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.

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.)

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

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.

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.

“Vice” Read cruising his Lincoln Continental Mark III through one of many covered bridges on the driving tour portion of the 2021 Eastern National Meet.  Photo courtesy of John Walcek.

Originally published in the May/June 2024 Lincoln and Continental Comments magazine (Issue # 378)

My fascination with cars started as a child. My story began with a Matchbox & Hot Wheels collection and continued with participating in model car competitions, bumper cars, and go-kart racing. I attended the D.C. Amory World of Wheels show in the early 1960s with my father, where I entered the model car competition. I built The Little Red Wagon with cotton glued around the wheels and thread for the spark plugs. I had no directions and no parts left over. The judges were impressed, and I won 2nd place in my division. I was hooked for life. That was the beginning of dreaming of having a winning show car one day.

My passion for cars continued in my teenage years. As a rite of passage, you had to get a car and fix it up to get the girls. I started out as a Mopar man, for the performance. My mother gifted me her 1963 Dodge Dart Convertible, and my first car was a 1969 Charger R/T. In total, I have owned eight Mopar vehicles. As an adult, I was Assistant Director for Goodwill Industries Car Department, which accepted donations and conducted auctions. Most donated cars, if not all, were in pretty bad condition.

This is how I became the owner of my 1970 Lincoln Continental Mark III named “STINKN LINKN.” It came in with the  original owner, who stated he couldn’t drive the car anymore and that his kids didn’t want it. The owner said it was luxurious. I was impressed with its appearance. The body was amazingly straight. There was nothing wrong with it except for the rear quarter panel damage he’d caused by putting it in his garage, where it sat for a year. I was a little reluctant because, at the time, my father and I were Cadillac men. Nevertheless, I offered him $300, and the rest is history.

In 2008, I became the owner of this Lincoln and started my journey. I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. I received my first local car show award for Best Work in Progress and was gifted my first LCOC magazine at that show. I was working on the body, so primer was its color. Thereafter, I started the Continental Cruisers in 2010 with two members, and now we are an impressive 50-strong. We received numerous awards and have been featured in every medium: radio, television, videos, movies, and magazines. Joining the LCOC was definitely the highlight ownership of six Lincolns. Currently, I have three, including my daily driver, a 2016 MKT. My wife has a rare 1989 Lincoln Mark VII Convertible.

This journey has been an incredible ride. The friends I’ve met, the cars I’ve seen, and the places I’ve been have made the dreams of a kid at the World of Wheels with a model car come true. The fellowship and camaraderie of Lincoln enthusiasts and owners and the preservation of these beautiful, historic pieces of art make it all worth the money, time, and effort of owning Classic Lincolns. I am looking forward to what the future brings.

Long live the Lincoln, LCOC, and Continental Cruisers!

Ivan “Vice” Read is an LCOC member from Temple Hills, Maryland and the founder and president of the Continental Cruisers 
continentalcruiserscarclub.org

ABOVE:  The Stinkn 1970 Mark III sure looked sweet on the indoor show field inside the Classic Auto Mall in Morgantown, Pennsylvania.  The man himself and head honcho of the Continental Cruisers, Ivan “Vice” Read.

ABOVE:  “Vice” and his Mark III at the Strasburg Rail Road during the 2021 Eastern National Meet.

BELOW:  The Continental Cruisers, led by Mr. Read were out in force at the 2021 ENM.

By John Walcek

Originally published in the March/April 2024 Lincoln and Continental Comments magazine (Issue # 377)

On Friday, Feb. 2, I paid a visit to Merv Adkin’s yard in Pomona, California. He told me about the 74th Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts Grand National Roadster Show at the Pomona Fairgrounds, featuring many customized and stock Lincoln Zephyrs from the 1930s. Merv said he probably sold parts for every car there and encouraged me to check it out. It’s a big city yearly event, now costing $18 to park and $30 to get in. Though hesitant, I bought a ticket.

Because a big rainstorm was coming in later on Saturday and it would surely be pouring rain on Sunday, I decided to go to the show on Saturday. Mike and Chris, my friends from H & H Flatheads, were there displaying all their goodies, including a supercharged V-12! They recently completed the rebuilding of a second V-12 engine for my pre-war Continentals.

I found the Zephyrs in one of nine buildings, which were all full of different groupings of cars. The 20 or so customized Zephyrs totally entranced me. The original “Scrape,” now painted black, was there, along with other candy-apple red Zephyrs and an even more stunning black and yellow one. There were fine stock original Zephyrs, too.

I talked with people from the “California Zephyrs Club.” My friend Merv Adkins was there, as was Todd Calder, another old car parts guy who was out from the East Coast for the show. Three gals dressed in ‘30s pinup outfits wandered by, and I posed them around the Zephyrs!

I checked out the cars in the other eight buildings that evening. Talk about overload! How about a gasser-type dragster with an engine with two blowers and a Mustang with three, yes three, superchargers (blowers) on top of an engine sticking out of the hood?

The rain came that evening and was heavier on Sunday. I’m sure glad things went so well for a variety-filled winter car day here in California.

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

Compiled by Dick Koop

Originally published in the November/December 2023 Lincoln and Continental Comments magazine (Issue # 375)

This is our twelfth installment of tech tips and ideas to keep that Lincoln running and looking great. Remember, these tips, repair ideas, parts sources, etc., come from members, so they may or may not fit your specific situation. Please review each one as it applies to you. If you have a tech tip or found a parts source for a particular make or model or just a repair technique that you found to be helpful, please send it to me, Richard Koop, at rjkoop13@yahoo.com or call me at 608-239-2840. Let’s share what you know with your fellow LCOC members.

Help Needed with Authenticity Manuals

This is a call out to all members who have been asking for Authenticity Manuals for Mark III, Mark IV, and Mark VIII. We have a group of volunteers who have generously offered to work on these authenticity projects, but we could use even more volunteers. We are seeking three things.

1. People who have a passion for one or more of these models.
2. Owners of a low mileage, all original examples of the Mark III, Mark IV, and Mark VIII.
3. Anyone who may have been involved with the design and manufacture of these cars. No contribution is too small; if you have something to contribute, contact one of the volunteers listed below. Here are the teams who have signed up so far:

1993-1998 Mark VIII

Wayne Sparks
Arizona
928-468-2130

Our goal is to begin these authenticity projects on Jan. 1, 2024. Word documents explaining how to compile and format these authenticity manuals are available from LCOC President John Talbourdet when you are ready to start your project. We need YOU, so please consider joining one of these three teams.

Dick Koop, director of technical services, is an LCOC member from Weldon Springs, Missouri.