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The LINCOLN LINK LINKINGThe TOGETHER LINCOLN ALL ELEMENTS OF THE LINCOLN MOTORLINK CAR HERITAGE 3 An Appreciation of Edsel Ford 4 Every Lincoln Enthusiast Has a Story to Tell 10 71 Days of Work 12 A Great American Story 14 Meet Your Foundation Trustees PUBLISHED SEMI-YEARLY Volume Vii, number 1 • summer, 2009 the lincoln link n THIS ISSUE’S leading article, FROM THE EDITOR “Every Lincoln Enthusiast Has a Story to Tell,” is a thinly disguised n HELLO AGAIN and welcome exhortation for each of you who to issue number one in the read this deathless prose to take seventh year of The Lincoln Link, pen in hand and tell the world a publication of the Lincoln what you have done in your Motor Car Foundation. We own addiction for the Lincoln hope you enjoyed the previous automobile. The text herein Link issue, which was entirely consists of highlights from my devoted to the racing exploits own car story, beginning in North of the 1950s racing Lincolns in David Schultz from Ohio. See Dakota, that starts on page four. the famous series of La Carrera the “Meet your Trustees” section Panamerica, popularly known as of this issue for an introduction. n WE ASSUME, of course, the Mexican Road Races. William that everyone who receives S. (“Bill”) Culver, Jr., was the n ONE OF THE REWARDS of The Lincoln Link cherishes author and guest editor for that being active in the Foundation’s and preserves each copy in a issue, and is very well qualified Board of Trustees is working controlled helium atmosphere for for the task. He is both with people of the quality future generations. If, however, the President of the of those who populate you are missing an issue, call me Road Race Lincoln the Board. Typical of and I can send you an issue for Register and the Editor these people is Richard $5 each postpaid. The bulk of of Viva Carrera!, the Hopeman. Although Dick the back issue supply has now publication of the is no longer a Trustee been transferred to the Gilmore RRLR. The RRLR of LMCF, he has made Car Museum, near Kalamazoo, has joined the three a massive contribution Michigan, where the Foundation major Lincoln clubs in to the hobby with his plans to build a museum. support of the Lincoln contribution of digitizing However, I have retained a small Bill Culver Motor Car Foundation, Lincoln ephemera for cache to assist members with and this qualifies Bill to the Foundation and as a back issue needs. E-mail or write be a Trustee of the Foundation. former President of the Lincoln or call or send a carrier pigeon Welcome aboard, Bill! Owners Club. Thank you, Dick, (they are delicious). for those many and sometimes — CHAD COOMBS n SPEAKING OF GUEST EDITORS, frustrating hours you spent in V.P., Publications we invite others to become the promoting the Lincoln Heritage. 703 754 9648 editor of The Lincoln Link or [email protected] at least edit a single issue. This is a chance for you to publish your enthusiasm for Lincolns With a working heater, young or feature a particular aspect of Chad’s 1938 Hudson was Lincoln lore and usage. As Home just the vehicle for navigating Depot advertising says, “You can the wintry North Dakota do it—we will help.” You will landscape. find great satisfaction in seeing your talent and ideas in print. Contact John T. Eby, Foundation Chairman, or me, if interested. n THE FOUNDATION has added three new members to the Board of Trustees. They are Carolyn Henderson from Maryland, Glenn Kramer from Texas, and 2 volume vii, number 1 An Appreciation of Edsel Ford n Much has been written about gulf of misunderstanding between Edsel Bryant Ford, and much Henry and Edsel Ford, and more could be written, for the Edsel’s fondness for his father relationship between Edsel and and deep reverence for the early his cantankerous father was Ford triumphs prevented him complicated and likely spilled over from prevailing over the elder into other members of the Ford Ford’s stubborn opinions except family. That relationship also by occasional gentle persuasion. affected the products of the mighty When Edsel recognized a Ford Motor Company, including challenge in the superbly built the Lincoln motor cars. So, it but homely and moribund Leland is always refreshing to read yet Lincoln, it took this sort of another viewpoint that comments persuasion to convince Henry on Edsel and that critical Ford he should buy . relationship with his father, Henry Ford. n contrast to his father, The following excerpts are Ford was among the very first Edsel was a gracious and taken from the powerful book, The to realize that the heretofore sensitive man whose grasp Olympian Cars of the Twenties utilitarian motorcar should be a of style and understanding and Thirties, by Richard Burns thing of beauty as well. He saw of the creative mind made Carson. This book and its author beyond the immediate success Ihim a Medici of automotive summarize the classic car era like of his father’s Model T to the art. His stewardship of the no other book, and the author’s day when all automobiles would Lincoln involved association with comments on Edsel Ford make depend on visual appeal as well fine traditional coachbuilding timely and thoughtful reading. as sturdiness and practicality for houses like Brunn, Judkins, and Enjoy.—EDITOR their success. As a result, Edsel Willoughby. He also sponsored felt a luxury car’s value would Raymond Dietrich’s move to espite his millions, Henry be both intrinsic and practical. Detroit to found the innovative Ford remained such an On the one hand, perfectly designing and coachbuilding firm enthusiast of barnyard built, brilliantly capable, and of Dietrich, Inc. After its take- culture that one could immaculately tailored luxury over by Ford, the Lincoln car’s expect at any moment automobiles were mechanical reliance on custom bodywork Dto hear that Clara Ford’s bottled embodiments of the unfettered benefited custom designers and preserves had just taken first artistic process, and desirable in builders with contracts and also prize at the county fair. Mr. and their own right. But they also insured the marque’s aesthetic Mrs. Henry Ford were just Ma utilized talents and ideas which, consistency from 1922 to 1939. and Pa Kettle in the Money. on a lesser scale, could be applied Edsel closely supervised all Edsel Ford, their only toward the improvement of custom coachwork for Lincoln child, was altogether different. mass-produced cars someday. chassis and yet thoroughly Born with a gentle and artistic That day was still far away at the respected his artists’ integrity temperament, he was devoted Ford Motor Company, though, and originality. His taste for to his father but avoided the because Henry was sure the expression of automotive publicity Henry basked in. Edsel Model T could sell itself forever personality was superbly subtle was himself creative and was without any silly eye appeal. and his recognition of the need sensitive to the many forms of Disagreement over the worth of for such expression in high- and creativity in others. And he was, automotive styling became the low-priced cars alike was in above all else, a gentleman. Edsel first incident in an ever-widening advance of his time . 3 the lincoln link Every Lincoln Enthusiast Has a Story to Tell he stories of Lincoln dramatic, spaceship styling and Zephyrs have always been thin enthusiasts are the twelve cylinders. It hung heavy in on the ground. It was a thrill to precious records of living my mind for two decades, until park one’s Zephyr smack-dab and breathing humans 1965, when I found a straight among a whole group of Zephyrs who have a compelling and rust-free 1939 Lincoln and Continentals and meet like- Tfascination for automobiles, old Zephyr sedan and a twin for a minded owners. We had 29 cars and new. Many stories cover parts car. It needed everything, at that first meet, setting the lifetime involvement and are and I started by overhauling pattern for many GOFs to follow. influenced by health, finances, the engine. About that time For GOF II, at the same garage space, personal time, the brand-new Lincoln Zephyr place, we arrived in a 1942 spouses and family, beyond the Owners Club engulfed me and Lincoln Custom Limousine, cars themselves. Some stories I plunged enthusiastically into which we had bought at an are inspiring and are models of club activities, at the expense estate auction five miles from astute planning and restoration of car restoration, but making our home. It had been the last and driving pleasure. Whereas many new, lifelong friends in the item sold, and I sweated out most stories are happy, some, process. Then, time was precious; that day with a pocket full of alas, are not, but should be we had a single salary, small cash. This limousine turned out recorded nevertheless. children, and a job that required to be a lovely, original car with This is my story, starting in travel. great character along with its North Dakota and involving The very first LZOC vacuum-operated windows and our respected family doctor, Dr. Gathering of the Faithful Meet rare hood side trim pieces that W.E.G. Lancaster, who saved my was held at Bird-in-Hand in disintegrated and fell off over life during a bout of pneumonia Pennsylvania on June 7, 1969. time—impossible to replace. The in 1937. The good doctor drove As Meet Director, I just had car would swallow nine adults Ford products, including an to bring a Zephyr, so John effortlessly and highway cruise immaculate tan 1938 Lincoln- MacAdams found us a nice, at any speed.