Excalibur Drivers Ed

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We hope it's not an omen that the newest company building a replica of the famed Cobra car is on a dead-end street in this hamlet bordering Milwaukee.

Here's where you'll find Excalibur Automobile Corp., or perhaps it should be referred to as Excalibur III, because that's how many lives the builder of neoclassic cars modeled after 1920s Mercedes-Benz has had since the first of three owners set up shop in 1964.

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The Excalibur Cobra features such goodies as chromed side exhaust pipes, speed-rated 16-inch radial tires, chromed cosmetic roll bar, chromed windshield frame, chromed driver-side bullet mirror.
Excalibur Driving School. 16526 W 78th St Eden Prairie, MN 55346. We offer professional drivers education for the following schools: Chanhassen High School.
Overall, i had/am currently having a very unpleasant experience and recommend taking driver's ed. Through your school or a different academy. First to Review. Upon my first lesson at Excalibur I had the instructor by the name of Arden (1.

Now, thanks to the Geitlinger family of Germany, the company that went belly-up under Henry Warner in 1990 and under the Stevens brothers in 1986 is trying to start anew.

Excalibur flourished in the '60s by building a fiberglass-bodied replica of the 1927 Mercedes-Benz that sold under the Excalibur name for about $7,000. Brooks Stevens, a design consultant for Studebaker, which at the time brought Mercedes-Benz cars into this country, developed a neoclassic replica of the Benz.

In 1964, sons David and William began building and selling the car as the Excalibur.

An immediate hit, the line expanded into roadsters, convertibles and limos dubbed Series II, III or IV with $75,000 to $125,000 price tags. When prices chased customers away, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1986. Warner took it over and ran it until 1990, when he found himself with a long list of creditors but a short list of buyers.

The Geitlingers came to the rescue in 1991, coming up with $1.7 million to get Excalibur out of receivership. Now, three years later, the first products of the new owners are coming to market-the Excalibur JAC Cobra, a fiberglass body replica of the Cobra race car developed and made famous by racer/car builder Carroll Shelby in 1962-67, and a limited-edition, neoclassic Excalibur Limited 100 model, the sole survivor of the Warner/Stevens regimes.

The ownership of the current Excalibur Automobile Corp. is complex. Sikkens Co. of Lichestein, Germany, owns Excalibur. Sikkens is diversified, from building aircraft to owning a soccer team to producing bratwurst. Udo Geitlinger owns the holding company that owns Sikkens and is a board member of Sikkens and the major stockholder in Excalibur.

His son, Jens, is chairman of Excalibur. Udo doesn't speak English so Jens explains the business relationship. 'We (Geitlingers) own the mother company, which owns Sikkens which owns Excalibur. It's all intermingled.'

Udo and Jens are enamored with fast cars (the J in JAC Cobra stands for Jens) and make it known they have ample cash to revitalize the company and produce a variety of toys to add to their soccer and bratwurst holdings.

The 1994 JAC 427 Cobra is modeled after the '66 version of the Shelby Cobra that was a collaborative effort among Carroll Shelby, Ford Motor Co. and AC Bristol Cars of Britain.

Peter Reick, Excalibur president, says the company chose to build the '66 version of the Cobra because of the popularity of the 427-cubic-inch Ford, V-8 that replaced the first two engines offered in the car-260- and 289-cubic-inch, Ford V-8s.

Unlike that '66 Cobra, the '94 is powered by a 5-liter, 302-cubic-inch, 215-horsepower, Ford V-8 teamed with a 5-speed manual. The open-top two seater is built on a 94.5-inch wheelbase, is 165 inches long and weighs only 2,500 pounds thanks to the fiberglass body. The Cobra claims a 0- to 60-mile-per-hour time of 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 145 m.p.h., yet a respectable rating of 17 miles per gallon city/24 m.p.g. highway.

The Excalibur Cobra features such goodies as chromed side exhaust pipes, speed-rated 16-inch radial tires, chromed cosmetic roll bar, chromed windshield frame, chromed driver-side bullet mirror, leather upholstery and dash, AM-FM stereo with cassette, tonneau cover with zippered center so you can drive in open air while the passenger's seat remains covered.

The Cobra starts at $51,807. Add $1,795 for air conditioning, $1,950 for the optional soft top, $2,995 for the hard top and $2,395 for automatic transmission. No air bag for now. Excalibur plans to build 200 Cobras annually.

Excalibur Cobra's most important feature, Reick says, is that you buy it built. An estimated 33 Cobra kit car makers sell about 2,000 reproductions each year at $6,000 to $15,000-cars that arrive in pieces for people to assemble or at least attempt to put together. But with Excalibur there's no need to bolt part A to part B in your spare time and, years later, realize you still can't find part B and no longer have any spare time.

'It can take you five years to build a kit car and when you're done there's no warranty,' said Excalibur sales manager Richard Hohl.

'For the first time, an established auto manufacturer is supplying a fully certified, licensable, limited-production auto. The uncertainties involved in buying and completing a kit car are removed,' Reick said.

Reick said though the original Cobra was meant to race, the Excalibur Cobra is meant for street use. It's 5 inches longer and 4 inches wider to relieve the tight squeeze for which the original was known. However, the Excalibur Cobra still is snug. Getting in takes elan, getting out takes help.

The original Cobra also was known for having the foot pedals off to the left so the driver had to sit at an angle to work them.

Excalibur boasts better placement, but you'll still find brake and clutch very close to the wall. Side zip-open plastic wind screens, like the original, take the place of glass windows. Windshield wipers are miniaturized. You may want to carry a towel to keep the glass clean.

The Excalibur Cobra is crude, which is what the original designer intended and a theme that the West Allis replicator maintains. Excalibur didn't put a happy face on the Mona Lisa.

The liberties it took with the car to bring it into the '90s were in terms of a few creature comforts, such as air conditioning, automatic transmission and both a convertible and a removable hardtop.

'We didn't want it to be just a May through October car, so we covered all the bases,' Reick said.

Excalibur also intends to operate differently than its two previous owners.

'Excalibur used to sell cars directly from the factory but we're establishing a dealer network,' Reick said. 'We have 11 dealers nationally and three internationally now and aim for 60 eventually, 25 to 30 nationally, 25 to 30 internationally.'

And Excalibur is going to expand its base of business.

'Excalibur was known for its neoclassic cars. We'll still build and sell the Limited 100, but it's the only car that Excalibur used to make that will still carry the name. We're expanding the business base to include trucks,' Reick said. 'That's a must to survive. Those others who had this company didn't expand their base and look what happened-bankruptcy. We have the financial resources for the expansion.'

Excalibur has entered an agreement with Knudsen Automotive Inc., of Omaha to build and sell Knudsen's Tridon trucks and SL004 Suburbans. Tridon trucks include the STT four-door Dually, a super luxury transformation of the Chevrolet/GMC C3500 one-ton pickup with electric sunroof, leather seating, television, videocassette recorder, and, of course, four doors.

There's also the Tridon SL004, a luxury version of the Chevy/GMC full-size C/K extended-cab pickup and the SL004 Suburban, a dolled-up Chevy/GMC Suburban utility vehicle.

The custom, or transformation work as Excalibur calls it, runs $12,000 to $18,000 over the regular price of the truck.

Reick said Excalibur also plans for luxury conversions of the Dodge Ram pickup as well as a Ram sports truck complete with rear-end spoiler, sun shades (which are similar to a plastic awning over the window), running boards and foglamps.

'We use donor vehicles (those produced by other manufacturers) in order to do away with us having to meet federal regulations (safety and emissions, for example) on our own because donor vehicles already meet those regulations,' he said.

While neoclassic renditions of the 1927 Mercedes helped launch Excalibur, don't look for those types of models to be offered much longer.

'The neoclassic market isn't like it was in the '70s,' Reick said. 'It's still alive but it's for limited-edition, high-performance cars such as the Limited 100.'

The Limited Edition 100 is based on the former Series III, Excalibur's most popular body style. While Cobra is powered by a Ford engine, the Limited 100 features the 5.7-liter, 300-h.p., LT1 V-8 from the Chevy Corvette teamed with a four-speed automatic. The Limited 100 claims 0- to 60-m.p.h. acceleration in 4.7 seconds and a top speed of 145 m.p.h. Unlike the Cobra, the Limited 100 offers a driver-side air bag and anti-lock brakes. It starts at $69,000. Twenty of the 100 copies that will be built have been sold.

'We're deep in thought about what the next Excalibur car might be,' Reick said. 'We'll probably do one more follow-up to the Limited, but in the future the Excalibur won't have the neoclassic look. I don't think we can squeeze much more out of that look.

'We're also debating building a newer Cobra, a version of our own, a modern Viper-like car. Maybe it wouldn't be a replica or a neoclassic as it would be a conversion of an exisiting car. It would make sense to buy an existing platform, like the (Ford) Thunderbird, and do something with that car,' Reick added.

'The reason the others went bankrupt in the past is that they weren't broad-based enough. They rode on one model. You can't keep afloat doing that. We can't be profitable just with one Excalibur Limited 100 and one Excalibur Cobra. We can be almost profitable with those two cars but not quite. This is why we need trucks. The trucks will bring in money to help us do the next Excalibur car,' he said.

'We're also looking at other fiberglass products we might do, such as truck cabs; modifications of existing cars, such as a station wagon conversion of the Lincoln Town Car; as well as conversions of existing cars from left- to right-hand drive,' he said.

Noted racer and four-time Indy 500 winner Al Unser is a company spokesman who will visit dealerships to help drum up interest.

Locally, Lyons & Ryan Ford in Antioch, Elmhurst Lincoln-Mercury in Elmhurst and Rock River Ford in Rockford along with Ed Witt Venus Ford in Milwaukee have taken on the Excalibur Cobra franchise.

Excalibur Note:Before going to take your Driver Permit test you will need Excalibur to provide you with anENROLLMENT / EXCLUSION FORM. You do not need to fill this out yourself.

From the Alabama DMV website:

When you reach the age when it's time to learn to drive, the first step for a teen driver is the learner's license. You must be at least 15 years old to take the written exam for this license. Questions on the exam are from the Alabama Driver's Manual, so study it well.
This Class D learner's license carries a 'Y' restriction, which means that you may drive a vehicle only when accompanied by a licensed driver age 21 or older who is in the front passenger seat beside you. When you turn 16, or if you were already at least 16 when you applied for your first learner's license, you can be accompanied by a licensed driver of any age.
This learner's license is valid for four years and may be renewed once. The fee is $23, plus a $5 written exam fee.
DMV.org offers you practice tests to help you study for the written exam. Study the Alabama Driver's Manual to learn driving rules, regulations, and laws. You'll want to study the road signs, too.
If you are a teen between 16 and 18 years old, you can apply for a regular driver's license after you've held the learner's license for at least six months. When you apply, you'll be required to pass a driving (road) test. Once you pass the road test, the 'Y' restriction will be removed from your license for the remainder of the four-year license period. There's no additional charge for the driving test.

Alabama Graduated License Program

Alabama has a graduated license program for teens, with varying restrictions placed on licenses for teens ages 15-18. [See below: Restrictions on Licenses ]

Licenses for all drivers under the age of 21 are in a vertical format, making them easily recognizable with their red text and bold design. Pictures and signatures are now stored in a permanent digital database.

Exemptions

Graduated license rules do not apply to the following groups:

Individuals 18 years or older
Teens 17 years or older who've had a license for 6 months or more
16 year olds who are married or head of household
Teens who have been emancipated

Get a Learner Permit in Alabama

In order to legally practice driving on the Alabama roads, all first-time drivers must pass a written exam, obtain an AL learner's license and only get behind the wheel when supervised.
If you are younger than 18, this is considered Stage I of the Graduated Driver License program. If you are 18 or older, the requirements to drive vary slightly, but you'll still want to practice behind the wheel before you take the road test. To do so, you must obtain a learner's license.

A) Ace a Few DMV Practice Tests

Take multiple online practice permit tests before you head to an Alabama DPS driver license office to take your written test. Sample test questions cover topics you’ll find on the actual learner’s permit exam. Be sure you also review the Alabama Driver's Manual.

B) Gather Required Documents and License Fees

You can apply for an AL learner’s license (also called a Stage I license) if you are at least 15 years old and can provide the Alabama Department of Public Safety with the following. Keep in mind requirements vary by age:

Learner License Requirements―15 Years Old

A certified U.S. birth certificate Social Security card or proof of Social Security number
Proof of school enrollment or graduation
Cash payment for the $5 testing fee
Cash payment for the $23 to purchase license

If the driver is 16 years old, he/she must provide:

Two forms of identification,
- including one picture ID
- Social Security card or proof of Social Security number
Proof of school enrollment or graduation (Provided by Excalibur)
Cash payment for the $5 testing fee
Cash payment for the $23 to purchase license

C) Take the AL Learner’s License Exam

With your required documents and fees in hand, head to a nearby DPS Driver License Office to take your written learner's license test. Look online for the closest office to keep things simple.

Drivers Ed California

Excalibur Note: Lines form early. If you are not in line by 7:00-7:15 you may be there all day or not get in at all. Try to avoid Huntsville DMV as it is very crowded.