A history of Excalibur cars
The history of Excalibur cars
The Excalibur car is a beautiful example of a retro classic vehicle with an inspired design based on the 1920’s Mercedes Benz SS with a bit of modern engineering and American flair. The result is a bit ostentatious and unlikely on a weekday; however, the vehicle has found its way into the outer limits of luxury limousines. The car has earned a cult following around the world as a blank wedding car or the perfect container for anyone wanting to make a splash!
Automotive designer Brook Steven’s was fascinated by the classic era of automotive design. It was this passion that fueled his Gatsby-style creations and eventually led the design of what would later become the Excalibur as a prototype for Studebaker in 1963. The prototype was displayed at various automobile shows in the US. And it caught the attention of many people. . The hype for this unique car soon turned into orders from wealthy customers around the world and Excalibur was born. The Excalibur was factory built and underwent several major overhauls in its early years that vastly improved performance and reliability, especially in regards to the chassis that was required for such a long car, eventually acquired from General Motors. Each year, the Excalibur factory only made between sixty and eighty vehicles, which has added to its rarity and collectability today. The most ordered and produced cars were the 2-door Roadster, however, Excalibur also produced a 4-door saloon, the ‘Phaeton’, which has become a highly successful luxury car, used in movies such as 101 Dalmatians and as the flagship of the limousine fleet. for Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.
After a run of just 3,200 cars, the company finally ceased production in 1990, finally achieving perfection in the Excalibur V Series, the most luxurious yet. The company still operates in a limited capacity supplying parts, manuals and information to contemporary Excalibur car owners.
The good news is that the current owner of the Excalibur Cars factory has not ruled out the possibility of a new line of cars. In fact, as recently as 2011 there has been talk of a similarly designed modernized Excalibur. These plans are subject to financial backing, and for now, the company is dedicated to creating parts to keep existing Excaliburs on the road, even going as far as planning retrofit kits to replace what could be considered the outdated and worn interior of some of the older models still in circulation.
