In the early eighties, with his battered mobile home and camper business facing yet another interest-rate-induced slump, Paul Zimmer sought new fortunes in a market where buyers paid in cash: a burgeoning cottage industry of neoclassic cars. Boutique makers such as Clénet Coachworks and Excalibur had already carved out a niche over previous decades building custom cars on modern underpinnings with extravagant bodywork inspired by the best of the Classic Era. In 1981, nascent Zimmer Motor Cars Corp. would launch its own neoclassic, sketched up by Paul Zimmer himself. Built in the company’s Pompano Beach, Florida facility previously used to create custom interiors for conversion-vans, Zimmer would apply that expertise along with the legacy company’s experience working with fiberglass to create the Golden Spirit. Starting with a new Ford Mustang, the body would be cut apart with only the roof and doors remaining. The wheelbase was extended from 104 to 142 inches and custom fiberglass coachwork with long sweeping fenders bolted on. Details reminiscent of 1930s classics included polished steel bumpers, trumpet horns, cowl lights, side-mounted spares, and a gold eagle radiator mascot. The lavish leather interior was fully customized. At a cost of $55,900, the Zimmer Golden Spirit exceeded the price of a 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380 SL by nearly $17,000 at the time. Production would continue until the company filed for bankruptcy in 1988. Though no factory records are known to exist, online estimates based on surviving cars and a survey of their Zimmer Motor Cars official production plates put total production estimates of Golden Spirits at around 1,500 coupes and convertibles, with the latter understood to be far rarer than the former.

The Zimmer Golden Spirit Convertible offered here is in remarkable condition with an absurdly low indicated mileage of 1,655 miles at cataloguing time. While its early history is not known, the car was registered in New Hampshire starting in 2010 and would remain in the Northeast until 2016, according to its Carfax report. It would then be registered in Florida, where the consignor acquired it in 2018.

The car is beautifully finished in an elegant color scheme of white over tan leather that showcases its retro bodywork. The matching tan soft-top is fully lined and power operated. Authentic details include a wood-rimmed Nardi steering wheel and chromed wire wheels with thin whitewall tires. Power comes from Ford’s capable 5.0-liter V-8 and C4 three-speed automatic transmission. Recent work includes replacing the starter and battery. With an impressively clean presentation, this rare, low-mileage neoclassic melds retro lines with modern performance and makes for a wonderful show car at any number of events.