 an der RM Auction Hershey am 10./11. Oktober 2013 im Angebot

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Lincoln Zephyr Fordor Sedan V12 (1936) - Limousine mit vier Türen

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Lincoln Zephyr Continental Cabriolet (1940) - eleganter offener Wagen

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Lincoln Zephyr Convertible (1940) - offene Version

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Lincoln Zephyr (1938) - wie ein Schiffsbug wirkte die Motorhaube

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Lincoln Zephyr Fordor (1940) - mit vier Türen

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Lincoln Zephyr V12 (1939) - in der Verkaufswerbung in einer Zeitschrift

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Lincoln-Zephyr Convertible Sedan (1939) - als Lot 165 unter dem Hammer an der RM Auction in Monterey am 15./16. August 2014

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Lincoln Zephyr Convertible Sedan (1938) - als Lot 378 an der Bonhams Auktion in Scottsdale am 17. Januar 2013 versteigert

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Lincoln Zephyr Convertible Coupe (1938) - von RM Auctions in Arizona am 18. Januar 2013 angeboten

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Summary

From 1936, Lincoln offered the Lincoln-Zephyr V12, an aerodynamically shaped ultra-modern automobile which, unlike the Chrysler Airflow, sold very well and was popular. The design came from Bob Greogire and John Tjaarda. This vehicle report shows two models from the Lincoln-Zephyr range and describes the peculiarities of the new design behind which Edsel Ford stood.

This article contains the following chapters

Learning from experience
Successful
Further information

Estimated reading time: 3min

Preview (beginning of the article)

"The improved sales in America have given them more courage again, and this is reflected in a number of new designs and higher production figures for 1936. One of the most striking new releases is the Lincoln-Zephyr from Ford, which is a strange mishmash.The Lincoln provided the 12-cylinder V-engine with 110 hp at 3900 rpm and new cast steel pistons, the well-known Ford V8 provided the power unit, such as transverse springs, axles and the like, and Briggs, the coachbuilder, created the body structure, which makes the frame superfluous. This new automobile is the cheap Lincoln car that had been planned for some time and is now being offered at a price of around 1300 dollars (that's around 5000 RM for a 110 hp 12-cylinder!). The exterior shape is designed according to streamlined aspects and the front section is reminiscent of a motorboat."

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