This might be my 53 Eldo 412

[Quentin Hall]

A couple of months ago a mate in Melbourne tipped me off to a $5 eBay brochure for the Woodner Hotel in Washington DC.
I bought the brochure.
I looked into the Woodner Hotel history and it is quite remarkable.
The owner/developer Ian Woodner was equally an interesting NY based entrepreneur.
I like to think it was Ian's car ( I don't know that is true), and he had publicity pics done upon his visit.
Nevertheless the initial interest was the Azure Blue 53 Eldo.
Considering 412 is one of 108 in that colour/ interior combo, one of 86 cars delivered to NY and also has clear glass I'm down to odds of less than 1 in 10.
My car ended up in Rhode Island and in a terrible condition when found. It was put in a yard in 56 after broken wires in the passenger door stopped the hydraulic windows working.  But it was complete.

Still a long journey to go on its restoration but it is getting there.
Inside the brochure was a small pic with an azure with black top Eldo but upon inspection of the brochure it's a 54 Eldo ( I'm surmising that Ian traded up each year, given his worth and stature).  I can imagine the boss, driving down to Washington to view his handiwork.

 Had it been a black top 53 it would have lessened the odds by 2/3.
I wish these damn cars could talk.

In the meantime I'm gonna say "this is my car" until proven wrong. 

[Lexi]

So it has been off the road for 67 years? Fascinating story. Clay/Lexi

[Quentin Hall]

I guess one could argue it has been low emissions for many years.

[Caddieman53]

Hi Quentin. I was always under the impression that all Eldorado's in 53, came standard with fog lights No?

[Quentin Hall]

Gday Paul, yes you are correct in that assumption.
That said, publicity pics of the artisan ochre with black interior car (presumably FW1) show it with the standard indicator light.

[Quentin Hall]

See non fogs. Also non visors or rear view mirror.

[rwchatham CLC 21892]

The photos with the non fogs and visors are probably not actual photos but an artist's rendering of the car before they were built

[Quentin Hall]

Gday Ray, I'm pretty sure I've seen other pics of (presumably) FW 1 the same .
 Whether or not it was a styling prototype I'm not sure???
I always 10% surmised it was the missing car in the 533 tags vs 532 built.
Maybe it was a prototype mule not intended for being driven??
Can't wait for Larry Good to get ahold of Matt's research shortly.