BF Auction: 1987 Zimmer Golden Spirit Coupe
Built for a driver with “distinctive personality and impeccable taste,” according to its sales literature, the Zimmer Golden Spirit combined a reliable and robustly-engineered fuel-injected V8 platform with the luxury and neo-classic styling of a bygone era. This one owner 1987 Zimmer Golden Spirit Coupe has been parked in a climate-controlled garage since new and shows just 29,165 miles, and the well-kept specimen can be yours with the high bid here on Barn Finds Auctions and is located in Boca Raton, Florida. Try this experiment: cover everything in this picture with your hands except the door. Do you recognize the popular ’80s platform underpinning this nifty Zimmer?
Ford Motor Company made copious use of its Fox Platform, flexing the foundation beneath multiple cars, from the plebian Fairmont to the luxurious Lincoln Continental Mark VII. The Fox Mustang (1979 to 1993) represents a popular member of this family tree, the peasant girl that Zimmer transformed into a princess in the form of its captivating Golden Spirit. The interior looks like someone named Zimmer left a Mustang and a tall stack of Benjamins with a skilled upholstery shop and said “We’re calling it ‘America’s Most Luxurious Automobile.’ Make it so!” As a Fox Mustang owner, I like it.
Nothing here screams “Mustang,” and many motorists will date this full-fender car to the 1920s or ’30s, though the driving experience behind the wheel of this Golden Spirit would prove superior in nearly every way.
Ford’s eminently popular 5.0L (302 cid) V8 reached a new level of performance and reliability in 1987 with this all-new computerized port fuel-injection system, plenum intake, and other changes. Few engines are better known for longevity and ease of maintenance. My 1989 5.0 looks nearly identical and runs great with 246,000 miles on all-original parts. This mill powered countless Taxi cabs and police cars in its day, so forget any questions about performance in this Zimmer, assuming it’s properly tuned and maintained.
The trunk space should accommodate several sets of golf clubs or a traveling family of four. It honestly is an incredibly unique design that has to turn heads everywhere it goes.
Hand-stitched leather looks supple and ready for a long drive. I’ve ridden hours in the back seat of my Fox Mustang, and my six-foot frame had only minor complaints when a rough pothole would cause my head to hit the roof. The modified Zimmer roofline may assuage that concern.
You really can’t get much more unique than one of these Zimmers. There can’t be many cars that pair power Recaro seats with opera windows, German crystal vases with flowers, solid bronze-gold plated eagle hood ornament, and a Mustang V8 all in one package. The question is, can you picture this easy-to-maintain neo-classic in your driveway? If so, be sure to bid below!
- Location: Boca Raton, Florida
- Mileage: 29,165
- Engine: 5.0 V8
- Transmission: Automatic
- VIN: 1FABP40E5HF141944
- Title Status: Clean
Bid On This Auction
- EstebanBarcelona bid $15,500.00 2023-01-19 13:54:32
- 2manyvettes bid $14,500.00 2023-01-19 13:26:13
- EstebanBarcelona bid $14,200.00 2023-01-19 13:23:29
- 2manyvettes bid $12,500.00 2023-01-19 11:41:53
- vpallen bid $11,000.00 2023-01-19 11:37:14
- mosingmotorcars bid $10,850.00 2023-01-19 11:34:17
- 2manyvettes bid $10,750.00 2023-01-19 11:26:03
- vpallen bid $10,000.00 2023-01-19 10:47:45
- 2manyvettes bid $9,500.00 2023-01-19 09:55:15
- vpallen bid $8,500.00 2023-01-19 09:00:40
- 2manyvettes bid $8,000.00 2023-01-18 10:18:45
- frank Paz bid $7,200.00 2023-01-18 09:23:44
- 2manyvettes bid $7,000.00 2023-01-15 19:05:55
- papalou67 bid $6,400.00 2023-01-15 15:26:31
- 2manyvettes bid $6,200.00 2023-01-14 11:26:13
- papalou67 bid $5,600.00 2023-01-13 16:43:44
- 2manyvettes bid $5,500.00 2023-01-13 14:34:27
- Russ bid $5,300.00 2023-01-13 11:43:24
- 2manyvettes bid $5,000.00 2023-01-13 06:51:23
- JMAC bid $3,350.00 2023-01-12 19:38:11
- MrApCal bid $3,000.00 2023-01-12 13:43:11
- 2manyvettes bid $2,500.00 2023-01-12 03:27:06
- JMAC bid $1,675.00 2023-01-12 02:49:37
- twbellomy bid $1,501.99 2023-01-11 18:35:12
- 2manyvettes bid $1,000.00 2023-01-11 16:25:09
Auctions Ending Soon
2006 Ford Mustang Saleen S281 SCBid Now17 mins$18,000
2002 Subaru Impreza WRXBid Now3 days$333
1975 Chevrolet Corvette ConvertibleBid Now3 days$3,000
1964 Ford F-100 Camper CustomBid Now3 days$2,000
2006 Jeep Wrangler SportBid Now5 days$10,500
Comments
To my eyes, an incredibly awkward design. It may be “neo-classical” but the proportions just look all weird to me! The mechanicals, on the other hand, as stated are tried and true. GLWTA!! :-)
Have to agree. At first glance it looks as if it is made from cardboard.
I love this car. Those Zimmers and Excaliburs give me the excitement of seeing the “older cars” in a new light. I would love to have this in my garage, but I already have 2 cars and it is a 2-car garage. My wife would shoot me if I bought an extra car as well, but I may just “suggest” it…. lol I may be looking for a couch later though.
25 grand?….um no…..it looks like a kit car, really doesn’t fool anyone, and definitely not worth the asking price
I can’t say I love it, but at the right price…and I’m of the time of life where I can afford not to care what others think. The time when I can go to the golf course with a white tie, belt and shoes.
At a low price, Mustang mechanicals…singularity…and we’re in an era of appalling bad-taste, anyway…hey, it’s cheaper then getting my real dream-mobile, a Jeepster Commando…
A Len-tech AOD treatment and this beauty would be complete. Peel out in style.
Could see Ric Flair driving this with the Rolex ⌚️, shades 🕶, robe, and title belt.
🗣 Whoooooooooooo.
Well, it may look like an Excalibur, but brother, it ain’t no Excalibur,,
who said it looked like an Excalibur???
I try to only post positive comments. So, um, well, I’m positive this car hurts my eyes?
i see fox mustang everywhere, air vents, buttons, heat/air knobs…
And why not? A low-volume manufacturer, already buying the Mustang as a donor vehicle – why not fit better leather Recaro seats, Nardi steering wheel and do an A-surface update on the interior, while using as many quality OEM FoMoCo parts? The average buyer of these (when new) wouldn’t have sat in a Ford in 1987 any more than a Ford buyer would have sat in one of these.
It’s only for those with great taste, if you don’t like it you don’t have great taste. An old dude I used to have coffee with had one, it was a blast, and drew crowds of female admirers wherever he went. The only seats more comfortable was the rear seat of a 47 Cadillac I rode in after basic training, it was a sofa that you just melted into, but still firm enough to support an average sized person. Anyway I love the write up and sales approach.
God Bless America
amen !!!!
It looks like a car designed by a committee and a congressional committee at that. It is definitely unique with a bit of something for everyone (like most congressional bills these days) but the bits just don’t quite fit together.
Back in the 70’s, you couldn’t throw a stick without hitting an Excalibur parked along Palm Beach (all with a bottle of Windex and roll of paper towels on the passenger seat). And on the left coast, I don’t think I’ve EVER seen an Excalibur or Zimmer cruising the saggy and wrinkled streets of Palm Springs. My tastes have evolved since the 70’s, I no longer want one of these “Huggy Bear” tuna boats. But then, I also no longer wear gold chains or shampoo/condition/blow dry my chest hair.
Since these didn’t debut until the early 80s, that might be why you didn’t any in the 70s! Built in Pompano Beach, I saw a fair number on these in FL in the mid-80s. Never spent much time in Palm Springs, but have seen a few in Malibu and Beverly Hills even as recently as last summer…
As many as you need to get you through the night.
Any guess as to the reserve?
These are, in the truest sense of the word, coachbuilt vehicles. Not kits, but rather a chassis modified with a new body. Zimmer bought new Mustangs and stripped and built these up in a factory in Pompano Beach, Florida.
About 1,500 were built between 1980 and 1988 – most coupes like this one, though some convertible and a few sedans. The later ones like this with the re-designed dash is more attractive, IMO, and less like the stock Mustang dashes found in the earlier cars.
I like this car and the fact that it’s not a kit car and pretty much built from a fox body mustang could be a pretty reliable cruiser. For that price if I lived in Florida or Southern California I would definitely buy it. Where I live I already have to many toys sitting in garages waiting for the snow to melt and sand cleared off the roads.
As ugly as can be.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and let it be a good thing that we all don’t like the same things!
I would pay more than the current bid , except the photos to me dont add up to the quotes of how well this car has been protected from the elements. The interior , especially the front seats and center arm rest looks really sun baked and very cracked in the photos provided. The drivers arm rest looks stained by elbow grime and floor mat looks like its seen more ware than 29k miles would bring. A lot to me in question about the description offered in the sale. No offense to the owner but that all keeps me from paying what i feel it would be worth if the wear matched the low miles Showing !!
This car was actually purchased as cougar and then modified. By the way for the record, an Excalibur is a stretched Corvette
Your comment about the Cougar being a basis for this car is incorrect. All 2-door Zimmer Golden Spirits were based on a Mustang. You may have this car confused with the “Tiffany”, a similarly styled neoclassic that was based on a Cougar, as seen in this photo.