Three little Lincolns

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Once upon a time, there was the Lincoln Zephyr. The War was not yet over but while Europe was in dire straits, America carried on developing their motor cars. Just about every model year they came up with some ingenious new inventions, hoping to seduce car buyers with them. The three little coupes in this story show you the progressions beautifully. With their V12 engines and slippery fastback rears they are immediately recognisable as brothers, but the differences can be seen nicely, too. 

The eldest of them was born in 1939 with the distinctive split rear oval window, waterfall grill and one-year-only shifter arm. It wore its blue clothes with pride since that very day. And it was admired by many, especially when it spent years in the Harrah's Automobile Collection in Las Vegas.

The middle model came to the world a year later, in 1940 but its early days were all forgotten about when it underwent a full nut-and-bolt restoration exceeding $100,000. It also received some power enhancing upgrades beneath its red suit at the time, giving the 5-litre V12 engine an extra boost.

The youngest of the three, from 1942, was born in a year when very few Zephyr Coupes came to life. As a matter of fact, this one is believed to be just one of five surviving examples, representing that year's new interior, uprated engine and redesigned body in striking green. 

All three of the little Lincolns are offered for sale with Bonhams auctioneers on the 8th of March at Amelia Island. But which of the three is the wisest?

(Words editor, pictures courtesy Bonhams auctioneers)

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