When hunting for a project to restore, it’s often beneficial to be patient and wait for one that won’t require an exhaustive amount of work, if it’s a mass-produced model that enters the marketplace frequently. However, if your dream car was made in limited quantities, sometimes it’s better to act fast when the opportunity arises. That’s the case with this 1982 Johnson Phantom here on Craigslist, as only around 60 were manufactured, so who knows when another will come up for sale. This F-Body-based classic is in Rio Linda, California, and while a considerable amount of work will be required, the $3,500 asking price might be in the ballpark based on the rarity here. We thank reader numskal for spotting this unusual auto and sending us the tip!
The seller refers to this as a kit car, but at least some of these were assembled by the Johnson Motor Company in Florida, with both Firebirds and Camaros used as a base. This one’s based on a 1982 Z28 donor, with the front and rear sections crafted from fiberglass. Unfortunately, there is a crack in the material on the rear, which hopefully can be mended back together, as I’m guessing replacement panels aren’t out there. Although the hood is in place, the front is detached and just lying in place on top of the front tubes, so it will take some craftsmanship to get this all together before the exterior is ready to be repainted.
While we get a good selection of outside photos, only a couple are provided of the Z28 interior, which looks like some of it has been exposed to the elements. T-Tops are fun when they seal properly, but that’s not always the case, and it looks like these may be leaking, based on the driver’s seat and carpet. One of the door panels is missing, as is the shifter knob and some dash trim, so there’s going to be attention needed inside as well.
We only get this one shot from under the hood, with the only engine information provided being that it’s a V8 and will still turn freely, but no attempt has been made to get the motor started. The owner mentions that his initial plan was to restore this car himself, but he’s moving and has decided passing this on to someone else is the best option. There’s a lot of work to be done, but with the rarity and unusual nature of the Johnson Phantom, I’m seeing this as a worthwhile project. How about you?
“However, if your dream car…”
More like “nightmare car”. I only see vehicles like this while sleeping after I’ve eaten too much pepperoni pizza.
Imagine the elegance when brand new🎩
Har!
As elegant as a spastic, drunken teletubby
That’s an insult to spastic, drunken Teletubbies.
🎩 🍾 🥂 💎 ⌚️ 🇬🇧 ” i beg your pardon Daniel ” lol
Shoulda left it a Camaro.
Or just simply left it.
Good candidate for the Alaska 4th of July car launch where vehicles are deliberately driven off a 300 foot cliff for entertainment.
This car is a big project, if the unobtainable parts that are missing in the pictures don’t come with the car, such as the grill, bumpers and brackets, headlights and turn signals, why bother. There were several companies from that era which made similar cars, even those that have led a pampered life since new don’t sell for much money, projects, even if inexpensive tent to languish.
Steve R
And on Craig’s list, what a surprise.
CL is one of the better for me. They’ll talk w/you,
use e-mail, can be checked out (the seller) a lill more. On
the others (FB Mrkt Pl the worse?) its “That’s the cost, no
questions, gimmie my price & get ouda here !”
Who would imagine someone would come up with a kit car that is a near replica of a Tiffany. But here it is. When ostentatious alone isn’t quit enough, and you want poor build quality, too…. get yourself a Johnson kit car!
COPY Godzila, “cheap to restore???” then what do you have. a nothing that most would want. I’ll take my chances on the original 80-90s Grand Waggoners at least when they need work I’ll still have a great vehicle i can drive with pride.
junk!
And for you Stan, it is certainly as elegant as Camilla Parker Bowels twerking in a string bikini on a cold windy day.
How about not as bad as kamilla harriss and no giggles.!
In what foreign country did you learn how to spell and punctuate? You really should work on your English, so that we can understand you, as we can’t wait to hear your thoughts.
Rush Limbaugh would often reference the “folks” in Rio Linda…
Fortunately, we can’t hear him through the dirt…
SURE miss him though!
Nausea on the AM dial…
The seller refers to it as a kit car. I see the tail lights and gas filler cap are missing, Who the hel takes them? It also seems unpainted. Something tells me this is an unfinished kit car. I assume these missing parts were from some other manufacturer’s parts bin, but whose? Not even if it’s free.
All the effort required, just to end up with a profoundly ugly end result… no thanks.
Which end?
As heavy and thick as that fiberglass on the back looks, I can imagine it was prone to cracking. But as to your question, neither end is pleasant to look at.
Here is an example in slightly better condition. Also, Johnson was sold as a car with a unique VIN and titled as Johnson, never as a kit car.
https://www.roverclassic.com/detail.php?item=1989
Godzilla – Rainbow coalition parks in The View’s spaces -not here.
Grotesque goes cheap. Like fascist junkie radio guys.
I had never heard of this car before. Thank God I have never Seen one before. It is impossible to unsee something as hideous as this. This listing should of come with a disclaimer /disclosure, a warning would have been appreciated.
I am not a Chevy fan because after my 77 Nova I’ve always had bad experience with the GM products I had with that I think they destroyed what was a nice car turning it into this….Barn finds doesn’t let us swear on her so you get the point. Even if they started with a wrecked Z28 it would have been better than this… thing
I keep looking at this trying to figure out a way to make it better. Or at least less offensive. Since it is fiberglass, it is easy to work with. But the only thing I can come up with is a gigantic sledge hammer. I guess I agree with the Alaska 4th of July tradition!
I looked at the restored one and it looks about the same as all the Excalibur clones, to me no better or worse. However, I was never a fan of them, so I am biased.
Copy Wayne!
A nice finished and complete Johnson Phantom sold on Bring-A-Trailer two years ago for $10,550. The Bring-A Trailer Johnson Phantom sale makes the above project look way over priced.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1989-phantom-by-johnson-coupe/
I guess the wheelbase more than makes up for the owner’s other “shortages”, if ya know what I mean.
This is definitely a comb over, Sansabelt pants and loafers mid life crisis mobile.
Cathouse transport?
It does have the pimpmobile aura to it.
Wayne, from Pelican?
What is Pelican beside a bird and carrying case?
about ta say… those few things (um… er… ah, excalibur, called ita pimp-m0bile in the 89s, itsa p….extension (or ‘look at my johnson”) and so forth. Got that out of my system. I think we should not say bad about other commenters here, so too for the car. Trying to B ‘balanced’:
It is low, MAY be light, and has a bent8. Looking inside, altho I do not like cloth, velour’ even less as I want to slide around on leather, pleather, vinyl or other – not ‘get stuck/glued in) I will say it looks comfy. Auto is fine as I am tired of 55 yrs of shifting my rides. (The trucks will stay 4, 5 speed. They’re haulin and off rd).