Photo:2
Photo:3
Photo:4
Photo:5
Photo:6
Photo:2 Photo:3 Photo:4 Photo:5 Photo:6 |
| History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2>
Zimmer Golden Spirit
Zimmer Motorcars Corporation was established in 1978 as a manufacturer of neo-classic automobiles.
The idea for this automobile was initially drawn on a napkin at a private dinner between Paul Zimmer, Chairman and President of Zimmer Corporation and Bob Zimmer, Paul Zimmer's son, employee and shareholder of the company.
Paul Zimmer drew what was to become the Golden Spirit on a napkin, handed it to Bob Zimmer and told him that not only were we going to build a neo-classic automobile, but that the younger Zimmer would be responsible for all functions of the operation and ongoing supervision of Zimmer Motorcars Corporation. Bob Zimmer became the company's President.
At its peak in the 1980s, Zimmer Motorcars Corporation employed 175 people and generated $25 million in annual revenue.
[edit] Tags:Type,Automotive,Syracuse, New York,Cambridge, Maryland,United States,Tallinn,Estonia,Pontiac Fiero,Pompano Beach, Florida,Jeddah,Saudi Arabia,Jamesville, New York,Excalibur,Clénet,Ford,Lincoln Mercury,Franklin Automobile Company,Syracuse,Syracuse's,Amman, Jordan,Clénet Coachworks,Excalibur (automobile),Stutz Blackhawk,Categories,Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Of The United States,Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Based In Syracuse, New York,Companies Based In Syracuse, New York, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Models | 3>
A Zimmer Quicksilver
A wedding limousine Zimmer in Tallinn, Estonia
The Zimmer Golden Spirit was the flagship of the Zimmer Motorcars Corporation with more than 1,500 produced during its production run from 1978 to 1988.
The second Zimmer Motorcars Corporation offering was the mid-engined Pontiac Fiero-based Quicksilver which was built between 1984 and 1988.
Both models were built in the same factory in Pompano Beach, Florida on simultaneous production lines between the years 1980 to 1988.[1]
[edit] | Tags: Original company fails | 3>
In 1988, Bob Zimmer sold his shares in the company and purchased an automobile dealership. Shortly after that, Paul Zimmer suffered a major heart attack, required a triple bypass and lost the energy, creativity and stamina that had been his trademark throughout the years. At that time a group of employees and members of the Board of Directors attempted to direct the operation of the company and were not able to navigate such a large entity during a difficult economy and the loss of the company's most important and influential member.
Zimmer Corporation fell into serious economic distress and the $325 million dollar a year parent company was forced into bankruptcy, taking down with it all of its operating divisions, including the highly successful and profitable $25 million dollar a year car company.
[edit] | Tags: Company acquired | 3>
Zimmer Showroom in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
In September 1996, Art Zimmer, (who is no relation to the original Zimmer family) became aware that an automobile had been manufactured which shared his surname. Shortly thereafter, he acquired the "Zimmer Motorcars" name and various Zimmer Motorcars Corporation materials and established the Zimmer Motor Car Club for Zimmer car owners. By 2001, there were over 500 members in the club.[1]
In 1997 Art Zimmer, president and CEO,[1] started the Art Zimmer Neo-Classic Motor Car Company after buying a model in a local automobile dealership.[1] The company, also known as Zimmer Motor Car Company, currently builds 10 to 20 automobiles each year and are headquartered in Jamesville, New York.[2]
[edit] | Tags: Retro style - modern chassis | 3>
The Zimmer is considered an "era" car. Era cars were built from readily available parts (VW or Sprite convertible body, Corvette suspension, Buick/Lincoln/Chevrolet engines, etc.) and made to replicate the long hood, exposed headlight, side-mount spare tire look of the classics of the 1930s. All the parts used, were either new or completely rebuilt to be better than new. There were several brands made (Excalibur, Clénet, Tiffany) and they were all made to the same formula.[3]
The Zimmer Golden Spirit retails for $175,900 and is billed by the company as "the most awesome automobile in the world." It is the first four-door convertible on the market in decades and is based on a Lincoln Town Car chassis. The company also offers a two-door model that is built on a Ford/Mustang chassis which retails for $109,900.[4] The advantage to owners is that the automobile can be serviced at any Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealer. This includes full service and Ford parts and warranty work. Additionally, the automobile has all the latest safety and modern engineering features available.[2] Because Zimmers are built atop existing chassis, the company can use the legal certification of the Town Car and Mustang, obviating the need for crash and emissions testing.
[edit] | Tags: Manufacturing facilities | 3>
Art Zimmer established the company's manufacturing facilities in Cambridge, Maryland, and in December 1998 the first Zimmer Golden Spirit rolled out of the factory.[1]
During 2000, the company established a Syracuse presence when two of its operations; Rosenthal and Chadwick, a metal fabricating company, won the contract to supply heavy-duty steel bumpers, badge bars, and associated support parts. For the first time since 1934, when Franklin Automobile Company closed, automotive manufacturing returned to Syracuse.[1]
In May 2000, Zimmer and Sam Vigliotti, president of Sam's Auto Body and Service Center on West Genesee Street, located in Syracuse's historic Automobile Row, announced that the latest Zimmer model, currently in development, would be manufactured at Sam's Auto Body. Because of this alliance, by 2001, the company was able to manufacture a new vehicle every six to eight weeks.[1]
[edit] | Tags: Distribution network | 3>
Zimmers are manufactured "on order" and sold through an international distribution network. The largest distribution center is located in Amman, Jordan, and there are other distribution centers in several states in the United States, as well as throughout the world such as Saudi Arabia.[1]
[edit] | Tags: External links | 2>
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Zimmer vehicles
Zimmer Motor Cars
Zimmer Golden Spirit Club
Zimmer Parts & Technical Assistance
Hovey Motor Cars - Zimmer Sales
The Most Magnificent Neo-Classic Motor Car Made In America
[edit] | Tags: References | 2>
^ a b c d e f g h "Zimmer Motor production beats expectations". The Business Journal - Central New York, January 26, 2001. http://www.allbusiness.com/marketing-advertising/1104906-1.html. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
^ a b "Zimmer Motor Car Company". Zimmer Motor Car Co., 2010. http://www.zimmermotorcars.com/. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
^ Hagin, Bob. "Auto Questions and Answers". The Auto Channel, 1996–2007. http://www.theautochannel.com/mania/repair/qa1998/qa9819.html. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
^ Dyer, Ezra. "Neoclassic cars -- big, head-turning fakes / They're visions of glamour, but bells, whistles -- just for show". The New York Times, November 19, 2006. http://articles.sfgate.com/2006-11-19/autos/17322106_1_buick-park-avenue-wheels-neoclassic. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
\
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zimmer_(automobile)&oldid=489662702"
Categories: Motor vehicle manufacturers of the United StatesMotor vehicle manufacturers based in Syracuse, New YorkCompanies based in Syracuse, New YorkMotor vehicle manufacturers based in New YorkCar manufacturers of the United StatesMotor vehicle companiesSports car manufacturersRetro style automobilesCompanies established in 1977
Personal tools
Log in / create account
Namespaces
Article
Talk
Variants
Views
Read
Edit
View history
Actions
Search
Navigation
Main page
Contents
Featured content
Current events
Random article
Donate to Wikipedia
Interaction
Help
About Wikipedia
Community portal
Recent changes
Contact Wikipedia
Toolbox
What links here
Related changes
Upload file
Special pages
Permanent link
Cite this page
Print/export
Create a bookDownload as PDFPrintable version
Languages
Deutsch
Español
This page was last modified on 28 April 2012 at 18:36.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License;
additional terms may apply.
See Terms of use for details.
Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.Contact us
Privacy policy
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Mobile view
if(window.mw){
mw.loader.state({"site":"loading","user":"ready","user.groups":"ready"});
}
if(window.mw){
mw.loader.load(["mediawiki.user","mediawiki.page.ready","mediawiki.legacy.mwsuggest","ext.gadget.teahouse","ext.vector.collapsibleNav","ext.vector.collapsibleTabs","ext.vector.editWarning","ext.vector.simpleSearch","ext.UserBuckets","ext.articleFeedback.startup","ext.articleFeedbackv5.startup","ext.markAsHelpful"], null, true);
}
| Tags: Type,Automotive,Websites related to: Auto Questions |