THE FIN 5960 Chapter December/January 2020 Newsletter Volume 4 Issue 3

Jim Jordan of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with his 1959 Cadillac 6339B

PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE What time is it? The time has come for you to plan for the work you want completed on your 1959-1960 Cadillac. Do you need to order any parts? Included in this issue is a Vendor List. Do you need to do research? Back issues pertaining

to 1959-60 can be obtained from Lars Keller. Do you need a General Contractor for your project? Contact Calvin Jones. Also, Doug at SMS Fabrics has been servicing 5960 Cadillac members superbly.

“Tis the season” for you to give your 1959-1960 Cadillac the repairs and restoration she deserves!

Please submit any comments and/or articles about your 5960 Cadillacs to [email protected] - Chuck

MISSION STATEMENT The Mission of the 5960 Cadillac Chapter is to impel admirers and dispense knowledge globally to owners and enthusiasts for any model vehicle. This includes the areas of authenticity, history, maintenance, modification, parts, preservation, provenance, purchase, restoration and sales. Also, we will stimulate camaraderie among Cadillac & LaSalle Club membership. Our continual objective is to perpetuate an avenue of interest and enthusiasm for tomorrow’s Cadillac aficionado.

UPDATES

CHAPTER STATUS 5960 Cadillac Chapter became an official CLC chapter on March 4, 2017. CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP Membership: 150 Members CLC Membership is mandatory for chapter members CHAPTER WEBSITE http://59-60cadillacs.com/ CHAPTER MESSAGE BOARD http://1959and1960cadillacs.prophpbb.com/index.php?sid=b6090bcOff3980261e 6698eac82dfb01 To obtain a build sheet for your vehicle, contact: Allied Vaughn [email protected] Featured in this issue: Director’s Message  Technical Tap Updates/Mission Statement  Custom or Modified CLC Membership Application Form Vendor List My Texas Original by Jim Jordan Self Starter  by Juan Torres  Swap – Sell /Classified Ads  Photo Gallery – Factory Tour 5960 Trivia

My Texas Original BY JIM JORDAN

“I’m not buying any more , I have too many as it is!” I said to myself while enjoying cocktails with friends at the 2017 Cadillac LaSalle Club Grand National in San Marcos, TX. Then a friend showed me pictures of his cars that he had in storage. One of those happened to be my next . After a month or so of negotiating, a deal was made, and I was the proud owner of a 1959 Four Window de Ville.

The seller kept the car in storage for a while and finally, 1 year ago shipping arrangements were made to get her home to Oklahoma City.

She is finished in Ebony with Black and White interior and is fairly loaded with A/C, Autronic Eye, Power Vent Windows, Fog lights and Cruise, along with the other standard power features offered on de Villes. She still wears 80% of her original paint and 100% or her original interior. I think the paint will buff to a nice but patinaed finish. The interior is nice but, as usual, the foam is hard from age.

She has only covered 61,000 miles and was parked and forgotten after getting hot in 1972. The original owner was Dick Burdick, of Dick’s Museum, formerly of San Marcos, TX. She was 1 of five 1959 Cadillacs used as company cars for his company, Thermon Manufacturing of Houston, TX. She was sold at Highams Cadillac in downtown Houston and spent her entire life in the Lone Star State.

After what seemed like a long time of getting little thinks taken care or one at a time as time and money allowed, we drove her home this weekend. She still needs a good buffing and detailing but drives very well. Long dormant storage took its toll as always and she has received the following, rebuilt engine, complete brake system, complete fuel system, including tank and lines, shocks, rebuilt driveline and carrier bearing, the ever so important rear ball joint and a sparkling set of new Diamondback whitewall tires.

This is my 2nd 1959, the other was a Series 62 4 Window, and I look forward to spending quality time with her.

If a man does these things . . .

he just bought car parts

For over a decade a train engineer in Lubbock Texas Coupe BY JUAN TORRES would ride past this 1960 Cadillac coupe De Ville sitting on a dock, abandoned behind a fence. He would always say to himself that one day he was going to get off the train and find out who owns the car and save it. One day the train rolled past the dock and the Cadillac was gone. The engineer drove back to the town and found out that a local man had recently purchased the car from the original owner’s family. He managed to buy the car and take it back to Lubbock, just two hours away from where it was bought new in 1960. The engineer and his son wanted to start the car as a father/son project, but quickly lost interest. Over the years on the dock the West Texas dirt had piled into the crevices of the fenders, filling the rockers and in the nose of the hood. Through the seasons that dirt would hold water against the metal eventually rusting from the years of neglect. The Beaumont Beige paint was dull and faded, the Palomino colored roof had been sun- bleached and worn thin. The fawn power cloth seats were deteriorated from the exposure to the years of weather and harsh west Texas heat. All the power window motors had filled with the fine flour-like sand, seizing the two rear windows from closing and expediting the decay of the interior.

In 2011, as I was looking through the internet classifieds for older Cadillac parts for a current 1952 project, I came across the sad and couldn’t believe the state of the car. The car sat in a small lot just two hours from me and the price was

so low that I called the lister late in the evening and was headed with a trailer in the morning. I bought the car in January of 2011 and to my surprise, with a splash of gas and a battery I was able to drive the car onto a trailer. Over the next month I had the engine running on all cylinders and was driving around town. The rust was severe in areas, but the floors were completely solid as was the trunk. Inside of the trunk was surprisingly intact with the original spare, jack and tire iron still in place. The cardboard panels were still in place and under the tire cover were stacks of receipts for dry-cleaning, oil changes and even the original owner’s business cards. In the brief time that the train engineer owned the Cadillac his son had pulled the original suspension and installed air ride on the factory spring perches. All suspension and chassis remained original. The car was factory an Air-conditioned car, power windows, power seats, tinted glass and an autotronic-eye. The original paint was worn through in spots showing the darker primer hidden beneath the dusty tan paint. The trunk, which had faced the sun on that train dock for over a decade was sun baked to an adobe red oxidized primer. The body was surprisingly straight and had no signs of previous repairs or alterations. Despite the years of neglect, the Cadillac was complete with all trim and emblems in place.

The 1960 coupe quickly became my favorite car, and in September of 2011, I proposed to my wife by Pinstriping “will you marry me” in the glovebox. A year later she and I drove away from the chapel in that very car. Over the last nearly 9 years,

the car has taken on much of its own personality and become so much more than metal to our family. The original suspension has been replaced; the original wiring is still in place. The 390 was recently pulled and rebuilt along with the factory hydromatic transmission. The power brakes could put you into the dash and with the 225/75R15 Diamond Back radials with 3” wide white walls, the car floats down the road as it should. We have driven the Cadillac to many shows include a 1000- mile round trip to Austin on three separate occasions. It is very reliable and a joy to drive.

Over the years, I have built, bought and sold many cars but the 1960 Cadillac is one that will stay with us. Eventually the parts that I have stacked over the years will replace the rust and a full strip down will be necessary, but for now, she is driving around Midland Texas, the same town that nearly 60 years ago the newly minted Cadillac was the pride and joy of a local hotel owner.

FACTORY TOUR - Photo Gallery

TECHNICAL TAP - submitted by Ronald Threadgill

For all you experts . . . is this a custom or modified vehicle?

CUSTOM OR MODIFIED

Cadillac Vendor List

Courtesy of Calvin Jones

Company Phone Number Contact Person Resortation Contractor Calvin Jones [email protected] Calvin Rubber the Right Way, Weather stripping 858-278-0675 Clayton and rubber parts Supreme Plating, chrome and stainless 310 671-3640 Louis Paul Schinner, Radio repair and restoration 424-233-5981 Paul Schinner Velios Machine Shop 310-643-8540 Harry Hiro’s Transmission 310-329-7504 Calvin Gardena Battery, electrical 310-532-0048 Jr. A1 Electric - Speedometers 310-217-0491 Instrument Services, Gauges, Clocks 800-558-2674 YNZ, Wiring Harness 909-798-1498 McVeys, 913-722-0707 Universal Custom Auto Body 310-783-0522 Conrad Brown Services 626-285-2255 California Carburetor 310-679-1616 Tim V & J Powder coating 310-515-9442 Victor Chuy’s Interior and Upholstery 310-713-7069 Esella Miller Wheel Alignment 562-422-9037 Dean Paul’s Muffler 310-523-3173 Martin Rick’s Radiator 626-967-7518 Rick WiperWorks 931-598-9573 Ball Joints A and G Auto Parts 310-323-2110 Auto City Classics, Inc. (Glass) 800-828-2212 Eldorado Hubcaps [email protected] Chuck Body Clips Gotautobodyclips.com

SELF-STARTER BACK ISSUES

Car Articles by Year Issue Page 1959 Cadillac 9/2009 16 1959 Cadillac convertible 2/2009 18 1959 Cadillac Design 9/2009 7 1959 Cadillac Reminiscence 9/2009 5 1959 Cadillacs 6/2003 10 1959 Coupe de Ville 5/2016 12 1959 Coupe de Ville and Freedom Tour 2/2012 23 1959 Coupe de Ville 10/2015 23 1959 Eldorado Biarritz pictures 2/2012 17 1959 Eldorado 11/2003 11 1959 Sedan 6/2013 24 1959 Series 62 Coupe 3/2013 16 1959 Cadillac / Rolls-Royce comparison 2/2015 6 1960 Cadillac Line 8/2010 13 1960 custom convertible Marshal Tito car 11/2008 14 1960 Eldorado 8/2010 7 1960 Eldorado Seville 11/2009 7 1960 Eldorado Seville – Jim Reeves 4/2016 22 1960 Fleetwood 60 Special 6/2013 16 1960 Model 6229 11/2004 12 1960 Series 62 Coupe 1/2010 14 1960 Series 62 Coupe adventure 11/2007 27 1960 Series 62 six window 2/2003 20 Cadillac & LaSalle Club Self Starter back issues with 1959/60 Cadillac Model articles. Contact Lars Kneller at [email protected].

Please don't drink and drive. I……f

If you or a loved one has been affected by drunk driving, drugged driving . or underage drinking, MADD is here to help. .

24-Hour Victim Help Line 877.MADD.HELP .

Never drive without your Fire Extinguisher in the car. Always Be Prepared!

BUY – SELL - SWAP

ORIGIONAL 18,761 mile 1960 Eldorado Biarritz, on factory Air Ride. Lowest know original mileage 6467E of 1285 manufactured. A well preserved museum piece. Will ship world-wide. Contact me for pictures [email protected]. $135k

Restored 1960 Eldorado SeVille, only 1075 manufactured. Vicodec Top with Number 97 champagne interior. Engine and transmission rebuilt. Fully loaded with Diamond Back tires. Contact me for more pictures [email protected]. $75K

Beautiful Cadillac Eldorado/ Fleetwood Deville or 62 Series hubcaps (4) with a set of center caps. Can be applied to all 1959 and 1960 Cadillac models. If you would like to trade in your Eldorado hubcaps to lower your price we can do that. Be advised that you may have to make adjustments to the rear hubcap prongs depending on the condition of your wheel. The hubcaps must be placed inside your 1959/60 Cadillac Factory Wheels. You MUST GENTLY attach the hubcaps with your hands NOT a hammer. This is the ATTACHMENT PROCEDURE no matter who you purchase from. Payment at pickup or by arrangement. Buyer pays for shipping. Overseas purchase will pay accordingly for mailing. If you have ANY questions ask me.

1959 Cadillac Coupe De Ville Peter Manoogian Vegas Turquoise (781) 820-5690 West Coast Car Matching Numbers

To place an ad in the Swap - Sell section of the next 5960 Cadillac Chapter Newsletter: Contact Chuck Patton at [email protected] BUY-SELL-SWAP

Trivia Question: Famous 5960s

What famous couple is pictured in the back of this 1959? Bonus Question: What model is this Cadillac?

ANSWER to Last Issue’s Trivia Question:

Brandon Lee (son of Bruce Lee)

1950 Cadillac