STORY LINE:  CARS I HAVE LOVED … AND, They Come Back.  

Yes, pictures are worth a thousand words, that is why we have for so long enjoyed comic books and LIFE MAGAZINE. It’s the pictures. And these two pictures of the 1949 Cadillac Sedanette and 1936 Mercedes Benz 540K Special Roadster do graphically depict and sort of say it all.  

I had first seen a mid ‘30s Mercedes Benz 540K Roadster when I was 18 years old. I built a model of that car back then and never parted with it, thinking, that some day I would own one of those magnificently styled autos. A real one.  

In 1973, while gainfully employed in the furniture business, I would-everyday around five pm-stand in the windows of the store and count red cars as they would pass by. Five pm was the particular time that the working public would be driving home-therefore not be in the store. And commonly referenced by us retail folks as the dinner hour. Three new cars drove by one five pm day in September that I did not know, nor recognize … or for that matter even knew what they were. On my way home that evening though, were all three of those unknown cars, parked on display in front of  Rinke Pontiac. Two weeks later I owned a new Pontiac Grand Am ‘pic-a-door’ with 455-V8, Turbo 400 trans, tilt steering wheel and automatic climate control. I’ll finish this story later.  

THE CADILLAC. In February of 1976, I went to work at Cadillac and met up with some pretty nice folks, many of whom I am still pretty good friends with to this day. Jack Gottlieb had a 1949 Cadillac powered by a 425HP/427CID Chevy engine, Turbo 400 trans and a 4:56 gear. Fast car, like in 12.80/108 at Detroit Dragway. And what a street bruiser … a big black old Cadillac whuppin’ most everything it ran. Gratiot, Eight Mile and Woodward was sure a lot of fun.  

A year or so ago that Cadillac from  a quarter of a century ago … re-appeared, now owned by Jean and Gloria Oplinus. Refinished many years ago by ‘Michaelangelo’ Frank Antonucci of the Career Prep Center, fitted with Black leather custom Cadillac trim and powered today by a 396CID Chevy with a 200HP-NOX power adder … the car brings back fond memories.  

THE MERCEDES 540K. Well, ten years ago I helped a collector by name of Buster Barone buy cars for his eclectic collection, and, one of ‘em was a prototype tool car for the reproduction 1936 MB540K Special Roadster. The car was bought at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 1989 for a whole lot of money. I did drive the car a few times and justly lusted for it.  How ironic … 12 years later and some 35 years  after I first saw a real one and built the model-same color I might ad-I now own the car. Last year at Amelia Island, a real 540K sold for $2.7 million. This year at the Biltmore Scottsdale sale, the Jack Warner ’37 540K sold for $3.6 million.  

THE 1973 GRAND AM. Sold that Grand Am ‘pic-a-door’ in 1977, bought a new Cadillac, been searching for another one-the Grand Am-for the past 15 years. Seen maybe six over the last decade, four in the last three months located in various parts of these United States. Found one in Orland, California-that’s about 150 miles north of San Francisco- on February  3^rd. On February 6^th it was picked up by the haul-away truck and is on it’s way …home. Life is good.  

TOP HAT JOHN can be contacted for story leads, vehicle appraisals, or questions at: P.O. Box 46024, Mt. Clemens, MI., 48046-6024; or call 586-465-1933