MAGAZINE of THE CADILLAC LaSALLE CLUB of NEW ZEALAND INC. finz

Golden Anniversary Calais!

NOVEMBER 2017 The Black & White facts - We formed our New Zealand club in 1973 and celebrated our 40th Anniversary in 2013 making us one of the oldest Cadillac clubs in the world. We are proud to be an cadillacclubofnz.org International Affiliate of the world-wide Cadillac LaSalle Club of the USA - itself formed in 1958.

Front & Inside ‘COVER Caddy’ pix ‘68 Calais 2-door pillar-less hardtop owned by Ron Melville, Bay of Plenty CLC NZ 2 FINZ Magazine Editor: Ron Melville Recipient of (CLC) The Yann Saunders International Activity Award 2013 Now here’s a sneak-peak of what this issue is The Maurice Hendry Award for Excellence in all about... Journalistic Contributions - 2015 International Newsletter Excellence Award - 2015 F O R E W O R D Old Cars Weekly ~ Golden Quill Award 2011, 2012 2014, 2015 & 2016 Hi all. Hard to believe that my Calais is 50 years young come the 3rd week of November 2017 having been built 50 years previous on the 3rd week of November 1967 - according to my Contributions to: [email protected] deciphered VIN number. And I reckon the translation is accuarte The Editior reserves the right to accept or reject any contributions. given that in the original handbook I possess, Mr. Shulte took Deadline is 20th of each month delivery at Shepard Cadillac in Oakland, CA on December 28th, 1967. More about the history behind my Calais in this issue.

Well we all had a grand ol’ time at our 2017 Cadillac Nationals/ AGM in New Plymouth weekend of the 13th October. Despite it being a ‘Black Friday’ too, we never saw any black cats and all of us from the Bay of Plenty enjoyed a lucky five plus hour drive. Plenty to tell and many more photos than I have ever encountered from previous Nationals and an amazing photographic contribution from an unexpected source! So many good pics we will spread them over several issues!

If you are a member who is yet to pay their subs then you will pleased to know that by paying them now, you will save 10% on the new sub (of $50 per annum) starting 1 September 2018. So send in your $45 now to Lois. Details elsewhere and please set up an auto payment - it will help the Treasurer!

So as with many of our issues, plenty to read from around the globe and plenty of colour. The 2017 Caddy Nats/AGM brought out the funniest What with summer on it’s way for us ‘down under’, we are just things and people! Ed starting to warm up. So don’t forget to take some photos on your phone, tablet or old-school camera and send me them with a paragraph of what you got up to on your summer cruise or Xmas picnic! Drive safe and see you next month, Ron - Ed :) 3 cadillacclubofnz.org First up an arranged ‘shed visit’to John Rae’s private property. For those that don’t know who John Rae is, he is a big-time Insurance Broker who is also responsible for the creation of New Plymouth’s infamous AmeriCARna held each February. He is a petrol head and has a passion for red cars and circut Our Global cars. By ‘invitation only’ we had the honour (and received the red-carpet treatment - quite literally! - see pic) to see through his very up-market ‘American Diner-themed Man Cave’ complete with kitchen and good parking for his cars and memorablia. We enjoyed his stories and hospitality plus getting to look FAMILY first hand at his collection and very cool it was too. NZ - BAY of PLENTY - Report on The 2017 Cadillac BoP members leaving the Kaimais John gave everyone an AmeriCARna-2017 cap and Nationals in New Plymouth - by the Editor. > DAY 1 donated one free entry pass to the 2018 Event that was to be drawn at the AGM next day - thanks John Well 12 of us in 6 Caddies met up on the Kaimais on for your generosity and hospitality. Friday the 13th (not unlucky for us or our cruise!) for our cruise to New Plymouth. Due to the usual traffic, Next we headed to our evening meal destination. 4 Caddies took the Tirau route whilst ‘Petunia’ (Dave ‘Naki members, Frances (Club Secretary) and and Trish Cummins fabulous ‘47 Caddy) and yours Murray McCurdy generously opened their gorgeous truly drove straight through via Cambridge and ended Notice the minor Faux Pas 8-vehicle garage-capacity hugely modern home to up arriving before the others at our planned first or should that be Ford Pas? the nearly 50 members that attended that evening. coffee stop. Next was at Mokau - famous for their A well organised event, professionally ‘catered’ with ‘white-bait fitters!’ It had been fine, weather-wise tables set up in one of the 4-car carpeted and ‘cosy- until then and the rest of the way to NP it poured warm’ garages. In the other garage, M & F’s Eldo with rain and continued into Friday night. convertible, Jag rag-top, ‘07 Mustang rag-top (RHD too) and a original-looking 351cu Ford Falcon. We checked into our nice accomodation at the renovated ‘Auto Lodge’ (spot the ‘Faux Pas!’) on After what seemed like hours, it was announced our Devon Street where big Yank tanks dominated return coach trip back to the motel had arrived and some of the parking spaces! After attending to the John Rae pics - Red carpet, Diner, many weary but happy faces boarded the bus in formalities of ‘Registration’ an upmarket coach rolled unused 1959 Daytona ticket stubs, search of a good nights sleep. I sat in my bus seat and up to transport us to to the evenings events. Christine Conder (BoP) climbing noticed the clock on board, 9.10pm! out of race car Publication details - ‘FINZ’ (2017 ‘The Americas Series’) is Copyright to The Cadillac & La Salle Club of NZ Inc. Publication is distributed Like many Caddy events I have had the pleasure of via email and snail mail. All correspondence to the editor: [email protected] Artwork/design layout and technical support by attending, by time we got back to our motel, had a Shea’ Melville ([email protected]). Ideas and concepts by Ron Melville and many inserts from Editors own collection, both hard few drinks and laughs it was midnight and time to hit and electronic copy. We thank all contributors world-wide for permitting publication, use of items and advertisers for your ongoing the sack (bed). A long first day with the forecast of support. To advertise, email editor for rates. FINZ is a non-profit club publication and printed for club members and readers enjoyment. No responsibility taken for errors or ommissions. The name FINZ is copyright to the Cadillac LaSalle Club of New Zealand finer weather for day two! formed in 1973 and original magazine name conceived circa 1974. FINZ is proudly made of and in New Zealand! FINZ Magazine under Ron Melville Editorship is in Year 8, Vol. 11, Issue 11 - November 2017 4 cadillacclubofnz.org ‘65 Caddy in very original condition running sweetly everywhere we went. He is also a keen photographer as you will witness elsewhere in this mag! Come 11am it was off to a ‘show and shine’ at the Inglewood Rail Yard. Our ‘pop-up’ show attracted a number of locals and the 22 of Our Global our Caddies looked grand as they sparkled in the sun! Within the hour we were off to ‘Naki members Brian and Marie Gillett’s home perched on a flat and picturesque hill. Again, their garage served as the place for lunch and a chance to check out B & M’s shed, cool ‘Dino’- the caravan and their ‘55 Oldsmobile. An ever-warming day made for a good day and I heard on the local radio we achieved a high FAMILY of 16c! Before long we were off again, this time for a sneak peak of the ‘soon to be opened’ Hillsborough Holden Museum. All brand new, NZ - BAY of PLENTY - Report on The 2017 Cadillac it was busting with GM Holdens from many eras - all well presented Nationals in New Plymouth - by the Editor. > DAY 2 and plenty of Holden memorabilia on display too. It is indeed an As promised we woke to clearer skies, albeit coolish impressive set-up with plenty of purpose-built parking for the odd big temps and many of us rose early in search of that old car! We arrived back at our motel mid-afternoon with our AGM precious ‘fossil fuel’ as it was expected we would scheduled for 5pm. The objective is of course to keep the paperwork cover a few miles today. A wipe down of cars and politics to a minimum to make more time for ourselves and fellow afterwards and it was time (8.30am) to head off, camaraderie. Trophy time is always a great positive acknowledgement firstly a cruise around town to view the ‘Len Lye’ of what we do well: Museum Building (the great ‘mirrored one’) and to > Best car = Trish & Dave Cummin’s ‘47 (Yes!) Te Rewa Rewa bridge (very cool) and then to Mark The Souber shed above. Brendon and Lois. Cookie and > Most Members in attendance at NZ Caddy Nats = Taranaki and Noeleen Soubers (‘Naki members. Noeleen cake - note the Cadillac crest! > Most Caddies at NZ Caddy Nats = Taranaki past FINZ mag Editor, past Maurice Hendry Award Show and shine at rail yard and > Most new members recruited 2016/17 = Bay of Plenty recipient and Life Member - NZCLC). They live in rural a ‘cluster of Caddies’ at Soubers Tariki, not far from Inglewood - a fab little town in We then made a special presentation to Past President/ Treasurer and very close visual distance to Mt. Taranaki and one Life Member - Murray Scott, recipient of this years Maurice Hendry could certainly see the snow-capped peak on this day Award (announced at the US CLC Grand Nats in Washington) - jackets, hot muffins and coffee was certainly the Auction items: Marion and Michael Thompson bid $375 for the ‘tin order of the morning! As you will see from the pics, plate map’ whilst Wayne McCurdy bid $400 for the beautiful Eagle there was room for all of us. Mark and Noeleen’s quilt. Both raffles were won by Lois Thrupp and the AmeriCARna 2018 ‘shed’ is packed (literally) to the rafters with lots of ‘Pass’ was won by Trev and Vivian Lewis memorablia, their ‘56, a caravan and a wide and varied collection from model cars to Marilyn, Elvis A proposal at the meeting to increase the subs to $50 per annum was and one of the bigger number plate collections I have ‘carried by a majority vote’. This will apply from 1 September 2018. seen. Whilst there I got to meet one of our newest And to conclude the meeting, members were invited to attend the members, Brendan Osment who also happens to be 2018 NZ Cadillac Nationals/ AGM in Tauranga to be hosted by the Bay our youngest NZCLC member! At age 22, he owns a of Plenty Region. Meeting concluded after 6pm and then party time! 5 cadillacclubofnz.org Our Global Check out these wild photos!

The ‘Best of the Best’ The Soubers had the flag flying for us. Cool Eagle letterbox at Soubers shed. Even cooler Caddies were at Autolodge to Ford V8 in mint original-looking condition at the Inglewood Rail Yard! Below is driving up FAMILY welcome us! the hill to the Holden Museum, Caddies parked there and inside - green Holden below. NZ - BAY of PLENTY - Report on The 2017 Cadillac Nationals in New Plymouth - by the Editor. > DAY 2

That evening, much merriment was to be had from From Left Brian and Marie’s “Dino” the caravan. The Flintstones and of course, ‘Dino’. Brock collection at far left. Below the three course dinner to a surprise visit from the presentations - Pres. Steve and Murray Scott. Pres. Steve receiving trophy on behalf of BoP. Dave & Trish Cummins - best ‘Grinch Sisters’ - costumes and make-up was amazing Caddy of the weekend. BoP members getting ready for the party night. Grinch sisters and party goer! followed by music to midnight by a three-man band called ‘On Yer Bike!’ - great guitar playing, especially on that ‘Hotel California’ song! All members in attendance were dressed in varying levels of Below - one of the happy party tables that evening nonsense depicting the year or era of their Caddy. Far right - Larry Flynt and Sgt. There were some seriously great and seriously silly Pepper! outfits - just the way Caddy members love to par-tay! FINALLY > DAY 3 - From 9am it was a BBQ breakfast at Ian and Elsie Lind’s very up-market shed featuring fab rods and fab memorabilia nestled amongst their beautiful gardens and native bush. Must be terrific come summer? At right ‘dancing the night away!’ “The Gloved-One” made Good turn-out at BBQ breakfast at the Lind’s shed (above) complete Mid morning, members headed away back to a surprise appearance at the BoP room! Below - Whyte Ice with bi-plane! Mark and Noeleen’s ‘40 looked sharp at the Rail Yard. from BoP looks stunning with Mt. Taranaki as back drop. The It is one nice machine and outstanding interior! distances far and wide from Tauranga to Wellington Currie’s ‘78 Eldo looked stunning in nut brown. and parts in between. Keep a look out in 2018 for the next big get- together, this time our 45th NZ CLC year plus an acknowledgement of our parent US CLC Diamond 60th Anniversary. Bound to be a twinkling event and a “bling-kin’ good time!’ ~ Editor, Ron 6 cadillacclubofnz.org lunch makes for a pleasant scene. After lunch the NZ - AUCKLAND - From Neil Cheesman - Yes very public gather around to admire the Caddys and good piece, thanks for that. I hope to have some Brutus. They all have a story to tell about days gone spare time soon to work on the Caddy and get it on by and a car that had special meaning to them. You the road as we are getting some nice days from time just got to love that. Before you know it its home to time!! Cheers, Neil [New member Neil inherited time again. Another cruise complete with total his Uncle’s Eldo recently - the family connection Our Global satisfaction on a great day out. continues! Good on you Neil. Send me some Well until next time Caddy Cruisers ‘’Keep The Pedal ‘progress photos!’Ed] To The Metal’’ And As Always Our Club is Easily NZ - BAY of PLENTY - Hi Ron, Thought you might be Satisfied With The Very Best! interested to have a look at this car: Cheers, Steve (Pres) ‘Google’ - “1959 Cadillac Caddy Broadmoor sky view FAMILY custom limousine - made by GM” and only 3 made us think. Open the YouTube one which is the story NZ - BAY of PLENTY - Hi Caddy Cruisers, Its another told by Lou Costabile (he tells you how many were Day in Paradise here in the Bay of Plenty. Sunday made). Cheers - Lois Thrupp 17th September sees a big electric front gate that leads us into the Thrupps drive way. Their big red ‘’59 Caddy’’ and Whyte Ice ‘’60 Caddy Convertible’’ are gathered together with Brutus. Owners Neil & Kay have a little powder blue ‘’1969 Fiat Bambina’’ with a cane picinic basket on the boot lid. Talk about a contrast mate. So here we are getting ready for a good day out. We have all the components of NZ - BAY of PLENTY - From Dave Cummins - Big call satisfaction for a fun Ron....Thanks for the article Looks great (Dave and filled experience. Trish are the owners of ‘Petunia - the amazing ‘47!’) New Bay of Plenty Club member Chris NZ - TARANAKI - To all members that attended the Staines [ 59 Flat Top] 2017 Cadillac Nationals & AGM in New Plymouth – meets up with us hosted by the proud Taranaki members: at the main road to On behalf of the Naki AGM committee we would AUSTRALIA - From Paul Dixon. Here are 2 cars you Putaruru. Reaching like to thank all the members that travelled to New may never have seen before………… quite amazing out into the wider Plymouth for the AGM weekend. We thoroughly to look at (one is a Rolls) https://www.youtube.com/ world of contrast and enjoyed seeing so many Cadillacs in our area, we watch?v=tgEF98gXfMs variety we head to Waotu Road. What a sight we also had a great time socialising with the members must been for the local farmers as 3 big Caddys and of this very good club. We as car enthusiasts enjoyed USA - Hi Ron. Good work and worth the read. Brutus cruise by their front gates. For some reason it sharing our private sheds, homes and gardens with Jim Richardson seems to hit a sweet spot and people connect with it you all. EUROPE - Thank u Ron. Appreciate your work as they smile and wave. We honk and toot and wave So thank you all once again and for those members Dirk back. Then a lunch time stop at the Wooden Farmer that haven’t been to an AGM you are missing out on in Putaruru. A lot of banter and laughter with a little great times. Thanks Brian (Taranaki delegate). [We all 7 enjoyed your immense hospitality - Ed] cadillacclubofnz.org Our Global FAMILY IRELAND - Hi Ron, Sorry to hear the weather hasn’t been great. Here’s a recent pic of me doing a wedding fair at a local pub in Dublin, Ireland called ‘The Angler’s Rest’ - lovely spot & one of Teresa’s favourite places. And doing a wedding there for a good friend the Thursday before in the ‘65 Convertible. I know which car I’d pick!! Also did a photo shoot with the ‘65 for a young up and coming singer from Galway called LAOISE. The ‘65 was also photographed recently for the one and only vintage magazine here in Ireland - Irish Vintage Scene. My pics of the shoot attached - will send on the professional ones when I get them. Best regards, Nick Stratta [Thanks Nic and Teresa. Always good to hear from you and looking forward to those winning magazine photos - Ed]

“Shooting Star!”

Nick’s ‘65 does the CLC proud! 8 Please ‘Salute & Support’ our advertisers! cadillacclubofnz.org

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To Advertise here email: [email protected] > Competitive rates > Wide audience 9 cadillacclubofnz.org

My Calais. Many of you will recall my earlier writings on my very original 1968 - model year Cadillac Calais. The Calais range was introduced with the 1965 models as an affordable entry level for those other GM, Ford or Mopar owners who’d like to “move up to a Cadillac” but couldn’t afford the DeVille range price-tag. My Calais is #2265 of 8165 produced that model year.

I was lucky enough to find my Calais in mid 2005 on the CraigsList website. It was living in San Fran and I was fortunate enough to learn of a Kiwi-based car guy who lived only 50 Kms away and who was happy to look at for me. Being sold by a family, it was found to be in pretty original condition and straight underneath.

To speed up the story, I purchased it and it landed here in NZ in July 2005. After

‘vinning’ and some paint and panel I took delivery on a very memorable Christmas

Eve 2005 (I now remember every Christmas Eve with fondness - delivery of my Caddy!)

I subsequently wrote to the last known owner on the ‘Pink Slip’ - the Foster family. They wrote me back. To say they were a little surprised to learn their old Caddy was now living in NZ and had been brought back to almost ‘factory-like condition’ was an understatement, albeit they were ‘over the moon’ that it was being loved! >> 10 cadillacclubofnz.org

My Calais. I learned that Cliff Foster had purchased the Calais from his freind, Harold Schulte and they in turn shared my story with the Schulte family. So more correspondence arrived, this time from the daughter of the original owner - Ann Thorpe. That was the start of regular letters and emails over the years...a decade in fact. Then in 2015 I wrote to Ann explaining that I, my son Ridge and CLCNZ Pres. Steve Gill would be in San Fran (as part of a trip to the 2016 CLC

Grand Nationals in Las Vegas) and could we meet? YES was the excited response! So

Ann, husband Bob and Ann’s daughter Pam met us all for lunch at Fishermans Wharf on a very sunny San Fran day and talked about the Calais and memories about Ann’s Dad and

Mum. Ann remembers having to sit very nicely on the back seat. Her Dad fussed over his Caddy and was very proud of it. I was lucky enough to be given photos of her Dad and Mum and their pics appear here with pic of Ann, Bob, Pam and us three guys! How many people get to meet up with the original owner’s family? I have covered about

15,000 miles in my Calais over these past 12 years and it has ventured to many scenic parts of the North Island. On our last big trip to the 2017 CLCNZ Cadillac Nationals

I covered over 600 miles (1,000 kms) without any oil use and very little water evaporation. Like always, it ticked ‘like a clock!’ >> 11 cadillacclubofnz.org

My Calais. Other than a little return rust ( the size of a NZ $2 coin) in the ‘heel of the drivers front guard’) the ‘Baroque Gold re-paint’ is as good as when Clint Davies from Elite Auto Painters here in Tauranga applied it in

‘05 and like many club Caddies, my Calais is well-pampered!

It’s a great feeling to own an original Caddy with all its chrome and every piece of jewellery (badges, trim etc.) on it, straight-as inside with not a crack in the dash and even the boot-kit completely intact! Happy 50th Birthday Anniversary

Calais! Written by Ron [Ed]

From top left - Harold & Ruth Shulte. Left - Calais being loaded after sale (it still wears the black & yellow plates with NZ plates over top today!). Above - Bob, Ridge, Ron, Steve, Ann and Pam. Nevada City is where Ann and Bob now reside. Me with one of the ‘Best of 1960s in Show Awards’ at all USA Day 2006. 12 cadillacclubofnz.org

My Calais. Like most of us, chances are we have plenty of facts and figures and ‘stuff’ about our Caddy(ies). Here’s a sample of mine - R.

Top Left - Re-production ‘Period’ window sticker with actual data/ accessories of my own Calais on (CLC member in US does these). Left - Copy of original owners manual and Harold Schulte’s Protect-O Plate. Above my Calais. At Right - Original promo material (4 - page A3 size folder complete in original envelope!) given to me by Maurice Hendry. Says ‘Cadillac takes you to Mexico City, site of the 1968 Summer Olympic Games’. 13 cadillacclubofnz.org Jack Smith, father of the Plymouth Road Runner, dies at age 94 As Aaron Severson wrote, Cherry came up with the Road Runner idea while watching Saturday morning cartoons with his kids and had to explain the schtick to Smith. From there, Smith “almost Wherever possible I look for interesting articles overnight” pulled the Road Runner concept together, aided largely and pics to share with you! by the work he’d already done on his own Belvedere. “We tinkertoyed that car together from parts we already had,” Hi all. Following on from our recent successful 2017 he said. “We loaded the Belvedere with police components — Caddy Nationals/ AGM I received from one of the suspension, steering, brakes, wheels, the 383 — and added the organisers, Noeleen Souber: Subject: Cadillac AGM Photos louvered hood from the GTX. Our total tooling for parts unique Hi Noeleen. The photos I took during the AGM are up to the Road Runner was under $500. The big tooling item on the on my Facebook page ‘Hotmix Photography’. whole car was the horn — I found one made by Spartonfor military Hemmings Daily email - The website address is: vehicles.” [From my personal email from you should subscribe! Ed] www.facebook.com/hotmixphotography Would it be possible for you to forward this email on to everyone in the club so they can also see the photos? Regards, Brendan Osment [Brendan is one of our newest and youngest members. He has consented for FINZ Magazine to The Annual Greerton (Tauranga) publish some of these photos which you will see Blossom Festival. Lots of cool cars. here in this issue and the next, they are indeed highly Note Edsel, T-birds, Frods & Chevs. professional. Thanks Brendan - Ed] Blossoms galore! Ed

BoP Member, Carol Southcombe recently had the pleasure of travelling through France with family. Amongst other things, she returned with a bottle of ‘Cadillac - One of my fav BoP car shows of the year, the branded’ wine! She annual ‘All USA Day’. All marques and models. tells us that the French Come along - Ed AND can anyone come along to the Annual Santa Parade? A lovely Caddy people pronounce the convertible would be nice. Contact me - Ed. word ‘Cadillac’ as ‘Cadi- yac’ when there is two L’s! Does anyone know why this is? Ed 14 cadillacclubofnz.org Our Global Save 10% on new ALERT!2018 subs of $50 pa. ALERT! FAMILY Pay yournow, 2017save subs$5! SUBS time! It’s hard to believe another year has rolled around and all those that pay by auto payment don’t even have to remember!!! For all you others, internet bank your $45 to our Caddy Club bank account 06 0689 0055887-00 at ANZ Bank Masterton or post cheque to the Treasurer, The Cadillac LaSalle Club of NZ Inc., 195b Oropi Road, RD 3, TAURANGA 3173 due as at 1st SEPTEMBER 2017 (and just like a 12 inch sandwich, your SUBS last 12 months too!) Remember - Just update your details if they have changed and to pay your future sub by auto payment, both forms attached! Thanks, Lois :)

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Lars Kneller’s ‘81 Fleetwood Brougham Diesel V8 16 cadillacclubofnz.org My 1981 Fleetwood Brougham by Lars Kneller My Brougham is a unique car. Most people assume when they find out it is a 1981 model it is powered by the infamous 4-6-8 V-8 engine, but it is not. It has a 5.7 liter V-8, of the oil burning variety. Several years ago, I decided that I would like to have a diesel in my collection, mainly because they are practi- cally nonexistent now, and will be unusual in the future. They are a part of Cadillac’s history, though at times we prefer not to admit it. I had decided if I were to acquire a diesel, that I’d want a Fleetwood, Eldorado, or Seville. My first prospect was a 1984 Eldorado that was at an auction of a dealer’s collection in Des Moine, IA. It was unique in that it only had 9000 miles on it. I figured there couldn’t be that many people interested in a diesel, so I went to bid on it. Much to my surprise, it sold (not to me) for $9000, plus the buyer’s premium! That is probably a record for the sale of a GM diesel that will stand for a long time. A short time after that, my wife and I went to visit friends in Scottsdale, AZ, and I coordinated the visit with the now defunct Kruse auction held in January there. The third car over the block that day was a light blue 1981 Fleetwood Brougham diesel. I was the successful bidder at $1750. It has 78,000 miles on it, and has the newer replacement engine that has a lot of engineering improvements over the original one. The car has a dark blue velour interior, and is well optioned included memory seat (first year for that option, excluding the 57-8 Broughams), dual recliners, and moonroof. I had to pay $750 to have it transported from Arizona to Indiana. When it arrived here I went to meet the driver, and was surprised to find that it had been damaged in transport! The driver had to move it on and off the trailer a couple times to deliver other cars, and I think he, being an Arizona boy, wasn’t used to our snow. My car had a bent front bumper, and all the plastic spacers between the bumpers and body (front and rear) had disintegrated. The car had lived all its life in California and Arizona, so that was not surprising. The transportation company’s insurance settled quickly for $1250. With that money I had the bumpers fixed (the rear one had a dimple in it not related to the accident), the fillers replaced with NOS ones, and all the car painted except the doors. So, I didn’t do too badly for a net investment of $1250! Plus the car was better after all of this than it was when I bought it. The car has had a few minor problems since I’ve owned it. The most interesting was after we returned from the Grand National in Saratoga Springs several years ago. On a side note, it got 26 mpg on the trip, and with its 28 gallon tank, gives me a range of over 700 miles. Plus when I filled it up at the truck stop, their diesel pumps flow a lot faster than gas pumps, so it only takes a minute or two to fill it up. After returning home, I cleaned up the car, and didn’t use it for a month or so. I went to start it, and it was dead as a door nail! I had just put two new 1000 CCA batteries in it earlier in the year. Also the driver’s seat was motored all the way forward, and the seat switch had burned up. It took a little investigating, but it turned out that the memory module for the memory seat was bad. It had shorted out, causing the seat to motor forward, and the motor didn’t quit until the batteries went dead. I got a new seat switch at the local junkyard, and bypassed the memory module, and the seat worked again. I took my two fairly new but very dead batteries back to Kmart (free replacement first two years!), and they were replaced. The lady didn’t even ask why I had two dead batteries, rather than one. I did eventu- ally find a good memory module, so now the memory seat works again. I bought a full sized spare for the trip to New York, but, as big as the trunk is, it won’t fit where the doughnut goes. The only option the car didn’t have was the real wire wheels. A few years ago I found a really nice set at a junkyard in Phoenix that specializes in Cadillacs. I found a set of NOS center caps and lug nuts on the internet, and now the car is complete. The wire wheels really improved its appearance. I’ve always wondered if the diesel Cadillac is the slowest car they ever made. Some day I may race it against my 1984 Eldorado with the 4100 engine. 17 My general rule, is I don’t drive this car, if I am in hurry. However, it’s fuel mileage cannot be beat! cadillacclubofnz.org

Hi Ron - I have decided to sell my 1970 Cadillac Deville Convertible. It was on the cover of FINZ in 2012 March edition. I am looking at $30000.00 ono. It has done 85600 miles and the running gear has not been touched but the body and interior were done up about 27 years ago in the US and are showing their age. If you know anyone keen get them to contact me. Kind regards, Sean Cairns Manawatu area 063237736 or 0276314007 [email protected]

Te Rewa Rewa Bridge and ‘The Caddy gang - patches and all!’ Calling ALL ‘60 owners! In the coming issues I will be printing many magnificent Dick West - an old-time CLC member who used to have a ‘60 Eldo Biarritz - has these parts for sale in Everett, Mass: 1960 Cadillac parts - all in good to mint condition - speedometer, dash chrome, professional images shot by new CLC Taranaki member, cruise control dash unit only, A/C and heater controls, window switches, couple headlight switches, Brendon Osment. Photos are Copyright to ‘Hotmix two steering wheel centers, inside door handles, left and right outside mirrors, new wiper arms, new voltage regulator, electric eyes, tail-light lenses, fin tips, gaskets, grille bullets (150), rechromed Photography’ which is Brendon and we are grateful hood vee, two rechromed conv top handles, a couple of regular clocks, chrome under headlights, and he has consented to us publishing and sharing these more. Want to sell it all for $1500. - not divide up. Also - three rebuilt driveshafts - Cads from the images with you. Thank you Brendon. Ed ‘70’s - $150. each. Contact Dick at +1-781-521-0522 [courtesy of [email protected] Joe Gildea] 18 NORTHLAND REGIONAL DELEGATES Bob Hooker cadillacclubofnz.org 09-431-6576 [email protected]

AUCKLAND (Vacant) BAY OF PLENTY August 1 - 5 , CLC US Grand >All Enquiries to Pres. Kerry Williamson >National, Nov - All Washington USA Day – TaurangaDC [date 027-573-4207 TARANAKI [email protected] to come. BOP Event] Brian & Marie Gillett >23-27th Nov - PapamoaGrand European Santa Parade Denmark [BOP 06-75-66-136 WAIKATO Event] [email protected] Ian Bradshaw 027-211-8516 October 13-15th - 2017 NZ Cadillac 07-828-5979 > Nov - 19th Pohutukawa Cruise Bay WANGANUI/ MANAWATU [email protected] ofNationals Plenty [BOP & AGM, Event] New Plymouth - Vacant>All Enquiries to >‘The Nov Good - Stragglers Oil!’ Cruise [date to Pres. HAWKES BAY come. BOP Event] Alan Sargisson 06-843-6838 027-482-4384 > Dec - Annual Xmas Toy Run, 10 Regions across NZ fingerbreaker@clear. Tauranga [date to come. BOP Event] 9 Active > Dec - Beach Cruise Mt Maunganui, WELLINGTON/WAIRARAPA Papamoa, Makatu, Fish & Chips [date Gary Scott 04-565-4221 to come. BOP Event] . [email protected] *All BOP cruisers weather permitting. FOR SALE: 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Seville Any changes made prior to Cruise MARLBOROUGH/CANTERBURY/ WEST COAST Hello fellow Cadillac enthusiast. One of only 855 pro- dates for alterative activities. Steve Stephen Brown duced. I have owned this car since 1988. This condi- 03-32-88-250 tion 2 car has been garaged in a climate-controlled [email protected] space and has always been professionally maintained. OTAGO/ SOUTHLAND With only 72,400 original miles, it is an excellent Rob McCann driving car. Wheels are 15 inch original Cadillac 021-1835-334 Sabre chrome wheels mounted with whitewall tires [email protected] and in excellent condition. All chrome is shiny and no chrome parts are missing. Interior is also well preserved with a flawless headliner, dash and instru- 2017/18 CLC NZ Club Officers Secretary Frances McCurdy 027-444-9824 ment panel, original carpeting and most recently, the [email protected] master cylinder and wheel cylinder were replaced. What event have President This car is housed in Minneapolis, MN, USA (just 15 Steve Gill 07-575-8891 Club magazine (FINZ) Editor minutes from MSP airport). If any of your club mem- you got coming up [email protected] Ron Melville 07-557-8090 bers are interested in purchasing this vehicle or would [email protected] Vice President like more information, they may contact me bob@ in 2018? Ian Lind 021-863-260 Patron - Maurice Hendry [email protected] Thank you for your attention and [email protected] (Founding member) happy motoring! Regards, BOB Greiling Email details: 09-266-8909 Treasurer [email protected] Lois Thrupp 07-543-4474 [Corrections to: finzmagazine@ [email protected] gmail.com] Thank you - Ed. 19 1968 Calais Model 68247 (2-door hardtop) and one of 8165 made for the model year. Factory single exhaust. Personalised Plate GDOLDZ stands for ‘Good ‘Ol Days’ a phrase regularly recalled by my ‘ol Dad and suggested by my dearest (André ) as appropriate to a good old car from the ‘Good old days!’ Owner Ron Melville cadillacclubofnz.org