Excalibur - Series II "Short Phaeton" One-off - 1974

Unique Excalibur Series II "Short Phaeton" in original condition. This vehicle can be viewed at Catawiki´s Retromovil Madrid Fair stand between 26th and 28th November. By 1970, Excalibur were well established. The owners of the marque, the Stevens brothers, didn't want to increase their production rate for fear it would adversely affect the impeccable build quality that they wanted the public to enjoy. So they launched the Excalibur Series II, an all new car despite the fact that it perpetuated the S1 styling. As the old Studebaker Lark chassis was no longer built, David designed a new ladder chassis which had a 2 inch longer wheelbase. The suspension components ere borrowed from the Corvette, as was the four-disc braking system. Tire size went up and the rubbers were mounted on wheels especially designed for the car. The 327 ci. inch (5,400 cc) V-8 engine bowed down to the new 350 cu. inch (5,700 cc) unit which, with its anti-pollution equipment still managed to develop a healthy 300 hp. The "Muncie" four-speed manual transmission became standard, with a Turbo-Hydramatic three-speed unit available as an option. The Excalibur SII went up to $12,000 -$13,000 but justified that extra cost with its supplementary equipment. This included air conditioning, variable ratio power steering, adjustable steering column, servoed brakes, "Positraction" differential, chromed wire wheels, stereo radio, two spare tires mounted in the front fenders, driving lamps, air horns and constant level rear shock absorbers. Despite the added mass of this luxurious equipment, the Excalibur Series II was capable of really sporting performance: 0-60 mph in under 7 seconds and a top speed of 149 mph. Unfortunately, the production figures showed a steep decline at first with only 37 cars in 1970 and none whatsoever in 1971. Today the Excalibur Series II remains the rarest of all Excaliburs, with a total production number of only 342 units. The vehicle auctioned was sold new to famous Spanish Rolls Royce dealer -and other luxury cars- C. de Salamanca in 1970 via the only European Excalibur dealer, Mr Guy Storr, as is shown in the original factory documents of the car. Guy Storr was a close friend of Brooks Stevens, founder of Excalibur, and even created his own "European Excalibur" under the name "Excalibur 35 X", which was a sort of replica of a Bugatti, with bodywork made by world famous Michelotti workshop. Interestingly, and according to the original factory documents provided by Alice Preston the car was damaged in a rear collision, and Storr converted it to 2 seater car in 1974. Alice Preston worked for Brooks Stevens from 1963 until the late 1980s. She later ran the Brooks Stevens Automobile Museum and held that job until the collection was dispersed after Stevens’ 1995 death. The conversion made in 1974 was made professionally and apart from changing the original 4 seater configuration to a more stylish and sporting 2 seater body, included the removal of the side running boards. The car was originally painted in "all black", but in 1974 it was repainted in the two tone configuration which retains today. Consequently, the car can be considered as a unique specimen of the Excalibur marque, as is the only one "Phaeton" of only two seats ever produced. The current owners purchased it from C. de Salamanca in 1982 and kept the car well cared and barely used, so today is in a wonderful all original non-restored condition. The odometer shows only 4,200 miles, which could be real. Oil, filters and clutch changed in 2015, but has not been used since. A unique opportunity to acquire a unique Excalibur, with one off bodywork and preserved in totally unrestored conditions. The car is located in Madrid, Spain.