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"Your boy, BJR" (jerseyshoreben) 03/10/2019 at 23:15 • Filed to: None

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In a recent conversation with some fellow oppos, a picture of a Drift Mitsuoka came up. This got me thinking about the Neoclassics of the ‘70s and ‘80s. Cars from people such as Excalibur, Zimmer (pictured at the top of this post), and the revived Stutz. These were basically Proto-Mitsuokas, making gatsby styled cars out of contemporary Corvettes, Fieros, Mustangs, and Town Cars. They were also luxurious, with wood and leather interiors afeaturing car phones, TVs, and sconces. Looking into them I found, unfortunately, that their prices are quite high ($20k-$70k, depending on year and make, the bulk of them in the $25k-$30k range). This, of course makes these cars incredibly stupid, gaudy, and overpriced, just like they were when new. This is disappointing, because imagine if they are in the $3k-$10k. Suddenly, these garage queens for people with no taste become the ultimate hot rod candidates. Imagine rolling up to Radwood in an ‘87 Golden Spirit, car phone and all. Imagine swapping a built 3800SC or Northstar into a Fiero based Zimmer Quicksilver. Picture, for a minute, swapping a 427 into a C3 Vette-based Excalibur Series II. You’d end up with the pimpmobile answer to a Shelby Cobra.

Luckily, the boomers are dying off. I don’t see anyone other than them and myself wanting these cars, so hopefully their prices will drop. Until then, I guess we’ll just have to dream.

Clown Shoe Pilot > Your boy, BJR 03/10/2019 at 23:17

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I smell a race series...

ranwhenparked > Your boy, BJR 03/10/2019 at 23:18

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These cars were not really sold to Baby Boomers, more like the Baby Boomer’s parents who actually had some first-hand memories of the 1930s luxury cars these were supposed to be imitating. The original customer base for the ‘70s and ‘80s neoclassics are now in their 80s and 90s (at least) and have been dying off for some time. Prices are staying high presumably because they are somehow finding a new market. 

Your boy, BJR > ranwhenparked 03/10/2019 at 23:23

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The boomers whose parents originally won these things in casino jackpots?

Your boy, BJR > Clown Shoe Pilot 03/10/2019 at 23:25

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Spec- Zimmer Quicksilver? 6cyl and 8cyl classes?

pip bip - choose Corrour > Your boy, BJR 03/10/2019 at 23:27

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turn a Zimmer into a drift car

fintail > Your boy, BJR 03/10/2019 at 23:35

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These can be a guilty pleasure for me, too. My fave is probably the Excalibur, one of the original neoclassics. The Series III Phaeton is the one:

As you mention, prices are insane. I wanted one of these when I was a kid.

ranwhenparked > Your boy, BJR 03/10/2019 at 23:36

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Probably. I mean, people get into all sorts of different things. A lot of Boomers are totally perplexed by the fact that a number of Gen Xers and Millennials are getting into ‘70s and ‘80s land yachts, also the sorts of cars that originally sold to people who are now either very old or dead. 

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Your boy, BJR 03/10/2019 at 23:52

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There was a 240sx based one and I think someone has drifted it  

Your boy, BJR > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 03/10/2019 at 23:54

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Yeah that’s what triggered this post.

WilliamsSW > ranwhenparked 03/11/2019 at 00:06

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Probably because they are rare enough that it doesn’t take many wackos to set a market for them.

I remember these things growing up, and the better ones ( ie those that hid their plebian origins well- some failed miserably at that) impressed me as a kid. Wouldn’t touch one with a 10 foot pole now, but I’m one of those gen Xers that scratches my head at the interest in malaise cars. 

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Your boy, BJR 03/11/2019 at 00:16

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Saw some of these (and some of the cars they are meant to look like) at a Leake auction in 2015. So cool, but I’ve never seen one with a stick and I just... meh.

Speed > Your boy, BJR 03/11/2019 at 11:53

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The first thing I did upon seeing the Quicksilver was do some Googlin’ to see what was in the frunk. Not as much space as I’d hoped for.