1941 Lincoln Custom V12 Limousine

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

The Nethercutt Collection is one of America’s finest Automotive Museums and Collections, a masterpiece comprising over 250 perfectly restored American and European motor cars, along with a vast array of rare mechanical musical instruments and precious antique furniture. 

Maintaining a classic car collection of this size is never easy, and when it reaches the scale of our collection, it becomes increasingly more challenging. Our founder, J.B. Nethercutt said the following at age 91, “The recognition and preservation of beauty has been a major focus of my life. It would suit me well if what people remembered about me was, ‘Where he went, he left beauty behind.’” 

As a result, we have decided to part ways with a small group of cars from the collection and will do so in partnership with our friends at Hagerty Marketplace. Many of the cars we have decided to sell we have owned for in excess of 50 years, or have been in storage, not on display, or represent a tremendous opportunity as a restoration project. They are a compelling mix of pre-war examples that have been thoroughly well-cared for and that will easily find new caretakers who will undoubtedly cherish and use them as intended.  

As we say goodbye to this group of cars, we hope the occasion for their sale will introduce us to new collectors and enthusiasts, and we look forward to hosting you at the Museum and Collection in Sylmar, California, in the coming months, years and decades. 

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Lincoln, like other prestige manufacturers, needed a more moderately-priced car to help it endure the tough times of the post-Depression era. It responded with the Zephyr in 1936; its streamlined teardrop styling was credited to designer John Tjaarda of the Briggs Body Company with help from a young Ford designer named Eugene T. “Bob” Gregorie. The name echoed that of the new-fangled streamlined modern diesel trains in operation on the Burlington Railroad.

The Zephyr was powered by a new, small V12 engine derived from Ford’s Flathead V8. Production was interrupted by World War II returning in 1946. The Zephyr name was dropped in 1947 with 1948 being the final year of production. Designated as Model 168H, the 1941 Custom chassis employed essentially the same springs and wheels as the shorter Model 16H, but featured a longer 149-inch wheelbase and six-ply 7.00x16 tires.

Inside, it had a typical limousine front driving compartment with black top-grain leather upholstery. The partition window was hydraulically operated and a second electric clock was placed in the passenger compartment. In addition, it used a Continental hood ornament, plain belt moldings and “Lincoln” and “Custom” mounted on the hood sides. Prototypes of this model were built by Brunn in 1940. Just 295 were produced.

Highlights

• Offered from The Nethercutt Collection

• CCCA Full Classic eligible for all CARavans and club events

• Among the first streamlined cars of the 1930’s

• One of only 295 produced for 1941

Features

• Hydraulically-operated division windows

• Hydraulically-operated windows

• Wool headliner

• Original carpet and upholstery in rear compartment

• Newer black wool carpet in driver’s compartment

• Newer black leather door panels and front seat

• Solid body with serviceable paint

• AM radio

• Original wood grain on dashboard and interior trim

• Denman whitewall tires

• Rear quarter window privacy shades

• Cigarette lighters and ashtrays in rear compartment

• Folding rear seat armrest

• Rear courtesy lights

• Electric clock in both front and rear compartments

• Lap robe rail

• Original gold-plated interior hardware

• Mostly original glass

Ownership History

David C. Huhn, La Mesa, California; Clarence Riggs, Ojai, California; Tony Heinsbergen, Jr., Beverly Hills, California; First owner Unknown Initials: CBH. (Clara Briggs ?)

This car joined the Nethercutt Collection in 2003.

From Cameron Richards, Vice President of The Nethercutt Collection: “This Lincoln Limousine is a true gangsters dream car. The car is almost all original besides the front seats. It is ready to get back on the road or be on movie sets.”

Additional Notes

A Broad Arrow Auctions Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the owner of this vehicle. Broad Arrow Auctions is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hagerty.

Contact: Donnie Gould Phone: 954.647.0779 email: dgould@hagerty.com