Obviously the key was the use of American mass production components." A Kaiser 226cid L-head six was at first considered for the third Excalibur. but finally Stevens bolted up a Henry J 161cid six. which was the same Willys engine using an older L-head configuration. This was used "in order to placate Willow Run momentarily. but was not as durable at high rpm as the F-head versions, which were amazingly strong. "We modified one engine with header systems, balancing. ignition changes, and three-carb set-ups." Stevens says. "Barney Roos. Willys' chief engineer, told me the engines would go through the hood if I turned them over 5500rpm. We turned them consistently at 6500 and never blew them."
   For Kaiser. Stevens and his associate, Charles Cowdin. Jr.. designed a sleek, cycle-tendered two-seater bearing some resemblance to the Allard J and Lotus Seven, using a minimum of compound curvature to keep tooling costs down. The radiator air intake lacked any semblance of a grille, a functional hood scoop dueled air to the carbs. The Excalibur J was to be "a sports car in the classic sense, equipped with such civilities as bumpers, lights, and weather protection, yet easily convertible to competition guise for the weekend racer." Its retail price; Stevens hoped, would be around $2000-2500, and the idea looked pretty good. In 1953, Brooks received an award "from the New York International Motor Sports Show "for having created an outstanding American competition sports car in the low-priced field."
   But an early obstacle appeared in the form of The Man himself. Henry Kaiser preferred se'dan-type cars. "We are not in the business of building Sports cars,"he pontificated, and was promptly echoed by countless board members. Stevens, though, was too enthusiastic to quit, and went ahead with three prototypes using his own funds, hoping Kaiser would eventually approve.
   First outing for the number one Excalibur was Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, in early 1952, where Stevens' associates Ralph Knudson. Bob Wilder, and Dick Irish took the car for testing. This first prototype, with the Willys F-head engine, recorded 15-second quarter-mile sprints and exceeded 120mph. Accordingly, the car was entered in the Janesville, Wisconsin, road race in July. It finished second in Class D modified with Knudson up: the same