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We spent our free time during September moving the site to a new server - if you see anything wonky, please contact us! This should give us faster page loading, more flexibility and easier adding/editing.
We're also making good progress on an improved "Zimmers for sale" page that should be ready to launch this month along with a streamlined process to add your Zimmer to the Registry.
In August, we were able to view and photograph a previously unknown QuickSilver for the Registry, #7123, in Lancaster, California - first one we've seen in a maroon color from the factory. Also, Golden Spirit #205 turned up in Wisconsin and we've had some photos added courtesy of the new owner.
Last but not least, we were contacted by Ryan W., who just bought a 1987 Zimmer Ford Ranger truck, with a production number of 2205! Looks very sharp and we still hope that more of these trucks find us!
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On the Corporate side, a "Zimmer Corporation Interim Report - Second Fiscal Period 1983" was located and sent to us by a Golden Spirit owner - we've scanned, posted and returned it to them - contributions like these help get all the history in one central location that anyone around the world can access!
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Ready for the updates? Let's go!
Highlights include:
- At least 10 positively-identified Golden Spirits have been added to the Registry - as of this month we have just over 8% of production or more than 100 Golden Spirits in the Registry, when "Wild" Golden Spirits are included!
- On the subject of the "Wild" Golden Spirits - we recently re-formatted that part of the site and with our most recent update, it now has a total of 50 cars. If you've never Google-searched your VIN, you might find your car is on the "Wild" Golden Spirit list!
- There was a break-through in decoding the paint codes for Zimmer cars. Zimmer started adding paint codes to the production plates on later cars but, until now, no one really knew what they meant!
- We've got 36 positively-identified QuickSilvers in the Registry and another ten in the "Wild" QuickSilvers list for a total of 46, or about 30% of confirmed production cars.
- Though the 1981-1988 Golden Spirits may all look the same, there are more differences than you might think! We've started a page with photos of the production differences over the years.
- We recently sat down with another "Zimmer Original", clay modeller John Karnage who shared stories & photos of his years working at the Zimmer Product Development Center (ZPDC) on various Zimmer projects including the RV's, ultralight aircraft, QuickSilver, trucks, vans and more! We'll be adding more to the site this spring/summer.
- Those round Zimmer emblems on your wheel caps, landau bars and elsewhere in and on the car? They’re being reproduced - learn more here!
- What may possibly be the first QuickSilver-specific reproduction part (unless you count the reprinted owners handbooks) will be available later this month.
- We’ve also tidied up the section about Zimmer RV’s, the Astron/Executive Coach as well as Zimmer trucks and vans!
Thanks for reading this and we hope you check out the updates mentioned above. All we ask in return is that if you own any Zimmer product, tell us about it. And, if you have a Golden Spirit or QuickSilver, contact us to add it to the Registry - it's free and you can share as much or as little information as you like.
Finally, if you or someone you know used to work for any Zimmer company, please reach out to us immediately - we want to know your stories and experiences of working at Zimmer to preserve the history!
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Lots of new things added over the summer -
TEN new Golden Spirits and TWO new QuickSilvers were added to their respective Registries.
New literature on the Golden Spirit, QuickSilver, Zimmer Vans and Trucks from a former Zimmer employee were scanned and uploaded, along with Zimmer Corporate Third Quarter Financial report - all interesting reading!
Forbes Magazine ran a story on Paul Zimmer and the Golden Spirit in 1983, and we have a copy scanned and uploaded, too!
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Thanks to Ron & Jan in Arizona for submitting photos of their Golden Spirit #593 to the Registry! We also were able to add Golden Spirit #1244, which can also be seen as a Barn Finds auction listing this week. We have a few more that have just come in that we'll try to get to this week, too.
QuickSilver #860036 has turned up for sale in the Netherlands, and the selling dealer has kindly sent us a photo of the production plate - we've also added to the listings of QuickSilvers currently known to be on the market.
On that note, if you're considering selling your Zimmer Golden Spirit or QuickSilver, don't forget that we'll list it for you completely free of charge. Contact us if interested...
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The Golden Spirit and QuickSilver "for sale" pages have been updated. Most of these are from dealers but if you or someone you know is looking to sell, please contact us. We'll create a mini-page for the car for you and list it here until sold at at no cost!
Added Golden Spirits #233 and #1093 to the registry today, along with what is believed to be the first production QuickSilver, #86000. Hoping to get more photos on this car in the coming weeks.
Last but not least...a man named Curtis sent in photos of what is likely to be the only surviving 1949 "Wee Zim" teardrop trailer, manufactured by the Zimmer Boat & Trailer Company of Detroit, Michigan in 1949. See the photos here.
Until next time - Happy New Year!
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QuickSilver #50 popped up on eBay this month, and it's been added to the Registry with the photos from the listing.
Thomas Eekels in Netherlands has converted his Golden Spirit to run on LPG! Here is a photo archive of this project. For more details, contact him directly via email for details.
The Golden Spirit front turn signals, rear side markers and opera lights were added to the parts interchange list this month.
A newly discovered ad from Zimmer subsidiary Mobile Traveler was added, as well.
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Slowly but surely fleshing out the part cross reference section - keep the suggestions coming!
Expanded the section about the Zimmer Corporate history with lots of news articles from the era - you may be surprised to know that Zimmer actually got started in the 1930s!
Interviewed Pete Morley, a product development guy at Zimmer in the 80s, last month and got some new photos (you won't believe the Zimmer Ultralight aircraft they were planning) and editing the video of my conversation with him - look for it soon.
Zimmer QuickSilver #860020 - widely regarded as the lowest mileage QuickSilver with just 500 miles on it - has just been listed with no reserve on Bring A Trailer!
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Yet another new Golden Spirit - this one from 1986/87 - and the premiere issue of the Zimmer Update company newsletter (January 1984) have been uploaded today!
We have also been compiling names and positions of former employees and finally have a good-sized list that appears to cover at least one person from most of the Zimmer Corporation and it's subsidiaries. Got any others we should add, or know how to contact any of these people? Let us know! We've also moved the old "help wanted" ads to this page, too.
The recent sale of the QuickSilver on Bring a Trailer and the lively discussion brought some traffic to the site and also resulted in a few more cars that will be added to the registry later this month.