Description
This car is Lot 461 to be auctioned by Bonhams|Cars at The Beaulieu Sale on 6 September, please see the Bonhams website for full details.
Public Viewing:
Available Friday 5 September from 10:00 until 17:00 and Saturday 6 September from 08:30 until 17:00 at The National Motor Museum, Beaulieu.
Lot 461
1979 Excalibur SS Series III Roadster
Registration no. 329 EXC
Chassis no. 791309
Previously registered/ used overseas
Left-hand drive
First registered in the UK on 1st February 2020
7. 4-litre V8 engine
Only 3, 352 miles from new
The Excalibur story began in 1964 when renowned industrial designer Brooks Stevens, at that time working as a consultant to Studebaker, was asked to design a show car for that year's New York Auto Show. An avid automobile enthusiast and collector, Stevens was a fan of the pre-war Mercedes-Benz SSK and sold the idea of a 'contemporary classic' take on the German sports car to Studebaker, at that time Mercedes importers.
When the prototype Excalibur SS was displayed at the New York Auto Show it caused something of a sensation, albeit too late to save the ailing Studebaker Corporation. A long list of potential buyers resulted, one of whom - a Chevrolet dealer - asked if the car could be built with a Chevrolet Corvette engine. Stevens was only too happy to oblige. An advertisement in the Wall Street Journal generated sufficient deposits to enable production to start, and in 1966 the company moved into premises in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, trading as SS Automobiles Inc. Since then Excaliburs have been owned by many famous celebrities including Frank Sinatra, Steve McQueen, Dick Van Dyke, Tony Curtis, Burt Lancaster, Ronald Regan, Sonny & Cher, Dean Martin, Jackie Gleason, Rod Stewart, Jay Leno, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Excalibur continued to supply cars 'for the man or woman who wants a fun machine with antique class' until the factory finally closed in 1990, by which time some 3, 500 had been built.
Previously registered and/ or used, this wonderful Excalibur Roadster was first registered in the UK on 1st February 2020. Engine capacity is recorded on the accompanying V5C Registration Certificate as 7, 440cc, and the car also comes with an owner's manual for the Series III SS model and an Assembly & Parts Manual for the Series II and III.
All lots are sold 'as is/ where is' and Bidders must satisfy themselves as to the provenance, condition, age, completeness and originality prior to bidding. Visit the Bonhams|Cars website for all pertinent auction information.
