Johnson Motorcar Corporation was a short-lived venture in the neo-classic market, founded in 1981 by Bruce and Norman Johnson, the latter of whom had been involved in the automobile industry his entire life. His vision here was to produce a touring car inspired by 1930s styling, but with the dependability of a more modern vehicle. One of their creations was the Johnson Phantom, based on the General Motors F-Body platform, with around 60 units believed to have been built. This 1989 model here on Facebook Marketplace appears well-preserved, and the owner has already reduced the asking price from $24,500 to $22,500, so it sounds like he may be motivated to sell. This oddity is located in Fortville, Indiana, and we’d like to express our gratitude to reader Sam61 for spotting it and sending in the tip!
The only other automobile produced by Johnson Motors was the Presidential Rumble Seat Roadster, of which 50 are thought to have been built, so both cars are quite uncommon to find in the marketplace. Although the company also sold kits to the public, the seller says his Phantom was assembled by Johnson, starting out as a new Pontiac Firebird. The doors, windshield, and part of the roof are mostly F-Body, and it’s great to see that this one retains the T-Tops. Most of the other panels are exclusive to the Phantom, and there are some fun features everywhere you look, including four air horns up front, fenders that look like they contain spare tires, and a luggage rack on the small trunk lid.
Thankfully, Johnson chose the largest engine available in the Firebird in ’89 for this one: a 350-cubic-inch V8 with a factory horsepower rating of 235. That may not sound like a lot by today’s standards, but for the late eighties, it wasn’t a bad number at all. The seller says his Phantom has traveled 75,000 miles and still runs great, with the engine bay appearing tidy and in good order. This one also features an automatic transmission, and the owner reports that everything on the car is still working properly.
Not as many photos of the inside are provided as there are of the exterior, and we don’t get to see the dashboard at all. However, the front buckets have “Phantom” stitched into the material, and the interior appears clean and in satisfactory condition. I get that neo-classics aren’t for everyone, but for those who appreciate them, this one seems like a guaranteed attention-getter and a fun car to drive, plus its price is likely within reach of most potential buyers. Is this 1989 Johnson Phantom one you’d consider adding to your fleet?
You’d have to wear a tuxedo to cars and coffee if you owned this.
Yeah, but that tux would have to be either baby blue or orange.
and a mink fedora.
And a comb over.
I thought i knew the names of all the neoclassics, but this is one I’ve never heard of. Looks quite a bit like a Tiffany… even the taillights. It is hard to distinguish that it was once a Firebird, though, as the Cougar ancestry is quite evident in a Tiffany.
As always with these vehicles… I’d love to drive it, but ownership is another thing entirely
…..Yuck !!!! ….🤢🤢🤮🤮🤮
No kidding, there used to several similar cars running around the area where I lived. They didn’t get any respect from the plebs or the wealthy. I haven’t seen one on the road in decades and thought they all met their demise until they started being featured on this site.
Steve R
Even worse than Yuck !! I wouldn’t even want to be seen walking past it let alone driving it !!
Sorry but thats one ugly car!
Looks like someone drove a vinyl half top coupe on a trailer
UNDER the trailer !!
I had one , built it on a camero chassis, but made the mistake of wanting a 6 cyl, should have been an 8 for more power, it got looks, had it a couple of yrs and sold it
No offense meant, but who in their right mind would be seen in this Pimpmobile?
Either an actual pimp or someone who’s always wanted a long, white Johnson ;-).
Different strokes for different folks.
I like it.
Well, Jack & Solo, IMO it’s one of the better looking neoclassical vehicles. Im not a fan of the ones with VW parking lights/turn signals or where the back is sliced off and a steamer trunk is placed there. Although possibly more authentic to 30s styling, to me THATS ugly.
This one seems to flow. The rear is reminiscent of the Stutz.
Plus it’s a Firebird and not a Cougar.
There are two categories of vehicles at BF I try to steer clear of;
Shorties and Neo Classics. Put it simply, they have no reason. At least for me.
Trying to find the allure is like trying to find humor in the jokes in the New Yorker Magazine. I just don’t get it. And I’m fine with that.
Not short-lived enough if we still have to see one.