The Depression was a desperate time for any car dealer to be selling huge V-12 cars. By the mid 1930s Ford realized that it had to offer a more affordable Lincoln; the Lincoln Zephyr was the result.
John Tjaarda was put in charge of styling for this new Lincoln. He produced a beautiful "teardrop" design, which slightly resembled the Volkswagen Beetle from the windshield back. It originally had much more in common with the Beetle because a rear engine was under consideration during early development.
In its time the Zephyr was very tastefully styled, with its long, horizontal hood, headlamps integrated into the front fenders, and delicate grille with fine horizontal bars. The roofline tapered gently back and down to the rear bumper, and length was accentuated by fitting fender skirts at the rear.
The Zephyr, along with the Chrysler and DeSoto Airflow, was the first really streamlined American car. It set the tone for Ford styling for more than a decade, and even inspired other cars, including the post-Second World War English Jowett Javelin.
In addition to its smooth styling, the Zephyr had unit construction, which was stiffer than body-on-frame designs, and kept the weight of the sedan down to a commendable 1,520 kg (3,350 lb). It was also the first Ford product to have an all-steel roof. Suspension, however, was still by Ford's antiquated transverse "buggy springs" with a solid front axle. It also kept mechanical brakes.
The Zephyr had a side-valve 4.4 litre V-12 which used components from Ford's V-8. Its bank angle was 75 degrees rather than the V-8's 90, and it developed 110 horsepower. Although smooth and quiet, the Zephyr engine was not noted for durability, in spite of the availability of an optional Columbia two-speed rear axle.
The 1936 Zephyr was introduced in November 1935, and in spite of its questionable engine, Lincoln sold some 15,000 in its first model year, which accounted for 80 percent of all Lincoln sales. It came as a coupe and sedan for 1936; 1937 was the first year for the convertible.
In 1938 the Zephyr received a new front end, which included a lower, two-piece, vertical-bar grille. The wheelbase was stretched 76 mm (3 in.) to 3,175 mm (125 in.). It finally got hydraulic brakes for 1939. The Zephyr was continued until 1942 when the Zephyr name was dropped, although early post-Second World War Lincolns were still Zephyrs except in name.
The Zephyr was an important car for Lincoln, helping it fight through the Depression without putting and end to the company. The Zephyr also paved the way for its much more famous corporate sibling, the 1940-48 Lincoln Continental.
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