John Mccarthy's Latest Lincoln
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Volume 20 Issue 11 November 1, 2020 John McCarthy’s Latest Lincoln The Pride and Joy of John McCarthy We want to thank John McCarthy for sending us this brief story about his latest acquisition, a 1948 Lincoln Continental cabriolet. This model marks the end of the line for the popular HV-12 series Lincolns, the smaller-bodied, mass-produced cars that were produced from late 1935 through 1948. These are the models that literally saved Lincoln from going the way of the Pierce- Arrow, driving down the road toward extinction. Until the 1936 Zephyr models, Lincoln was pret- ty much a build-to-order car company, with the model L series produced from about 1922 through Welcome to the about 1930. In 1931, the model K was introduced, again a large-bodied vehicle, powered by a Northstar News, the massive V8 engine, custom-bodied, and with a reasonably high price tag. Beautiful cars, some of the finest of the fine, but with a depression going on, sales were limited. The Nuevo Riche had monthly publication of lost their shirts, and the “real rich” were somewhat reluctant to display their wealth in public dur- the Northstar Region ing these difficult times. of the Lincoln and Lincoln, at the behest of Edsel Ford, worked hard to design a luxury car for the masses. A term that seems to be somewhat mutually exclusive, but it made sense at the time and kept Lin- Continental Owners coln in business while other luxury car companies went out of business. The all-new Zephyr Club. We value your rolled off the assembly lines in November 1935, and it’s absolutely beautiful styling was the hit of opinions and appreciate the times. The Zephyr was where it was for Lincoln, and the large, expensive model K soldiered off into oblivion at the end of 1939, the victim of high prices and too few sales. In 1940, the Con- your input concerning tinental, based on the Zephyr chassis, was introduced and offered as a two-door coupe and cabrio- this newsletter and the let models. operation of the club. Both Zephyrs and Continentals received minor design changes through January 1942 when automobile production was halted to convert auto factories to war production. At the conclusion This is your club. (Continued on page 4) This Issue Contains Feature Story 1 Directors Message 3 Club Information Page 4 Northstar Monthly Board Meeting Minutes 5 Editors Message 2 North Star Events 15 Trivia 2 NORTHSTAR NEWS Trivia from the Editors Message November 2020 Internet Dear friends and Gentle Readers: the Lincoln club to do next year. But, then, In sixty days, 2020 will be just an entry in the anything that gets us out of our homes safely history books. Hopefully, we can enter a new is a great idea. era, where once again, we will feel good about Some new, out of the box ideas are currently living in our great country and going about our bubbling up to keep us amused during this daily affairs, confidently feeling safe about period of great stress. Hopefully, we can come meeting and greeting both friends and up with something to keep us engaged safely strangers on a and be interest- regular basis. ing and fun to Now, my big do. Be patient weekly event is with us; we do going to the want to do our local grocery best to try to store, spending make the club Helen Reddy about 20 as much as pos- One Fine Singer minutes, filling sible. And if 1941 - 2020 up my bags you have any with goodies, articles for our Helen Maxine Reddy and returning newsletter, was born into a well- home. Most of please send known Australian show us, especially them to me. Tell business family in Mel- us older folks, us about your bourne on October 25, feel somewhat Sweet Olga was my Co-Pilot or back seat driver on the Lincoln, new or 1941, to actress, singer, like prisoners fall leaf driving tour. She enjoyed seeing all her Lincoln club old. They are an and dancer Stella Camp- in our own friends once again and, most important, going out for a nice interesting car, bell and Maxwell David homes. While long drive with her dad. Northern breeds like to talk, and she not for every- "Max" Reddy, a writer, Olga and I will kept chattering away through most of the tour. I think that one, but for those of us, producer, and actor. Her take the car out she had a good time, her dad really did. and go for long “Who take the mother performed at the rides, what with winter at hand, that will be road less traveled.” We would like to hear Majestic Theatre in Syd- less frequent. I look forward to the day when, your story; if written right, it will be interest- ney and was best known once again, it will be safe to call up a few ing and engaging. We can help you do that. as a regular cast mem- friends and meet in a Bloomington dive bar Maybe, you have a story about another car ber on the T.V. series for a greasy burger and some fries for lunch. you once owned, a Pontiac, perhaps a Fraser, Homicide (1964), Country Along with some good conversation on a per- or even a Cadillac. Packards are also quite Town (1971), and Bellbird sonal, face-to-face basis. If only our time on interesting, too. Cars are cars, they are the (1967). During Reddy's earth could be extended to make up for this common denominator that ties us all together. childhood, she was edu- period we are now being “cheated” out of. I Tell us your story, sing us your song, but let cated at Tintern Gram- guess that it just doesn’t work that way. us hear from you in any event. We are not mar. Her half-sister Toni Last month, a few of us North Star members looking for a James Patterson best seller, just Lamond and her nephew got in our cars and met over in Hudson, Wis- an interesting story to grace the pages of our Northstar News. Tony Sheldon are actor- consin, to participate en masse in a fall leaf Along those lines, we want to thank John singers. tour. Down along the east side of the Missis- sippi to Red Wing, Minnesota, and back up on McCarthy, a long-distance North Star club Reddy was born dur- the west side to Lakeland, Minnesota. It was member who lives in Illinois, for writing ing World War II. Her an absolutely beautiful day, and we got to see about his “new” 1948 Continental cabriolet. father was a sergeant in some of the nicest fall colors. Good memories John likes these HV-12 powered cars and the Australian Army that will help carry us throughout the dreary eventually will turn this one into a well with a unit of entertain- winter months ahead. Please read a little more “sorted out” vehicle. We look forward to ers; he served alongside about this momentous event in another part of eventually seeing it at a future Lincoln club one of his actor friends, this newsletter. Thanks to those who helped show and, at the very least, hearing about the Peter Finch. put this tour together and special thanks to progress that is being made, getting it to a At age four, she Brian Carlson, who captured the day in digital show quality car. joined her parents on the images with his trusty “Box Brownie.” Where We have Thanksgiving coming up. In Australian vaudeville Brian gets Kodak 616 color roll film these spite of everything going on, we still have (Continued on page 3) days is beyond me. It would be a good idea to many things to be thankful for. Please cele- put driving tours in our portfolio of things for brate safely. Stay well. 2 NORTHSTAR NEWS (Continued from page 2) circuit, singing and danc- Directors Message by Bob Johnson November 2020 ing; she recalled: "It was Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the University of instilled in me: You will be Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and a star. So between the ages Policy, has stated that we are entering the winter phase of 12 and 17, I got rebellious of COVID-19 now, and it is as dangerous today as it and decided this was not for me. I was going to be a was when we shut down back in March, but we are housewife and mother." At slowly learning to live with it. Four different views are; age twelve years, due to it's a miracle and will disappear, it's only the flu, wear a her parents' constant tour- mask and safe distance or use pixie dust. After a lengthy ing nationwide and argu- discussion with our daughter from Lafayette, Indiana, ing, Reddy went to live we decided to cancel our annual Thanksgiving at our with her paternal aunt, home; having family travel from Indiana, Wisconsin, and North Dakota was just not Helen "Nell," Reddy, who safe. There will be another time to enjoy the family next year. was the namesake for the Our October driving tour, Leaf Cruise, St. Croix Valley October 8, was a huge younger Helen. The young- success due to the efforts of Allan Homeier, John Zwinger, and Brian Carlson, who er Helen's teenage rebellion recommended the routes we drove. We had 19 people on tour. Because of possible in favor of domesticity COVID contact, Ray and Jeanine Nelson could not attend, and the visit to Keith Snid- manifested as marriage to er's ole time replica garage in Bay City, Wisconsin, was also canceled.