eBay Find of the Day: Liberace's luxury coupe
For those who hate the jellybean, cookie-cutter styling of today's vehicles, have we got something unique for you. Straight from the world's largest automotive auction website comes a chance to own a piece of automotive history. A little slice of life from a time when bigger was better and too much was never enough. Over-the-top styling once owned by one of the most over-the-top characters from a bygone era: Of course, we are referring to Liberace's Kanzler Coupe. We had never heard of it either. But we had heard of Liberace, and so we thought we'd clue you all in to this item.
Apparently this is one of only two known Kanzlers known to exist. It was designed by Ernest Kanzler, the son of a 1920s Ford Motor Co. executive. It was produced by Newport Beach Coachworks, which closed in 1979. The Kanzler was based on a 1979 Mercury Cougar and features a 351 mated to a 3-speed automatic. An inch longer and narrower than an Expedition with only 4420 pounds of
[Source: eBay]
Thanks to Mike for the tip!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
'94 Impala SS 2:50PM (10/17/2006)
I am surprised the Liberace Museum isn't interested in it being as rare as it is.
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Howard Kerr 3:10PM (10/17/2006)
Looks like a Ford Escort ZX2 or a Hyundai Tiburon (1st gen.) with a very severe case of elephantiasis (sp?)
There have been more than a few Cougar-based "specials" over the years but THIS has to be the HANDS-DOWN ugliest. Also....where are the candleabras?
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jb 3:26PM (10/17/2006)
Fugly. Is that an old Opel GT roofline, glass and doors?
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ETMC 3:31PM (10/17/2006)
JB, I was thinking the same thing.
What a waste of a GT body...
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Don T. 11:18AM (10/18/2006)
I read on another site that this thing'll do the quarter in ten and pull .99g's on the skidpad!!
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Noah 3:32PM (10/17/2006)
Isn't that the car from that LXG movie?
SO fugly.
--Noah
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pauln 3:34PM (10/17/2006)
#3; Exactly my observation. And I bet it's so. The vintage is right, and it would have been hugely easier to "borrow" that part of the car from a donor, since tooling up a cowl, roof, doors, and glass would have been hugely difficult and expensive.
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Richard Warren 6:43PM (10/17/2006)
"George, the candles, please."
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joe 3:39PM (10/17/2006)
that car is sweet! i'd buy it if i had the disposable income.
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menice 4:07PM (10/17/2006)
if i had disposable income, I'd buy it, and a dalmaition and make the wife drive around like Cruella DaVille.
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ron 4:27PM (10/17/2006)
Blasphemy!!!!!! I had a '73 Opel GT and this is no way to treat that car! Geezes-cranberries that car is butt-ugly!
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steve 4:26PM (10/17/2006)
Put it in the crusher. What a watse of money
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Anthony94114 6:40PM (10/17/2006)
If anyone is ever in Las Vegas and wants to escape the mall of casinos, take a $5.oo cab ride to the Liberace Museum. Craaaaazy cars, and c'mon, you gotta love a dude that can wear a 120 lb fur with sequins (and a smile), play the piano and collected wierd cars. The mirrored Rolls is killer.
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Lee Roy Brandon III 6:36PM (10/17/2006)
I agree with the Opel observations... I have a '72 GT, so when I saw this monstrosity I immediately noticed the greenhouse and cabin were distinctly familiar. A pure Opel had to die for THIS?!?
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ezrealtybuysell 7:55PM (10/17/2006)
Well I really don't know what to say. It looks something like the "batmobile." No, not the same. I think it's a very odd design. I guess that's why its getting sold. Good luck to the buyer. It does have a lot of history. Liberace was very flamboyant, so I guess this car really is moderate.
Hey, we've listed ugly properties on our multiple listing service, and they were sold. The old saying is there is a "house for everyone" and I guess also "a car for everyone" as well. Maybe something like that will help.
Because the car had a world famous owner, there is no doubt it will sell, and for all the money. Good luck.
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smooth sailin 9:47PM (10/17/2006)
Great car to chase down dalmation puppies.
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buzz 1:03PM (10/23/2006)
probbly had KY dispencer as standard equipment....
I would make sure it was steam cleaned several times.
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Rick 7:02AM (10/23/2006)
WHOA!!! At first glance I thought the front end favored a Jaguar! I kinda like it.
But WHERE do I put the candelabra?
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Dave R. 7:47AM (10/23/2006)
I actually have an original sales brochure for the Kanzler Coupe . . . didn't know they had ever built any real ones. It's just as , ah, "distinctive" in person as the drawings in the brochure showed it. Yikes!
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Bill 5:49PM (10/23/2006)
The car even looks gay.
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