Classic Car of the Week: Lincoln Zephyr (1936)

My pick of the week is the 1936 Lincoln Zephyr.

This little stunner first rolled off production lines in 1936 and when it did, design wise it was well ahead of its time featuring an aerodynamic shape made it one of the first successful streamlined automobiles available on the market. Taking inspiration from the 'monocoque' structure, the aptly named Zephyr was surprisingly light for its size which gave it that extra edge when it came to areodynamism.

More after the jump...

 The Zephyr breathed new life into Lincoln, accounting for 80% of sales in its first year despite being unable to boost the marque to the same level as the likes of Cadillac and other contemporary giants, however they did succeed in reviving interest in the personal luxury market with the Zephyr taking its place as the affordable entry level option to the consumer. The Zephyr's design features were soon seen popping up on the new designs of Lincoln's competitors.

Externally, the Zephyr shined but unfortunately it developed a reputation for having a problematic engine, with oil pressure being cited as the most common cause of engine failure in the model. It could, however, given the opportunity reach speeds of up to 90mph with it's 110hp. The Zephyr was initially available as a 2 or 4 door Sedan and retailed from $1275.

Vital Statistics

Wheelbase	3.1m
Length	5.3m
Height	1.75m
Engine	267 cu in (4.4L) L-head V12
Gross HP	110 HP
Transmission	3-speed automatic