Roaring ‘20s Throwback: 1978 Excalibur Phaeton
The Excalibur automobile was conceived by Brooks Stevens in the 1960s. Stevens was head designer at Studebaker in those days and he started up a company in Wisconsin to build the Excalibur, which was a replica of the 1928 Mercedes-Benz SSK. This made the Excalibur one of the first neo-classic automobiles to be custom-built in the 1960s through the 1980s. This example, a Phaeton from 1978, is described as only a parts car and comes with no engine or title. Thanks for the cool tip, Barn Finder “Henry.”
When Stevens first developed the car, it was supposed to use a supercharged Studebaker 289 cubic inch V8. But when Studebaker ceased U.S. auto production in late 1963, that part of the idea went out the window. Instead, Stevens arranged for the vehicle to use GM power, a 327 Corvette engine. We assume later versions of the Excalibur used other Chevy power after the 327 was replaced by the 350.
Also, early Excalibur’s used a Studebaker Lark chassis. Since the Excalibur was in production through the 1980s, we assume another platform was selected and probably from GM (like the Avanti II). Because of their fiberglass bodies, Excalibur’s were light in weight and quick, capable of running up to 130 mph. Over the years, about 3,500 Excalibur’s were built with several bodies, including the Phaeton with its cloth cover from the windshield back.
We’re told little about this car, but the photos suggest it’s been sitting idle for a very long time. Its engine has taken flight, and the odometer has rolled over, suggesting it was once used regularly. It has/had an automatic transmission, likely also from GM. The seller suggests the buyer be prepared to use this as a donor for another Excalibur project and it’s located on a lot in Ocean Township, New Jersey. Available here on craigslist, the asking price is $4,500.
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Comments
There is a much nicer running, driving, 454 powered clone of this listed on eBay with an asking price of $18,500 in Ringwood NJ, 80 miles away. Not sure if this is worth the effort. There are a lot of Excaliburs listed, not many have sold.
Steve R
A blast from the past- the rectangular electronic device on the tunnel forward of the shifter is the control head for a CompuCruise system. This was an aftermarket very early attempt at a vehicle computer system. It incorporated cruise control, fuel information (mpg, miles to empty, etc), digital clock, outside temperature and a number of other functions. I installed several of these in the van conversions that I was building in the late 1970s. It consisted of a number of sensors (fuel flowmeter, magnets/pickup on the driveshaft) connected to the dashboard mounted microprocessor. They were temperamental and not reliable. The original design had hardwired sensors, so you had to remove the entire system if you needed to send them in for warranty, which happened several times. Thankfully, they put a multi circuit connector on the later control units. When it all worked, it was pretty cool for the day, but it really wasn’t ready for prime time.
“Throwing it back” is a great idea!
“We assume later versions of the Excalibur used other Chevy power after the 327 was replaced by the 350”…..and sadly by the anemic 305 by 1984, Russ, which could hardly get out of its own way. I tried to sell one at Midway Chevrolet and the customer was as surprised by the lack of power as I was.
Are there any Excaliber aficionados left out there?
Yes, me, see below,,,
I offer $1.59 and a 12-pack of Natty Light. And that’s generous.
Alice Preston is going to puke. Who is Alice Preston, you say? She, that’s right, SHE, was the head mechanic for Excalibur cars, and still maintains a registry of all cars sold, as”Camelot Excalibur”. She maintains a parts network, and tries to buy back every Excalibur sold. She was devastated to learn 2 Excaliburs were scrapped in the Cash for Clunkers program. Many original buyers, or their families, still own them. Some big names drove Excaliburs. Phyllis Diller( had 4) Jackie Gleason, Steve McQueen, Tony Curtis, Sonny had Cher, XXXX van XXXX( there, did it for you), I think the Shah of Iran had one, it was THE car to have in Hollywood. I think this year is the 60th anniversary. Excaliburs are dear to me, as dear as AMC or Harley, they were made in my hometown. On a more personal note, I delivered paint to the Excalibur plant in West Allis. I never met Alice, but the place was spotless, unlike these old war films of dingy assembly lines. You could eat off the floor. And stacks of Corvette motors. Some laugh at the styling, but let me tell you brother, I saw them assembled, and was mighty impressed. From “Joisey”, who knows who had this car originally. Alice would know. I hope she gets this one too.
It’s the 21st century, Howard. The information age. I’m pretty sure it would be easy to find Alice on Google or something and let her know this one is available and where it is. Maybe even get a “finders fee.”
The information age indeed,,,tell me about it. How did we ever get along without it? I actually looked up Ms. Preston before posting, and I think she is pushing 90 and still active in the business. I’m sure she knows full well about this car.
Fellow in my neighborhood has one locked up in his garage. I’ve never seen him drive it but it looks like it’s in excellent condition. Beige with a brown top. I believe he’s a “snowbird” as I’ve never had a chance to meet him.
Yes, I’m an Excalibur aficionado as well! As a teenager, I was at the 1964 New York auto show where the Excalibur first debuted. I was mesmerized. Ten years later I bought my first Excalibur, a beautiful, two seat roadster
I had a thriving business in New York City but an unhappy marriage. I gave my business to my employees, the house to my wife and eloped to Arizona with my next-door neighbor in that Excalibur.
Once in Arizona, I needed to get back on my feet and buying and selling Excaliburs along with fixing up houses was the way I did it.
In the last almost 50 years I bought and sold over 200 Excaliburs working out of my garage to help pay the bills.
As time went on I didn’t need to make money on Excaliburs but I enjoyed resurrecting them.
I’m a fixer who likes to restore worn out or damaged or tired classic cars and houses.
I bought fixed and resold over 2000 Tired or rundown houses in Arizona.
I’ll be 80 in April. Three kids and eight grandkids later that second wife has turned out to be a Fabulous partner.
In case you might think I have no taste in cars because I like Excaliburs, here are some of the other beautifully restored, as original, cars in my collection; 280 SL, 911T Porsche, 67 Corvette, 12 Cylinder Xke roadster, Xke coupe, Black 53 Buick Skylark, 65 chopped customized Riviera, 29 Cadillac dual cowl phaeton, Blue with red leather 57 Cadillac Convertible, 61. Ragtop VW Bug, black/black ”91 560 SEC Mercedes, etc
I also have three Excalibur’s one which I turned from an absolute basket case Disassembled, rusted bucket of parts into a fabulous black “no door” roadster I also have one of the last Excaliburs built a 94 roadster.
Plus the second Excalibur ever made, serial number 0001. This car has a steel body and is likely the same car I saw when I was 20 years old at the New York auto show.
I’m a car guy so to speak. I also won $100,000 in the first great American race in 1983.
I’m kind of embarrassed to have blown my horn this way, but I needed to put my appreciation for Excaliburs In context.
I love barnfinds And enjoy reading it every morning and enjoy immensely the informative comments from my many fellow subscribers.
Mike Anderson
Tucson, Arizona
Don’t be embarrassed Mike….great story and kudos for how you were able to prosper. Great cars too! (What did the chopped ’65 Riviera look like?). I’m also 80…..fun to look back on our old car exploits, although mine were far more pedestrian than yours.
I guess I have to join. I have to become a formal member in order to post a picture, but I’d love to show you a picture of that Riviera.
I’ll try and join today . It’s An awesome Riviera. It’s one of the stars of my collection. The personalized license plate I have is RIV ROD
I’m actually getting ready for the Tucson Classics car show which happens Saturday. I’m bringing nine of my cars to the show and my real estate company is the title sponsor so I have kind of a full plate again plus. I had a new heart valve and pacemaker put in two months ago.
@Mike Anderson Az car guy
Hi Mike,
If you read BF every morning with your coffee then I’m sure you’ve read my many opinionated comments.
I live in Las Vegas and would really like to meet you before I move back to Baltimore. But that won’t be for several months.
Not sure how we could exchange a meeting place as BF won’t let me post personal information.
I was just thinking the other day, if I wanted to buy a car I saw on BF HOW would I go about getting that person’s contact info or to give them my contact info? Does BF give me the info through email or what? There has got to be a way to exchange info?
Barn Finds? Are you listening?
Angel Harris
Las Vegas, NV
I’m listening. You know, central Colorado is kind of on the way to Baltimore. Many folks, like me, that travel through here never leave. I can offer pristine mountain vistas right out my door. McDs, Hwy. 50 ( Rainbow Blvd) Salida, Co.,,,be there and I’ll buy lunch( $5.00 max, sorry, on SS you know) You know, I think I have your e-mail address somehow, would it be cool to write, off the record, of course. If not, good luck, moving is the pits.
Is there still an annual car show in Salida? Went to it in the past, seems like it was late summer, always a good one. Easy drive from here south of Denver.
@Howard A
Well, look at you, Howard. You’re in Colorado? You talk so much about Wisconsin, I thought you were there.
I lived in Colorado for a short time back in 1989. I had just gotten married to my second husband and we moved to the cutest little mountain town just above Boulder called Nederland. 8000 feet up pop. about 1000, probably less, you know my memory. We had spectacular views of the snow capped mountains from our kitchen and living room windows.
At the time we had a 1982 Chevrolet C10 pickup 2X4, but stupid enough to take it out on 4X4 only trails. One time we went on a dirt trail which took us up to the top of the mountain and we tried to get over the top of the mountain which was pure rock. We might have made it except the truck in front of us stopped like 200 feet from the top. After that we couldn’t get traction and broke all the belts in all the tires. That was costly.
Anyway if you do have my email, drop me a line. I’d love to talk with you, off site.
@Howard A
Correction. Not a C10, that’s a little p/u. We had a Silverado. Big p/u. But still only 2 wheel drive with radials.
We tore that truck up in Colorado, on 4X4 trails and cutting down trees for firewood up in the mountains.
But we made it back to N.J. in it.
Then some ahole with no insurance t-boned it
I love ad’s like this. It just goes to prove my point. The Tiffanys, Zimmermans, Client, Excaliburs kit cars of the world time has come and gone. But there is an all American car where some of the finest examples are sitting in Cadillac collector’s garages and that car is the Cadillac Opera coup. That’s why I salute the only true American neo classic made by one of the one of America’s big three.
I can’t speak of the other makes, but the Clenet (not Client) was built on a moving assembly line. I was an automotive electrician at Clenet. You finished your “phase” (engine compartment, chassis prep for body drop, interior harnesses, etc), signed it off and moved the vehicle to the next station. Except for the fenders, the bodies were made of steel. Many of the management personnel were Detroit veterans. You could only purchase a complete vehicle (@ around $100K)- no kits were produced. It was a legitimate, American made vehicle. The biggest difference was low production numbers, and the ability to specify exactly how you wanted it- paint color, leather color, sound system, etc. I was never a fan of the design, but it was a well made vehicle produced by skilled craftsman, including former Rolls Royce woodworkers who produced the curved Walnut burl dashboards.
Sick of these neo kit cars their time has come and gone. There’s an all American car where some of the finest examples are sitting in collector’s garages and that’s the Cadillac Opera coup.
John E l didn’t know that about the Clenet but the car you’re referencing was the design of another car where as the Cadillac Seville Opera Coup was all Cadillac designed by Grandeur for Cadillac for GM. That’s all I’m saying.