Whole Lotta ‘Rust’: ‘Voo Doo Priest’ Lincoln Zephyr as Reimagined Classic
When you start with one of Lincoln and history’s most beautiful cars, building a stunning custom only requires restraint.
The 1930s were a pivotal time in the automotive industry. Cars were becoming more than just basic transportation, evolving into stylish machines worthy of showing off on your way to the office every weekday. The Lincoln Zephyr was among the most beautiful of these new-age Art Deco masterpieces of this era, and it quickly became a best-seller. So, when Metallica front man James Hetfield was looking to add one of these classic Lincolns to his outstanding collection, he knew that he wouldn’t have to change much.
The result of Hetfield and builder Rick Dore Kustoms‘ work does a fantastic job of enhancing the already beautiful design of the original Lincoln Zephyr. Dubbed “The Voodoo Priest,” we spotted this awesome machine not too long at the Petersen Museum, where the Reclaimed Rust exhibit is scheduled to be there through November. (But until the museum reopens, catch the Petersen’s cool cars online.) Team Speed got a chance to attend the event’s premiere and get a closer look at the 10 custom cars Hetfield has graciously donated from his personal collection.
Dore found this ’37 Lincoln sitting in the driveway of a Vietnam veteran’s mother’s house. The car had been resting there since the young man returned from his tour of duty and obviously needed a ton of work. But unlike some of his other, highly massaged builds, Hetfield wanted to preserve the spirit of the original design, for obvious reasons.
Thus, this particular Zephyr still looks very much like a Zephyr. Dore did lengthen the rear fenders, accentuate the rear’s teardrop shape, and smooth out the bodywork. But that’s pretty much it. After all, why mess with a car that many still consider to be among the most beautiful ever conceived?
The Zephyr was already a mishmash of American and European design. The original prototype was conceived by a Dutch and American designer, who worked in tandem to hone the car’s shape. Which explains why the Zephyr combines a distinctly American front end with a distinctly European rear section.
Despite Dore and Hetfield’s refusal to reinvent the wheel here, this Zephyr looks like a proper custom. Just one that’s taken a pure classic and modernized it just enough to make it look like it belongs on today’s roads. Or tomorrow’s, for that matter.
Join the Team Speed forums now!
