Known as the Excalibur RS, with the suffix appropriately signifying “Robert Shaw,” this unforgettable sports roadster was commissioned by Shaw circa 1996. Expert fabricator Chuck Rahn constructed the tubular-steel space frame chassis, which includes a control-arm front suspension, power rack- and-pinion steering gear and a competition-type Halibrand “quick change” rear axle. The sleek aluminum bodywork was hand-fashioned by Dave Draper of Charlevoix, Michigan. Design expertise was provided by auto-design veteran Herb Grasse, whose credits included work with Chrysler’s design studios on the original Dodge Challenger, a stint as principal designer of exteriors for Ford Motor Company Asia-Pacific, and service as Nissan Australia’s chief designer. In addition, Grasse was the designer of Malcolm Bricklin’s distinctive and promising SV1 “safety car” of the 1970s. Stevens’ original design cues were updated for the Excalibur RS with the tall tailfins deleted and the front end replaced with a more aero-efficient treatment reminiscent of the race-proven Ford GT40, which provided much-need cooling airflow to the Excalibur’s radiator. In addition to racing-style front and rear tilting clamshells, the Excalibur RS features Lamborghini Murciélago scissor-type doors—all operated electrically. Carrying an estimated weight of only 3,000 pounds, the Excalibur RS is motivated by a GM-sourced 5.7L V-8 crate engine equipped with an Edelbrock throttle- body fuel injection system, tubular headers and custom rocker covers, and then paired with a GM 700R4 automatic transmission in deference to Shaw’s limited mobility as he was aging during the car’s long-term construction process. Modern Bugatti-style tailpipes at the rear of the Excalibur RS remove the spent combustion gases and deliver an awesome sound through the gears. In a fitting tribute to Stevens’ racing Excaliburs and the Excalibur Hawk, the Excalibur RS carries an Excalibur ID tag and features bold red, white and blue livery including Mercedes-Benz Mystic Blue Metallic and Pearl White paint with Brilliant Red accents. Fine details abound, from the engine- turned dash and interior panels to the removable steering wheel and lightweight, low-profile Polycarbonate windshield. Supportive bucket seats, comprehensive instruments, drilled and polished accelerator and brake pedals, a handsomely trimmed center console and the racing-style fuel filler in the rear deck affirm the thoughtful design, planning and execution invested into the Excalibur RS. Wilwood disc brakes at all four corners reside behind iconic and period-appropriate Borrani wire wheels mounting BF Goodrich radial tires. Following the completion of the long-term build in 2006, Bob Shaw exhibited the Excalibur RS at the 2011 edition of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, where it was displayed in the One Man’s Dream class and garnered the Amelia Award. Sharp-eyed enthusiasts might also recall the appearance of Bob Shaw and the Excalibur RS on an installment of “Jay Leno’s Garage,” including a discussion of Shaw’s lifelong passion for great cars, his friendship with Brooks Stevens, the build, and footage of the Excalibur RS looking and performing great on the open road. The Excalibur RS is one of those true “one-off” cars that has rightly caught the attention of collectors and enthusiasts, and it’ll carry the legacy of both Bob Shaw and Brooks Stevens with it into the future.
