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GILMORE Car Museum
America's Signature Collection
Hickory Corners, Michigan

September 2019

The recreated 1948 Cadillac Dealership opened in 2014. The Dealership is home to the Cadillac LaSalle Club's Museum and Research Center.  The Museum displays not only the history of Cadillac and LaSalle Automobiles, but also recognizes the Manufacturing Facilities, Dealers and those who Designed and Engineered these Fine Automobiles

This is my Cadillac. A 1960 Series 62 Convertible. I was 18 years old in 1975 when my Dad purchased the Caddy from a local Collector Car Dealership, Special Interest Auto's. He traded a 1958 Thunderbird towards the purchase. The Cadillac was a Whopping $2800 and he was allowed $700 for the Thunderbird. The Cadillac at that time was all original, except for maybe the Convertible Top. The Paint was not perfect but still Good. The Red Leather interior was showing some age but, again, still Good. Knowing what I know now, we should have left the car as it was, a "Survivor". But No... I was 18 years old and thought I had to "Restore" it. I removed all of the Chrome, and a lot of the interior and sent it off to be re-painted in it's original Olympic White. At the time it was Lacquer, nothing Cool was painted in Enamel in the 70's. The paint job was $600. That would not even buy the materials today

Once the Car was back home I proceeded to reassemble it. Under the hood received a Paint Job too. The engine - "Cadillac Blue" and "Everything, I mean EVERYTHING" else was sprayed "Gloss Black" Yuk - like I said earlier, I should have left it alone (Dumb 18 year old kid). With the Under Hood mess completed, I had the Convertible Top replaced and the Carpeting. My "Restoration" was completed by '76. From there my Family used it on Vacation's, Weekend Drives and My "Dates". I even used the Caddy in my Wedding. My Dad later gave me the Cadillac and I moved it from house to house, storing it later for about 10 years in a closed Chevrolet Dealership that a friend of mine had purchased

About 4-5 years ago I built another Garage and brought it home where it sat Some More...  I started work on it again in the Spring of 2019, knowing that the Cadillac LaSalle Clubs Grand National Meet was going to be in Louisville, Ky, literally in my Backyard. While at the Show I learned of the September Michigan gathering. It was to be held on the 90 acre Gilmore Car Museum Complex, Suddenly thoughts of a "Road Trip" came to mind. So More Work and More Money was needed. About 2 months later, me the Cadillac and my Long Time Buddy Wes were Ready for the Trip. We traveled 800 plus miles without a Snag. The Caddy did just what it was suppose to do and we had a Great Time and as you can see the Gilmore is quite an awesome Museum!     Thanks Dad