Less is not more. More is more. Well, that’s the design philosophy behind a subculture of automobiles known as “neoclassical.” Dismissed as kitsch by the concours crowd, models like the Zimmer Golden Spirit earned a star-studded following of celebrities in the 1970s and 1980s.
Neoclassical is the term referring to models using a modern engine and chassis. The body is elongated (usually with fiberglass) and decorated to mimic classic cars from the 1920s and 1930s. These cars were built by small start-up companies using entirely new car bodies and parts. As such, they are not restomods—even though the goal is largely the same. They show off the style of a classic automobile, while offering much more reliability, engine power, safety, creature comforts. Most importantly, you’ll find wider availability of mechanical replacement parts.
1982 Zimmer Golden Spirit
Everything But the Kitchen Sink
What really sets Neoclassical cars apart is the kitchen-sink approach to design. Fanciful flourishes include features such as: side-mount spare tires, exposed headlights, mesh grilles, side exhaust port decorations, dual push bumpers, shiny wire wheels, opera windows, half-vinyl roofs, matching vinyl inside, and rich Corinthian leather.
The term Neoclassical originated with the Excalibur model of the 1960s. The two-seat sports car uses a Studebaker Lark Daytona chassis and 290-horsepower 289 V-8 supercharged engine. Zimmer modified the body and adorned it to look like a 1920s Mercedes-Benz SSK. Dubbed Excalibur for the King Arthur’s mythical sword, it had a nickname of “Mercebaker” due to its Mercedes-Studebaker blend. Phyllis Diller, the outrageous comedian, reportedly loved Excaliburs and owned four of them. You can usually find one or two Excalibur cars on eBay.
But the pinnacle of Neoclassical motoring is arguably the Golden Spirit, the flagship model for the Zimmer Motorcars Corporation. At its peak in the 1980s, Zimmer employed a couple hundred people people and generated $25 million in revenue. Zimmer produced more than 1,500 units between 1978 to 1988.
1981 Zimmer Golden Spirit
Yep, it’s a Fox
The original Golden Spirit used a Mercury Cougar chassis and drivetrain. The company shifted to Ford Mustang donors in 1979. The 1982 Zimmer now listed on eBay has a Ford Mustang chassis 302 cubic-inch V8 and three-speed automatic transmission as its starting point. The Fox Body Mustang’s passenger safety cage, doors, and windshield—as well as its power windows, tilt wheel, and cruise control—are all retained.
The wheelbase grows significantly, with the wheels of the donor car moving forward by nearly four feet. The Zimmer body—like in this 1984 example—took on a gold-plated bronze eagle hood ornament and teak-trimmed running boards. The Interior billows with a mishmash of frivolous touches. These include walnut-adorned Mustang gauges, crystal flower vases, and glass etched with floral patterns. A Nardi steering wheel and leather Recaro racing seats add a sporty touch. This combination is rather eclectic, to say the least.
1984 Golden Spirit
The Zimmer Golden Spirit – Always on my Mind?
Country legend Willie Nelson is said to have bought the first Zimmer, followed by approximately 1,500 customers who took Zimmers home between 1978 and 1988, when the parent company entered bankruptcy. The company has since traded hands a couple times. They now make a few dozen two-door and four-door coupe and convertible models a year, selling from $239,000 to $398,000.
Original Zimmer models—with all their ornate style and V8 power—are a relative bargain on eBay, where they commonly sell for between $20,000 and $35,000.
