Like so many kit cars, the history of the Cimbria is a cloudy one. It started off as a U.S.-born design, enduring some mild transformations and updates and even spinning off a UK version called the Eagle SS. The Cimbria would continue to evolve, hitting a proverbial wall like so many kit cars based on aircooled-VW components and eventually incorporating Porsche turbo power and a $60K price tag before production slowed and the company appeared to cease operations. This Cimbria is a rare kit car variant, found here on eBay with bidding over $500 and no reserve.
While some reports indicate the Cimbria was slightly more refined than other kit-based offerings of the day, there’s only so much refinement you can dial into a hand-assembled vehicle riding on a VW chassis. Now, the Cimbria evolved to offer a custom chassis that could accommodate different drivetrains and eventually grew to include a model called the Viper 2000 that offer impressive levels of comfort and performance but also cost upwards of $60K.
This is not one of those cars, as it has the standard VW floorpan and motor, which the seller notes won’t turn over with a breaker bar (never a good sign). Now, you could drop Marvel Mystery Oil into the cylinders and see if it frees up, or you could just grab a spare VW motor – heck, maybe even build it up a bit to give this exotic body the high-performance drivetrain it deserves. The interior is standard kit-car fare – ill-fitting and damn uncomfortable-looking in appearance, but I’m sure quite sporting for the era.
One thing I’ve learned since listing the large collection clean-out in Georgia as an Exclusive here on Barn Finds – which has a very complete Kelmark in the lot – is that kit car enthusiasts want an example with all the impossible-to-find trim pieces still attached. It’s difficult to ascertain whether this Cimbria is missing anything, but one big detriment is the cracked windshield. Good luck finding one of those from your local glass agent!
Cracked windshield… good luck. I know the guy that has the molds for that glass – and new screens ain’t cheap.
You think he would like to sell the mold ?
I would think the windshield is from a fairly common marque. Most kit cars used readily available parts except for the interiors.
Anyone know differently for this make?
Rick is correct. They were a bespoke windshield. One might be able to cut one from a larger windshield.
Still just a glorified V DUB.
Big wide rear tires and a 40 horse power vw engine ,cool.😳
From the rear looks like a narrowed Detomaso Mangusta….
I think that it looks okay! However the Gullwing doors are a turnoff for me, don’t like those doors!
The Cimbria did not originate as an American design. It was actually a British design from 1972 called the Nova and had a clam shell roof. Gull wing doors were incorporated when it became the Cimbria SS.
It does look a bit like a Mangusta but as far as engineering goes…forget it. You will have to befriend a hot rod shop and have them do about 50K worth of sawing, hacking, welding, fiberglass work, a fantastic paint job and of course a brand spankin’ motor…it’s lacking balls. I test drove one with a VW motor and it was a squeaky mess that didn’t drive straight. I saw what the car needed and quickly bowed out.