“A voluptuous beast of a toy, for a well–heeled big boy… with style.”
Born in the USA in 1950, this Cadillac Coupe de Ville is a fascinating subject for a long-running television series yet to be written, with an intriguing cast of international characters who either commissioned its transformation, or contributed to some aspect of it, on either side of the Pacific.
The saga really begins when the coupe, then owned by the legendary rock musician Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, was taken to the renowned ‘Sultan of Chop’ the late Dick Dean. However, increasingly dissatisfied with his progress, Gibbons then placed the Cadillac to another high-profile customizer, California Street Rods of LA. This is where Melbourne Hot Rod styling enthusiast, Tony Ryan, discovered it.
The Cadillac had already been chopped, channelled & sectioned by Dean, with no great finesse, and after California Street Rods had sourced a new LS7 big block matched to a 3-speed Turbo 400 gearbox & Ford 9” LSD, but little else. Ryan then decided Australia’s automotive and coach building specialists were far preferable, and the rolling shell was shipped to Melbourne in 1991.
On its arrival, Ryan sent the coupe to Colin Jacka in Wallan where it spent the next 23 years under his brilliant ministrations using his master craftsman’s wand, resulting into probably one of the most stylish hotrods in Australia.
George Haddad, of drag racing fame, conjured over the LS7 454cu big block, installing the best money could buy straddled inside! Enlightening with a steel crank, 4 bolt mains, Carrillo rods, TRW pistons & rings, mild street cam, rare aluminium Bow Tied heads with roller rockers. Obviously a blue printed fully balanced motor with the spectacular hand crafted air cleaner astride a 750 double pump carbie. This vast, voluptuous folly is now alarmingly rapid, but also surprisingly well-bred as a boulevard cruiser, which is only appropriate given both car and driver deserve to be seen and savoured slowly!
Finished in a warm, lustrous ivory (an indescribable paint finish of the highest quality) with a perfect tonal variation for its elegantly trimmed interior by Garry Blackman, the coupe is a spectacular tribute to both Ryan’s customizing vision and direction and to the remarkably skilled specialists he gathered around this unique project.
The Cadillac Coupe de Ville now re-defines the meaning of a labour of love, and admiring this sensually work of Art, what’s not to worship and adore…!
For details about purchasing this car contact:
Glenn Coad at gcracing@bigpond.com
International Phone: + 61 418389 549
Australia Phone 0418 389 549
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