Excalibur Series I
| Excalibur | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Excalibur Series I Roadster
|
|
| Series I | |
| Production period: | 1965-1969 |
| Class : | Sports car |
| Body versions : | Roadster , touring car |
| Engines: |
Petrol engines : 4.9-5.4 liters (221-320 kW) |
| Length: | 4216-4445 mm |
| Width: | 1702 mm |
| Height: | 1194 mm |
| Wheelbase : | 2769 mm |
| Empty weight : | 1320 kg |
| successor | Excalibur Series II |
The Excalibur Series I was the first car model from the US Excalibur Automobile Corporation .
description
The series was produced between 1965 and 1969 as the Roadster and Phaeton . Both models were based on a stable chassis from the Studebaker Lark Daytona , which had been modified through a few interventions. In the first year, a 4.9 liter (289 cin) eight-cylinder engine from Studebaker was used as the drive , which was supercharged and was originally designed for the Studebaker Avanti . When Studebaker stopped production in 1966, Excalibur switched to a 5.4 liter (327 cin) eight-cylinder engine from the Chevrolet Corvette . The available output was either 221, 294 or, from 1968, 320 kW. This engine was used until the model was discontinued in 1969. Another source states that only Corvette engines were used.
The equipment of the cars has become much more comfortable over the years. While the models of the first years were still comparatively rustic vehicles that performed a lot but also demanded a lot from their driver, components such as power steering, heating and defroster, air conditioning, leather upholstery and radio systems were available from 1968 and doors were now standard; the chassis has also been significantly improved. Finally, from 1969 onwards, Excalibur also offered a hardtop for both body variants and spare wheels installed on the outside between the front axle and door. In a sales brochure, the well-equipped Excalibur were described as a car "for the man who thought he had everything" ("for the man who thought he had everything").
The vehicles were initially 4255 mm long with a wheelbase of 2769 mm. Different lengths are only given for the last year of production. The Roadster measured 4216 mm and the Phaeton 4445 mm.
The first versions did not have taillights on the rear fenders . The single spare wheel was mounted on the rear of the Roadster and standing on the rear of the Phaeton.
SSK Roadster
First of all, the two-seater SSK Roadster was presented, which was based on the German Mercedes-Benz SSK from 1928. The selling price was initially 7000 dollars ; it had risen to $ 9,000 in the previous year of production. The price of the Roadster was thus slightly higher than that of the most expensive sedan from Cadillac . Between 1965 and 1969, 259 roadsters were built, 100 of them with the turbocharged Studebaker engine.
Phaeton
From 1966, Excalibur provided the SSK Roadster with a four-seater touring car called the Phaeton . It was based on the same chassis as the roadster; only the design of the stern had been changed. The Phaeton carried a second row of seats that was mounted behind the rear axle. The Phaeton was priced about $ 1,000 higher than the Roadster. 100 copies were made by 1969.
The successor was the Excalibur Series II in 1970 .
Production numbers
There are different details about the production figures. This may be due to the difference between the model year and the year of construction.
| vintage | SSK Roadster | Phaeton SS | Total source 1 | Total source 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 56 | - | 56 | ? |
| 1966 | 87 | 3 | 90 | 88 |
| 1967 | 38 | 33 | 71 | 87 |
| 1968 | 37 | 20th | 57 | 95 |
| 1969 | 41 | 44 | 85 | ? |
| total | 259 | 100 | 359 | ? |
literature
- Richard M. Langworth: Encyclopedia of American Cars 1930-1980. New York 1984, ISBN 0-517-42462-2 . (English)
- Roger Gloor: Passenger Cars of the 1960s. Hallwag Verlag, Bern 1984, ISBN 3-444-10307-7 , pp. 136-137.
- John Gunnell: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975. Krause Publications, Iola 1997, ISBN 0-87341-521-3 , pp. 827-828. (English)
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ A b c John Gunnell: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975. Krause Publications, Iola 1997, ISBN 0-87341-521-3 , pp. 827-828. (English)
- ↑ 1966-67 Excalibur. (English, accessed December 31, 2016)
- ↑ a b c Production figures on the German Excalibur fansite (accessed on December 31, 2016)