1942 Lincoln Continental Restyle
- This topic has 33 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 8 months ago by Torchie.
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June 25, 2016 at 17:23 #39886Dave TartagliaParticipant
Lincolns are in the air: today’s article on the Stoustrup Lincoln on the CCC and Lincoln Continental for sale the HAMB yesterday.
The HAMB car is a stalled-restoration with solid body and no motor; asking $8000. It’s a 1942 Lincoln Continental coupe and would make a great base for a custom. The 1942 coupe is a rare beast, only 200 coupes were produced before production shut down in February for the war.
The gears started turning, so I did a few quick digital alteration sketches on the front. I used a convertible, but these would work on a coupe, too. The ’42 models had a big, ugly, add-on lump at the front to attach a horizontal chrome grille. I ditched that and played around with a few ideas to fill the space.
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You must be logged in to view attached files.June 25, 2016 at 17:33 #39893Dave TartagliaParticipantPhoto0 is stock.
Photo1 removed the lower grille pod and extended the top grille downwards.
Photo2/3 deleted – duplicates.
Photo4 adds a headlight wing in the down position, converting the parking light to an air intake. Also adds back lowered amber running lights for parade duty. The car is lowered, too.
Photo5 dials-back the headlights to stock and moves the amber running lights to a sunken fender mount.June 25, 2016 at 21:14 #39894TorchieParticipantInteresting Dave.
The biggest problem that I see with the 2nd Lincoln edition of these cars is the First Lincoln version. LOL
To my eye they were damn near perfect.
Lets see where this goes…..
TorchieJune 25, 2016 at 23:03 #39911Dave TartagliaParticipantTorchie, you’re exactly right. The first generation Zephyr-styled were “damn near perfect!” Edsel Ford wanted to create an American car with European design cues, and he got it right first time out. From an American standpoint, they were the lowest cars around, with no running boards, hood looked sectioned from the factory to flow into the low beltline.
The ’42 models were updated as the Zephyr-styling was becoming dated. Problem was, the original Continental was so well integrated every change just looked not-quite-right.
Sometimes you can customize away a car’s design faults. Sometimes you fix what you can and just live with it. If I come up with any other bright ideas, I’ll post ’em here. If anyone else wants to take a crack at it, please post!
June 25, 2016 at 23:53 #39923TinwolfParticipantHi !
Strange , very strange , I saw the same car and thought the same on the front end and wonderd what it would look like if the lower part of the grill was gone and replaced with another top part , here I open CCC and see the front end photoshopped , spookie ! Maybe we can continue this , what about doing something about the rear end , I dont know what to say about the Continental rear end but it doesnt do it for me , Im thinking boattail , not a Auburn pointy but a Y-job stubby type , smooth out the rear fenders and move the taillights to the lovely bumper guards that seems to be made for bumperguard taillights in the ribbed portion .
WolfJune 26, 2016 at 01:18 #39924TorchieParticipantYou are right Dave.
Edsel Ford had very refined tastes and took a lot of styling cues from Europe. As a child growing up on the East Side of Detroit I used to pass his estate often. Once his wife Elanor passed away it was opened to the public. Very beautiful English Tudor styled home.
His refined tastes were always a sore point between him and Old Henry I believe although I have read the the Old Man begrudgingly praised Edsels ability to design a car in private
By the time the 2nd generation lincoln came along Edsel was gone and so was his good design….
I agree with Tinwolf about continuing this arm chair customizing of a often neglected model.
TorchieJune 26, 2016 at 14:00 #39950Dave TartagliaParticipantWolf and Torchie: I’m on it!
I actually like working on neglected and untried cars. I can do anything I like in pixels and if it doesn’t work, I just push it into a digital corner to rethink later.
My current real project is a 1981 Mercury Zephyr station wagon. It’s a Fox-body model, so most mechanics are the same as Mustangs (meaning mechanical parts are available). But the construction is still very 1960s. It has a 200 ci Falcon Six, which dates back to 1960. The body size and general style is similar the older Falcons, Comets, Fairlanes, and Meteors. The plan is to remove the 70s-era parts like grille, headlights, mirrors and replace them with 1960s equivalents: a back-dated custom!
June 26, 2016 at 17:00 #39953Dave TartagliaParticipantHere is three-quarter rear view of a stock ’42 Lincoln Continental and my custom version.
The roof is lowered. The trunk is sectioned and the rear fenders lengthened.
I ditched the rear bumper, too, in favor of a body-colored piece to tie the fenders together.It seemed sacrilegious to remove the very item which gave the “Continental kit” its name.
Here’s what designer Harry Bradley did in a similar situation:
Bradley helped with the re-creation the Larry Ernst 1951 Chevy (second version). Ernst was adamant about having a connie-kit on his car. So Bradley dropped it down and angled it forward to give a cleaner flow. I figure, if you’re going to steal an idea, steal from the best!Attachments:
You must be logged in to view attached files.June 26, 2016 at 17:21 #39956Rik HovingKeymasterGreat subject… wonderful car, and rather tough to make it look really.
Great ideas…
Here is one rear 3/4 I did many years ago for a guy on the hamb.
Enjoy the beauty of Customizing
June 26, 2016 at 18:31 #39957Dave TartagliaParticipantNice one, Rik. Looks like what Lincoln might have done in 1951 or so.
Here is a version suggested by Wolf. Bumper added back and lights moved into the bumper guards.
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You must be logged in to view attached files.June 26, 2016 at 20:01 #39959Larry PointerParticipantLoving this one! Like Torchie, don’t think more was better when they changed after that first generation. But cleaning up the grille helped. Rik’s version is sweet, and the roofline as it flows to the back seems just right level for this shaped car. Wulf’s take on the rear is gorgeous, especially getting the bumper back on WITH those tail lights. These last versions seem to have the front of the roof low, versus the flow of the rest of the car’s lines rearward. Too much fun!
June 26, 2016 at 21:22 #39961Dave TartagliaParticipantGood eye, Larry!
Here is a slightly altered version of the last pic. I angled the upper window line 1 degree and fixed some little things that looked good at home but stuck out when I posted.Attachments:
You must be logged in to view attached files.June 27, 2016 at 22:22 #40054James DParticipantJune 27, 2016 at 23:21 #40059Rik HovingKeymasterooooh that is nice James.
Perhaps lay the continental kit forward like Dave (Harry Bradley) suggested might help the flow a bit.
Wish I could play as well.. but I just do not have the time right now.. perhaps later this week.
Enjoy the beauty of Customizing
June 28, 2016 at 00:10 #40061James DParticipantThanks Rik!
The conti kit doesneed some attention, for sure. Maybe I will have another go tomorrow. 🙂 -
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