1940 Zephyr

There has always been the question of who really started the post war kustom craze here in Southern California.

To most, the Barris Boys come to mind, but if you take a look at the big picture, for that really super radical design in the mid 40’s, I would say it was guys like Harry Westergard and another cat who Harry worked for by the Dick Bertoluccie. I’d have to say these were the guys who started it all especially when it came to merging the best components of two or three body styles together to come up with something that the folks in Detroit never had the vision for.

At the time for these two guys there was no such thing as a mild kustom. Westergard would do radical chops, completely redefine the front end and the nose of the car with molded fenders and then do simple things like shaving the trim, badges, recessing the license plate and find some really kewl skirts to seal up the rear wheel wells for a real sleek appearance. Then to top things off they would give the car a stance with the tail end so low that it looked like it was coming out of the bowels of the earth.

Yep, these two were the guys who really put the wheels in motion so to speak and shine in the eyes of their followers like Aaron as the Kings of Kustom.

A few years ago while Aaron was visiting a friend he noticed the guy had a 1940 Lincoln Zephyr front end sitting in his back yard. Aaron asked what he was going to do with it and the guy said that he had saved it for a project but never had the time to do anything with it.

Then just recently while Aaron was at his favorite upholstery vendor he noticed this old sedan sitting way back on the property that was hidden by a bunch of junk and over grown with weeds. He asked the guy what it was and if he could go and take a look at it. Well it turned out to be a 1942 Plymouth Special Deluxe just sitting there and other than being buried by all the junk was in pretty darned good shape. Aaron asked the guy if he was interested in selling it and the guy obliged.

After getting it home and sweeping the cobwebs from his mind Aaron remembered his old friend and that Zephyr front end, gave him a call and the rest is history! So this is what you are looking at:

The body is that of a 1942 Plymouth Special Deluxe with and 1939-1940 Lincoln Zephyr Front Clip, Hood, Fenders and Center Section. Included with the car came the 1940 Zephyr Grill and 1938 Ford Headlights.

The top has been chopped 5” with the rear window laid down for a real sleek look. All of the interior molding garnishments have also been modified to accommodate the window glass and upholstery for a real finished look if the buyer decides to finish the interior.

The Front fenders have been sectioned and shortened 5”. Both the front and rear fenders have been molded into the body. The rear skirts are fiberglass.

The body sits on the original 1942 Plymouth frame with a Mustang II front end, Manual Rack and Pinion Steering, includes New Chevy Brake Rotors, 5” on 4 ľ” bolt pattern. 10 bolt Chevy in the rear with triangulated 4 bar and airbags. (Paint red and distressed black primer)

The Mill is a 327 small journal that came out of a 1963 truck and was freshly rebuildt, Bored 30 over with a mild cam. New Pistons, Rings, Crank etc.

She’s cooled with a Brand new Aluminum Radiator with two fans one fixed and one Brand New electric Syclone push fan.

The 350 transmission had also been freshly rebuildt. She runs and drives great and has way more than enough power to move this baby down the highway!

All New wiring, all electrics work, New Autometer gauges include, Oil, Volt, Water Temp, Steering column 1956 Chevy.

Front bench seat is from a truck, No back seat, interior door panels where in the car when, looks like they were done years ago.

Custom 13 Gal gas tank with interior coating, air bags can be accessed by unbolting the gas tank and steal panel that it sits on.

The car was sold to Shawn out of Woodlake and this is what he has done to the car since he purchased it!

Shawn was able to straighten out the grill, had it re-chromed and install it along with the headlights!

You can also see that he removed the hood ornament and latch which gave the nose a totally different look.

He has also done the interior and drives the car 2-3 times a week and loves every minute of it!

Webmaster Moldy Marvin

Little Rock, CA / Hellbound Hot Rods Lancaster CA