Volume 45, Number 2 February 2020 Valley Forge Region / LaSalle Club John Barry Editor/Publisher [email protected] February 2020

President: Mike Snson; Mi- This Issue chael.c.s[email protected] Vice president: John Barry; [email protected] Calendar 1 Secretary: Earl Ruer; eru[email protected] Treasurer: John Wood; [email protected] Mike’s Missives (President’s message) 2 Membership: Earl Ruer; eru[email protected] Mystery: Proposed La Salle Revival, 1972 3 Awards: Woody Rohrbach; woody@beerworkbyfar.com Grille Badge Placement: Location, Location, Dealer show coordinator : Marty Watkins 4 [email protected] Location Calendar/Sunshine: Bud Coleman; 2020 Mecum Kissimmee Auction: Cadillac [email protected] 6 Acvies Commiee: Vickie Baruzza; Barbara Cole- Results [contributed by Lynn Gardner] man; Mary Conway; Nancy Hotz; Becky Hux; Helen Wood; Bobbie Zimmermann Good News: Stolen Vintage Cadillac Re- Webmaster: Jeff Hansen ; [email protected] 9 Board of Directors turned [suggested by Lynn Gardner] Cliff Woodbury III John Wood If You’re Going to Do Anything Wrong, Do It Robert Schles 10 Mike Zimmerman Right: 1947 series 62 convertible resto-mod Michael Marchese Mike Stinson Ron Hux This is a Barn Find? 1993 de Ville Gold Key Earl Rutter 12 John Barry Edition with under 1000 Miles Past Presidents Field Guide or Eye Exam? Cadillac Society Lew Howells [1975-82] Gary Anderson [1983-7] publishes a Visual Comparison between 15 George Cavanaugh [1988-9] 2020 CT5 Trim Levels Jack Hotz [1990-1] Dollars Down the …Crankcase? A Caution- Don Miller [1992-3] 20 Bill Edmunds [1994-5] ary Commentary about Additives Jack Hotz [1996-9] Toni Rothman [2000-01] End of the CT-6 and other major upheavals 24 Rob Robison [2002-03] Mike Barruzza [2004-05] 1931 Cadillac 370-A V-12 26 Marty Watkins [2006-09] Cliff Woodbury [2010-2011] VFR SPRING BANQUET FLYER 30 Ron Hux [2012-2017] Richard Sills Elected AACA Museum Presi- 31 dent January 2020 Meeting Minutes 32

Loose Bolts 33 Page 1 The Goddess February 2020

6-8 February Philadelphia, PA AACA Annual Convenon

7-9 February Atlanc City, NJ Atlanc City Show. See www.acclassiccars.com for more details.

1 March Hamburg, PA Ontelaunee Swap Meet / Car Corral. Email [email protected] or 610-823-4656 for more details.

14 March West Friendship, MD AACA Chesapeake Region's 47th Annual Collector Car Swap Meet. Howard County Fairgrounds. For further informaon, contact Tom Young: 443-744-6338; [email protected] ; www.chesapeakeaaca.org 15 M P, NJ A VFR B ( )

28, 29 March Oaks, PA Mid Atlanc Indoor Naonals Car & Bike Show. Held at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA .See www.midatlancindoornats.com

2-5 April Charloe, NC AACA 2020 Southeastern Spring Naonals. See hp://www.aaca.org/Calendar/aaca_calendar.html

11 April Waretown, NJ 1st annual Car Hop Kickoff. See hps://www.hemmings.com/events/detail?lisng_id=56669 for more details.

26 April Greenbelt, MD Potomac Region spring show at Capitol Cadillac

2 May Downingtown, PA Cruisin’ Classics Chester County 35th Annual Car Show. Caln Village Shopping Cen- ter . See hps://cruisinclassicspa.net/ for more details. 13-16 May MD Eastern Shore AACA Eastern Divisional Tour - Eastern Shore Region - Eastern Shore of Maryland

16 May Lancaster, PA Central PA Region dealer show at Kelly Cadillac

11 July Merchantville, NJ Merchantville Classic Car Show. See also hps://www.merchantvillecarshow.com/

23-25 July Allentown, PA AACA Annual Grand Naonal

12 September Haddonfield, NJ 33rd Annual Haddonfield Car Show, sponsored by the AACA Ankokas Region

20 September Wilmington, DE Annual Hagley Car Show. See www.hagley.org for details.

20 S L, PA VFR A F M P’ V. F .

REGULARLY RECURRING EVENTS 3rd Tuesday, each Malvern, PA Valley Forge Region monthly meeng; Desmond Hotel; 1 Liberty Boulevard; month Malvern PA 19355; 7: 30 PM 3rd Thursday, each South Plain- Raritan Region monthly meeng; St. Stephen’s Church banquet hall; 609 month field, NJ Lane Ave.; 7:30 PM

3rd Thursday, each Harrisburg, PA Central PA monthly meeng; Gilligan’s Bar & Grille; 987 Eisenhower Boule- month vard; 7:30 PM February 2020 The Goddess Page 2

Greetings! Happy February/ Valentine’s Day/ 2020 Primary Season/ Philly Auto Show Month … January flew by! I think the passage of time accelerates as we age. I hope everyone is enjoying the relatively mild winter we’re having (so far; fin- gers crossed!) . Scottsdale auctions wrapped up in January, and the results, reviews (and complaints) I read are pretty much the same as those in past years. Sales values declined approximately 3% as compared to last year, which makes sense from a supply- demand standpoint. I consider Mecum’s auctions a better ba- rometer of the overall market: prices seem more indicative of tures a “Tricky Tray” silent auction of Cadillac parts and memo- th the real world across all segments (the Bullitt Mustang notwith- rabilia. Their March meeting on the 19 features a scale model standing). For an interesting review of and insights from Scotts- car show. RRR will host a “dust-off” cruise-in (date TBD). The dale, see Mike Austin’s article from Hemmings Motor News: annual show at Gold Coast Cadillac will be in October. hps://www.hemmings.com/blog/2020/01/21/five-takeaways- Potomac Region’s Annual Spring Show at Capitol Cadillac will from-scosdale-2020/#comments-block be held on Sunday, April 26 th . There were a few surprises at Mecum Kissimmee. Log into Central PA Region’s annual meet at the AACA Museum will be http://www.mecum.com/infonet/search and enter Kissimmee held on Saturday, August 22 nd . They also will host their annual 2020 and Cadillac (or LaSalle, etc.) to see all the results. One show at Kelly Cadillac in Lancaster PA on Saturday, May 16 th . was a 1965 Coupe DeVille base, 429, white/white & black/ VFR’s Spring banquet is scheduled for Sunday March 15 th at the white vinyl (Lot J167) that sold for $37,400. Yes, it had only Pennsauken Country Club. Members will be receiving an invi- 11,000 original miles (presumably), one owner until 2006, and tation via snail mail in February. appeared nicely resprayed & preserved, but it did not appear so The VFR, Central PA and Upper Susquehanna Regions will highly restored to sell for that much. Another surprise was a ’61 gather on Saturday, April 18 th at 9:30am at RB Car Collection to DeVille convertible (Lot S25) that was highly restored (albeit tour their restoration shop in Allentown. We will then cross the not correctly, per CLC judging guidelines) which sold for street to take a guided tour of America on Wheels Museum, $134,750. Not an Eldorado, a DE VILLE! Anyone interested in followed by lunch at the museum’s Hubcap Café . Lunch selec- a ’68 DeVille convertible (“older, partial” restoration)? tions are currently being finalized, and a registration flyer will I’ll buy what I like (that I can afford) and enjoy my cars. As be emailed later this month. Larry Batton of Auto Appraisal Group says, “The value of a car The VFR’s monthly meeting on 19 May is canceled , as I will is what a motivated buyer is willing to pay, and a motivated be out of town. Members are welcome to meet socially at an seller is willing to accept”. Don’t sacrifice enjoyment today for alternate location, as we will cancel the room at the Desmond. a few extra dollars you might get tomorrow. The major regional Cadillac event is the 2020 Das Awkscht I will attend the national board meeting in New Orleans begin- Fescht, July 31-August 2, hosted by the Ontelaunee Region ning on 31 January. If you have any questions, issues, or ideas, AACA in Macungie, PA. The featured marques for the three- please email, call or text me ASAP. I will bring up your item(s). day festival are Cadillac and LaSalle . The AACA Museum Registration is open for the 2020 Grand National, which will be will be sponsoring the featured display. The Museum and held in Kansas City from June 9-13. CLC is encouraging online AACA are looking to CLC regions to fill the featured display! registration. Paper registration will still be accepted, but note Since all CLC members have to do is “show up” and fill the the Cynthia Rutledge’s address on the form, to whom paper reg- feature display, we will plan Club events for each day of the istrations should be mailed. festival, including a nearby hotel for overnight participants and The 2020 National Driving Tour will take place in August in the dinner venues. Details to follow soon. Contact Bob Hobaugh, Pacific Northwest, followed by the annual CLC-MRC Fall Fes- Vice President, Ontelaunee Region AACA at tival in Hickory Corners September 25-26. [email protected], 610-360-6537, or me for registra- Check out the February issue of The Self-Starter , which features tion information, and Stan Sipko, Curator, AACA Museum for an article highlighting the National Driving Tour VFR hosted in information about the Cadillac & LaSalle feature display. Gettysburg in October. Thanks again to Chuck Piel and Lynn VFR’s annual Lahaska show at Peddler’s Village will be on Gardner of the Potomac Region for the article and photos. Sunday, September 20 th . More details to follow soon. Congratulations to Richard Sills, director of the CLC Central PA Mike Marchese has assumed administration of VFR’s Facebook Region, on his recent election to President of the Board of Di- page, updating it regularly. Thanks, Mike, for taking on this rectors of the AACA Museum. Richard has been active in CLC important task to expand VFR’s visibility! nationally & regionally, served on the Board of the CLC-MRC Thank you, again, to everyone for your comments, suggestions as well as AACA. See page 30 for more. and support. Stay warm and think spring! Regional & Inter-Regional Events: Regards, The Raritan River Region’s (February meeting on the 20th fea- Michael Page 3 The Goddess February 2020

It’s a mystery to me…the game commences Photos of a 1972 La salle revival concept

These pictures were posted on Facebook by Pierre Chaboillez in the group “Old Ca- dillacs” on 7 January 2020. Unl then, your editor had never heard of a possible La Salle revival for 1972. Certainly Ron van Gelderen didn’t menon such a vehicle in his comprehensive trease on the La Salle marque. That makes one wonder if these photos have just recently come to light, and how they got into private hands such that they could be posted on Facebook.

It’s not that easy to discern, but the leer- ing on the right front fender does indeed say “LA SALLE”, aer considerable magnifi-

One fascinang aspect is the near-total lack of any marque cues apart from that fender leering. The wheel covers don’t appear to have anything peculiar to La Salle and the grille isn’t reminiscent of the last producon La Salles. Who knows more about this elusive creature? February 2020 The Goddess Page 4

Yes, it DOES matter where the badge is placed on the grille!

Source: http://cadillacsociety.com/2020/01/04/ heres-why-cadillac-design-places-badges-high-on -the-grille/ Jonathan Lopez)

Design plays a major role in how attractive a LOCA TION ! vehicle is. Over the years, Cadillac design has tacked a number of well-executed design accomplishments to its résumé. Neverthe- less, some have criticized the luxury brand’s recent direction of placing its iconic Cadillac crest on a position higher on the grille, as op- posed to centering it. The exercise is most prominent on the XT6, CT5, refreshed CT6, and next-gen Escalade. To find out the reasoning behind this design direction, Cadillac Society spoke to several Cadillac designers, allowing us to bring you this exclusive report. The designers explained that the prima- ry reason for placing the Cadillac crest higher on the grille is all about design composition. When looking at the front end of a vehi- cle, the observer tends to notice more prominent styling elements first, such as the headlamps, which form the “book ends” of a grille. In order to cre- ate a natural horizontal line between the headlamps, the badge is placed higher on the grille, thereby visually connecting the headlamps and creating Note the horizontal headlight placement high on the front end, creang a a balanced appearance. line that sweeps across and draws the eye to the badge. Vercal turn / run- Conversely, placing the logo centrally ning lights provide bookends for this look. on the grille would mean that it would be positioned toward the bottom end of the front end, which is lower than the aforementioned horizontal line between the headlamps. Not only would doing so remove the alignment of the logo and the headlamps, but it would also make it look like the logo is “falling”. It really gets down to what feels right, and a logo higher on the grille feels right in terms of over- all composition compared to logo placed centrally, and therefore lower, on the grille. Page 5 The Goddess February 2020

Granted, all that is assuming that the fascia of a vehicle incorporates headlamp housings placed higher up at the front end of the vehicle. Unsurpris- ingly, that characteristic is a common trait on the latest Cadillac design lan- guage, which calls for a horizontally- oriented headlamp housing (containing the primary lighting elements) followed by a vertical accent light (containing the Daytime Running Lights, turn signals and signature accents lights). What’s more, the Cadillac design trend of placing the logo higher on the Front end sans running lights: the strong horizontal design is sll readily grille is also a result of progressively apparent on this CT6. larger grilles, which give designers more space to work with when it comes to badge placement. By comparison, Cadillac vehicles following the first iteration of the brand’s Art & Sci- ence design language had two distinct ele- ments: much smaller grilles and vertically- oriented headlamps. On those models, the Cadillac badge – at that time still encapsulated by the wreath – was centered both vertically and hori- zontally on the grille. Doing so allowed the logo to be aligned with the center line of The CT5 has a similar front end treatment.. the headlights, to the extent the space re- strictions would allow. As such, the theory of design composition on those models is the same as on the current models, which continue to align the logo with the headlamps. Moving forward, we anticipate Cadil- lac design will place even greater empha- sis on the badges and their location on the vehicle, especially with a possible forthcoming light-up badging feature, as we covered previously.

The XT6 varies the theme, placing the vercal running lights below the headlights, but sll yielding the desired bookend effect. February 2020 The Goddess Page 6

Lynn Gardner went to this aucon in Florida, and filed Kissimmee Mecum Auction Cadillac the following notes with Vince Taliano and your editor:

Results: compilation and comments Thought the members would be interested in the results by Lynn Gardner from the Kissimmee Mecum Auction. I have gone through and made a spreadsheet of all the that were at the auction with the color and mileage and high bid. If in the notes section I have the comment "The Bid Goes On" that means it was a no sale at the high bid. All other cars sold at the whatever the high bid was. You will notice that there were a coupe of cars that sold at exceptional prices: these were 100 point trailer queens. Also all the other cars were nice and original. There were a few resto mods and I have identified those in the comment section. If you have never been to an auction you need to go at least once: 3,500 classic cars over 10 days. And it is much more realistic then Barrett Jackson. Page 7 The Goddess February 2020 February 2020 The Goddess Page 8

Since a century-old Cadillac isn’t something one encounters oen, it seemed like a good idea to pro- vide a few illustraons of the species. These are culled from various sources thanks to your reless internet friend and mine, Google. RIGHT: touring car at the GM Heritage Center

BELOW: landau owned by Dick Shappy of Rhode Island Page 9 The Goddess February 2020

Police said Monday that they recovered a 106-year-old World War II veteran's vin- tage Cadillac after thieves stole it from the man's Sacramento garage last week. The beloved car was dropped off Monday evening at police headquarters, but no arrests have been made in the case and the investigation is ongoing, according to Sacramento police. The car's owner Curly Bunfill, who earned three Purple Hearts during his service, has plenty of stories to share. But his favorite involves how he got the 1956 Bermuda Blue as a gift from actress Rita Hayworth, he told KTLA sister station KTXL in Sacramento. Bunfill says, years after the war, he was working as a Hollywood stuntman when he met the silver screen idol at a party. “Our eyes met and we danced," he said. "She had all these cars, beautiful, beautiful cars. We danced around the cars.” He said Hayworth asked which car he liked, and he pointed to the Cadillac. “When she died, she willed it to me,” Bunfill said. BELOW: the car and the benefactress. February 2020 The Goddess Page 10

EDITOR’S NOTE: like Brussels sprouts, this feature won’t be to everyone’s taste. It’s certainly not to mine: your editor If You’re Going to Do has no me for modified cars, even so-called restomods. So why is this here? First, there’s something of an obliga- Something Wrong, on to document this subspecies of Cadillacs that the CLC recognizes as legimate—a not parcularly pleasant obli- gaon but something of a civic duty that has to be done Do it Right once in a while. Second, it could easily be taken as a cau- onary tale: what could happen if a vintage Cadillac falls into the wrong hands, skilled though those hands may be.

The more conservave readers may now relax: it’ll be a while before a similar feature next appears.

This late ‘40s Series 62 now features a 500- cu.in. V-8 that once powered a 1970 Eldorado. When it was assembled at the factory in 1947, this Series 62 convertible had Cadillac’s 346- cu.in. L-head V-8 beneath its hood. It was swapped for the massive 500-cu.in. OHV V-8 that was used to power the front-drive Eldorado from 1970 through 1976. The biggest engine in Cadillac history, it produced 400 horsepower when new. This engine is fed by an aftermarket four-barrel carburetor atop an aluminum Edelbrock Performer intake manifold. The engine is mated to a Turbo Hydra-Matic 400, a three-speed automatic transmission that saw extensive use on GM full-size cars through the early 1980s The powertrain’s force is delivered to the drive wheels via a 9-inch Ford rear end. The car has been finished in gloss black, which dates back to when the car was completed in 2011. The body is completely uncut and presents as fully stock other than for the custom eyebrows over the headlamps and the aftermarket wire wheels, which are finished in body color with the Cadillac crest and striping to match the interior. All of the car’s lighting is new, converted to LED technology. This car’s restoration/modification involved a full overhaul of the interior, led by hand- installed custom leather upholstery in burgundy. The period gauges now reside in a custom na- celle with a dash top done in the same shade as the interior hides. The same theme extends to the door panels. All interior trim is in place and presents very well. Page 11 The Goddess February 2020

The carpeting, which also matches the leather, is as new. An aftermarket three-spoke leather steering wheel guides the car, mounted to a modern GM tilt column. The same color and texture theme extends to the trunk. The top bows are polished and clean. There’s no stereo or air condi- tioning, but the adjustments for the split front bench seat are functional. [The lack of either a mod- ern sound system or A/C is truly stunning. It leads one to ask why, if all of this money were to be sunk in modifying a 73 year old car this heavily, was not an incremental purchase of an aftermar- ket air conditioning system and/or a reasonably priced sound system even considered, never mind installed. The editor suggests that the lack of ei- ther / both doesn’t make much sense.—Ed.] The reconstruction of the car saw the factory front suspension replaced by a more modern A- arm unit from a 1996 Chevrolet Caprice, the last of the GM body-on-frame B-bodies. The seller reports that it cruises with the expected smooth- ness of a Cadillac, and that the Wilwood front calipers and discs stop the car strongly enough to lock the brakes. February 2020 The Goddess Page 12 This is a Barn Find?

The web site BarnFinds.com sends out daily e-mails for those who subscribe. Cadillacs appear not infrequently (although your editor has yet to see a La Salle), but this one truly makes one do a double– or triple-take. It’s claimed that this 1993 Gold Key Edion Cadillac De Ville has but 889 miles on the odometer. Text in this feature comes from If this Cadillac DeVille Gold Key Edi- tion isn’t the cleanest 1993 model in existence today, then it can’t be far off it. Take a look at the photo gallery supplied with this article: it’s difficult to believe how clean it is for a car that is 26-years-old. This is easy to under- stand because the car has only cov- ered a genuine 889 miles throughout its life, mak- ing it essentially a new car. If you fancy the idea of owning this immaculate Cadillac, you will find it located in Hamilton, Montana, and was listed for sale on eBay. [It’s still there, apparently re-listed .— Ed.] The Cadillac doesn’t look like it has just rolled off a showroom floor. Its condition is more in keeping with one that is still sitting in the showroom wait- ing to be sold. The original Pearl Red and Silver paint has an incredible shine, and even though it doesn’t show in the photos, the owner says that

there is a minor flaw in the paintwork near the aerial. He feels that this will buff out, but hasn’t touched it in order to protect the car’s originality. He says that the car has never seen rain and that the only moisture it has been subjected to is when the dust has been washed off it. There is an incredi- ble array of photos of the underside of the car, and I have included a number of these below. It looks brand new underneath, with no signs of rust, corrosion, or even gravel rash. If you didn’t know better, you would look at the photos and swear that the car Page 13 The Goddess February 2020 was brand new. Apparently not only does the interior of the Cadillac look new, but it has the smell that of a new car with leather upholstery. Once again, there is nothing that can be faulted, but there is one deviation from origi- nal. The factory premium Bose sound system is pre- sent, but a Sony CD stacker has been fitted in the trunk, and it plays through the original system. The control for this is mounted just to the right of the

steering wheel. As well as the Bose stereo, the Cadillac comes equipped with air condi- tioning, power windows, power locks, a power trunk release, cruise control, an ad- justable wheel, power antenna, a trip com- puter, digital dash display, and a driver’s airbag. A Cadillac is about smoothness and luxury,

not performance. To that end, you will find the HT-4900 under the hood. This pro- duces 200hp, which is sent to the road via a 4- speed automatic transmission. It should be no surprise to learn that the car is equipped with power steering and power brakes. The presenta-

tion under the hood is all that you would ex- pect from a car of such low mileage, with no signs of dirt, corrosion, or leaks. The good news here is that even though the car has such low accumulated mileage, it hasn’t been sitting idle for years. The owner does take the car out for a drive once a year to keep every- thing lubricated and healthy. For peace of mind, the next owner will probably have February 2020 The Goddess Page 14 everything checked before undertaking an extended journey, but things do look quite promising. It is a car that is in amazing condition for its age, but it also represents a lot of money for a 26- year-old Cadillac. It’s debatable that there is another example in existence that is as clean as this one is unless it is in a museum. The fate of this vehicle remains to be seen as of this writing. Page 15 The Goddess February 2020 FIELD GUIDE

OR EYE EXAM? CADILLAC SOCIETY’S VISUAL COMPARISON OF 2020

The differences are subtle indeed. In fact, it’s debatable to your editor whether anyone but those with greatest acuity could tell the differences on the fly—say, when passing a CT5 on an interstate.

With a profile inspired by the Escala concept, the 2020 Cadillac CT5 pioneers a new di- rection for Cadillac design that, by the automaker’s own standards, leverages the natural proportional advantage of the vehicle’s rear-drive platform to communicate power, presence and performance. As for function, the 2020 Cadillac CT5 is the brand’s newest contender in the highly- lucrative and popular D segment to take on the likes of the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C- Class, among others. Now, the CT5 is offered in four trim levels, from base to range-topping: • Luxury (1SB) • Premium Luxury (1SD) • Sport (1SE) • V-Series (1SF) Those four trim levels change the persona of the vehicle: the Luxury and Premium Luxury trims are defined by bright exterior accents and unique grilles and fascias, while the Sport and V-Series models are differentiated by darker accents and performance-inspired details, including unique grilles, fascias, rocker extensions, spoiler and standard 19-inch wheels. The Cadillac Society set each trim level side-by-side to show the differences from four different an- gles. Note that the car seen below is painted Summit White, which works well to show the body dif- ferences. Also, the only visible exterior distinction between Luxury and Premium Luxury models are the standard wheel. As such, the comparison includes a single image to represent both Luxury and Premium Luxury models. Comparison pictures start on the next page.—Ed.

Source: hp://cadillacsociety.com/2020/01/22/2020-cadillac-ct5-the-visual-differences-between-each-trim-level/ February 2020 The Goddess Page 16

FRONT ENDS

According to The Cadillac Society, this is the front end appearance of the varieties. The only immediately apparent difference is the style of the grille for the Luxury / Premium Luxury variants. The differences be- tween the Sport and CT5-V are sub- Luxury / Premium Luxury tle indeed

Sport

CT5-V Page 17 The Goddess February 2020

The pictures were taken directly from the Cadillac Socie- FRONT ty post, so it’s not possible to address why the luxury en- try picture is smaller than the others. Again, the grille TtHREE itself (and perhaps the area below the grille) provides an obvious cue as to which is which. Closer inspection re- veals a difference in the badge just to the rear of the QUARTERS front wheel well. Subtle differences between the wheels also appear.

Luxury / Premium Luxury

Sport

CT5-V February 2020 The Goddess Page 18 REAR

Note the appearance of the area below the single backup light. It’s black in the luxury entry, smooth but matching the body color in the sport entry, and ribbed but matching the body color for the CT5-V.

Luxury / Premium Luxury

Sport

CT5-V Page 19 The Goddess February 2020

REAR THREE- QUARTERS

Again, the ap- pearance of the area below the single backup light provides the necessary Luxury / Premium Luxury cue. There also appear to be subtle differ- ences in the wheels.

Sport

CT5-V February 2020 The Goddess Page 20

Dollars Down the…Crankcase?

Lessons Learned about Additives and Advertising

Appeared originally in Hemmings Classic Car blog titled, “It all added up: decades of dumping dollars down my crankcase”. Posted by Jim van Orden on 12 January 2020.

Motor Medic doubled my 1951 Mercury’s oil mileage. But my teen brain reasoned it was cheaper to buy 10-cent cans of oil and store them in the trunk. “Stop that, you’re stinking up the neighbor- hood!” Dad admonished as I goosed the flathead V-8. In addition to the powerful odor of unburned gasoline and blue smoke from scorched rings, the 1951 Mercury’s mufflers pro- duced sonic booms that irri- tated parents’ and neigh- bors’ eardrums.

I hate to admit it, but several cars I owned— starting with the Mercury—had smelly, loud exhausts. I loved the noise and smells, of course. But I disliked getting only 100 miles to a quart of oil, which forced me to store cans of cheap oil in the trunk. Something had to be done. So I drove to the neighborhood Texaco station and asked for advice. “It’s your rings, they’re worn,” a mechanic said. “How much is a ring job?” I asked with trepidation. When he told me $200, which was a lot more than I paid for the car, I asked if there was a cheaper solution. Taking me into the office, he pulled a bottle off a shelf. Page 21 The Goddess February 2020

“Here, pour this into your crankcase,” he said. “It will solve the problem.” That bottle of Motor Medic, which looked and poured like molasses, did exactly what he prom- ised. Now the Mercury got 200 miles to the quart of oil. But at $2 per bottle, my teen brain realized it was cheaper to buy 10-cent quarts of oil than to “medicate” the flathead V-8. Manufacturers build better engines today. Pistons, rings, valves and other components are as- sembled with more precise tolerances. Combine this with modern fuel injection systems managed by computers and the result is cleaner engines and better air quality.

It wasn’t that way as I grew up in the early 1950s. Cars were primitive by comparison and win- dows and vents were open most of the time. The stink of New Jersey’s Route 22, a dangerous ce- ment ribbon linking the Holland Tunnel under the Hudson River with the Phillipsburg Bridge over the Delaware River, was indelibly embedded in my brain. The smell got worse near Bayonne and the Meadowlands, where odors from swamps and pig farms joined with those from diesel trucks and pre-smog-controlled cars. My friends and I had contests to see who could hold his breath the longest to avoid inhaling fetid air. Dad was a Pennzoil man “This is the best oil, Jim,” Dad told me as he poured a quart of Pennzoil into his Chevrolet’s crankcase. For some reason, he believed the finest oil came from deep under Pennsylvania farm- lands. Its gold color and sweet smell made a lasting impression. Looking back, I admire him for re- ligiously changing the oil every 1,500 miles and checking its level weekly. Dad introduced me to engine additives when, once yearly, he threw in a quart of Rislone. He may have been impressed that Admiral Richard Byrd used it in his plane during the first South Pole expedition in 1928. Its strong odor—I thought it smelled like kerosene—got the “sludge out” and “sealed the rings.” What was “sludge,” I wondered? And were engine “rings” like those worn on fingers? These questions would be answered in time. The Motor Medic experience encouraged me to experiment with additives designed to fix every car problem known to man. Like a kid in a candy shop, I studied claims made on cans and bottles lining service station walls. The Mercury was a great “guinea pig” for testing whether they worked. The car needed so many “fixes.” Everything leaked or dripped including radiator, crankcase, water pump, carburetor, transmission, differential, and tailpipes, to name a few. I didn’t understand at the time, but Motor Medic increased the oil’s viscosity. By making it thicker, oil had a tougher time squeezing past old valves and worn piston rings. The downside, however, was hard starting and clattering valves during winter months. Lesson learned: only “medicate” during hot months. The Mercury’s radiator died from a thousand leaks. Most resulted from loose caps that couldn’t hold pressure. The remaining leaks were the product of a rusted-out core and worn hoses. I dropped stop-leak “pellets” into the radiator but they only made matters worse by further blocking clogged water channels. Hose rubber glue and heavy-duty tape didn’t work well on tiny holes, which occasionally popped open and sprayed antifreeze in all directions. On one occasion, a thorough soaking ruined the generator. The reconditioned radiator I purchased and installed lasted three months. It, too, leaked like a sieve. February 2020 The Goddess Page 22

The nailhead that clattered My 1955 Buick’s “nailhead” V-8 was the smoothest engine in any car I owned. But a valve lifter clattered annoyingly on start up. The tick-tick-tick drove me crazy. The noise went away after a few minutes, but it worried me and I looked for a solution. Dad’s Rislone helped, but the clatter persisted. Quite by chance, I discovered a cheap solution that worked. Staring at the little red bottle on a store shelf, I was intrigued by the product’s name: “Marvel Mystery Oil.” Not waiting to drive home, I poured the liquid into the crankcase and listened. Voila! No more clatter on start up. Years later, after Grace and I married and started a family, I drove a 1965 Plymouth Valiant with slant-six and three-speed manual. It may have been the best car I ever owned . But after the odometer turned 150,000 miles, oil consumption and tailpipe smoke became a problem. I tried different products to eliminate the “smoking” including Bardahl, which bragged about its “polar attraction” formula, Casite and others made up of solvents and detergents that supposedly “rinsed” the engine of contaminants. About that time, a race car driver I admired, Andy Granatelli , appeared in TV ads for a product called STP Oil Treatment. He swore by the slippery liquid and bragged about Mario Andretti using it in the car that won the Indianapolis 500. It was cheap and doubled the Valiant’s oil mileage from 500 to 1,000 miles per quart. The engine ran quieter and smoke-free, too. The Slick-50 years Around 1982, the notion of coating engine parts with Teflon to reduce friction appealed to me. Much like the TV ad showing an omelet cooking in a non-stick pan, I visualized the benefits of us- ing a product called Slick-50. This was serious stuff, I discovered, after my Slick-50 “kit” arrived in the mail. For about $35, I received two bottles—one filled with a “conditioner” and the other containing the special “oil”—and elaborate instructions. Following the latter to the letter, I poured the “conditioner” into Grace’s Ford Crown Victoria station wagon’s crankcase and drove 100 miles to prep the engine. After draining old oil, I put in new oil plus the can of Slick-50. Would the product “bond to met- al parts” and “reduce friction by 50 percent for 50,000 miles”? The Crown Vic’s 5.0-liter V-8 ran as smooth as silk. Of course, it did that before I added Slick-50. But I was convinced it ran better and would last forever. (The car might have done just that had it not been stolen and wrecked in a high-speed chase after a robbery.) In subsequent years, I performed the same ritual with other cars, including a 1984 Plymouth Colt turbo, 1985 Dodge GLH turbo, and 1986 Chrysler LeBaron turbo. The turbos especially need- ed the Slick-50 treatment, I reasoned, to reduce wear and heat. I got off the Slick-50 kick when I read that consumer groups tested the substance and deter- mined it might not be all it was cracked up to be. They recommended using quality oil—especially the synthetic variety—and changing it at the manufacturer’s recommended intervals. A cost analy- sis indicated it was cheaper to follow this advice and I switched to synthetic oil. I ‘medicated’ gasoline, too My early cars not only smelled but they knocked. It was embarrassing, especially when I floored my 1956 Plymouth at a stop light and the V-8 sounded like a meat grinder crushing walnuts. “You’ve got bad gas, Jim!” Dad opined, and he wasn’t referring to me. “You’ll ruin your engine if you don’t do something.” Page 23 The Goddess February 2020

So I did something and bought my first can of Wynn’s Friction Proof. It didn’t cure the problem. Logic told me I needed high-test gasoline, which not only eliminated knocking but gave the engine more power. This worked…but the eventual downside was burned valves. Other cars knocked over the years, including a 1961 Valiant six, 1963 Rambler six, and 1966 Chevy II six. Perhaps the worst offender was Grace’s 1983 Crown Vic, its V-8 pinging in overdrive at highway speeds. Experiments with different additives lead me to Gumout, which, when com- bined with an occasional tank of high-test, reduced knocking. By the mid-1980s, most car engines had computer “knock sensors” that eliminated the problem. For some reason, especially during winter driving, my cars suffered from water in fuel lines. Dad’s advice was to “always keep your tank half filled.” But I wasn’t so good at that and instead relied on alcohol-based additives such as “Dry-Gas” and “HEET.” On occasions when that ap- proach failed, I stupidly directed an electric hair dryer at frozen fuel lines. Today’s engine oils and gasoline have plenty of additives, which means it’s probably unneces- sary to “treat” or “medicate” your car. I’ve used synthetic oil for decades and several of my cars have gone well past the 100,000-mile mark—even more than 250,000 miles—without burning oil or needing an overhaul. Although I seldom use them today, I still examine engine additive labels when visiting auto stores. Maybe there will be a day when I can buy an additive that promises 100 miles to a gallon of gasoline…or one that doubles my engine’s horsepower…or maybe even eliminates ozone-killing emissions…or….?

Uh…that’s not synthetic oil; it’s maple syrup February 2020 The Goddess Page 24

Editor’s note: what does this say about the future of Cadillac if China continues as the single largest market, recording double digit per cent gains in sales, while domestic sales grind along in the (very) low single digit per cent increases?

DETROIT – Cadillac expects to achieve its third-consecuve year of record global sales in 2020, according to head of the Gen- eral Motors luxury brand. Those expectaons, according to Cadillac President Steve Carlisle, will be led by con- nued double-digit sales gains in China this year despite some economic uncertainty and slowing sales in the country, primarily in the mass-market. “We’re sll entering new segments in China and we’re sll building out a distribuon network, so there’s a lot of reasons to be- lieve that we’ll improve volume and share A Cadillac XT6 vehicle is seen at the La Fontaine Cadillac dealership in Highland, in China this year,” Carlisle told CNBC on Michigan, September 18, 2019. Thursday. “It will be double-digit growth again in China.” Cadillac’s global sales last year were up 8.8% to roughly 390,000 vehicles compared to 2018, led by a 10.9% increase for Cadillac in China. That compares to Cadillac’s U.S. sales, which were up only 1% to more than 156,000 in 2019. China overtook the U.S. as Cadillac’s top sales market in 2017, two years before execuves at the me expected. Assisng Cadillac in achieving its forecasted third-consecuve year of record global sales is expected to be the recently introduced CT4 and CT5 sedans, as well as a forthcoming redesign to its flagship Escalade and its lineup of newer or redesigned crossovers.

Not contribung to its U.S. sales much longer will be the Cadillac CT6, which will end producon at GM’s Detroit- Hamtramck Assembly plant in Michigan at the end of the month, according to the company. The CT6 as well as the Chevrolet Volt and Chevrolet Impala (in February 2020) were cut as part of a restructuring of GM’s North American manufacturing operaons.

Carlisle, at the beginning of last year, had hopes that the company could save the CT6. However, he said potenal alter- nave producon plans never “panned out in reality.” He declined to comment on specifics. Page 25 The Goddess February 2020

A direct replacement for the CT6 large sedan, which included a performance variant with a 4.2-liter V-8 engine, is not currently in Cadillac’s plans, according to Carlisle. If the company were to fill that large sedan void, Carlisle alluded to the car being an all-electric model ra- ther than one with an internal combus- on engine.

“We’re headed into this intensive elec- trificaon cycle,” he said.

Carlisle last month said Cadillac expects In January 2020, GM previewed a that is expected to be Cadillac’s first a majority, if not all, of its cars and SUVs all-electric vehicle on the company’ next-generaon all-electric vehicle architec- sold globally to be all-electric vehicles ture. by 2030. He said the brand will phase out current models of internal combus- on engines based on market demand. “We’re going to enter that decade as an internal combuson engine brand. That’s where we are. We’ve never been beer posioned as an internal combuson brand,” he said during a media event in Detroit. “It’s a decade we’re also going to exit as a baery-electric brand. There’s a lot that’s going to be going on for Cadillac in the ’20s.”

Cadillac, according to Carlisle, will give greater detail about the brand’s EV plans in March.

Epilogue: with the announced end of CT-6 production, those cars may become more collectable than other contemporary Cadillacs in time. But as Lynn Gardner observed in an e-mail to your editor (among others; paraphrasing here), deep discounts will probably be just over the horizon. He went on to observe that once production actually ceases, (short term) prices will fall “like a stone off a high cliff”. While the CT-6 will become an orphan model , Cadillac is far from an orphan marque. But this would seem to say a lot about the direction in which the division is headed; e.g., focusing more on vehicles that will sell well abroad instead of focusing on the domestic market. The announced demise of inter- nal combustion engine powered Cadillacs is less than comforting for those of us in the antique / clas- sic car world. Granted, some of us may not see this but it does mean that petroleum product-fueled cars may be coming to an end within the lifetime of our children, if not some of us. And that in turn implies that our antique / classic vehicles may be relegated to museums unless they undergo costly transplants involving battery banks and traction motors. The Editor February 2020 The Goddess Page 26

Something to remind us that spring will eventually get 1931 Cadillac 370A here, with classic car-friendly weather. Coachwork by Fleetwood V-12 Roadster CHASSIS NO: 1002070 • 1 of only 91 examples produced and 1 of approxi- mately 15 known to exist • Fully recognized CCCA Full Classic • 368 cid OHV V-12 engine rated at 135 HP, three- speed manual transmission, solid front axle with semi-ellipc leaf springs and live rear with semi- ellipc leaf springs, four-wheel mechanical drum brakes; wheelbase: 140”

Page 27 The Goddess February 2020

Although the early 1930s was a me of desper- aon for the American car industry, Cadillac was able to weather the storm thanks to the deep pockets of . This was not the case for such greats as Stutz, Marmon, Pierce-Arrow, Peerless, or Duesenberg, who would all vanish before the decade was over. Sensing an opportunity, Cadillac threw cauon to the wind in an effort to establish itself as the undisputed leader in the American luxury car market by intro- ducing both V-12 and V-16 powered cars. In parcular, 1931 saw Cadillac offer no less than four different passenger car lines that were all powered by their eight-, twelve-, and sixteen-cylinder engines. These were impressive cars that offered a body in every style and enough power to run with the best. In an era where one’s place in society was determined by the number of cylinders in one’s car, Cadillac had a car for anyone who had enough money to afford some- thing a lile beer than the average Buick or Oldsmobile. February 2020 The Goddess Page 28

Of the many coachbuilders that built bodies for Cadillac, none is more closely linked to the marque than Fleetwood, who began building bodies in 1909 and was acquired by Fisher in 1925 and was then folded into GM in 1931. Priced new at $2,845, when a new Plymouth could be had for just $495, the Cadillac V-12 Roadster was not something every- one could afford, but those who could were seen in the best. This Roadster sports a nut and bolt, body-off restora- on with minimal miles registered since. Starng at the

front, Cadillac’s tall and imposing grille with an oponal stone guard makes a dramac statement with the flying lady hood ornament riding tall and proud. Huge headlamps, Trippe lights, and dual trumpet horns adorn the front while the Cadillac V-12 crest tells the world that this is a car of presge. It carries a beauful finish in dark blue with Pewter Silver fenders for a perfect two-tone effect. Dual side-

mounted spare res with mirrors carry a look of classic ele- gance while wing windows make for pleasurable driving. A golf door has ample space for a trip to the country club and the rumble seat offers excellent accommodaons for two more passengers. This Cadillac also has a luggage rack that’s fied with a metal low-boy trunk with ample storage for touring. The converble top is blue Haartz cloth and is in excellent condion. The interior is everything one would expect from a Cadillac V-12 with fine leather in light blue that offers a nice contrast to its dark body. All gauges are center mounted in an oval pod and all interior upholstery and trim appointments are fully restored. The rumble seat is also finished in the same matching leather. Under the hood is Cadillac’s masterpiece with the V-12 that is impressive to watch as it runs with a lile more than a whisper. Cadillac spared no expense in building a work-of-art with the clean look of engineering excellence. The engine compartment in this Roadster is fully restored with correct hose clamps and all components properly painted. This Cadillac rides on wide whitewall res mounted on factory wire wheels with stain- less-steel spokes. Page 29 The Goddess February 2020

Page 31 The Goddess February 2020

The AACA Museum, Inc. AACA Museum, Inc. Elects elected [CLC member and Richard Sills as its New Director of the Central President PA Region] Richard Sills as its 2020 President and Jim Hess, John Dockendorf, also added four new members, Jim Hess, Chad Winters, and John Oakman John Dockendorf, Chad Named Directors Winters, and John Oak- man to serve on the Mu- seum’s Board of Directors. The changes were made at the organization’s November 23 meeting, effective Janu- ary 1, 2020. With these appoint- ments, the AACA Muse- um Board is now comprised of 20 directors. Richard Sills is a lawyer who lives in Lancaster, PA. A native of Philadelphia, he grew up in Drexel Hill, PA. He is a gradu- ate of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He earned a master’s degree in tax- ation from George Washington Uni- versity. He has practiced law in Washington, D.C., for most of his career. Richard is an avid lifelong car enthusiast. He belongs to numerous car clubs and automotive his- tory organizations. He served as National President of the Cadillac and LaSalle Club from 1998 to 2002 and also served as President of the organization’s Museum and Research Center. Using his expertise in nonprofit tax law, he has assisted several old-car organizations in obtaining tax- exempt status from the IRS. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Buick Heritage Alli- ance and the Humane League of Lancaster County, among other organizations. An early supporter of the AACA Museum, Inc., Richard was present when the Museum opened its doors for the first time in 2003. He has served on the Museum’s Board of Directors since 2006, and in recent years, has chaired the Exhibits Committee. Richard is dedicated to seeing the Muse- um continue to grow as an outstanding resource for the car-collector community and the general public. He succeeds outgoing president Henry “Hank” Hallowell, who served as the Museum’s leader from 2016-2020. The Museum has also added considerable talent to its board through the four additional Directors who were elected. Jim Hess has a local automotive connection as his family owned the former Hess Ford of Hershey. He is now the proprietor of the Hershey Pantry and Desserts, Etc. John Docken- dorf worked for PennDot’s Bureau of Public Transportation for 28 years, serving as its Chief of Ur- ban Transit for 36 of those years. He is also a founder of the Museum of Bus Transportation, which recently merged with the AACA Museum. Chad Winters is the proprietor of Winters Automo- tive and Trailers in East Prospect, PA., a business he built from the ground up. He also has an en- during love of anything automotive. John Oakman is a lifelong bus industry professional. As the Museum of Bus Transportation’s last President, he led the group through the merger with the Mu- seum. He recently received the American Bus Association’s Good Stewardship Award, honoring in- dividuals who guide the industry forward. “We are looking forward to a very productive year in 2020,” states Jeffrey Bliemeister, the Muse- um’s Executive Director. “The Museum thanks Hank Hallowell for his steady and dedicated leader- ship for the past four years, and collectively, we welcome our new President and Directors.”

February 2020 The Goddess Page 32

Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020, 7:30pm at Desmond Hotel, Malvern PA. Facilitator: Michael Stinson, Di- rector Meeting called to order by Michael Stinson at 7:25pm. Members Present: 18 December 2019 Minutes approved: Mike Marchese 1 st , Bobbie Zimmerman 2 nd Reports: TREASURY REPORT – December 2019 Income Expenses Driving Tour – Misc. Income $360.00 Driving Tour Awards $683.44 Membership Enrollment/Renew $ 280.00 Spring Banquet Deposit $250.00 Driving Tour T-Shirts $68.00 Sunshine $22.44 December 50/50 $25.00 Treasury Supplies $22.00 Membership Mailing $12.09 TOTAL $733.00 TOTAL $989.97

Checking Account Balance: $20,056.00 Calendar/ Sunshine – Bud Coleman Webmaster – 12/15 – 1/18 (35 days) - Jeff Hansen: 141 visitors (4.03 per day) vs. 134 visitors (4.79 per day) previous period (28 days). Top countries: USA (133), Netherlands (3), Turkey (2), three countries with (1) visitor each. 10 most popular pages: Home page, Current News, Online calendar, President's Message, Our Cars, The Goddess, Classified ads, Our Friends, Emeritus Cars, Membership application Membership - Earl: 143 members in January (96 primary + 47 auxilliary). Region/National Membership Compliance: 95.5% as of Oct 1. National News – Ronnie, Michael, Others: RRR working on a proposal to host 2023 GN. CLC National Office closed TFN due to Mike Book recovering from car accident. Upcoming Events/ Activities: Jan 28-Feb 2: CLC Winter Board Meeting, New Orleans Sun Mar 15: VFR Spring Banquet at Pennsauken CC. Time TBD. Sat Apr. 18: Inter-Region Tour of America on Wheels, RB Collection, lunch. Sat May 16: Central PA Show at Kelly Cadillac, Lancaster PA Sat June 20 (Father’s Day weekend): Working on a Judged show June 9-13: CLC GN, Overland Park, Kansas DE State Police Museum Annual Car Show. Contact Don Miller for more information/ registra- tion; he would like to reserve club space for VFR. July 31-Aug 2 nd : Das Awkscht Fescht 2020. Featured Marque is Cadillac. Aug 22: Central PA Region Show at AACA Museum

Old Business: Das Awkscht Fescht 2020: featured Marque is Cadillac. AACA Museum “sponsoring” & organizing featured display. Ctrl PA, Susquehanna, Potomac interested in participating. Stan Sipco, Cura- tor at AACA Museum is coordinating featured display.

New Business: May 19 monthly meeting cancelled: Michael will be out of town. Classic Auto Mall open til 8 on Wed. Want to have a “meeting” there one Wed eve? Adjourn LOOSE BOLTS

Makes one wonder what Texaco used in 1932 to keep moisture at bay.