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

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Created on October 29, 2014

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

2

Bruno von Rotz

27

Archiv

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Daniel Reinhard

2

Bruno von Rotz

27

Archiv

10

Excalibur 35X (1969) - long wheelbase, short overhangs, like a pre-war sports car

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - the windshield clearly indicates that this is not a car from the thirties

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Excalibur 35x (1965) - at the Jungfrau Rally 2014

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Excalibur 35x (1965) - at the Jungfrau Rally 2014

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - chunky tires that don't quite fit the horseshoe radiator

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - pointed rear and emergency top

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - instant driving pleasure

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - the rear looks more modern than the front

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - narrow two-seater

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - quite similar to the Bugatti 35 from the front

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - the driver is granted a view over the long hood

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - pre-war driving experience guaranteed

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - almost free-standing wheels

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - the mudguards are fixed, so they don't turn with the wheels

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - the details immediately show that there are thirty years between the original and the imitation

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - the gearshift is reminiscent of Opel technology

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - complete instrumentation

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - classic steering wheel, relatively modern fittings

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - Toggle lever for functions

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - the FM radio dates back to the sixties

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - the trademark is based on the Bugatti model

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - the bodies were built by Michelotti

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - the Opel engine fits easily

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - you can't really go wrong with an in-line six-cylinder engine, but the prototype had four or eight cylinders in a row

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - Carburetor system with shiny chrome air filters

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - nothing is covered up, where Opel is in it, Opel is on it

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - low-cut doors and long hood

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - pre-war look

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Excalibur 35X (1969) - suboptimal positioning of the rear lights behind the bumper

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Excalibur SSK (1968) - modeled on the Mercedes Benz SSK

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Excalibur SSK (1968) - very similar to the original Mercedes Benz SSK from the front

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Excalibur SS (1965) - René Dreyfus in front of his restaurant in 1965

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Excalibur SS (1965) - interesting mix of old and new, even on the outside

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Excalibur SS (1965) - Olaf Baron Fersen at the wheel of the Mercedes SS replica

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Excalibur SS (1965) - blend of old and new in the interior

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Excalibur SS (1965) - there is even an emergency roof

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Excalibur SS (1965) - the rear has a unique design

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Excalibur SS (1965) - disc brakes and of course no rigid front axle

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Excalibur SS (1965) - Side Pipers on the SS replica

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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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