Eywadude
Lunatic Member
Sorry for the long post. No need to read all of this if you don't want to, but I've always been a huge fan of the original Zebco and Abu Garcia Cardinal reels in particular.
To clarify, by saying "original" Cardinals, I mean the original ones prior to the later all-black ones that had a more modern skirted spool design (see below).
Mechanically, they have a very simple but robust worm gear design with bronze and stainless steel gears, and despite only having one ball bearing in the entire reel (for the rotor), they are very smooth and have some of the most legendary durability of any reel ever made. In my opinion, the original Cardinal reels are perhaps THE pinnacle of simplicity of design and long-lasting durability. They are an exhibition of what excellent design and proper materials are able to accomplish. To this day, you can pick up an original-series Cardinal that has been beat and neglected to hell, and chances are it's still as smooth as the day it left the factory. They're that good.
Additionally, I know some people would disagree, but aesthetically speaking, I also think they are the coolest, most unique, classic and instantly recognizable spinning reel design ever made. As a little kid, their look is what instantly grabbed me: the body shape, the placement of the drag knob, the colour scheme, etc. It's just a design that speaks to me on a deeper level than any other reel before or since. Regardless of brand or price.
Another interesting aspect of the original Cardinal reels, especially from a general interest and collector's standpoint, is the almost endless colour combinations they came in. The most common and recognizable Cardinal is the one with the dark green body and cream-coloured rotor, but there were MANY other colours they came in. Everything from beige, tan, bronze, silver or grey bodies with cream, bronze or black coloured rotors, and every colour combination therein you can think of.
There were high speed retrieve models, as well as Japanese market-only colour schemes, dealer display models with a clear plastic side plate to showcase the gearing inside, special edition blue ones, red ones, and a gorgeous all-black and gold one that came in a special wooden display box that I'd love to have one day. No to mention all of the different badges and graphics on the bodies and spools, and some of the minor part/design changes between the different models and Zebco and Abu Garcia brandings throughout the years they were manufactured. Some of which I'll share here in the thread if the discussion takes off. But if you're a fan of these reels, the utterly bewildering number of colour variations they come in makes them fascinating to discover and collect if you're into that sort of thing.
Myself, I am actually very seriously considering selling off a good portion of my modern spinning reels and replacing them with Zebco and Abu Cardinal 3 and 4 reels. I've grown tired of buying modern reels that deliver a spectacularly smooth and refined experience out of the box, only to become unrefined within weeks or months after purchase, or to have them eventually wear out over time. Even with regular maintenance and the utmost of care (the vast majority of my reels look nearly brand new, regardless of age). Let alone having replacement parts for newer reels disappear 5-10 years down the road.
Zebco/Abu Cardinal parts are as common as a grain of sand in a desert. They have been for over 50 years, and will continue to be for years to come. Carbon fibre drag discs have been made for them for years now and are available from several parts suppliers, and there are currently Japanese manufacturers that are making fancy CNC aluminum spools for them with modern lip designs, as well nitrided anti-twist line rollers, fancy skeleton-ized aluminum rotors, aluminum drag knobs, etc. I prefer the look of them as they came from the factory, so I would never go the aluminum spool/rotor route, but I would certainly upgrade them with carbon fibre drag discs and nitrided anti-twist line roller to bring them up to a more modern spec and performance level.
The only downside to any Cardinal (whether the original ones or the later black ones with a skirted spool), is that the bail spring will break from time to time. I still need to do a little more research in hopes that someone out there makes an upgraded bail spring (like out of nickel-titanium or something), but that would be the only minor sticking point. Although, even at that, I'm not sure having to replace a bail spring every 2-4 years is enough to prevent me from moving forward with an all-Cardinal spinning reel fleet. Depending on condition and rarity, most sell for $100-250+, but I don't care. It's the price I'm willing to pay for a 50+ year old reel that will outlive me and likely anyone else who owns it after I do.
Anyway, I digress. I'd love to hear from all of you who like or even love original Zebco/Abu Garcia Cardinal reels, too. I'll also include the later all-black ones with a skirted spool, too. They weren't quite as good as the original design in several aspects, but they are still very good reels in their own right. I owned and used one for years and regret selling it. Same for a rarer original-series Cardinal 4 I had at one time, too.
So, let's hear it, fellas 'n fellettes!
Here's the most common original-series Cardinal with its green body/cream rotor and older-style non-skirted spool:
Here's one of the rarer original Cardinal variants with an upgraded titanium bail, nitrided anti-twist line roller and one of the several aftermarket aluminum spools available for them:
And here's the later all-black Cardinal with its skirted spool:
To clarify, by saying "original" Cardinals, I mean the original ones prior to the later all-black ones that had a more modern skirted spool design (see below).
Mechanically, they have a very simple but robust worm gear design with bronze and stainless steel gears, and despite only having one ball bearing in the entire reel (for the rotor), they are very smooth and have some of the most legendary durability of any reel ever made. In my opinion, the original Cardinal reels are perhaps THE pinnacle of simplicity of design and long-lasting durability. They are an exhibition of what excellent design and proper materials are able to accomplish. To this day, you can pick up an original-series Cardinal that has been beat and neglected to hell, and chances are it's still as smooth as the day it left the factory. They're that good.
Additionally, I know some people would disagree, but aesthetically speaking, I also think they are the coolest, most unique, classic and instantly recognizable spinning reel design ever made. As a little kid, their look is what instantly grabbed me: the body shape, the placement of the drag knob, the colour scheme, etc. It's just a design that speaks to me on a deeper level than any other reel before or since. Regardless of brand or price.
Another interesting aspect of the original Cardinal reels, especially from a general interest and collector's standpoint, is the almost endless colour combinations they came in. The most common and recognizable Cardinal is the one with the dark green body and cream-coloured rotor, but there were MANY other colours they came in. Everything from beige, tan, bronze, silver or grey bodies with cream, bronze or black coloured rotors, and every colour combination therein you can think of.
There were high speed retrieve models, as well as Japanese market-only colour schemes, dealer display models with a clear plastic side plate to showcase the gearing inside, special edition blue ones, red ones, and a gorgeous all-black and gold one that came in a special wooden display box that I'd love to have one day. No to mention all of the different badges and graphics on the bodies and spools, and some of the minor part/design changes between the different models and Zebco and Abu Garcia brandings throughout the years they were manufactured. Some of which I'll share here in the thread if the discussion takes off. But if you're a fan of these reels, the utterly bewildering number of colour variations they come in makes them fascinating to discover and collect if you're into that sort of thing.
Myself, I am actually very seriously considering selling off a good portion of my modern spinning reels and replacing them with Zebco and Abu Cardinal 3 and 4 reels. I've grown tired of buying modern reels that deliver a spectacularly smooth and refined experience out of the box, only to become unrefined within weeks or months after purchase, or to have them eventually wear out over time. Even with regular maintenance and the utmost of care (the vast majority of my reels look nearly brand new, regardless of age). Let alone having replacement parts for newer reels disappear 5-10 years down the road.
Zebco/Abu Cardinal parts are as common as a grain of sand in a desert. They have been for over 50 years, and will continue to be for years to come. Carbon fibre drag discs have been made for them for years now and are available from several parts suppliers, and there are currently Japanese manufacturers that are making fancy CNC aluminum spools for them with modern lip designs, as well nitrided anti-twist line rollers, fancy skeleton-ized aluminum rotors, aluminum drag knobs, etc. I prefer the look of them as they came from the factory, so I would never go the aluminum spool/rotor route, but I would certainly upgrade them with carbon fibre drag discs and nitrided anti-twist line roller to bring them up to a more modern spec and performance level.
The only downside to any Cardinal (whether the original ones or the later black ones with a skirted spool), is that the bail spring will break from time to time. I still need to do a little more research in hopes that someone out there makes an upgraded bail spring (like out of nickel-titanium or something), but that would be the only minor sticking point. Although, even at that, I'm not sure having to replace a bail spring every 2-4 years is enough to prevent me from moving forward with an all-Cardinal spinning reel fleet. Depending on condition and rarity, most sell for $100-250+, but I don't care. It's the price I'm willing to pay for a 50+ year old reel that will outlive me and likely anyone else who owns it after I do.
Anyway, I digress. I'd love to hear from all of you who like or even love original Zebco/Abu Garcia Cardinal reels, too. I'll also include the later all-black ones with a skirted spool, too. They weren't quite as good as the original design in several aspects, but they are still very good reels in their own right. I owned and used one for years and regret selling it. Same for a rarer original-series Cardinal 4 I had at one time, too.
So, let's hear it, fellas 'n fellettes!
Here's the most common original-series Cardinal with its green body/cream rotor and older-style non-skirted spool:
Here's one of the rarer original Cardinal variants with an upgraded titanium bail, nitrided anti-twist line roller and one of the several aftermarket aluminum spools available for them:
And here's the later all-black Cardinal with its skirted spool:
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