Sadat, Anouar El
[Late Premier of Egypt]

1966 custom Eldorado parade convertible

In June 1974, President Richard M. Nixon was the first American president to visit Cairo, in Egypt,  since the famous visit of Roosevelt to the Suez Canal and his meeting with then King Farouk.

On October 6, 1981, Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, age 63, was mortally wounded as he reviewed a military parade commemorating Egypt's "victory" over Israel in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. His attackers, Muslim fundamentalists, tossed two hand grenades and directed automatic weapons fire into the reviewing stand. Sadat's deputy, Hosni Mubarak, was nearby but escaped unscathed.

     
On parade with former US President Nixon,
Alexandria, Egypt, June 1974

Santa Claus ... !
[ a noted "personality" among young and old ]

1950 Cadillac Series 62 convertible

       
Once upon a time, in New York, in front of the Biltmore Hotel...

Salamanca Urey, Daniel Domingo
[President of Bolivia, 1930-1934]

1930 Fleetwood Limousine, style #3975

Enthusiast, James Conkwright sent this information in February, 2005: I have located a 1929 or 1930 Cadillac Style # 3975 [1930]. This car is 100% rust free, it is white with a black top and bottom. It has a flathead V-8. This car was exported to Bolivia and was owned by the President of that country. The car only has 30,000 miles. It is a 7-passenger with a jump seat and the roll up window behind the driver. Also has intercom system. It also has dual sidemounts and a sun visor.

 

Schumann-Heink, Ernestine
[Opera singer]

1930 Series 452 V-16, Fleetwood style #4391

At the height of her career, the great operatic diva, Ernestine Schumann-Heink, acquired not one but TWO
sixteen-cylinder cars for her private use.  And they were not your run-of-the-mill (!) V-16 sedans or limousines;
the "cheaper" and more "common" of the two was a town brougham (today a town car),  Fleetwood style #4391
(30 were made). The second car (left, below) has not yet been identified; 

        
(Left) Unidentified 4-door V16 sedan style, the doors are hinged at the rear and it features the kind of door handles usually found on town cars, as well as a seemingly custom
(Madame X?) windshield ... or is it just the angle of the photo? It appears to have the curved, "coach sill", but again this may be just the camera angle;
(Right) The car on the right is Fleetwood town brougham style #4391 (30 units were  built)

[Upper photo: the late Al Waddell collection, courtesy of John Conde and the Self Starter annual, 1990]

Sekou Touré
[Premier of Guinea]

1960 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz
(I too had one of these cars in the eighties)

In the background, here, thousands of Muslims from Guinea are seen bowing their heads at evening prayer

Ibn Saud (or Seoud) (2)
[late King of Saudi Arabia]

1953 custom convertible sedan
by Jacques Saoutchik of Paris

Shah of Persia [1]
[ Pahlavi, Reza - Former ruler of Iran ]

1938 V16 limousine

[ image missing ]

Shah of Persia [1]
[ Pahlavi, Reza - Former ruler of Iran ]

1958 Fleetwood 75 limousine

Reza Phalavi, former Shah of Persia (now Iran) apparently was fond of luxurious American automobiles.  The car is currently (2003) owned by enthusiast Daniel Johansson of Sweden; (he may offer it for sale if there is any interest on the part of a collector-historian. The rear compartment was restored in May, 2003, following the original pattern and design. Daniel says: "You feel like a king (or a shah) when you sit back there, believe me".

[ Photos:  courtesy Daniel Johansson ]

Shah of Persia [3]
[ Pahlavi, Reza - Former ruler of Iran ]

1956 Eldorado Biarritz

Located in a barn near Cointrin airport, in Geneva, Switzerland, in the late seventies, was a metallic blue, style 56-6267SSX Eldorado Biarritz convertible [FW No. 1941, trim 12, paint 24]. This car wore the red-lettered temporary French tags # 3136TT1Q and was reported to have been once the property of the late Reza Pahlavi, Shah of Iran.

NOT this car but one like it,
in the same color and trim combination
[ Photo: © 1956, GM/Cadillac ]

Shastri, Shri Lal Bahadur
[ Former Premier of India ]

1955 Cadillac Eldorado

An Indian political leader, he joined Mohandas Gandhi's noncooperation movement in 1921 and studied at the nationalist Kashi Vidyapeth school, where he was given the title Shastri [learned in the scriptures]. Elected to the central legislature in 1952, he served as minister for railways (1952–56), minister of commerce and industry (1957–61), and minister of home affairs (1961–63) before succeeding Jawaharlal Nehru as prime minister in 1964. Following the India-Pakistan War of 1965, Shastri met in Tashkent with President Ayub Khan of Pakistan and signed a "no-war" declaration.

I believe this Cadillac was actually owned by the Indian Government and, in this photo,
was being used during an official State visit to India by Pakistani Premier, Ayub Khan

 

Sheila
[French pop star]

1959 Cadillac Series 62 convertible

Another French pop star, largely unheard of outside France, she had a hit song in the sixties entitled L'Ecole est finie [school is over].  She tried without success to make a come-back in the eighties.  She still has a few followers among fifties baby-boomers and appears now and again in French girlie magazines.  Here she is seen dreaming of her former popularity, in the back seat of a 1959 Cadillac Series 62 convertible

 

Sierra Leone [King of]
President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah

1978 “Landaulet”

So far as I know, Sierra Leone never was a monarchy.   Nevertheless, current [2004] President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, whom the BBC referred to recently as Sierra Leone's "comeback king" has emerged as a political survivor in Sierra Leonean politics.

I do not have a photo of the car in question, but perhaps an astute Database user may have one that I could use to illustrate this Database entry. The car is currently [2004] in France, having come from the Lebanon; it appears to have clocked up only 4000 miles.  Apparently, four units were thus converted.  If you have any information about this or any similar 1978 model,  please contact "Calou" at hcalou-at-wanadoo.fr [remember to change -at- to @] with a copy to me:

 

Meanwhile, here is the opinion of my good friend Bernie de Winter, an expert on commercial and professional cars. He believes that the President's car might be a custom job from Hess & Eisenhardt.

One of the lesser known products of Hess & Eisenhardt in the '70's was what they called a "chase car." The earliest photos I've seen of such a vehicle was from the mid 1970's, and it was a side view that could have been anywhere from '74 through '76. When I got to go through the plant in Rossmoyne in '77, there were numerous Cadillac Fleetwood limousines in there being bulletproofed, but some of them had convertible tops over the rear seating area only. When asked about those particular cars, an employee told us that it was more or less a standard model they built and that they called it a chase car. It was intended for use by secret service agents or similar officials of whatever government it was that bought the particular car in question, but that it was popular with many different governments at the time.

Those chase cars were used here in the US by secret service agents to follow the presidential limousine in parades, and I can recall seeing news footage showing them being used that way. Essentially, they were a replacement for the Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mary, which I'm sure you know to be the pairs of Cadillac convertible limousines built for the use by the White House, of which Jack Tallman had one of each. Like the "Queens," they were armored, and had step plates and grab handles in various locations for the obvious purposes. For all I know, there may be a photo of such a chase car on the database.

You are right, Bernie, and here it is:
This one was used by former President Richard Nixon;
the photo was taken during an official visit to Portugal

 

Sinatra, Frank [ol' Blue Eyes] (1)
[Legendary crooner]

1941 Cadillac Sixty Special

A 1945 California automobile registration card signed by Frank Sinatra was recently offered on eBay.  It was for a 1941 Cadillac 60 Special, engine/serial number 6340048.  The card seems to indicate the car was previously registered in New Jersey, so possibly Sinatra was just transferring it to California. The Buy It Now Price for the "autographed" card and a photo of a young Frank Sinatra was $3750.

Sinatra, Frank (2)

1958 Eldorado Brougham #465

A 1958 Eldorado Brougham  owned at one time by singer-comedian Frank Sinatra was sold a couple of times at auction in the past 5-6 years; it was said to be all original, yet photo, below, shows a repaint from gray to maroon as well as non-standard sabre-spoke wheels; it  was documented and included the original vanity items, including a sliver [silver?] compact and six stainless steel cups by fabrege [Fabergé?].  Who invents this stuff??? Of course, Fabergé is phonetically and graphically close to Arpège, so perhaps the writer was referring to the perfume atomizer. The poor spelling suggests this might have been a Kruse ad.  Here's a simiar ad with better spelling:   Frank Sinatra’s swingin’ 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham is part of the auction action at Bonhams & Butterfields Classic California sale at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles on Nov. 14. Estimated at $100,000 – $125,000, the Rat Pack king’s Caddy is a coachbuilt luxury car – one of the last to come out of Detroit, only 700 were ever produced – hand finished to the highest standards and outfitted with every luxury of the day. That includes a custom set of shot glasses and a cigarette box built into the glove box, along with a lady’s vanity case so your arm candy can touch up en route. The Caddy is finished in Cordovan Red with an interior upholstered and trimmed in grey cloth and white leather. Silver finished cast aluminum Sabre wheels with wide whitewall tires complement the brushed stainless steel roof and elaborate Eldorado rocker panel and fender molding trim

The car  apparently was sold by Bonham's for $117K in  2009.

1952 Cadillac [model unknown]

[ photo not available ]

Photo: Cadillac Motor Car Division

1955 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz

Photo: Cadillac Motor Car Division

1972 Cadillac "Seventy-Five" limousine

 

Anastasio Somoza Debayle, nicknamed "Tachito" (Little Tacho) by his father, was the third child of Anastasio Somoza García and Salvadora Debayle.  He was the younger son of Nicaraguan General Anastasio Somoza García (1896-1956), who was President, and dictator of Nicaragua from 1936 to 1956. On September   21, 1956, he was shot in the chest by a young poet and musician, Rigoberto López Pérez, at a party in the city of León. López was instantly brought down by Somoza bodyguards, but the president’s wounds would prove fatal a few days later.

Following his father's assassination on 21 September 1956, Somoza's older brother, Luis, took over the presidency (1956-1967). The younger Somoza – mentioned here – ruled from   1967 to 1979. He was subsequently overthrown by the Sandinista rebels.

Like his father before him, the "young" Somoza was assassinated near his exile home (in Paraguay), on September 17, 1980. He was ambushed by a 7-person Sandinista commando team (four men and three women). This was known as "Operation Reptile".  Somoza was 54 years old.

The Somoza administration, while being one of the most corrupt in history and brutal to dissidents, was nevertheless supported by the United States.  Part of the reason that the Somozas were able to retain power for so long was the support of the U.S. government, which saw them as anti-communist.

1941 custom Cadillac "Woodie" by Coachcraft of Hollywood

    
The Starrett car before (left) and after (right) restoration by the late Hollis Weihe

1952 Cadillac convertible

On the topic of presidential parade or security Cadillacs, I understand from Cadillac enthusiast, Erik Calvino, Tokyo (1998) that the Smithsonian Institute warehouses near Dulles Airport are home to dozens of rare Cadillacs. Can anyone confirm this?

Car Life published an article in November 1956 that had a story on the Cars of the Candidates (to the 1957 presidential elections). There I learned that Mr Stevenson's only personal car was a 1953 Oldsmobile sedan.

Stone, Sharon
[screen star]

1967 Cadillac De Ville convertible

1954 Cadillac Coupe de Ville

I don't have Paolo Stoppa's filmography but his reputation in his own country was on a par with some of his Hollywood contemporaries.  I remember him for his performance in my all-time favorite spaghetti Western,  by the great Sergio Leone, entitled  Once Upon a Time in the West, in which the lead roles were played by Charles Bronson and Henry Fonda

Stravinsky, Igor
[Composer]

1961-62 Fleetwood 75

French Database user, Philippe Ruel, viewed recently (11/2003) a documentary on this European celebrity; the composer is seen in his home, in Geneva, Switzerland, in the sixties. That is where he composed his renowned "Rite of Spring" in 1913. The composer is seated in the rear of A Series 75 Cadillac of 1961-62 vintage. In another scene he is visiting a friend in Paris, French painter-sculptor, Giacometti. Again he is seated in the rear compartment of a similar (same) Cadillac Fleetwood "Series 75" limousine.

 

Sukarno
[Former Premier of Indonesia]

1947 (1948?) Cadillac Fleetwood,  Series "75" limousine

Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo (6 June 1901 – 21 June 1970) was the first President of Indonesia, from 1945 to 1967. He helped the country win its independence from the Netherlands, presiding with mixed success over the country's turbulent transition to independence. Sukarno was forced out of power by Suharto, one of his generals,  who became President in March 1967.

    
Left: Official visit of Chinese Premier, Chou-en-Lai (taken outside Indonesian parliament, in 1955)
Right:  the restored car today, courtresy of the son of the current owner

1924 (?) Cadillac  roadster

Taylor, Elizabeth
[50s-80s Screen actress]

1949 Series 62 convertible (inter alia)

She got her first car for her 16th birthday.  Her Mom handed her the keys during the birthday celebration.  It was a baby-blue 1948 Series 62 convertible, Style 6267X,  of which only 5450  were made that year. You can tell the year in this photo (far right) by looking at the steering wheel with its horse-shoe shaped instrument panel.  It was Liz' mother who taught her to drive during the shooting of Little Women.  She had learned a lot by just observing her mother when she drove her to the Hollywood studios.  Liz admitted that she liked to drive fast; one day she had been tailed by the police but had beat them to the MGM compound ...where they had no jurisdiction.  All they could do was ask the studio guards to tell her to drive more slowly in future.  Liz kept the '48 convertible for two years.

          
Left: movie still from Giant (1924 Cadillac phaeton).  Center:  unknown movie still ('40s Cadillac). 
Right: learning to drive with Mom (1948-49 Cadillac Series 62 convertible)

Is this the same car? (1948-49 Cadillac)

1954-55 Series 62 convertible?  But who is the guy?
Thanks to CLC member, Ralph Messina, for correctly identifying the model year

    
A few years later: Liz graduates to a 1956 Eldorado Biarritz
with Richard Burton (left) and later still a 1958 sedan

Taylor, Robert and Dunn, Irene
[screen stars]

1933 Cadillac [seen here in a movie still]

Teen Kats
[French pop group]

1956 Cadillac coupe

Telephone
[French pop group]

1950 Cadillac Series 62 convertible

    
I believe the car actually belongs [or belonged?] to another French pop singer, Christophe
[the group, from L to R: Jean-Louis (vocals), Louis (lead guitar), Richard (percussion), Corinne (bass)]

Temple, Shirley (2)
[Child screen star]

1938 Series 90 V16, style 9023

Ms. Temple's car, seen here, was once  owned by a CLC member;
this car was included in an auction of celebrity-owned
Classic Cars in Boca Raton, FL, in Feb. 2007

Miss Temple leaving the White House offices with her mother and her bodyguard in 1938
[ Harris & Ewing, photographer - Library of Congress, LC-H22-D- 4177]
This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID hec.24775.
This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required.

Thailand, King of (1)
[ Bhumibol Adulyadej, ]

1948 Cadillac Series 60 Special

    

    
[ cropped pics:  LIFE Magazine ]

 

Thailand, King of (2)
[ Bhumibol Adulyadej, ]

1960 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz

This from Irwin Kho, faithful Philippines correspondent of The (New Millennium) Cadillac Database ©: The image shows King Bhumibol Adulyadej, current reigning king of Thailand. ( I'm certain the spelling is correct) riding in what appears to be a 1960 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz [yes it is, Irwin], most likely white in color. The caption on the picture reads, 'Returning from their lengthy royal tour in January 1961, Their Majesties are given a festive welcome home by thousands lining the streets of Bangkok.'   Notice the right front seat seem to have a steel bar attached to it, so that the king can hold onto it when he stands up during inspection or parades.

Sekou Touré, Premier of Guinea also owned one of these beauties (below) ...as did Gita and I, back in Switzerland, in the eighties!  But, hey, nobody ever gave us any kind of festive welcome when we returned from our frequent  "tours" ...to the supermarket!

 

I remember stopping in Bangkok on my way to Sydney, back in April, 1979 and being pushed off the road by a
burly motorcycle cop because I was "in the way" of one of King Bhumibol's Royal motorcades. No it was NOT this car.

Three-Dog Night
[U.S. pop group]

Stretched limousine
on 1970 Cadillac Series 75 chassis

Thanks to CLC member, Ralph Messina, for correctly identifying the model year of the car

Tikari, Maharajah of
[Pricely ruler of an Indian province during Btritish rule]

RHD Cadillac V-16 special phaeton, Fleetwood style #4260

The car was ordered by and built for Maharajah Bhupinder Singh of Patiala who subsequently gave it as a gift to his friend, the Maharajah of  Tikari. The car currently resides on the island of Jersey (UK)

    
Photos:  Robert Maidment, CLC - UK

Marshall TITO
[born Josip BROZ]
[former President of the former Yugoslavia]

1953 Cadillac convertible

According to Igor Kolman, a Cadillac aficionado from Croatia and member of the CML [Cadillac Mailing List] to which I too belong, the only interesting Caddy in Croatia is this 1953 convertible previously owned by the late Marshall Tito of Yugoslavia].  Igor tells us that Tito had a huge car collection,   all given to him by leaders of other countries.  In 1953 he wanted a special car for his summer residence on Brijuni [Brioni] island.  The '53 was the only car he ever drove himself; it was in service until Tito died in 1980.  People say he loved it more than any other car he had (including Rolls-Royces, Packards and every other possible make). After he died the car was in a garage for 20 years; currently it serves as transportation for hotel guests on Brijuni. Among the many guests of Tito to ride in the car were every president and queen/king of the time, as well as Sophia Loren, Richard Burton and other movie stars who were Tito's favorite company.  There are hundreds (thousands) of period newspaper photos showing Tito driving the car.  Igor  recently spoke to a person who takes care of the car; he told Igor that the car had been standing for 20 years; they just put in a new battery, belts, hoses and fluids and the car now runs like a dream.

    
Tourists are driven round Brioni island in this 1953 Cadillac
Series 62 convertible that used to belong to Marshall Tito
[ Photo: © and courtesy of David Spurgeon, Dublin, Eire ]

Marshall TITO
[born Josip BROZ]
[former President of the former Yugoslavia]
Custom 1960 convertible sedan on Series 75 chassis, by Ghia, Italy

Igor says the other car (below), among the many reported to have been in Tito's private collection, was this custom 1960 convertible sedan by Ghia, Italy.  At that time Ghia was stretching a few Crown Imperials for the Chrysler Corporation; the Cadillac fit nicely into that niche.  The photos (here and in the Dream Cars section of the Cadillac Database) were supplied kindly by Frans Vrijaldenhoven and Anthony Hazelaar of  The Netherlands. Others were found on the "Flickr" web pages an on the Bonhams of Londpon auction catalog (2013). The car wax purchased from an associate of Tito's by a Dutch collector, who registered it in Holland in 1991, the presidential parade vehicle was offered for sale by Bonhams of London in 2013, where it was sold for  a few Sterling pounds short of £98K. It has been fully customized by Carrozzeria Ghia, in Italy. Among the optional equipment is a portable Remington electric shaver, an altimeter  and a pair of spotlights, one on each side of the windshield.

[Photo: courtesy Frans Vrijaldenhoven,  The Netherlands]

    
These two photos © 2004 and courtesy of Anthony Hazelaar, The Netherlands

The car was offered for sale on eBay in 2006

         
Images in these two rows:  "Flickr" web pages

    
This parade venue has not been identified
The photos are from a Finnish car magazine called Mobilisti and are copyrighted to the Historic Museum of Yugoslavia
Thanks to Swedish  CLC member, Mano Forsman, for sharing them with the Database

Marshal Tito pays his respects to the Maharaja and Maharani of Gwalior, during a state visit to India
[ Photo: © and courtesy Team-BHP.com ]

Tolbert, William
[former President of Liberia]

1962 Series 62 convertible

On July 23, 1971, President William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman died  from an internal haemorrage. He was known to his people as "Uncle Shad" and  had ruled the small African nation for some 20 years, a record (in an African country) equalled only by Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. Tubman was replaced by William Tolbert, his second-in-command.  In line with the Constitution, the election should have been decided democractically by a majority vote of the the people within 6 months of Tubman's passing. President Tolbert did not see fit to follow the Constitution and "elected himself President the day after Tubman's passing.

Among the many foreign dignitaries to attend the celebration was America's First Lady, Pat Nixon. She is seen here riding in the presidential parade car beside (self-elect) President Torbert.

 

Travolta, John¹
[Screen star]

1955 Cadillac

Travolta, John²
[Screen star]

1959 Cadillac

[ nor sure if the star owns this car or if it
was used merely as a stage prop for this photo ]

Trevor, Clare
[Screen star]

1930-31 V-16 Special Phaeton 

Photo:  Walter Miller collection

Truman, Harry S.
[former U.S. President]

Official cars, parade cars, security cars
[ all Cadillacs ]

Above 2 rows: Truman rides in one of the two 1938 Series 90 V16 White House Security cars;
in one of these photos you can see the front clip of the second White House V-16
[ 3rd photo from left (top row): Lynn Hartsell ]

     T
The White House takes delivery
of a new 1947, Series 75 limousine
[ photo: Cadillac Motor Car Division ]

         
Above: here we see him aboard a 1947 Cadillac convertible
Below: two different 1948 convertibles in two different parades

Twitty, Conway
[Pop artist, country singer]

1973 De Ville coupe

This mildly customized coupe carries the singer's name
on this oval plaque affixed to the faux landau bar hinge point
[ Photos:  Internet, 2004 ]

UNKNOWN 2-star General
[ Photo taken in Nanking province, China ]

1946 Series 62  Sedan (?)

Photo:  LIFE Magazine

UNKNOWN Nawabs, Maharadjas and Indian Princes
[ from before India's independence from Britain, in 1947 ]

There cars were many, varied and not the cheapest on the showroom floor!

On the eve of independence in 1947, India (including present day Pakistan & Bangladesh) contained more than 600 princely states, each with its own ruler, often styled Raja or Thakur (if the ruler were Hindu) or Nawab (if he were Muslim).  

The term Nawab is often used to refer to any Muslim ruler in north or south India while the term Nizam is preferred for a senior official literally means Governor of region. Nizam of Hyderabad had several Nawabs under him, Nawabs of Cuddapah, Sira, Rajahmundry, Kurnool, Chicacole et all. Nizam being his personal title awarded by Mughal Government based on term Nazim which means senior officer. Nazim is still used for district collector in India in many parts. Term Nawab is still technically imprecise, as the title was also awarded to Hindus and Sikhs as well and large Zamindars and not necessarily to all Muslim rulers. With the decline of that empire the title, and the powers that went with it, became hereditary in the ruling families in the various provinces.

Maharaja (also spelled maharajah) is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani (or Maharanee) denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right.

 

Untouchables, The
[TV Series]

1928 Cadillac Town Sedan

A number of Cadillacs from the late twenties and early thirties were featured in the TV series, including this one, used as a backdrop in a fierce gun battle  between Elliott Ness and the "bad guys"

A 1925 Cadillac was used by both the Chicago police and by the mobsters who perpetrated the St Valentine's Day Massacre, on February 14,   1929, that decimated the gang of Bugs Moran

 

Vanderbilt, Frederick
[shipping and railroad billionaire]

1933 Cadillac 452C V16 formal sedan
(this is the only one built in 1933)

Valee, Rudy
[ Popular vocalist of the 30's and '40s ]

1970 custom Cadillac Del Caballero

Rudy Vallee. Rudy Vallee was one of the most popular vocalists of the pre-swing era.  He passed away in 1986. 

 

[ not THIS car, but one much like it ]
It is said that only 13 were made.  Take that with a pinch of salt !
In fact, Del Caballero trim was merely added to a regular Eldorado;
this not a "custom built" automobile in the traditional sense

Vaughan, Jimmy
[ the "Fabulous Thunderbirds" ]

1961 custom Cadillac

Jimmy Vaughn of "Fabulous Thunderbirds" fame owned a 1961 customized Cadillac with wire wheels,  shaved everything and a custom exhaust. Jimmy had also a '63 Riviera and a '60 Impala

 

[ no image available ]

The car is currently [2004] in the Petersen Museum in CA

Viviani, René, former Premier of France
and
Joffre, Joseph (Marshal)

In the latter part of April 1917 the French and British governments sent delegations to the United States to coordinate assistance and offer advice on the form of possible American involvement in the war effort. The French mission was led by former French Premier René Viviani and Marshal Joseph Joffre.   Marshal Joffre, the former French Army Commander and victor of the 1914 Battle of the Marne, suggested that an American division be sent to France to symbolize American participation.

1916 Cadillac Type 53, V-8

    
Ticker tape parade for Viviani and Joffre

 

Von Thurn und Taxis, Gloria
[wife of the late German telecommunications billionaire, Johannes Von Thurn und Taxis]

1959 Cadillac Series 62 convertible
with Biarritz trim

Gloria von Thurn & Taxis was a punk-haired waitress before she married the then 54-year-old count at age 20; in 2004 she was 42 which means she was not even born when the '59 Biarritz hit the roads; did she buy that car later in life,  possibly as a collectible? The car was offered for sale as Lot #172 at the Barrett-Jackson auction venue in Los Angeles on June 26, 2004.  It is said that over $100,000 were spent in restoring the car. The son of the current owner advertised the car simultaneously in the Forum pages of the Cadillac-LaSalle Club, Inc.

Only the Biarritz side trim has been installed. The lower tail-light pods, rear grille, wheel covers all are standard Series 62.
The car does not have the ELDORADO lettering on the front fenders or across the trunk lid, nor does it have  Biarritz interior trim or hard boot

Possibly (but not necessarily) this car, which has survived;
unfortunately, we do not have this particular car's full history

Walker, James (Jimmy)
[One-time Mayor of New York]

1930-31 Cadillac V16 limousine (gray and black in color)

James John Walker, nicknamed "Jimmy" (1881-1946), was the flamboyant mayor of New York City from 1925 to 1932.  He was a frequenter of Broadway theatre and the upper-class speakeasies like the "Central Park Casino". His administration was marred by corruption. The son of Irish Catholic immigrants who lived in New York’s Greenwich Village, Walker attended St. Francis Xavier College and graduated from New York Law School in 1904. After graduation, however, he began frequenting Broadway’s theatres and vaudeville.  A colorful character, to say the least.

 

Weissmuller, Johnny
[Olympic swimmer and screen star]

1931 Cadillac V16 sedan

Johnny Weissmuller was born in cenmtzral Europe in what is now Hungary, on June 2, 1904. He was an American champion swimmer as well as an actor, best known for playing 12 times "Tarzan" the ape man from the Edgar Rice Burroughs novels in films of the 20s and 30s. He also had one of the world's greatest swimming records in the 20th cetury, earning five gold medals (swimming events) and one bronze (water polo) at the Paris Olympiads in 1924. He also set 67 world swimming records. The well-known "Tarzan yell" is till often used in more current movies.  Weissmuéller died on January 24, 1984.

West, Mae [1]
[screen star]

1934 370D V12 town car

Mae was upstaged by Marlene Dietrich, the following year, when the latter acquired the same
body style but with the V16 power plant. This one was delivered through Don Lee in CA.
Detailed specifications for this car were included in special Fleetwood body order #198

Series 40, Style 5725, Town Cabriolet, Vin 4100295
Engine 370 ci V12 - Original Price $6,495 - Body #5 of 13 built

         
Interior photo (right), courtesy of Larry Wolfe, L&M Classics
The rear compartment is finished in  Wiese #4571 broadcloth; the front compartment is black leather

    
These three photos: courtesy of Larry  Wolfe, L&M Classics

This photo,  provided kindly by Ron Browne, owner of Mae's OTHER Cadillac, below, purports to show Ms. West
in the 1938 V-16 model; however, as you can see, this car features an open chauffeur's compartment and a smaller,
rounder vent window in the quarters; chances are, therefore, that it depicts Mae's 1934 V-16 town car;
the gentleman in the elegant bow tie is believed to be Ms. West's beau, Vincent Lopez

West, Mae [2]
[screen star]

1938 Series 90 V16 formal sedan, Fleetwood style 9033F

         
Ms. West, circa 1943

         
[ B&W photos,  courtesy of Ron Browne, CLC member and new owner of this historic vehicle ]

Whalen, Grover
[former New York City Commissioner of Police]

1935 Cadillac 452D V16 style #5885 convertible Victoria  by Fleetwood (only five similar convertible Victoria styles were built on the V-16 chassis; there was one in 1934, two in 1935 and two in 1937)

This car currently [2002] is in the
Merle Norman collection, San Sylmar, CA

White, Betty
[star of movies and TVs "Golden Girls"]

1977 Cadillac Seville

The car was bought new by famous TV game show star Allen Ludden as a love gift for his
equally famous wife of TV and movies, Betty White;  the car was used by her on TV in the
show "Mama’s Family" which was a spin off of the Carol Burnett show.  Betty donated her
beloved car on August 1st 2002 to a charity, The Los Angeles Humane Society, to auction it off.
It was Jeff Stork, of Van Nuys Ca. [a buddy of mine!] who won the bidding.  In March, 2004 Jeff
put it on Ebay and Nick Ferrantino was the high bidder.  He is the third owner of this 18K-mile car

 

    
This car currently [2005] is owned by Nick Ferrantino, TX,
who kindly supplied the pics and the information for the Database

Whiteman, Paul
[renowned 1930's band leader]

Cadillac 452 V16 style #4208 by Fleetwood
(only seven of these were ever built)

White House parade limo
1938 custom Cadillac Series 90 V-16  sedan

I have no specific information about this car which does appear to carry the White House logo on the rear doors, indicating the presence aboard of a US government of foreign VIP; the presence at the car's side of two G-men would tend to confirm this theory

White House security cars (2)

1956 custom Cadillac convertible sedan
(Hess & Eisenhardt)
Stretched 1956 convertible sedan [2 built]

Again, one of the two cars was subsequently acquired in the sixties (?) by Cadillac dealer Jack Tallman of Decatur, IL.  The other found its way
to the National Automobile Museum of  Brussels, Belgium.  Both cars were for sale (or were) sold again in the late nineties

 

    
Above: regrettably, the car gave little security to the late President John F. Kennedy on that
fateful trip in Dallas, TX, on November 22, 1963 [ photo, right,  courtesy Jack Tallman ]

In a color slide from  May 9, 1964,  may be seen one of the two '56 Cadillacs (the one with the all tan interior that was following the presidential Lincoln on that fateful November day in 1963 - LH photo, above). That car was used again the day President Johnson attended the inauguration of the Venezuelan Pavilion at the World's Fair.  It had been flown back to Andrews AFB aboard a USAF C-130, together with the tragic Lincoln (known as X-100), late in the afternoon of November 22nd, just a few hours after the assassination. This may be the only time it was on official duty after the Kennedy assassination.

Car Life published an article in November 1956 that had a story on the Cars of the Candidates (to the 1957 presidential elections). There I learned that the White House security cars actually were owned  by the manufacturer who simply rented to the Government on a public service basis.

    

        
Following behind the presidential parade car (often a Lincoln Continental) on state parades were usually
one or both of the two 1956 White House security cars (stretched Cadillac convertible)

 

White House security cars (3)
Stretched 1983 custom  convertible sedan

   
These are some retired parade vehicles used in training G-men 

(The) White House ...and a Cadillac limousine
Regular 1971-72 Fleetwood Series 75 limousine

I photographed this car before the White House on our first trip to the USA, in June 1978.
A week later, in Illinois, I actually got to drive two former White House security cars (the 1938
and 1956 models described above) that belonged to Cadillac dealer and friend, Jack Tallman, of Decatur

Wilhelmina, Queen of the Netherlands (2)

Custom landaulet on Cadillac Series 75 chassis;
coach builder not known at this time

    
I believe these images show one and the same car; photo at right was taken at a wedding in Holland

Williams, Ted
[baseball's "greatest hitter"]

1952 Cadillac sedan

Born and raised in San Diego, Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams (August 30, 1918 – July 5, 2002) was an American professional baseball player, manager, and World War II and Korean War veteran. Williams played his entire 19-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox (1939–1942 and 1946–1960). Nicknamed "The Kid", "The Splendid Splinter", "Teddy Ballgame", "The Thumper" and "The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived", Williams is regarded as one of the greatest hitters in baseball history. He was a two-time American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP), six-time batting champion, 17-time All-Star,[1] and a two-time Triple Crown winner. He finished his career with a .344 batting average, 521 home runs, and a .482 on base percentage, the highest of all time. His batting average is the highest of any MLB player with 500 or more home runs. Williams was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966 in his first year of eligiblity.

 

Wilson, Charles E.
[ GM President ]

This special order 1951 Series 62 coupe, style 6237D, engine #516203352, body #3, was built for
Charles E. Wilson, then President of General Motors. The original trim codes were changed from 1-58
(i.e. black exterior with tan Bedford cord interior) to 0-00 (special order trim).  It was painted black
with gold accents; it had also a light tan orlon roof covering and the interior was done in black leather.
as were also the upper door panels and dash pad, that included also wood inserts. Gold trim and hardware
was everywhere in evidence, including even the power window switches; the car was shipped
from the factory to GM headquarters  on June 6, 1951.  It has survived, although it is in poor condition,
but certainly worth restoring, taking into account its "presidential" heritage

Interior of the Wilson car, with lots of gold-plated trim, hardware and wood veneer
The current owner, Charlie Marshall, is currently restoring the car (2003)
[  photo:  courtesy Ron Van Gelderen ]

Wilson, Charles E.
[ Sectretary of Defense under Ike Eisnheower ]

Wilson, Woodrow
[former U.S. President]

1911 touring car,  and similar 1916 model
The 1911 model (left)  is in the collection of Jack Tallman, Decatur, IL

The lower illustration is from an ad for the new, 1916 "Type 53" Cadillac; according to the copywriter, President Wilson is accompanied by his fiancée,
Mrs. Norman Galt, during a visit to Philadelphia on Saturday October 16, 1915, in company with his daughter, Margaret, and a cousin, both seated on
the folding auxiliary seats; the car immediately behind the presidential car is also a "Type 53" Cadillac; three other V8 models followed close behind

[ Photo: Z. Taylor Vinson collection ]

Windsor, Duke and Duchess of [1]
[British royalty]

1941 custom-built sedan

Known as  The Duchess, this car was commissioned from Fleetwood by the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and used by them until 1952 when it had done about 18000 miles.  Basically a C-body sedan stretched to fit the 136" wheel base chassis, the car had wider doors and a 1942, 60S-type "B" pillar. A special rear division console held a jewel case, vanity case, pipe rack, air cooling unit, heater and radio. The rear seat footrests were adjustable from the driving seat. The reported cost was $14000 [i.e. the same price as a 1940 Series 75  limousine ordered by and modified for H.H. the Pope

The story of King Edward Vlll and his abdication from the British throne is one of the most fascinating and enduring of all love stories, and it was an episode that rocked the British constitution and society at the time. The King publicly announced, “You must believe me when I tell you, that I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility, and to discharge my duties as King, as I would wish to do, without the help and support of the woman I love.” The King’s love for American socialite Wallis Simpson would become one of the most famous romances of all time, and the abdication heralded the beginning of what was to become nearly a 40 year international jet-set existence for the newly named Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The couple spent much of their time in New York, living in a suite at the Waldorf Towers on Park Avenue, and for 11 years, their Cadillac stayed at their side.

No single body panel on the Windsors’ car matched any other 1941 Cadillac. The hood, trunk, fenders, fender skirts, roof, and doors were all crafted by hand, and all of the interior appointments were hand-fitted. Inside, the car was upholstered entirely in rose-colored custom broadcloth, extending even to the headlining and sun visors. The floors were covered in Wilton wool carpet, custom-dyed to match and set against custom walnut finishes for the doors, cabinetry, and divider window. It was one of the first two Cadillacs to be equipped with power windows (the other being Alfred P. Sloan’s personal car). They were fitted with satin privacy curtains that would roll away when not in use. There were four brushed stainless-steel jewelry cases, each lined in velvet, to carry the Duchess’ famous jewelry purchases and, for the Duke, no fewer than three cigar lighters and two ashtrays, along with a humidor and custom rack for his pipes. The Duke sometimes drove the car himself and so the front compartment was made as elegant and opulent as the rear, including its own radio.

    
The car survived and underwent a full restoration from 2011 to 2013

          
(These 2 rows): the unrestored car as recovered in 2011 

    
The restored car, 2013

Windsor, Duke and Duchess of [2]
[British royalty]

1950 Series 60 Special sedan, modified by Derham of Rosemont

The royal couple with one of their pugs

Cadillac enthusiast and CLC member from Minnesota, James Fredrick, informed me in May, 2006, that he had acquired this other "custom" Cadillac which the Duke and Duchess used during their frequent stays at their Waldorf Astoria Towers apartment in New York.  They apparently owned the car from 1950 to 1954. It has the typical Derham backlight, which is oval and about the size of a football. Thanks for the pics, Jim.

       
In the center of the roof, just above the windshield frame, is what appears to be a second Cadillac mascot; in fact it is a blue
"taxi" light that apparently was switched on when the royal couple were aboard the vehicle.  Up front also is a shield surmounted
by some armorial bearings (probably those of the Windsors); the shield carries the words "State of New York".

    
Only from the rear can you see the custom work done by Derham; this car
was fitted also with a glass divider between the front and rear compartments

[ no image currently available ]

Winfield, Gene
[famed custom car builder]

1961   Custom Cadillac
"Maybelline"

Gene's car has the header coming out from behind the front wheels, wide white wall tires, flattop roof, dash-mounted rearview and paint that "makes it look good enough to eat".  There are no handles or trim on the car

Wrigley, Philip K. (1)
[Son of chewing-gum tycoon, William Wrigley Jr.]

1941 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75 limousine

This car was offered for sale on an Internet Web site,
in 2009-10, by the Ohio firm "Vintage Coach Limo"

Wrigley, Philip K. (2)
[Son of chewing-gum tycoon, William Wrigley Jr.]

1958 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham  (#609)

You can read all about this car in the Cadillac Database  section
devoted to surviving examples of this bespoke model

Wyman, Jane
[screen star]

This 1986 Fleetwood Series 75 limousine
was used in the TV Series Falcon Crest

Young, Clement, C.
[former Governor of California]

1927 Cadillac sedan or limousine

Clement Calhoun Young (April 28, 1869 – December 24, 1947) was an American teacher and politician who was affiliated with the original Progressive Party and later the Republican Party. He was elected to five consecutive terms in the California State Legislature

 

Young, Loretta
[screen star]

The star is seen here riding to a Hollywood social event in a 1942 Cadillac Series 75 limousine; the car may have been a style #7519-F formal sedan owned by movie producer David O. Selznik and his wife, the actress Jennifer Jones; this is the same body style as our Black Pryncess

Young, Neil (1)
[singer, song-writer]

1930-31 Cadillac V-16 coupe, Fleetwood style #4276
1978 Fleetwood Eldorado

The star is well known for his participation  in the popular seventies ensemble, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
Neil is passionate also about old cars, especially old Cadillacs. These include a  rare and desirable V16 model,
one of only 70 units built that year.

 

I cropped this image from a larger one on the Museum's home page

Young, Neil (2)
[singer, song-writer]

1954 Cadillac Eldorado

 

I believe the car is owned currently (2010), in England,
by Stewart Homan, a keen Cadillac enthusiast and friend

Young, Neil (3)
[singer, song-writer]

1959 Eldorado Biarritz

I remember in the mid-seventies looking at a fine, red 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz
that he was offering for sale for ... $4500!  Try finding this model today for under $100K!)

NOT Neil's car but one identical to it

Zanuck, Darryl
[film producer]

1938 Cadillac Series 90 V16
town car

(résumé en français)

La Cadillac, symbole de luxe par excellence, a longtemps été la préférée de l'élite mondiale.  Parmi ses illustres propriétaires passés:  la reine Wilhelmine des Pays-Bas, le roi Baudoin de Belgique, le roi Gustaf de Suède de même que les Papes Pie XII et Jean XXIII. Aux Etats-Unis elle fut longtemps la favorite de la Maison Blanche sous Teddy Roosevelt, Ike Eisenhower, Richard Nixon ...et maintenant Bill Clinton. Rois et reines de l'écran les adoraient également (Marlene Dietrich, Joan Crawford, Fred Astaire...) comme le faisaient aussi d'autres "vedettes internationales" (Salvador Dali, Elvis Presley...) et même un certain Al Capone, dit "le balafré". 

Les automobiles Cadillac et La Salle jouissent depuis toujours d'une réputation justifiée d'élégance, de fiabilité et de confort.  Dans les années vingt (les "années folles") une campagne publicitaire fut orchestrée autour de la Cadillac, en France, par son importateur parisien, la société commerciale de vente d'automobiles SOCOVA. Dans la "who's who" de la firme furent cités cinq rois, deux reines, une princesse royale, huit princes, sept ducs et pas moins de dix-huit marquis et marquises.