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When I first got into collecting “little cars” I only collected images of production vehicles. I had no interest in hot rods, or customs. Then, I came across FM’s image of Boyd Coddington’s “Eldorod.” It’s clean lines and smooth execution won me over. Since then, I've given customs and hot rods another look. If a custom—or hot rod—is cleanly executed, I’ll consider owning it. Such is the case with this custom of the 1937 Lincoln Zephyr by Unique Replicas.
The Fairfield Mint (FFM) has put out an inexpensive version of this sharp-looking custom in 1:24 scale. I have no idea if this image was made from an actual 1:1 custom, or if it comes from the imagination of a die cast modeler. Whatever the case, the designer started with a 1937 Lincoln Zephyr fastback sedan, chopped the top, added a dorsal ridge a la the ’63 ‘Vette (which copied the ’36 Atalante by Bugatti), and modified the waterfall grille from a ’41 Lincoln Zephyr. The rear-end styling, with its long, pointed, teardrop fenders and dramatically sloping rear deck, is reminiscent of the Mercedes “Black Prince.” When it came to the paint scheme, our designer borrowed the layout from a 1936 Bugatti Atalante coupe. (If you don’t believe me, check out FM’s LE version.) The front fender styling mirrors the rear, extending the taper into the doors. Overall, there’s just the right amount of chrome—just enough to accent the striking lines. The interior is right out of the George Barris stylebook—with rolled and pleated upholstery and burlwood accents. I especially like the way the dash has been molded and the instrumentation simplified and integrated—totally surrounded in burlwood. The center of the dash rather looks like a vintage Wurlitzer jukebox. The burlwood interior accents throughout the rest of the interior look understated and elegant.
There are several nice working features too. The front seatbacks tilt forward, unusual on an image in this price range. Under the hood you’ll find a nicely detailed, wired and plumbed, OHV customized V-8—another bonus. Lift the trunk lid and you’ll find a swing-out spare tire in the tiny trunk. Look underneath, and you’ll find a fair amount of frame detail, including dual exhausts and working suspensions. One big surprise is the rotating driveshaft. I didn’t expect to see this. The working suspensions include another surprise. Included with the image is a paper that informs you that you can set them in the “up” or “down” position! This changes the stance from its already low “slammed” look, to even lower—so it looks like its riding on a cushion of air. On the minus side, the doors open on doglegs and the hood fit is a little sloppy. In addition, the model maker seems to have skimped on the paint job. Oh, it’s shiny enough, but there are flaws in the finish here and there, and it is somewhat “orange-peeled” in places. A little work with “The Treatment” will bring the shine up nicely. I’m also not too keen on the “pimped” wheels. I would have gone with full moon hubcaps in chrome or, better yet, black—to accentuate the “wheel-less,” floating look. But this is a custom of today’s vintage and this style of wheels has become so common as to be a cliché. Because they’re so covered up, they don’t detract from the otherwise clean styling much.
Aside from these quibbles, this image is a great custom to add to the collection. You can’t beat the price and you get many nice features. What struck me when I saw it in the catalogue was how sleek and retro it looked—a true “streamliner.” I knew it would look right at home with my Eldorod and other custom images.
(04/17/2006)
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