At the 2012 New York Auto Show, there was one stand that took up a sizable portion of the show floor and it was a pretty serene place to be. Beautiful visuals and a crisply styled stand made it feel welcoming. There was one problem, however. The product.
Lincoln's back on the path to rebuilding its storied brand with the all-new MKZ and it was trying to show that off with Edsel Ford's amazing 1934 Model 40 Speedster. There's no question that Edsel's Model 40 is an automotive great.
It's a fantastic piece of design that would make James Dean look like a square.
The problem is that Lincoln's latest product, the MKZ, isn't much more compelling then its cousin, the Ford Fusion. It's an amplified problem when you consider that the all-new Fusion looks drop-dead gorgeous and is arguably more attractive than the MKZ.
One can only hope that the MKZ's driving dynamics and experience is profoundly better than that of the Fusion. If it isn't, this may simply be prolonging the inevitable.
That said, are Lincoln's aspirations HOPELESS or is the all-new MKZ the start of a Lincoln renaissance?
**The 2012 New York Auto Show Photo Galleries are exclusively sponsored by Lexus
2012 New York Auto Show Photo Gallery
MORE information about the 1934 Model 40 on display:
Mario VanRaay, General Manager of RM Auto Restoration discusses Edsel Ford's 1934 Model 40 Special Speedster's year and a half restoration. VanRaay and his team at RM Auto Restoration worked diligently to beautifully restore the Speedster.
Edsel Ford's restored 1934 Model 40 Special Speedster was unveiled on August 19, 2011 by Lincoln and the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House at The Lodge, Pebble Beach in Monterey County, Calif. It appeared again on Sunday August 21, at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Restored to its timeless elegance, Edsel's personal roadster shared its story of a decades-long journey.
The Model 40 Special Speedster has moved through almost eight decades of owners and modifications and has returned to its early design elegance. After Pebble Beach, its journey will continue, ultimately returning home to Ford House.
The Speedster's extensive restoration by award-winning RM Auto Restoration in Ontario, Canada, revealed the stunning, custom made "one off" as it originally looked in 1940 after its final redesign by Edsel and designer E. T. "Bob" Gregorie. The revelations uncovered during a year-long restoration have resolved many long-held assumptions about the illustrious vehicle's journey over time. But more than a story of restoration, the vehicle provides a glimpse into the early years of Edsel Ford's design and automotive styling as President of Ford Motor Company and its luxury Lincoln line.