Excalibur
Excalibur SS Series II
 |
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| Manufacturer | Excalibur |
|---|---|
| Production | 1970 to 1974 |
| Class | Luxury |
| Layout | Roadster,convertible |
| Drive | Rear |
| Engine | Chevrolet V8 |
| Transmission | Auto or manual |
| wheel base: | 111 in, 2,819 mm |
The Excalibur SS Series II was a luxury car built from 1970 to 1974 in the USA.
History
Excalibur was well established by 1970, but it had spawned a slew of imitators who were helping to meet market needs that the limited Excalibur production couldn't meet. The Stevens brothers were hesitant to expand their manufacturing rate for fear of jeopardising the immaculate construction quality they desired for the public. So they introduced the Excalibur Series II, a completely new automobile that retained the S1's design.
As the old Studebaker Lark chassis was no longer built, David designed a new ladder chassis which had a two-inch longer wheelbase. The suspension components were 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 (5400 cc) V-8 engine bowed down to the new 350 cu. inch (5700 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.
From a price of $6000-$7250 for the S1, 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. What happened next is quite inexplicable, for from a production of zero in 1971, the figure rose to 122 the next year. Today the Excalibur Series II remains the rarest of all Excaliburs, with a total production number of only 342 against the Series I's 359.
PERFORMANCE
- max power (SAE): 300 hp at 4,800 rpm
- max torque (SAE): 380 ib ft. 52.4 kg m at 3,200 rpm
- max engine rpm: 5,800;
- specific power: 52.3 hp/l
- power-weight ratio: 9.2 lb/hp, 4.2 kg/hp
- acceleration: standing 1/4 mile 14 sec, 0-50 mph (0-80 km/h) 5 sec
- speed in direct drive at 1,000 rpm: 25 mph, 40.2 km/h
- fuel consumption: 18 m/ imp gal, 15 m/ US gal, 15.7 1 x 100 km.
- max speeds:
- 72 mph, 116 km/h in 1st gear
- 97 mph, 156 km/h in 2nd gear
- 126 mph, 203 km/h in 3rd gear
- 155 mph, 250 km/h in 4th gear
The reason was that David and Steve decided to retool the chassis and install a new engine. The first few series II cars built in 1970 had a box type rear frame section with a Chevrolet Camaro front frame stub bolted on. Then in 1972 the chassis was a new one, although still a ladder-type affair, reinforced by a central 'X'-shaped member and featuring a removable bolt-on front section. Wheelbase had once more been stretched to 112 inches and the whole new chassis assembly housed an equally new engine, a Chevrolet Mk IV 454 cu. inch (7500 cc) big-block V8 which were being used in the Corvettes at the time. They offered the power to go with the looks. This was used through 1974.
To date, the 1970 Excalibur Series II remains the rarest of all Excaliburs, with a total production number of only 37 cars - 11 Roadsters and 26 phaetons.
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
Turbo Hydramatic automatic gear-box with 3 ratios 2.480, II 1.480, III 1, rev 2.077
hardtop
air-conditioning system.
|
Series II Production |
1970 |
1971 |
1972 |
1973 |
1974 |
Total |
|
Roadster |
11 |
- |
13 |
22 |
26 |
72 |
|
Phaeton |
26 |
- |
52 |
100 |
92 |
270 |
|
TOTAL |
37 |
- |
65 |
122 |
118 |
342 |
Excalibur Cobra
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Excalibur |
| Production | 1990 to 1995 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Sports |
| Layout | Roadster |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | Ford V-8 |
| Transmission | Manual |
The 1994 JAC 427 Cobra is modeled after the '66 version of the Shelby Cobra that was a collaborative effort among Carroll Shelby, Ford Motor Co. and AC Bristol Cars of Britain.
Peter Reick, Excalibur president, says the company chose to build the '66 version of the Cobra because of the popularity of the 427-cubic-inch Ford, V-8 that replaced the first two engines offered in the car-260- and 289-cubic-inch, Ford V-8s.
Unlike that '66 Cobra, the '94 is powered by a 5-liter, 302-cubic-inch, 215-horsepower, Ford V-8 teamed with a 5-speed manual. The open-top two seater is built on a 94.5-inch wheelbase, is 165 inches long and weighs only 2,500 pounds thanks to the fiberglass body. The Cobra claims a 0- to 60-mile-per-hour time of 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 145 m.p.h., yet a respectable rating of 17 miles per gallon city/24 m.p.g. highway.
The Excalibur Cobra features such goodies as chromed side exhaust pipes, speed-rated 16-inch radial tires, chromed cosmetic roll bar, chromed windshield frame, chromed driver-side bullet mirror, leather upholstery and dash, AM-FM stereo with cassette, tonneau cover with zippered center so you can drive in open air while the passenger's seat remains covered.
The Cobra starts at $51,807. Add $1,795 for air conditioning, $1,950 for the optional soft top, $2,995 for the hard top and $2,395 for automatic transmission.
Excalibur Cobra's most important feature, Reick says, is that you buy it built. An estimated 33 Cobra kit car makers sell about 2,000 reproductions each year at $6,000 to $15,000-cars that arrive in pieces for people to assemble or at least attempt to put together. But with Excalibur there's no need to bolt part A to part B in your spare time and, years later, realize you still can't find part B and no longer have any spare time.
"It can take you five years to build a kit car and when you're done there's no warranty," said Excalibur sales manager Richard Hohl.
"For the first time, an established auto manufacturer is supplying a fully certified, licensable, limited-production auto. The uncertainties involved in buying and completing a kit car are removed," Reick said. Record keeping from 1990 on was not the best at the Excalibur plant. 200 Excalibur Cobras was the target production number. However, there are no records to say what the exact production figures were. A few years ago, a survey was attempted to locate and document all the Excalibur Cobras produced. The highest Vin number found was number 172, thought to be very close to the end of the production run. So one could surmise that they never did reach their goal of 200 units. A more likely projection would be around 175.
