1981 Ford Mustang

1981 Zimmer Golden Spirit Hardtop Zimmer Motorcars Corporation was established in 1980 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 Robert Bob Zimmer, Paul Zimmer's son, an employee and shareholder of the company. Paul Zimmer drew what was to become the Golden Spirit on said napkin. The sales brochure proclaimed, Built by perfectionists, driven by enthusiasts.  For consignment, a 1981 Zimmer Golden Spirit hardtop with a title verified 48,232 actual miles. It's no surprise that the extravagant pianist Liberace famously owned a Zimmer Golden Spirit because after all, the sales brochure explained, If you're a driver with a distinctive personality and impeccable taste, here is a motorcar designed to meet your every driving pleasure.   Exterior There's not much left of the 1981 Ford Mustang that received the golden ticket to become a Zimmer with maybe the door and roofline giving subtle hints. From there, ideas are borrowed from Packard, Duesenberg and a few others to give this Pastel Chamois colored Zimmer its dramatic shape. The long hood with golden decals, the faux exhaust pipes, huge headlights, horns, bumpers, and arching wide fenders all have incredible presence, and that's just the front! Sloping rear fenders flank the landau style roof in tan vinyl, matched by the tan trunk and Continental kit, here with a large heraldic royal coat of arms decal. Running boards connect the flared fenders and 15-inch chrome wire wheels carry 225/75R15 tires with a later 2023 date code. Condition wise, the vinyl top shows some wear and is split as some seams, the wheel spokes show surface rust, the paint has areas of orange peel and lots of crackling.  Interior The Mustang doors got a makeover and are ready for a night out on the town with saddle panel coverage and golden fur on the lower, immediately making it known that this is not your average automobile. Inside, saddle leather Recaro seats await with side bolstering and hip support and the driver's side is torn at the ingress point. Each front seat has an electric control panel on the inside pad. The rear seats are clean and provide a parlor-like atmosphere with small quarter windows and opera lights on the C-pillar. A wood rimmed steering wheel fronts a standard dashboard dressed with walnut burlwood keeping the palette coordinated with a saddle plastic surround. A JVC AM/FM/CD player is just above the Zimmer idiot light panel that includes a Zimmer image. The shifter is the familiar Ford T-handled unit in the center console over a floor blanketed in golden fur and its afforded to the rear passengers and completely lines the trunk as well.   Drivetrain Driver quality conditions await under the hood housing a 4.2 liter V8 with a 2-barrel carburetor and 115 horsepower. It is mated to a C4 3-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the Ford 7.5 rear axle.  Undercarriage Driver quality underneath as well with some typical surface rust and mostly dry conditions with a film of oil on the pan and transmission bottom. The single exhaust runs through a FlowMaster muffler and dumps out back through a chrome tip. Power brakes are supplied as front disc and rear drum and suspension consists of coil springs front and rear with a 4 link in back.   Drive-Ability We are steppin' out in this cool ride, which starts up without trouble and the nose exits the garage 10 minutes before the rest catches up. The unusual configuration puts a lot of real estate in front of you and you simply point the eagle hood ornament where you want to go, and let it fly. There's adequate power, straight tracking, and handling is surprisingly good. We noticed the passenger power lock does not work and the toggle switch from the driver's side is missing. Beyond that, all functions work as they should on this tribute to the roaring 20's