V12 engines on the custom stage: Lincoln-Zephyr

Hot Rod Lincoln is an extremely inspiring song. It may well be one of the reasons that Lincoln-Zephyr 12-cylinder engines are very popular among hot rodders, despite all the problems that accompany them. Of course, they are not as common as V8, but still there are a lot of projects with V12. Very much. There are even workshops in the USA that specialize specifically in Lincoln-Zephyr engines with twelve cylinders.

V12 from H&H Flatheads

For example, Mike Herman and his team from H&H Flatheads. “We have built more than a dozen Lincoln V12 engines over the past 8-12 months, from stock versions to pressurized versions with three carburetors, depending on the customer’s needs,” says Comrade Herman.

“Our Lincoln V12s produce about 250 horsepower on supercharged versions and about 180 horsepower on self-breathing models.” It’s a good leap forward from the standard 130 horsepower from the factory, but what’s much more important for this series of engines is increased reliability and endurance. This is achieved by completely overhauling the engine and replacing old parts with more technologically advanced ones. “We will completely upgrade the valve mechanism by installing larger diameter stainless steel valves and replacing the pushrods with hollow and adjustable ones.”

H&H Flatheads offers adapters for any type of transmission to reliably and without artisanal frills transmit the power of the V12 engine. Mike says that his team “can provide the buyer with everything they want for these twelve-cylinder engines. From the basic units to the smallest details, we have the most comprehensive product line.”

Mike’s team is not even afraid to slightly bore the cylinders – even if only by 0.15 cm – and slightly increase the radius of the crank. “You just can’t waste them more or make the radius bigger without running into serious problems.” Replacing the six-volt ignition system with a more modern twelve-volt one helps to avoid problems with a lack of spark in the internal combustion chambers, especially when supercharging is installed. Another detail that helps to combat the legendary problem of engine overheating is modern water pumps that drive antifreeze much better than their counterparts of half a century ago.

Ford Hot rod from Gas Axe Garage

Of course, Mike Herman is not the only fan of the flathead engine in the USA. And there are even more people who just want to move away from the usual canons and experiment. These include, for example, Chad Folkema, who, along with the cats from the Gas Axe Garage workshop, turned the ’30 Ford Coupe into Folkema’s first-class Flyer hot rod. The project includes a custom frame, a roof cut down by 11.4 centimeters, spokes from the 35th Ford, and a dashboard from the 51st. Its powertrain is a 46 Lincoln Zephyr V12 with a custom intake of three Holley 94 carburettors on a 1949 Mercury three-speed transmission.

The 12-cylinder Miss Jacqueline

Another handsome 32-year-old with classic pinstripe and pin-up was built by Jean-Louis Dehox, nicknamed Frenchy. He took a ’48 Lincoln-Zephyr 305 and rebuilt the engine himself, slightly reducing it to 311 cc and putting the Edmunds intake manifold under two Stromberg 97 carburettors. Then he added a domestic exhaust system to the mix and switched the engine to a 39th Lincoln Zephyr three-speed manual transmission and a 48th Ford rear axle. Frenchy claims that he consistently goes on a cruise on his hot rod every weekend, and that his V12 is the most reliable engine in the world.

Lincoln-Zephyr on two wheels

But perhaps I saved the best for last. The fact is that Dale Olson, the leader of Olson’s V8 Flathead Motorcycles, decided in 2010 to build a motorcycle with a V12 engine. And, I must say, the resulting car is wonderful.: neat, elegant, completely imbued with the spirit of the old school. Take a look for yourself: isn’t this a great bike?

This result frankly pleased Dale himself, and therefore a year later he built another such motorcycle. The differences between these units are minimal, but still present, and the most noticeable of them is the engine cooling system. On the first bike, two radiators pretend to be side trunks, and on the second version, one larger radiator is made in the style of a spare wheel. Also, the first motorcycle stands out with a branded Zephyr headlight in the form of a tear, while the later project on the front is made entirely according to the classic canons of the bike world.

It is not known exactly which engines were used in motorcycles, but the second one most likely contains a 4.8-liter 1948 model. Like all of Dale’s other bikes, these two customisations use a single-speed transmission. It is also known about the second of them that it was auctioned for 24 thousand dollars, and there is also this little video.:

But, as often happens in our world, there are few truly unique things, and the V12 engine is definitely not one of them. The Lincoln-Zephyr is a fairly old unit and, frankly, not the most reliable. Over time, hot rodding enthusiasts have developed a new twelve-cylinder favorite: the Jaguar of the 70s. And over the past decade, many projects have appeared with an even fresher V12 from BMW – even the presence of electronics that are not particularly willing to change the car does not stop the smart guys. Adherents of the American school sometimes turn to the monstrous GMC engine. And, of course, there are always those who do something completely original and, sometimes, truly unique.

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