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Excalibur 35X - when the replica itself becomes a classic classic car

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Created on October 29, 2014

Reading time 5min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

2

Bruno von Rotz

27

Archiv

10

Daniel Reinhard

2

Bruno von Rotz

27

Archiv

10

Excalibur 35X (1969) - langer Radstand, kurze Überhänge, wie ein Vorkriegs-Sportwagen

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - die Windschutzscheibe weist deutlich darauf hin, dass hier kein Dreissigerjahre-Auto steht

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Excalibur 35x (1965) - an der Jungfrau-Rallye 2014

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Excalibur 35x (1965) - an der Jungfrau-Rallye 2014

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - stämmige Reifen, die nicht so recht zum Hufeisenkühler passen wollen

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - Spitzheck und Notverdeck

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - da kommt sofort Fahrfreude auf

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - das Heck wirkt moderner als die Front

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - enger Zweisitzer

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - von vorne dem Bugatti 35 recht ähnlich

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - dem Fahrer ist der Blick über die lange Motorhaube gegönnt

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - Vorkriegs-Fahrgefühl ist garantiert

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - fast freistehende Räder

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - die Kotflügel sitzen fest, drehen sich also nicht mit den Rädern mit

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - an den Details erkennt man sofort, dass zwischen Vorbild und Nachahmung dreissig Jahre liegen

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - der Schalthebel erinnert an die Opel-Technik

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - komplette Instrumentierung

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - klassisches Lenkrad, relativ moderne Armaturen

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - Kipphebel für Funktionen

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - das UKW-Radio stammt aus den Sechzigerjahren

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - das Markenzeichen ist dem Vorbild von Bugatti nachempfunden

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - gebaut wurden die Karosserien bei Michelotti

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - der Opel-Motor findet locker Platz

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - mit einem Reihensechszylinder kann man ja eigentlich nichts falsch machen, das Vorbild allerdings hatte vier oder acht Zylinder in Reihe

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - Vergaseranlage mit chromglänzenden Luftfiltern

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - da wird nichts vertuscht, wo Opel drin ist , steht Opel drauf

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - tief ausgeschnittene Türen und lange Motorhaube

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - Vorkriegs-Optik

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - suboptimale Positionierung der Heckleuchten hinter der Stossstange

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Excalibur SSK (1968) - dem Mercedes Benz SSK nachempfunden

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Excalibur SSK (1968) - von vorne dem Vorbild Mercedes Benz SSK sehr ähnlich

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Excalibur SS (1965) - René Dreyfus vor seinem Restaurant im Jahr 1965

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Excalibur SS (1965) - interessanter Mix aus Alt und Neu auch aussen

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Excalibur SS (1965) - Olaf Baron Fersen am Steuer der Mercedes-SS-Replica

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Excalibur SS (1965) - Mischung aus Alt und Neu im Interieur

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Excalibur SS (1965) - sogar ein Notdach gibt es

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Excalibur SS (1965) - das Heck weist eine eigenständige Formgebung auf

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Excalibur SS (1965) - Scheibenbremsen und natürlich keine Starrachse vorne

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Excalibur SS (1965) - Side Pipers am SS-Nachbau

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Summary

At the end of the 1960s, 27 Excalibur 35X vehicles were built in southern Europe, which were visually modeled on the Bugatti 35 but technically based on contemporary Opel Commodore mechanics. What was once disregarded by classic car enthusiasts as a replica has long since earned classic car status itself. This driving report describes the history of the European Excalibur and shows it in many pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

With classic design and modern technology
Potential in Europe
Partner with a reputation
Contemporary technology
Presentation in New York
Sluggish sales
From replica to classic in its own right
On the road in number 1
Further information

Estimated reading time: 5min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Replicas do not have a good reputation among classic car enthusiasts. But what to do when the replica itself becomes a classic car and is perhaps even rarer than the original? Opinions are divided when it comes to the Excalibur 35X. The Excalibur company was founded in 1964 by the American Brooks Stevens, who worked as a design consultant at Studebaker, and specialized in exclusive vehicles whose design roots reached far into the past, but which were equipped with contemporary technology. The Excalibur SS (and SSK) initially used Studebaker technology, but Stevens soon switched to Chevrolet engines. As the name suggests, these vehicles equipped with V8 engines looked similar to the Mercedes-Benz SS and SSK models and were priced at Cadillac level.

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