I am thinking this will generate some discussion!
http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/01/24/14-cadillac-coupe-de-ville-prototype-resurfaces-after-64-years/
Discussion....Beautiful vehicle!
Have transported a Hudson to that show and it is a really great event. As far as the car goes, would someone please take photos of it and let us know all you see and hear about it when you are there. Love the fact that it turned up!!!
MB
This is being restored by Steve Plunkett from
http://www.fleetwoodcountrycruizein.com/index.html
This car has power steering, brakes, seat and windows and vents plus shortwave two way telephone connected to the Detroit exchange. In the back, the arm rest had a vanity case, lipstick holder and perfume atomizer.
First shown at the Waldorf Astoria from Jan 20 - 27th 1949 as part of the GM Transportation Unlimited exhibition.
Ross.
Gita and I will be there ... and hoping to get some photos! Watch this space in April (we are traveling from March 11 thru April 1). But I'm sure others will be there to get you photos before I can do it.
Incredible!!!!
Curious as to whether the power vents were hydraulic or electric ?
Is there any more info on this car?
The seats and windows are both hydraulic
I just came across an ad for this car in the April 1980 Cars & Parts mag.
Painted originally with a White top with small chrome rocker under door.
Jeff,
Thanks for posting that. I remember that car was for sale in the San Diego area for about $3500. I sure hope that the guy restoring that car eliminated all the tasteless modifications that were done to the car. Anyone have a current picture???
Bob
I think Steve will definitely do it right. I've seen his collection on TV and it is quite impressive. A true Cadillac enthusiast for sure.
Thanks Jeff! Excellent research!
Jeff,
Impressive!
Brian
With permission from Roger, the owners son, here's the story.
My father bought the car in the mid to late 70's from Earl Chrysler who lived in San Diego. My understanding is that Earl's wife was Mr Wilson's secretary. They wanted a cosmetic restoration done on the car, but couldn't afford/justify the expense so they sold the car to my father. When he moved to Harrison, Ark in 1979, he took the car with him where it remained in storage until it was brought to Ct. He never really did anything with it, he had too many other projects going and when the economy went south he sold to a dealer who in turn sold it to Steve Plunkett.
Thanks Roger :<)
Quote from: Jeff Maltby 4194 on February 06, 2013, 02:35:56 PM
With permission from Roger, the owners son, here's the story.
My father bought the car in the mid to late 70's from Earl Chrysler who lived in San Diego. My understanding is that Earl's wife was Mr Wilson's secretary. They wanted a cosmetic restoration done on the car, but couldn't afford/justify the expense so they sold the car to my father. When he moved to Harrison, Ark in 1979, he took the car with him where it remained in storage until it was brought to Ct. He never really did anything with it, he had too many other projects going and when the economy went south he sold to a dealer who in turn sold it to Steve Plunkett.
Thanks Roger :<)
Interesting story. Interesting that the Coupe deVille prototype was in the San Diego area at the same time the 1953 Cadillac Orleans Motorama show car was rumored to be there. I wonder if the source of the rumor was a result of the CDV prototype's presence there.
Jeff, that is a cool story...thanks for posting.
I started mine up for a while today and even though it was cold outside today it did pretty well...I can't wait until Spring so I can take it out and drive it and then take it to have some things done that need to be done!
Quote from: Jeff Maltby 4194 on February 06, 2013, 02:35:56 PM
With permission from Roger, the owners son, here's the story.
My father bought the car in the mid to late 70's from Earl Chrysler who lived in San Diego. My understanding is that Earl's wife was Mr Wilson's secretary. They wanted a cosmetic restoration done on the car, but couldn't afford/justify the expense so they sold the car to my father. When he moved to Harrison, Ark in 1979, he took the car with him where it remained in storage until it was brought to Ct. He never really did anything with it, he had too many other projects going and when the economy went south he sold to a dealer who in turn sold it to Steve Plunkett.
Thanks Roger :<)
Incredible!
Would love to see some interior shots !!!
Quote from: Barry on March 09, 2013, 09:03:25 AM
Would love to see some interior shots !!!
Odd that the book pictures look like the interior was white or light color rather than dar as in the car now... unless it was the lighting?
Alright everyone here are a few pics I took of it today. I got to visit with Mr. Plunkett for quite awhile as well. Great guy, has I think he said 49 Cadillacs so he is an enthusiast. He said it was reengined in 55 that's why the dual 4s under the hood.
Oh no, not another mismatch engine and factory number car. It is bad enough when you have a collectible with non original numbers and year correct equipment but to have a one-off prototype hacked like this is sinful. Wonder what happened to the original engine - why it couldn't have been rebuilt?
Eric
Eric, the car is NOT hacked, my understanding is that Mr Wilson wanted the Eldorado engine put in it when the dual carb engine became available. GM installed the engine and re stamped it with the original engine #
Rodger you are correct. It was taken back into the factory and the engine was stamped with the original number.
I am curious as to how the hydraulic power vents worked. Anyone have any idea of the mechanism ?
you got pics?????????????????
Maybe so but either way that is one handsome ride...
:<)
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Chrysler while at Amelia Island, it was great to hear him tell stories of his time with the car. He told me how he saw the car advertised in a San Diego paper and bought it from a guy in Del Mar I believe. By the way, his wife was not Mr. Wilson's secretary, so there is still a gap in the cars history.... He also confirmed what I had been told about the car being scorched in a garage fire while being stored in San Diego and about the sale of the car to my late father.
Now, here is the wild part. He always wondered where the car had gone after my father got it. I told him after being in storage in Arkansas for a few years it went to Ct in the late 1980's where it remained until a few years ago. He then said he lived in Ct from 1996-2002 in a town 30 minutes away. Even more bizarre, he was in a club called the Roaring 20's that hosted a large car show every September in Southbury Ct. The field where that show is held is 2 miles as the crow flies from where my father lived and where the car was stored!
Any guesses as to whether they walked by one another at the show and didn't know it??
Steve was so great to talk to, I didn't realize he had such a vast collection or was this well known.