Vehicle Description
Excalibur wasn't the first to combine classic styling with a
modern, high-performance powertrain, but they were likely the most
successful. Designed not as kits, but as fully finished high-end
luxury cars that competed on equal footing with the likes of Aston
Martin and Mercedes-Benz, they were extravagantly expensive cars
that frequently found celebrity owners. With high quality materials
and a virtually hand-built body and interior, they were unique
products of their time that offer their own special brand of
nostalgia today.
Few people will mistake this 1981 Excalibur roadster for a real
Mercedes SSK, but everyone who sees it knows the Excalibur is
something special. Driving this car will make you a one-car parade,
and it will be impossible to travel anywhere without being noticed.
You will receive A-list service from valets, and children will wave
to you without even knowing why they're doing it. It's a special
car. Fortunately, you'll be proud to be seen in it, since this one
is nicely preserved with a white paint job that shows off the
luxurious curves to full advantage. The fiberglass body remains in
good condition with no signs of accident damage or botched repairs,
and though there are the usual signs of age, this car remains
impressive from any angle. We don't believe it has ever been used
as a daily driver, and the mileage might very well be original
although there's no official confirmation. Today, as it was then,
the Excalibur is a special car for special occasions.
The supple tan leather interior is perhaps the Excalibur's calling
card. While the bodies were extravagant, the interiors were opulent
without being gaudy, functional without being over-engineered. In a
nod to the past, there's a full array of round gauges on a flat
woodgrained dashboard, and most of the controls will feel familiar
if you've driven, say, a C3 Corvette or early '80s Cadillac. The
view out over that long hood is unparalleled in modern motoring,
and the deep leather buckets are sumptuously comfortable. There's
even a reasonably-sized back seat that will carry adults, a trick
you just can't manage in your XJ-S or Mercedes SL. Despite its
vintage looks, however, the Excalibur offers its passengers all the
amenities, from A/C (needs to be serviced) and a powerful stereo,
to power windows, power seats, a tilt steering column, and an
automatic transmission. Out back, there's a fitted trunk wearing
matching tan carpets, and while the top is power-actuated, it does
need a little help just because of the size of the assembly.
Powered by a burly small block Chevy V8 punched out to 383 cubic
inches, the Excalibur is a potent street machine, although it's
likely that its owners cared more about the big small block's
effortless torque. Installed less than 5000 miles ago, it runs
superbly and uses all the familiar parts you'd find in a GM
performance car of the period, so maintenance is cheap and easy.
Even with a low-profile air cleaner, the engine is really packed in
under that long, louvered hood but service access is still quite
good. Unfortunately, those side pipes are not functional, but it
does use long-tube headers to feed the exhaust system stashed under
the running boards. The engine spins a TH400 3-speed automatic
transmission, which was also rebuilt when the engine was installed.
The suspension is GM, too, so it's easy to service and it sits on
real wire wheels, including those in the fender wells, all of which
carry wide whitewall radials that add the perfect period touch.
Thrilling to drive and better at attracting attention than a
Lamborghini, the Excalibur is for the discerning hobbyist who
appreciates the classics, but yearns for something more. Call
today!