Original Oddball: 1978 Excalibur
Here’s my question when it comes to these neo-classical creations like the Excalibur shown here: who is still buying these cars? Once considered both a fashion statement and a commentary on the size of one’s bank account, these 1980s curiosities no longer carry the same cache. Still, that’s not preventing the seller of this 1978 model in Virginia and listed here on Facebook Marketplace from asking $40,000 for this. Is it worth it?
For me, there’s a bit of nostalgia that kicks in whenever I see one for sale. Every hardcover book I purchased from the local Walden Books focused on exotic and sports cars had an Excalibur somewhere within its pages. The rationale was that it was both the pinnacle of luxury but also a bit of a performance car as most of them were equipped with a Ford 5.0L. However, it wasn’t really much of a hot rod, and I don’t think the wildly-styled Excalibur ever threatened Rolls-Royce for the luxury car crown.
But man, plenty of people bought them, a fact that still puzzles me today. And given how many still appear for sale in respectable condition, many of those same owners worked hard to keep their oddball luxury car in mint condition. The only real downside to this one (aside from the price) is that it’s equipped with generic bucket seats and not the awesome cloth Recaros that so many of them were fitted with; it almost makes me wonder if someone pilfered those seats and threw some random domestic buckets inside.
The Excalibur was still a bit of a parts bin special, as most of you will recognize those taillights as being from an air-cooled VW Beetle. While I do think the asking price is high by quite a bit, I can understand the seller’s attempt to land a hungry buyer who can’t find one of these limited-production creations in their zip code. Sometimes, not having to ship a car can be worth the $5,000 premium you end up paying to a car that can be found locally, but I suspect the seller’s ask is quite a bit more than $5K over the going rate. Still, it looks like a very nice example of an 80s icon.
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Comments
This is actually a rare variant of this marque, as it was originally ordered with the seldom-seen “enhanced visibility” option.
I’ve always wondered who outside of Liberace wouldn’t be embarrassed to be seen driving one of these.
Check the list of owners, doc, even you might be impressed. and guys like Jackie Gleason or Arnold or Steve McQueen don’t embarrass easily. God help you if you drive a Toyota,,,
I’m not entirely sure why I’m even responding to your posts, I suppose I have such a kindred relationship to these cars, I feel I must. How simple can I put this,,they didn’t want a Corvette,,,this was a car, you and your 3 Hollywood buddies could ride down to the Santa Monica pier, in style. Since I’ll never convince you, I’ll just give up. And for the record, a new cookie cutter Corvette cost around $9100 bucks in 1978. This was not a “spare parts bin” creation. The frame and bodywork were all handmade and I saw first hand how diligent the workers were. Joe Lunchpail at GM at 3:28, not so much.
The quick answer to your question of is it worth it referring to the 40K asking price is no, not even half of that. It’s a $10,000 novelty car if I’m being generous.
You were always the hit of the shuffle boad gathering, with that giant cooler hanging off the back!
40 k, please 8-12 max 5.0 is underpowered in this car. They have a place just not a 49 k place.
My mistake 40 k place
If I absolutely wanted or needed one of these neo classics, I would prefer a Zimmer over this Excalibur or maybe a Stutz
Looking at the title in the pics… Shows it was purchased last year and a sales tax of $498 paid. Living in VA, I know we have a 4.15% sales tax on vehicles. Meaning they paid $12k for it a year ago. (If they were honest when titling)
Sometimes it is not a good idea to post a pic of the title in an ad.
We all know that if it was a private sale, the posted sale price is probably not accurate.
Does VA still charge less tax for a used car? Back when I lived there I thought new cars paid full sales tax (4% at the time) and used cars paid only 2%.
Okay, normally, I enjoy all the writers offerings, even though the “oddball” reference, is a direct kick in the nads, and I could follow the less cordial commentors to tell Jeff to do his homework, but there isn’t a lot on Excaliburs, so he’s forgiven. :)
The Excalibur was made in my hometown, (yep, right up there with Briggs, Harley and AMC) and was the brainchild of Brooks Stevens, one of Americas foremost automotive people. It never had a 5.0 litre Ford, blasphemy, as Stevens had a much better relationship with GM. I believe the Clenet had Ford motors. The early ones had 327 Corvette motors, later 350s, and in ’75 they had the 454, and probably what this has. In 1980, they went to the GM 5.0( 305) and the end was near.
As I mention everytime, I delivered paint to the plant in W.Allis, and got to know the people who built these fine cars, and the place was spotless. No 2x4s to line up the doors there.
As to the statement “who is buying these today”, let me tell you. These were created for a time when Hollywood stars were our heroes. The films they made are still popular today, Those people wanted to make a statement as to who they were, and the Excalibur was perfect. Roaring 1920s glitz, with modern AMERICAN mechanicals, of which, the best there was. With Hollywood portraying gloom and doom today, with super heroes flying through the air, we don’t have actors today that deserve a fantastic car like this. And while they were pricey, almost $12,000 new, Stevens was no idiot and didn’t want just anybody driving his cars. I say, to judge a marvelous car like this by it’s turn signals,,,well, I don’t know how to finish that cordially.
Not mentioned, a woman named Alice Preston, who was the W.Allis facility manager, still maintains a record of every one built and offers parts and such to owners, who, btw, have like an 80% original owners claim, minus the 2 that were turned in for “Cash for Clunkers”. Alice was devastated someone would do that to one of “her” cars. Tell me, what other car was purchased by the likes of Steve McQueen, Ronny Reagan, Sonny &Cher, Dean Martin, Tony Curtis, Ahrnold, Phyllis Diller had 4, even a Shah of somewhere had one. Tell me, what other car in existence had those credentials? Beautiful cars, and I was there!
I’d like to see a foto of whoever buys this!
It may just be me, but I always think of the Addams Family when I see one. And just perhaps a bit pretentious, but I guess that was the point
I was 29yo in 1976, manager of an upscale restaurant when a regular customer bought one and handed me the keys for the whole weekend. Back then it looked cool and Brook Steven’s name was popular among car people in the Chicago/Milwaukee area. I felt like a king….different age, different era….c’est la vie.
I may have to get my armor, sword, and mace out and search for some dragons.
Or a wench
These were never powered by Ford. Brooks Stevens designed this car with the Corvette being used as it’s starting point. This car might have a GM 5 litre but it’s still from the Corvette
Exactly – these and the Phaeton that followed it were powered by GM drivetrains and parts. I’ve always loved the Excalibur brand
The one I knew had a 327 in it and was built on a GM ruck frame. Solid rear axel so you know that it had serious wheel hop when you got on it , no weight in the back. earlier ones looked a little better It would go if you could keep the tires hooked up.
One of my good buddies had one of these in the mid eighties. The “Ex” had a 454 Chevy in it (from the factory) that he had done a little work to but it had too much torque for real wire wheels. If he got on it too hard from a dig it would spit out spokes. He had to put mags on it. I remember it had a cool pearl white paint job.
Incredibly ugly POS. Uglier than most and that’s saying something.
Call The Old Ranger. He likes these!
Said it before; Round up a dozen or so of these and have a great demolition derby.
These “neo Classics” were always as ugly as they are now. They say they try to embody the look of whatever 30s classic they’re “based on”. How many 30s cars have all those straight lines. They had curved and rounded bodywork that flowed.
Taillights on this example are aftermarket parts, intended as swap-in replacements for ’70s VW “Elephant foot” ones. Front turn signals are stock Beetle.
Looks good from the front, leaving aside the soft top, but the rear.. the rear oh dear, that trunk, what were they thinking of.
If I wanted something along these lines it would be an Auburn replica, except they’re about 3 ft too long for my garage.