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Car of the Day : August 10, 2014; Majorette '75 Excalibur Series III
Topic Started: Aug 9 2014, 08:52 PM (470 Views)
juantoo3
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Car of the Day for August 10, 2014 is the Majorette 1975 Excalibur Series III

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The Excalibur automobile from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was a car styled after the 1928 Mercedes-Benz SSK by Brooks Stevens for Studebaker. Stevens subsequently formed a company to manufacture and market the cars, which were conventional under their styling.


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A prototype premiered at car shows in 1964, fitted on a Studebaker chassis and using a 290-horsepower Studebaker 289 V-8. Studebaker subsequently ceased its operations, ending the availability of its 289 V-8. General Motors friends Ed Cole and "Bunkie" Knudsen agreed to provide Brooks Stevens with Chevrolet 327s in 300-bhp Corvette tune, making the 2100-pound Excalibur a strong performer. With the standard 3.31:1 rear axle, acceleration from 0-60 mph took less than five seconds. Projected top speed was 160 mph.


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Prices and production began taking off with the Series III, which arrived in 1975 (Excalibur has never adhered to strict model years). This was basically the Series II design modified for tightening safety/emissions rules, but not so much as to compromise styling or roadability that were, by now, Excalibur hallmarks.


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Besides "shock mounted solid aluminum alloy [bumpers that] meet government standards for absorbing impact," Series IIIs boasted fuller clamshell-type fenders and standard high-back bucket seats covered in leather and made -- like most of the car -- by Excalibur itself.

The main mechanical alteration was switching to Chevy's big-block 454 V-8, which could be emissions-tuned with less loss of power and torque than the small-block 350. Both roadster and phaeton carried identical 1975 starting prices of $18,900, more than double the original figure of a decade before. And prices would go much higher, reaching $28,600 by the end of this series in 1979.


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For more info see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excalibur_(automobile)
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/excalibur2.htm

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I knew someone that had an Excalibur back in the day, and to say the car was exquisite just doesn't do it, the car was beyond compare of anything in it's day. When I found Majorette made one (as does Ertl, a "one and done" for the Matt Houston TV series), I put some effort into finding this casting for my collection. Not exactly accurate, they will do nicely until an upscale maker sees the light and brings this car back to diecast life.

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pjedsel
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Muscle Car
:toy: It is surprising that not just one but two companies made the Excalibur in small scale diecast. The Majorette version is a nice looking model. I wonder how many people who have one of these models know the "tie in" with Studebaker?
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juantoo3
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pjedsel
Aug 10 2014, 01:26 AM
:toy: It is surprising that not just one but two companies made the Excalibur in small scale diecast. The Majorette version is a nice looking model. I wonder how many people who have one of these models know the "tie in" with Studebaker?
And the peripheral tie with Avanti...as I recall, Brooks Stevens designed that car as well...and it too was powered by the Studebaker 289.
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ivantt
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New casting? Quick! Take it apart!
I think I could safely say this is not one of Majorette's better efforts, and while I agree with Wes that we could use a better casting by a more upscale maker, I don't see it happening. While most of us at Swifty's would sit up and take notice and probably purchase one, the maker has to find a car that appeals to the casual buyer as well. Tooling costs LOTS and LOTS of money. Wes, you have a good piece here. Be happy you got one in great condition!!
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Dean-o-mite
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Muscle Car
I don't have the Ertl version, but from what I have seen in pictures, I like the Majorette version better. I am quite thankful Majorette made this car.
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