I would excuse you for thinking this car was just another tired-looking “neo-classic”, so common in the 1980s that they became parodies of the cars they were meant to imitate. This 1976 Excalibur SS Phaeton, however, is a “real” car with “real” lineage. It’s advertised here on Craigslist in Kokomo, Indiana, and the seller hopes to realize $9,000. Barn Finds reader Barney sent us this unusual find!
Excaliburs were advertised in the mid-1970s as “America’s Only Handbuilt Classic,” and the slogan was pretty much the truth. The story is too long to detail here, but the Excalibur began as a Brooks Stevens design intended to be a showcase for Studebaker at the 1964 New York Auto Show. Studebaker ended up divorcing itself from the project. Still, the design was enough of a hit that production began shortly thereafter, with Brooks’ sons Steve and David in charge of the company. I highly recommend reading this history of the Excalibur, posted here on the company site (yes, Excalibur still exists, in a fashion-read here about the “farm girl” that ended up owning the company). This particular Excalibur is a Series III car, which reflected some easier-to-build features and continued to meet all Federal requirements-this is *not* a kit car!
Visually, the Excalibur resembled a Mercedes-Benz SSK from the late 1920s, although nothing about the car was an exact copy. By 1976, the design featured a bespoke frame and largely used Chevrolet mechanical components. However, the fender marker and some other lights were from Volkswagen Beetles, leading uninformed folks to think Excaliburs were kit cars. This particular car, which the seller says is one of 117 produced in 1976, has been sitting undriven since 2019. I’m guessing the substantial top and side curtains have kept some of the elements out of the car, but I would plan on a healthy dose of cleaning before even beginning refurbishment work.
The interior reflects the use of common components-are those Chevy Monza bucket seats that have been recovered in leather? There is also a rear seat, but I cannot imagine easy access. Note the air conditioning vents; Excaliburs were extremely well-equipped from the factory.
Assuming this is the original engine, this is a 454-cubic-inch Chevrolet V-8 rated at 215 horsepower and a whopping 350 lbs/ft of torque. It would have been backed by a GM Turbo 400 automatic transmission, and four-wheel power disc brakes slowed the 4,350-pound car down. Have any of you owned or driven an Excalibur? We’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments!
“neo-classic”, so common in the 1980s that they became parodies of the cars they were meant to imitate”. Well put. For me that describes them all.