12 replies to this topic

[David M. Woodhouse]

Does anyone know what happened to the three Excalibur Js built by Brooks Stevens in the early 1950s? They were raced extensively in the Midwest USA and ran at Sebring in 1953,54,55. I'm posting this for Jim Sitz, who does not have internet access. Jim would like to know who got them from Stevens, and where they are now.

Tom Schultz? Anyone?

Woody

[Peter Leversedge]

I have a copy of "Sports Car International" Volume 10 Issue 7 July 1994 Page 38 has a story by Don Sherman which would maybe answer your question. If you are unable to find a copy I could scan it and email it to you

[RA Historian]

I know that all three J types are still around. The Stevens sons own them, last I heard. Bob Shaw, a long time friend and racer, periodically borrows an example to run. I imagine that you are referring to the two original Excalibur J cars, which had Henry J fours, plus the third which had a Jaguar XK engine. I presume that we are not referring to the later Mk IV (Excalibur Hawk) or MK VI (rear engine sports racer). I will do some checking to confirm.
Tom

[David M. Woodhouse]

Thank you Peter and Tom. I am referring to the original three cars, but I think that they had the Willys six cylinder (F-head) engines. The Sebring entrys from Ken Breslaur's book show "Excalibur Willys - 2700cc". Drivers at Sebring were Dick Irish, Hal Ullrich, Ralph Knudson, Jim Feld, Robert Gary, and Bob Ballinger. with two cars entered each of the three years '53-'55. Best finiish was 28th in 1955.

Woody

[RA Historian]

Yes David, you are correct about the engines. I guess that hastily I just lump Henry J and Willys into the same bag. I am surely not an expert on early 50s Kaiser Corp. engines, but would imagine that the two most likely are quite similar.

Tom

[Peter Leversedge]

The photos I have from "Sports Car International " shows what looks like to me [ex auto mechanic ] a six cyl inline overhead valve engine. But the specs say that it was a F head engine. "F" head means overhead intake and side valve exhaust like the early ' 50s Rovers etc !!

[David M. Woodhouse]

The Willys engine was definitely an F-head (intake over exhaust). That configuration dates from 1950 in the Willys Jeepster.

Woody

[RA Historian]

Alice Preston, who was curator of the now defunct Brooks Stevens Museum, tells me that cars one and two, the first two with the Willys engines, are in the Stevens family. David Stevens, Brooks' eldest son, owns the second one, while his son Tony owns the first. The third car of the original three, the Jaguar powered car with the headrest, is owned by a fellow in Madison, Wis., who is restoring it as it is currently in pieces.

A big thank you to Alice.

David, if you could pass this on to Jim Sitz, I would appreciate it as snail mail will take a week to get to him.

Tom

[Todd]

Here is an interesting link on the Excalibur Js: http://fiberglassspo.../ExcaliburJ.htm According to their sources, the third J was powered by an Alfa 1900 engine for the purpose of testing the effectiveness of the Henry J mills, although later it was fitted with a supercharged C-type engine.

[David M. Woodhouse]

Tom,

Thanks for the information - I'll call Jim in the morning.

Woody

[terry mcgrath]

I would love to find out the engine number in the jaguar powered one does anyone have contact details for owner.
Whilst on the subject of BS does anyone have any info on his SS100 or XK120
regards


Alice Preston, who was curator of the now defunct Brooks Stevens Museum, tells me that cars one and two, the first two with the Willys engines, are in the Stevens family. David Stevens, Brooks' eldest son, owns the second one, while his son Tony owns the first. The third car of the original three, the Jaguar powered car with the headrest, is owned by a fellow in Madison, Wis., who is restoring it as it is currently in pieces.

A big thank you to Alice.

[ZOOOM]

Just digging through my old pictures of Meadowdale back in '61. Came across this:


It is an Excalibur. I think if I recall correctly Brooks was up.

Sorry about the quality, brownie Starflash as I recall......

ZOOOM

[RA Historian]

Originally posted by ZOOOM
Just digging through my old pictures of Meadowdale back in '61. Came across this:
It is an Excalibur. I think if I recall correctly Brooks was up. ZOOOM

I tend to doubt that. Among other things, Stevens had a bum leg. Most likely Hal Ullrich, who drove this Excalibur, the supercharged Jaguar XK engined "SJ", the third Excalibur, extensively for several years in the late 50s and early 60s.
Tom