News release

[Cecil/WV]

Early Ford V-8 Foundation Museum

News Release: 5-1-17

For Immediate Release CONTACT: Joshua Conrad, Executive Director
May – 2017 260-667-3775 / [email protected]

Early Ford V-8 Foundation Museum

1940 Lincoln Zephyr Continental Cabriolet Donated to Museum

Attached Photos: 1940 Lincoln-Zephyr Continental Cabriolet donated to the Early Ford V-8 Foundation by Richard Cole and Ken Tibbots, both of California.

(Auburn, IN) The Early Ford V-8 Foundation Museum is pleased to announce the donation of a rare piece of automotive history. This is the 49th of only 351 Lincoln-Zephyr Continental Cabriolets that were essentially hand-built in 1940. Bob Gregorie, the chief designer of Ford Motor Company from 1931-1946, worked together with Edsel Ford to bring to life a new European-grand-touring-style cabriolet. The vehicle retained the characteristic unit-body-and-frame which set Lincoln-Zephyrs apart from other cars, but the structure was completely redesigned with a reproportioned long hood and short deck to give it a European feel.


Dave Cole (one of the donors) and his wife Barbara bought this Lincoln off a used car lot in 1954, fixed it up, and drove it across the U.S.A. three times in 1955 while Dave was in the Army. Later in 1956, they had the car shipped to Germany, the rally point for their year-long tour of Europe. In their time overseas, Dave and Barbara drove from Germany to Scandinavia to the French Riviera and back – covering over 18,000 miles of territory all in their Lincoln. Upon returning from Europe, the car served as their daily driver for the next 21 years. It’s an incredible car with an incredible history. "It has been driven many thousands of miles, has been to several countries and it is still stunning. Now it is on display at our Museum, where we hope to share it and its amazing story with many future generations of visitors" said Foundation President John Knecht.


The Early Ford V-8 Foundation is a 501(c) (3) non-profit, educational organization dedicated to "Preserving 1932-1953 Early Ford V-8 History. Open to the public Mondays – Saturday 9am – 5pm, Last admission at 5pm. Closed on Sundays. 260-927-8022 www.fordv8foundation.org
















--
Joshua Conrad
Executive Director




Early Ford V-8 Foundation Museum

PO Box 284
Auburn, IN 46706
260-667-3775.cell
260-927-8022.office
www.fordv8foundation.org

[email protected]
















2 Attachments

[TJ]

In addition to this generous donation by the Cole family, Dave Cole contributed hundreds of great articles to the V-8 Times magazine. His knowledge of Ford history was incredible and he shared it with V-8ers. It will be tough to fill his shoes as a V-8 Times contributor.

[A bones]

Thanks for sharing that story. Nice to know such a piece of history is being protected.

[Cecil/WV]

The museum will be even better with the new addition!

[JM 35 Sedan]

I didn't see any photo's of the 1940 Lincoln Zephyr Continental Cabriolet posted here, but these were posted on the Foundations website....

[Cecil/WV]

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