1938 Lincoln-Zephyr Convertible Coupe | RM Sotheby's | The Hershey Auction

To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' The Hershey Auction event, 7 - 8 October 2026.
Offered Without Reserve | $125,000 - $175,000 USD

• Offered from over a decade of ownership in a prominent collection
• One of just 600 Convertible Coupes built for 1938
• Formerly owned by noted enthusiasts Sheldon Gomberg and Chuck Spielman
• Older award-winning restoration, well-preserved and maintained

One of only 600 Lincoln-Zephyr Convertible Coupes built for 1938, the car offered here was, according to former owner Sheldon Gomberg, delivered new to Louise Stratman, who was, if not quite “the little old lady from Pasadena,” at least a little old lady from Los Angeles. A California registration discontinuation form on file dated 1955 documents her ownership. According to another former owner, Ms. Stratman sold the Lincoln-Zephyr in the 1950s to Ray Kuhn, with whom it was stored until Mr. Gomberg’s acquisition in 1988, when it joined a collection that would eventually include some 20 other Lincoln-Zephyrs, all restored under his auspices to a very high level and shown in competition.

In a description on file, Mr. Gomberg noted that the Convertible Coupe was restored under the supervision of legendary craftsman Tom Sparks, with the body refinished by an associate in Washington Blue and the upholstery and top finished by Dick Jeffers—the latter using leather custom-matched and dyed by Killeen Leathers to duplicate the original. Completed in 2007, the Lincoln-Zephyr was shown that May at the Lincoln-Zephyr Owners Club West Coast National Meet, where it earned the prestigious Gregorie Award and was named Best Junior Zephyr of Show, reportedly with a 99.5-point score—all in its first outing. Soon thereafter, it passed to fourth owner Chuck Mitchell, then in 2009 to prominent collector Chuck Spielman, who kept it for nearly seven years, maintaining it to high standards with occasional driving use. Mr. Spielman displayed it at the 2012 La Jolla Concours d’Elegance, where it was judged Best in Class.

In 2015 the present owner acquired the Convertible Coupe from Mr. Spielman. During its time in their distinguished collection, its former restoration has been well-preserved, with occasional exercise and enjoyment, and today it still presents in extremely nice overall condition. It is certainly one of the nicest Lincoln-Zephyrs to come to market in recent years, with an especially fine presentation and excellent, award-winning history to recommend it to a new caretaker.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/hf26/.