Zimmer (automobile)
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| Neo-classic Automobile Manufacturing | |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Genre | Retro style automobiles: Sedans, coupes, convertibles and limousines |
| Fate | Bankruptcy in 1988 and rights sold to Art Zimmer in 1997 |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Founders | Paul Zimmer and his father Don Zimmer. |
| Headquarters |
Corporate offices in Syracuse, New York Manufacturing in Cambridge, Maryland and Syracuse, New York, United States |
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Area served
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United States and global |
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Key people
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Paul Zimmer, Don Zimmer his father and son, Bob Zimmer |
| Products | Neo-classic automobiles |
| Revenue | $25 million in 1980s |
| Owner | Art Zimmer |
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Number of employees
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175 in 1980s |
| Parent | Zimmer Corporation |
| Divisions | Original Zimmer owners also ran Black Fin Yachts, Zimmer Motor Homes, Zimmer Ultra Lights |
| Website | http://www.zimmermotorcars.com |
Zimmer was an American automaker, based in Syracuse, New York. The company was founded in 1978 as Zimmer Motorcars Corporation by Paul Zimmer and his father Don Zimmer.
Art Zimmer purchased the rights to the company in 1997 and established the Art Zimmer Neo-Classic Motor Car, Company which currently builds 10-20 automobiles and 10-20 fully custom 4-door dually Silverado trucks each year.
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 eventually became the company's President.
At its peak in the 1980s, Zimmer Motorcars Corporation employed 175 people and generated $25 million in annual revenue.
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 original Golden Spirit was built using a Mercury Cougar chassis and drivetrain. With the discontinuation of the rear-wheel-drive Cougar, the Golden Spirit transitioned to utilizing the Ford Mustang in 1979.
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. Ford supplied new Mustangs, these were then modified by stretching the frame for a longer wheelbase and modifying the bodywork etc. The Mustang VIN was retained as it met all the required US safety features at the time.
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.
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Wikipedia