Classics by the Beach: June, 2021

Finding a suitable adjective for this 1986 Zimmer Quicksilver is proving to be harder than I thought it'd be. I was considering "villainous" and possibly "sinister," not because it's reprehensible, but because it strikes me as a having a sort of shady Manhattan vibe about it. I mean, if you were waiting for Lou Reed's man, "... all dressed in black, beat-up shoes and a big straw hat," this is what he'd be driving, right? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yPXBjVYLYA.) Anyway ... .

According to a handy plaque the car's owner provided, the Quicksilver is powered by a mid-mounted 3.8 litre V6 which car guru Graham M tells me is the same Buick-sourced engine that powered the Commodore range from the VN to the VZ. He also explained that the Zimmer Motorcars Corporation belongs to the same family that manufacture the eponymous walking frames.

Live long and prosper

The underpinnings are based on a lengthened Pontiac Fiero platform, while the steel and fibreglass reinforced plastic body was designed by GM employee D A Johnson. There's a three speed auto transmission, four-wheel-disc brakes, and a fur-lined front "froot" and rear boot with matching lining, although in American parlance they're probably called a "frunk" and a trunk, respectively.

The Quicksilver was both exclusive and expensive, coming in at approximately U$52,000 when new, which in today's money is approximately AU$143,000. Only 170 were ever sold. However, there's no indication if further cars were built and, if so, what's happened to them.

That's all I've got. Thanks to owner John for his informative plaque! 😃. Please enjoy the rest of the photos of the Quicksilver and the other great cars that follow.

Rhys!

U M P H

(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)

Comments

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