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 founder paul zimmer headquarters corporate offices in syracuse new york manufacturing in cambridge maryland and syracuse new york united states area served united states and global key people paul zimmer and son bob zimmer products neo classic automobiles revenue 25 million in 1980s owner art zimmer number of employees 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 is the name of an american neo classic automaker based in syracuse new york . the company was founded in 1978 as zimmer motorcars corporation by paul zimmer . paul zimmer died in october 2005 in boynton beach florida . art zimmer purchased the rights to the company in 1997 and established the art zimmer neo classic motor car company which currently builds 10 to 20 automobiles plus 10 to 20 fully custom 4 door dually silverado trucks each year . contents 1 history 1.1 models 1.2 original company fails 1.3 company acquired 1.4 retro style modern chassis 1.5 manufacturing facilities 1.6 distribution network 2 see also 3 sources 4 references 5 external links history edit 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 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 . models edit 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 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 . 1 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 . original company fails edit 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 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 a year car company . company acquired edit 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 retro style modern chassis edit 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 cl net tiffany and they were all made to the same formula . 3 the current 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 produced 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 separate crash and emissions certification by zimmer . manufacturing facilities edit art zimmer established the company s manufacturing facilities in cambridge maryland and in december 1998 the first zimmer golden spirit produced by the newly formed art zimmer motorcars 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 distribution network edit 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 see also edit cl net coachworks excalibur automobile cumberford martinique stutz blackhawk sources edit art zimmer s golden spirit by travellady magazine references edit a b c d e f g h zimmer motor production beats expectations . the business journal central new york january 26 2001 . retrieved october 22 2010 . a b zimmer motor car company . zimmer motor car co. 2010 . retrieved october 22 2010 . hagin bob . auto questions and answers . the auto channel 1996 2007 . 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 . retrieved october 22 2010 . external links edit wikimedia commons has media related to zimmer vehicles . zimmer motor cars zimmer parts & technical assistance hovey motor cars zimmer sales the most magnificent neo classic motor car made in america v t e automotive industry in the united states automotive industry economy of the united states transportation in the united states american vehicle manufacturers list agco challenger tractor massey ferguson allied specialty vehicles champion bus collins eldorado national e one fleetwood goshen coach holiday rambler laymor wheeled coach am general american expedition vehicles american growler amp electric vehicles anteros coachworks arcimoto armour group inc. atk motorcycles aurica motors autocar blue bird boulder electric vehicle brammo brunton stalker caterpillar fca us chrysler dodge jeep ram cnh industrial case ce case ih commuter cars cushman cycle scoot delorean chenowth racing products eagle bus environmental performance vehicles equus elio motors faraday future ford lincoln svt 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century motor car corporation united defense vl white wildfire defunct factories general motors factories closed fiat chrysler factories closed ford factories closed brampton assembly amc packard automotive plant related topics aaa chicago auto show interstate highway system national highway traffic safety administration new york international auto show north american international auto show sae international 1 former meaning the company is no longer in the automotive manufacturing business category portal retrieved from https en.wikipedia.org w index.php title zimmer automobile & oldid 738542703 categories motor vehicle manufacturers of the united statesmotor vehicle manufacturers based in syracuse new yorkmotor