Cadillac Country Club

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East Coast Car Association Car Show Video

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Last week I went to a local car show in Queens NY and took some video. There were some really cool Cadillacs there. I really liked the 1982 Cadillac. It was a color I have never seen a Cadillac before. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed filming them. I am so glad I found a local car club that has classic Cadillacs. Thanks to East Coast Car Association for putting on a great show.

Here is a 1953 Cadillac

Here is a 1955 Cadillac.

Here is a 1959 Cadillac.

And a 1982 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham.

I also took about 100 pictures and I am currently making pages with each car as the focus. Click here to see more pictures from the car show.

Cadillacs in the Movies

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The Cadillac has been an iconic symbol of US vehicle production since the very first car rolled off the production line all those years ago. As an American icon, various models have appeared in some of the most famous movies of all time and on occasion, they have even taken the spotlight away from the actors themselves.

With Cadillac prices becoming more affordable, if you’re looking to buy your next car online why not make it a Cadillac so you can follow in the footsteps of some of Hollywood’s greats?

One of the earliest movies in which the car was something of a star came out in 1949 when Mickey Rooney starred in The Big Wheel. The whole film centers on racing and Rooney’s character is determined to seek a career in motor sport despite the fact that his father was killed in the Indy 500. The film is a roller coaster of great racing action from start to finish and at the center of it is Rooney’s 1941 Cadillac series 62 convertible coupe.

Away from the world of racing and on a more sedate scale, 1989’s Driving Miss Daisy featured a 1956 Fleetwood Sixty Special. However, the brand is largely associated with fast paced action and that’s where Cadillacs at the movies largely come into their own.

When you look at any list of films where Cadillacs have featured heavily, certain actors seem to crop up on a regular basis and the name of Clint Eastwood can be found on many occasions. In Every Which Way But Loose, Eastwood’s character, Phil Beddoe, is seen roaming the American West in a 1959 convertible with his trusted Orangutan, Clyde by his side. Meanwhile, in Pink Cadillac, the eponymous hero in the film is a shocking pink series 62 convertible.

The Cadillac can sometimes crop up unexpectedly and in Ghostbusters, the crew relied on their 1959 Caddy Ambulance to get them around. Comedy films also feature quite heavily in this list and in the National Lampoon series of films, you’ll find a range of cars appearing quite regularly. In Animal House, both a 62 and a 61 convertible appear in the film and in National Lampoon’s Loaded Gun, a rather rust ridden and beaten up 63 convertible can be seen.

One of the great qualities of the Cadillac range as a whole is its durability that has seen it become a national icon for so many decades. The long lasting love for the car has also seen it span a great number of years at the movies and from that early appearance in The Big Wheel, the make has been featured in films from every decade since.

While the all action nature of the Cadillac dominates the movies, some of these appearances have been a little more comedic and the spoof secret agent, Austin Powers has largely been responsible for this. The most notable appearance sees the main character go back through time in a very distinctive Eldorado. Other classic movies featuring Cadillacs include the original 1974 version of Gone in 60 Seconds, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot and the 1989 version of Batman.

Cadillac Allante : Earle Bought a New Toy

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The newest addition to the fleet is a 1992 VS Allante. The story of how this car came to join the rest of the stable started in June of 2011 at the Guinness Book of Records attempt at the Largest Cadillac Parade in Barton Vermont. While in the staging area waiting for the parade to start there were three Allantes close by where I was parked. I of course spoke with the driver whose car was just in front of me and two other Allante owners soon joined us.
red Cadillac Allante
I asked what questions I could think of about a 20 year old model that had such a fleeting time among the Cadillac models of the era. Then I pretty much listened as the three owners shared stories and compared notes about their unique Cadillacs. The feeling I came away with was that each of these owners was still enthusiastic about their rides. I was surprised that someone that had been driving the same car for almost twenty years could be so pumped up about a widely ignored model. Following this encounter I took it upon myself to do some research about the Allante.

red Cadillac Allante parked near trees
Over the next four months I learned a great deal about the cars and even had an enlightening conversation with the President of the East Coast Allante Club, a very educational conversation. After all this I had settled on the year Allante I was going to search for – really the only decision to make as the Allante pretty much came loaded and the removable hard top was just about the only option. I decided to look for a 1992 model, this being the last year before a major change in the power plant for 93 which resulted in a great deal of problems. The 92 was also the lowest production number for any of the models. I felt that the benefit of a proven engine and low production numbers would put the 92 on the cusp of becoming a highly desirable collector car in the foreseeable future. There was also those guys claims that the car was “Fun to drive.”
front passenger side picture of a red Cadillac Allante
I cyber-searched for the Allante of my dreams for several weeks, all to no avail. I could find seriously flawed, ignored project cars that were less than accurately represented in the ads, but not the right car that spoke to me. I had concluded that my search was over this year and I would pick up the quest in the spring.
interior of a 1992 Cadillac Allante
Then two weeks ago I was joined by my brother and his wife on a trip to the sea coast to enjoy an Oktoberfest special at one of the taverns there. Afterward I suggested that we visit one of my favorite places on the coast, a used car dealer that is more like a car museum than dealer. He has an incredible collection of antique and collector cars and does not mind if you browse through his collection at you leisure. I had also heard that he did written appraisals on collector cars and I wanted to confirm this. I wish to have such an appraisal on the Flower Car when I complete the refreshing it is currently undergoing. The dealer confirmed that they did indeed offer this service and as I turned to leave I spotted the Allante on the far side of the showroom.
Rear view of a 1992 Cadillac Allante
I asked as to the details of the car and listened as the salesman clicked off just about everything on my checklist of desirable traits in the car I had been searching for. It was a 92, it was a one owner car, it had a mere 45 thousand miles on it, it was in excellent condition. All this and it was even the color I wanted, RED. I arraigned to come back a few days later and take a test drive. After leaving the parking lot, I knew I had found my Allante – it was indeed speaking to me. All I had to do was strike a deal with the owner. I knew his asking price, and had my counter offer speech all worked out and rehearsed, no spur of the moment action here. I made my assessment of the car and my offer. After what seemed like an eternity he made a counter offer that was well within my preset parameters, and we had a deal.
cadillac allante engine
That was four days ago and due to an unusual spat of perfect Indian Summer here in New England, I have logged over four hundred miles on the Allante and can whole heartedly confirm what those guys said in a field in Barton VT, it is indeed a fun car to drive. I am looking forward to many good times in the car and although the list is understandably short, I have a few observations.

The car is not a family car, it is a two seater meant for you and someone special. There is a surprising amount of storage space. Plenty of room for luggage, enough for a week end get away. The 4.5 V8 is peppy, and may not suit everyone, but is enough to get the kid in you excited. The car handles superb. It’s cornering abilities will inspire aspirations long thought to be gone. It would seem that all you have to do is point it where you want to go and it will take you there. The coach builder, Pinafara, built a surprisingly comfortable two seater. I am not of a smallish size and I am quite comfortable in the car. It sounds like no other Cadillac in my collection. It has an authoritative report without being overbearing.

Perhaps the most surprising thing I have noticed so far is the fuel economy. While it does prefer premium grade fuel, I have been pleasantly surprised at the report of the on board fuel management system that tells me I am getting 24, yes, twenty four mpg. This is not highway traveling and I will admit that while not pushing the limits of the car, I have been driving slightly more aggressively than I normally do in order to get to know the car.

I am pleased with the newest member of the fleet, and look forward to many years of enjoyment and, oh yeah – like they said and like I say now – FUN.