Collecting Dust for 50+ Years

[VinylHanger]

I was replacing some windows for a guy and "happened" to poke my nose in one of his barns. There sat a complete '38 Plymouth, complete with red winged dude on the hood. Turns out his daughter had driven it to high school in the 70's and when she got a Datsun or something, she parked it in there. Never moved again. Nope, he wasn't interested in selling.

 

[Fisherdude]

I read another article about it. There is some collector (?) whom they interviewed, and he says he has known about the car for years, but honored the doctor's wish, or the family's, to keep it quiet.

I heard the same thing. Apparently the car was well known inside a very select group of "high-end" Bugatti cognoscenti, but they had an oath to protect the family's secret until the owner passed.

Personally, I've promised never to mention the SJ Duesie in my garage.

 

[Goodwill_HiFi]

.... were the LAST of the multi-cylinder Cads.....

Care to elaborate on that? It's been quite awhile since Cadillac has built any single cylinder cars :scratch2:

 

[djv8ga]

130 mph on 1937 wheels and tires...no thanks.

 

[Sandy G]

Care to elaborate on that? It's been quite awhile since Cadillac has built any single cylinder cars :scratch2:

Wise guy ! Cad made V-12s, & V-16s from 1930-37 in V-12s, & from 1930-40 in the 16s. There have been tantalizing rumors of Cads w/more than 8 cylinders several times since-the Eldo was supposed to have a V-12 initially, but the project got cancelled at the last minute. There have even been hints of a new V-16 a time or 2, but gasoline at $3-4 a gallon has seemed to make those dreams go away...The 1st series Cad V-12s & V-16s were supposed to make A Statement, the engines were beautifully finished, & were a delight to look at. The last 16 was a flathead design, & no attempt was made to make it aesthetically pleasing.

 

[Tower Boss]

It sold for 4.4 million on Friday! The relatives also found an E-Type Jaguar and Austin Martin in the garage that the doctor had willed to them. It sure is an amazing story.

Regards,
TB

 

[soundmotor]

I had a slightly exciting find about 5 years ago myself:

Wow, just wow! Good for you on finding the way in.

 

[soundmotor]

When the bucket-sized oil-bath air cleaner is installed, the overall height is almost chest high.

Was this from a Cadillac or a LaFrance?

Adding ground clearance & space over the top of the motor to clear the hood, the top of the hood would be what, eye-level?

:scratch2:

 

[kx250rider]

Link is gone

Charles

 

[similost]

Link is gone

Charles

Here's the lastes link posted by Tower Boss

http://www.motorauthority.com/uk-doctor-leaves-875-million-bugatti-57s-in-will.html

 

[cfranz]

I remember driving around in the 70s and whenever there was a burning car on an off ramp, it was a bug. Don't know how the newer ones compared to the old ones....

You guys go ahead a keep 'em. The took more work then a Model T,

 

[kx250rider]

There have even been hints of a new V-16 a time or 2, but gasoline at $3-4 a gallon has seemed to make those dreams go away...

I saw a prototype at the Los Angeles Auto Show several years ago. It looked kind of like the Cadillac XLR (nothing but a re-bodied Corvette chassis), and it was named the same as the pre-WWII V-16's; "THE SIXTEEN". I'm sure it would have sold, but like other high-end, low-production cars, it probably would have cost GM way more to build it than they'd ever make on it. Cadillac, in my opinion, died in the early 90s with the end of the full-size, rear drive Fleetwood Brougham. Now all they have is a Chevy Tahoe with a fancy horn button, a mid-size thing that looks exactly like a Camry, and the XLR, which is an overpriced, underperforming Corvette. Sad. If I'm in the market for a new Cadillac, I want a CADILLAC! I mean BIG, LONG, HEAVY, HUGE, GAS-GUZZLING ENGINE, LONG, LONG HOOD, BIG, HEAVY STEEL BUMPERS, AND A STUPIDLY OVERSIZED HOOD ORNAMENT!!!!!

Charles

 

[ablethevoice]

I was going to post a news story about the car having been sold, but someone already beat me to it...

4.4 million?? I could live with that.

 

[doodledog]

I remember driving around in the 70s and whenever there was a burning car on an off ramp, it was a bug. Don't know how the newer ones compared to the old ones....

You guys go ahead a keep 'em. The took more work then a Model T,

Dude, they're not talking Volkswagens here. That's "Bug" as in BUGATTI. I doubt there's been too many of those burning on an off-ramp.....