The Cimbria SS story

Amore Cars - Cimbria SS

In 1978, Joe Palumbo started the Amore Car company in Milwaukee, WI. Their product, the Cimbria, was the result of his passion. With styling derived from Richard Oakes' Nova (aka. Sterling), gullwing doors, and a versatile package, it was sold successfully for almost a decade.

Early Cimbria, denoted by its tall door sills.

The Cimbria was originally designed to bolt to a full length VW Beetle floor-pan, but later a custom chassis was made to accept donors from Corvair & Pinto to Porsche. The only required modification to the VW donor pan was lowering the steering box.

Amore claimed the car could be built in 120 hours. The kit came in a basic package for use with VW parts and a deluxe kit, pre-assembled with only the drivetrain left for the owner to mount on the custom chassis.

Amore Cars - Cimbria SS

Over the years, the Cimbria's original style evolved growing all sorts of gills and intakes. The De Tomaso Mangusta style rear hatch gave way to a Corvette-like buttressed look with a flat decklid giving access to the motor.

Unfortunately Amore folded in the Mid 80's, but Mr. Palumbo stayed in the business with a replica of a Koenig BB512 called the Aldino K/O. The Cimbria also continued on, called the Nereia, and was made by a manufacturer of yachts. A version of it was also sold in the UK as the Eagle SS and is still produced to this day.