8BA Flathead Ford Swapped: 1938 Lincoln Zephyr





























Though typically Fords are not my forte of interest in terms of classic cars, I do make an exception for Lincolns. When I was a kid, my parents owned a black 1988 Town Car that a few people called "presidential". Eventually, they sold the car and upgraded to a 1996 Buick Roadmaster. Vintage Lincolns are cool, and clean, unmodified ones like this 1938 Lincoln Zephyr are a hard find today. Find it here on eBay in Redding, California, with reserve not met and a little under six hours left to bid.



























Originally brought about to bridge the gap between Ford's Deluxe model and Lincoln's K-series, the Zephyr was conceived by Edsel Ford and Eugene "Bob" Gregorie. Featuring cutting-edge unibody construction and a low (for its time) drag-coefficient of 0.45, the Zephyr was not a huge success, but certainly was futuristic for its time. This mildly-restyled 1938 model is a coupe model, and is one of 2,600 built for the year. Resplendent in black with red wheels, there is a bit of patina in the paint, but still looks good, as does the chrome and stainless trim. The split exhaust is cool, as are the streamlined fender skirts. I would clean up the paint and detail the outside, otherwise leaving it untouched.



























Though originally powered by a 110 horsepower, 267 cubic-inch Flathead V12, a 239 cubic-inch 8BA flathead Ford V8 is currently under the hood. Rated at 100 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque, the 8BA's power figures are only ten less than the flathead Lincoln V12. Backed by a three-speed manual transmission, the rest of the Zephyr's OEM components are still fitted, and the car is said to run and drive perfectly. I would rock the 8BA for a while, and in the meantime source and swap in a correct Lincoln Flathead V12.



































In regards to this interior, can you say "Art Deco"? Though the interior is largely nice, it is largely incorrect; the diamond-tufted seat is not stock, as is the steering wheel, though the horn button is factory correct. All of the gauges and lights work, thanks to a new wiring harness, and I definitely dig the dash and its dual-symmetrical glove boxes. Overall, this Zephyr coupe is a nice driver, and with the right stock swaps and upgrades could be worth a pretty penny. I would rock it as-is for a while before restoring it back to stock. What are your thoughts on this driver-quality Lincoln Zephyr? 
Location: Redding, CA, USA

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