Jack Shea – A Remembrance (1931-2024)

Jack Shea – A Remembrance (1931-2024)

ABOVE: Jack with his prized 1979 Lincoln Continental Convertible in his adopted home state of Florida.

Originally published in the July-August 2024 Lincoln and Continental Comments magazine (Issue # 379)
(Photos courtesy of John Walcek.)

Thoughts by Glenn Kramer

Jack was born in Erie, Pennsylvania in 1931. Raised by his grandmother, he went out on his own at 15, doing odd jobs for support. He served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in West Germany during the Korean War. He eventually went to work at Borg Warner and became manager of operational auditing before his retirement in 1986.

Jack and his wife Ginny, the love of his life, moved to Ft. Myers, Florida, and quickly made it their home. In addition to investing in commercial real estate, Jack was a valued member of many civic and religious organizations, often bringing his unique financial talents to them.

Jack and Ginny have been members of the LCOC for some 30 years, and Jack was our treasurer for 27 years. He also acted as treasurer for the Lincoln Motor Car Heritage Museum for many years. When I was elected LCOC president in 2009, Jack was the first call I made. In short order, he summarized where we stood, best/worst case projections, as well as targets and options for each department’s goals for cutting expenses. At our first board meeting, he was there with all the information we needed to achieve our goals. He was also instrumental in restructuring the board meeting format and worked with the new management to rededicate the club to its members. Jack is a key reason the LCOC enjoys its solid financial footing today.

Jack Shea was a valued member of LCOC’s leadership for nearly three decades. He was also a true gentleman and a delight to be around. “He will be missed” is just not an adequate statement to describe our loss. Our prayers, thanks, and best wishes go out to Ginny.

Glenn Kramer was LCOC president from 2009 to 2013 and lives in Houston, Texas.

ABOVE:  Jack & Ginny with John & Jeanne Talbourdet at the 2022 Western National Meet in Palm Springs, California.

An Obituary for Jack Shea

Jack Everett Shea passed away peacefully at home in Fort Myers, Florida, at the age of 92. He was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, to Everett Shea and Elizabeth (Betty) Steiner and was raised by his maternal grandmother, Anna Steiner Whitney, upon his mother’s death soon after childbirth. Jack had two half-brothers from his father, Robert Shea (deceased), the elder, and Gary Hobbs, the younger.

Jack grew up on his grandmother’s farm, tending rabbits, vegetable garden, and orchard. At age 15, he went to work at a local grocery store to support himself. Jack graduated from Millcreek High School, where he played trumpet in the orchestra and marching band. After graduation, he served as a company clerk in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. His unit was deployed to Germany during the Korean War. Back at home, he attended college nights at Gannon University while working at American Sterilizer Co. during the day.

After a short courtship, Jack married the love of his life, Virginia Allen. They built a house next to his grandmother’s home,
where they started their family. They purchased their first income property in Erie, Pennsylvania, setting the stage for their working lives.

Jack took a job with Morse Chain (Borg Warner) in 1962 and began a 22-year career there in Ithaca, New York. His professional life extended from computer programming on IBM mainframes and culminated as Manager of Operational Auditing.

Meanwhile, Jack and Ginny purchased, improved, and managed six apartment buildings with 30 units while raising their family of four: Elizabeth, Dean, Allene (deceased), and Scott.

During their 20 years in the Ithaca area, Jack served in the local Lansing Lions Club and as an elder and the treasurer of the First Presbyterian Church of Ithaca. He was an active and faithful member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he taught Sunday school. During those years, Jack enjoyed boating on Cayuga Lake in Ithaca.

Jack and Ginny retired in 1986, moving to The Landings in Fort Myers, Florida, where they traded their residential properties for commercial properties. In Fort Myers, he was treasurer of Habitat for Humanity of Lee County and treasurer at Covenant Presbyterian Church.

Jack continued his love of boating on the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers, Florida. He was a car guy from early on, owning many convertibles over the years. Later, Jack acquired several Lincoln convertibles, which won many awards. He was treasurer of the Lincoln & Continental Owners Club for 27 years. He also helped raise funds for the Lincoln Motor Car Heritage Museum at the Gilmore Car Museum and later became its treasurer.

Jack and wife Ginny traveled the world in their over 40 years of retirement and enjoyed 65 years of marriage together. Jack is survived by his wife Virginia, daughter Elizabeth (John) Ragosta, Son Dean (LeAnn) Shea, Son Scott Shea, and six grandchildren.

Photo Inset:  Jack & Ginny riding the rails at the Strasburg Rail Road during the 2021 Eastern National Meet.

1955 Lincoln Capri – A Nice, but not too Successful Lincoln

1955 Lincoln Capri – A Nice, but not too Successful Lincoln

By Joe Sherlock

Originally published in the 4th Quarter 1993 issue of Continental Comments (Issue # 194.)

If you look at a 1955 Lincoln Capri today, you’ll see a nice looking car that looks, well, very mid 1950s. But that’s not how it looked to prospective buyers back then. 1955 was the year of all new bodies for most other makes. Chevy, Pontiac, Ford, Mercury and the entire Chrysler line all had a brand new look to compete with their 1955 counterparts. Even Packard had all new outer panels over their 1954 inner body panels. Lincoln still looked much the same as 1954, although a bit longer. Everybody but Lincoln had three tone color combinations and wraparound windshields. Chrysler first introduced “The Forward Look” in 1955. Cadillac, Buick and Oldsmobile got new bodies in 1954; Lincoln had the same old body introduced in 1952 and it was considered stale and stodgy by 1955. Most embarrassing of all, the 1955 Lincoln was underpowered compared to its rivals. The marque which had won the Mexican Road Race in 1954 still had the 341 cubic inch V-8 engine now rated at 225 hp. That was no match for the 236 hp. Buick Century, 250 hp. Chrysler Imperial, 279 hp. Cadillac El Dorado or 275 hp. Packard. 1955 was right in the middle of the styling race and the horsepower race years, and Lincoln wasn’t winning either race.

The 1955 Lincoln did have some nice new features. The automatic transmission was all new—the GM Hydra-Matic was dropped for a beefed up three-speed Ford-OMatic type of unit called Turbodrive. The car did have some new styling elements designed to make it look longer than the 1954 model. In 1955, the Capri series was the top of the line and the coupe shown here was the most popular body style—representing 42% of production. The Lincoln Capri coupe cost a little over $3,900—about 90 cents per pound. The car had a 123” wheelbase and was 63” high—quite tall for a 1955 model. Ads touted “Elegance with Power” and a top speed of 116 mph. was claimed.

1955 was a banner sales year for most makes, but not for Lincoln. Sales dropped 27% to 27,222 units. It’s a shame that the 1955 Lincoln didn’t get more respect in the marketplace. It’s really a pleasant car and it has aged well. Lincoln would have liked to have had its completely new 1956 model ready for 1955, but the changes were so sweeping they could not get it into production that soon. When the ‘56 finally arrived in late September, 1955 it was a powerful and stylish car with all the styling bells and whistles that people wanted in the mid Fifties. All’s well that ends well.

We Get Letters

We Get Letters

ABOVE: Dr. Lukas has owned eight Lincolns in his lifetime, starting with a ’54 Capri.  Two are currently in his inventory.

Originally published in the July-August 2024 Lincoln and Continental Comments magazine (Issue # 379)
(Photos courtesy of Gary Lukas.)

Dear Jeff,

I have enjoyed reading recent editions of the magazine, so I thought I would applaud your efforts. When I received issue #374, the variety of colors on the cover popped and captured my attention. Now, I am looking at the Zephyrs on the cover of issue # 377. Great attention-getter!

My favorites are the 1949 to 1956 Lincolns, but the Zephyrs always grab my attention when one or two appear here south of Houston. Thanks for the articles on the K models since I wasn’t familiar with that era.

I have attached a few photos taken at Wings and Wheels at the Hobby Airport Museum in Houston, Texas. I took these photos to show the contrast between the 1946 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet and Dean Forbes’ 1956 Continental Mark II. The owner of the ’46 recently joined and braved the threat of rain to attend the event. The photos were taken on Dec. 17, 2022. The final photo is of my current classics for sale. Yes, as you can see, I have liked Lincolns since my first car, a 1954 Capri Coupe.

Dr. Gary Lukas

Dr. Gary Lukas is an LCOC member from Richmond, Texas.

ABOVE TWO PHOTOS:  Two interpretations of personal luxury, separate by a decade.

Norway Region Celebrates 20 Years

Norway Region Celebrates 20 Years

By Birger Hoelstad and Thor Langli
All photos by the authors except where noted

Originally published in the May-June 2020 issue of Continental Comments (Issue # 354.)

The first weekend of August 2019 it was finally here! After two years of planning, it was time for the Norway Region of the LCOC to sit back and enjoy its 20th Anniversary. One by one, the beautiful Lincolns came rolling into the front of the hotel just outside of Lillehammer, Norway, the site of the 1994 Winter Olympics. A separate room was reserved for us for the Friday “meet and greet,” but the weather was so nice and warm that we all ended up outside. The cars were lined up just a few feet away, so the view was fantastic, with 22 Lincolns and 47 people participating.

ABOVE:  Quite an impressive line-up of Lincolns on the show field.

On Saturday morning, it was time for a car wash before our driving tour took off for the scenic countryside. During the tour, we crossed paths with some even older cars from the 1920s and earlier. Due to this, some of our admiring members were delayed, but eventually, we all made it back to the hotel. A lovely green field was made available to us for the car show. It may seem wrong for a Norwegian to say something like this, but it was actually too hot in the sun on the show field, so we had to retreat to the shade! After the judges had inspected all the cars, it was time for our group to walk over to the newly-opened Norwegian Road Museum.

ABOVE:  1970s Lincoln convertibles ore scarce in the United States, so seeing Ingve Jensen’s 1973 Continental Convertible on display In Norway was a rare treat.

The celebratory banquet was held Saturday evening. A pair of Lincolns, a 2019 Navigator, and 1973 Continental Convertible greeted us outside. We were so lucky that Mr. Tristam Perry, the Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, and his lovely wife, Maria, joined us at the banquet. Mr. Perry gave a very personal and funny speech, and we all enjoyed their company.

ABOVE:  A new Lincoln Navigator set an elegant but fun mood at the 20th Anniversary reception.

ABOVE:  The LCOC’s overseas contingent, including some of our Norwegian friends, at the Lincoln Motor Car Heritage Museum’s dedication in 2014.

For seven years, the Norway Region has had an award named after one of our founders, Tore Solberg. Tore passed away several years ago. This award goes to a person with a long-standing devotion to the Lincoln Motor Car. The award has now been renamed “LCOC Special Award,” and this year, it went to Per Malme. He has owned many Lincolns, has served as our treasurer, and never says “no.” He has worked with Ford his entire life and coined a new term, the golden detour. This is defined as “a detour does not matter, as long as you can enjoy it in a Lincoln.” Previous recipients include Ove Loen, Ragnar Wehn, Tor Haakon Hognestad, Svein Stokstad, Rita and Sigmund Espeland, and Aage Gustavsen.

Various other awards were also handed out, including one to Alf and Anne Marie, who both have done a lot for LCOC, going as far as to change their last name to “Mercury-Lincoln!” Asbjorn Simonsen got the “Longest Distance Award,” having driven 2,200 miles round-trip to the meet. Thor and Randi Loktu were honored, as they have been members since our inception in 1999. The award our region received from LCOC National President John Talbourdet was also much appreciated. It was passed around for everyone to see and will stay with our region director. Every attendee received a Norway Region 20th Anniversary badge.

This event was a wonderful way to celebrate this important anniversary for the Norway Region. Everyone went home with fond memories and will be looking forward to the next grand event.

ABOVE:  With Ingve Jensen’s 1973 Continental Convertible in the foreground, Norwegian revelers enjoyed a reception before the banquet.

ABOVE:  Festive and edible, these cakes speak for themselves.

ABOVE:  Lincoln treasures of all sorts were on display.

Winter Lincoln Overload – Lincoln and Lattes

Winter Lincoln Overload – Lincoln and Lattes

By John Walcek

Originally published in the May-June 2024 Lincoln and Continental Comments magazine (Issue # 378)
(All photos courtesy of the author.)

ABOVE: A winning line-up at Lincoln and Lattes- a 1961 Continental, a trio of 1956 Premieres, a 1948 Continental Cabriolet, and a 1938 Model K.

Sometimes, during the dead of winter, life comes to a standstill. This February, the “atmospheric river” brought with it more rain than we have had in California in some time. There were lucky breaks. On Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, the Lincoln Design Center in Irvine held its second annual “Lincoln and Lattes” event, and I decided to go. The morning was gorgeous, with the sun shining and billowing white clouds. By 9 a.m., a cavalcade of some 300 collectible and classic cars had assembled in the parking lot. Free coffee and donuts really facilitated friendly socialization and the excitement of the time.

I drove my nice 1997 Lincoln Continental and was able to park in the aisle with other Lincolns, thanks to the efforts and involvement of LCOC Western Region president Jim Ayres and webmaster Elayne Bendell, who drove her beautiful saddle brown 1964 Lincoln Continental Convertible.

The Lincoln Model K, like this 1938 sedan, could go toe-to-toe with any of the other stars of the luxury field in the pre-war years.

One of three, this Continental Mark II Convertible by Derham was a sight to behold.

The timeless elegance of the first incarnation of the slab side Lincoln, seen here in a 1963 sporting some subtle modifications.

Unforgettable.  This 1960 Lincoln Continental Mark V was one of the most impressive machines plying America’s highways in the early 1960s.

Always a crowd pleaser, Aaron Leider’s 1948 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet made the trek from Palm Springs.

A close-up of a motometer and unusual hood ornament.

Western Region Director Jim Ayres’ 1988 Lincoln Mark VII is an impressive example of “what a luxury car should be.”

An early Lincoln Model L, sporting a 1926 California license plate, was among the earliest cars at Lincolns and Lattes.

There was a whole line of 1960s Lincolns from the “Ratties” and “Suicide Kings” car clubs. My favorites were a 1963 parade car and a rose-beige 1963 Lincoln Continental Sedan. Noteworthy aspects of these cars were the quality of their metalwork and paint jobs, as well as customized wheels and hubcaps.

Gregg Bunch brought his big 1938 Lincoln. Aaron Leider drove his 1948 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet from Palm Springs. Don Torrence brought his excellent 1970 Lincoln Continental Mark III. There were also three lovely pastel-colored Premieres.

The new Lincolns were in the special Salon parking area, with Lincoln people from the design center and the South Coast Plaza Lincoln showroom. Two noteworthy Lincolns from the 1920s were a 1927 Lincoln belonging to Duesenberg expert Randy Ema and a 1926 Lincoln with an interesting radiator ornament sculpture along with the temperature gauge, or motometer.

Then there were three Continental Mark IIs: one factory-commissioned convertible by Derham, ordered by William Clay Ford for his wife Martha, now in the Galpin Ford Collection; another nice darker blue Mark II previously owned by Elizabeth Taylor now belonging to Bob Rattinoff, and a beautiful silver one.

When things began to break up after 10:00 a.m., I spent the next hour talking to many interesting characters with their other cars. It was a great way to spend part of a Saturday during the winter.

John Walcek is the official LCOC photographer and lives in Placentia, California.