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Driving a '54 Cadillac to Amelia Island Original Article -Click here for additional pics Starting out for Mexico, but ending up in Florida By Steven Cole Smith Email Date posted: 04-26-2007 It's impossible to believe that anyone ever raced the length of Mexico in a 1954 Cadillac Series 62 like this, hammering down narrow asphalt roads in the middle of nowhere at 100 mph, dodging small children and dogs in little villages over the course of 1,908 miles in five days. That's because we can barely back it out of its tight parking spot on the top floor of the concrete garage at the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport. We go back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, inching out of our spot, the V8 engine blatting through its exhaust, and we're thinking it was a good thing that in 1954 Cadillac became the first company to ever offer power steering as standard equipment. This two-door Caddy is 223.2 inches long, which is even longer than the Cadillac Escalade ESV. We can't believe we're going to drive this monster across a couple of states to the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. At least in Mexico back in 1954, there wasn't so much expensive stuff around to smack into. Against all odds, or some of them, anyway There are some folks at General Motors who are in charge of the GM Heritage collection, some 700 cars that include concept cars and significant models in corporate history. This 1954 Cadillac Series 62 had been a largely overlooked part of the collection when it called out to the GM guys and spoke to them, saying, "Hey, turn me into something nice, and get me back on the road." It so happens that in 1954, a largely unsponsored racing team fielded by a group calling themselves "five ordinary guys from Colorado" did something extraordinary. They borrowed a new '54 Caddy Series 62 coupe from Barry Motor Sales in Colorado Springs, Colorado, took it down to Mexico, and then raced it in the brutal 1,908-mile, five-day La Carrera Panamericana. Many of the teams were considerably better funded, such as the factory team that showed up with 28 mechanics, a doctor, a cook, a public relations man, two photographers and four cars. The Five Ordinary Guys had their work cut out for them. But they stunned the competition when they finished 3rd in class (11th overall), less than 3 minutes behind the class winner. The Cadillac even won the two final stages on the open plain leading to the finish line near the Texas border, averaging over 115 mph for the final 410 miles. The driver was racer Keith Andrews, a midget-racing champion from Colorado Springs who went on to race in the Indianapolis 500 in 1955 and 1956, and then was killed at the Speedway in 1957 during practice. Wilson McClure, the lead mechanic, died in 2005. But Blu Plemons, the co-driver and navigator, is still with us, living in Denver. As for what eventually became of the car, who knows? And this '54 Caddy, sitting in storage at GM's proving grounds in Michigan, looked just like the old racecar — soft white with a black top. So GM Heritage decided to re-create a footnote to the company's racing history. Another bulletin from the fun-filled legal profession The idea was to enter the car in last year's annual revival of La Carrera Panamericana, something that's been going on since 1988. At the starting line in Oaxaca, Mexico, Blu Plemons was supposed to be reunited with the replica of the car that he and Andrews raced 52 years before. But apparently GM lawyers got wind of the plans, and did what lawyers are paid to do. So Plan B became a tour to the 12th Annual Amelia Island Concours, held just north of Jacksonville, Florida, an event that organizer Bill Warner has made a showcase for historic competition cars. The 2007 edition would celebrate the classic over-the-road sports car races, like the La Carrera Panamericana, Mille Miglia and Targa Florio. Herschel McGriff, who won the original Carrera Panamericana in 1950, would even be there. Since this Series 62 had originally been prepared for the annual revival of La Carrera Panamericana, the GM people weren't so particular about the car's original mechanical specification, especially where durability and safety were concerned. So they substituted a 1961 vintage 398-cubic-inch pushrod V8 for the original 331-cid pushrod V8. Plenty of hot-rod items were added, including a hot camshaft, twin four-barrel Edelbrock carbs (replacing the single four-barrel), an aluminum radiator and a modern automatic transmission. The bottom line proved to be 375 horsepower versus the original 270. "We made updates that would enhance the vehicle and occupant safety, but maintain the original design intent," says Al Oppenheiser, GM Performance Division director of concept vehicle engineering. "We kept the project in-house utilizing the Performance Division Garage, the preproduction trim shop and the showcar paint team." No leaded gas? No problem Instead of hauling the Caddy to Florida by truck, Cadillac drops it at the Charlotte airport and invites us to be a part of a group that will drive the 450 miles to Amelia Island. It is to the credit of the restoration team that the most serious obstacle we encounter in our three-day trip turns out to be negotiating the airport parking lot. The car runs like, well, a Cadillac. Aside from a little engine detonation, the V8 runs happily on pump gas, never stalling during the 170-odd miles we put on the odometer. Or would put on the odometer, if the odometer worked. During our first stint, the speedometer needle swings lazily between 40 and 90 mph, then soon drops to zero for good. We drive what seems like 70 mph, and the Interstate mile markers come up every 50 seconds or so according to our wristwatch. Later we run 80 mph with some new Cadillacs that serve as chase cars, and the '54 Caddy acts as though it will run 80 mph all day long. And it pretty much does. Inside, the enormous bench seat is like a church pew, and the aftermarket seatbelts are the only thing to hold you in place in the corners. The huge schooner-sized black-and-white steering wheel is a legitimate work of art. We never try the AM radio, because we're getting so much wind noise. Actually, the burble of a happy V8 is accompaniment enough. Though there's plenty of play in the steering, it's not hard to keep it on center. The huge Series 62 weighs in at 4,340 pounds, but it's far lighter on its feet than you'd imagine. Chassis stiffness is remarkable, although the welded-in roll cage probably has a lot to do with it. The hydraulically boosted brakes are very strange, though. When the engine isn't running, the pedal goes to the floor. When the engine comes to life, the pedal is fine. It would be nice to have some drama to recount, but there just isn't much, aside from the near-crashes we witness as multiple motorists perform neck-snapping double-takes. On the way out of Charlotte, one woman pulls alongside in her Acura MDX, looks us over closely and gives us the nicest smile. Yes, we think, she gets it. Alert the media On Friday, we arrive at the front door of the Ritz-Carlton at Amelia Island amid Rolls-Royces, Bentleys and Lamborghinis, and we park in one of the glamorous display spots out front that usually costs $700 per day. On Sunday, the Series 62 is displayed on the Ritz's impossibly green golf course as a part of the concours. But on Saturday, this little-known piece of Cadillac history is the center of a display in the Ritz's main ballroom, surrounded by about 1,000 guests gathered to hear the greatest endurance drivers in the world speak, including Vic Elford, John Fitch, Stirling Moss and John Surtees. Like the drivers at Amelia Island that day, the '54 Cadillac Series 62 is a pretty nice reminder of grand adventures from another time.

I like it. The backlit logo looks nice along with the arch of color surrounding it.

"Our goal has never been to sell the most cars in the world," Nolasco said. "We simply want to be the best in quality. After that, sales will take care of themselves." Somehow, I doubt this statement is true. As for it actually happening, I don't care really. GM is improving and that's what counts, if Toyota is #1, fine.

Always good to see the Denali taking names.

*bows down to the awesomeness of the Aston Martin gauges*

That lighting is ridiculously cool looking. I also like the blue accented interior. The car is warming up to me now after seeing high-res photos.

Heh, funny you should mention that. In my family, our first car with a sunroof was our 99 Accord. I kept on reading how Honda always had it wrong and I just thought to myself, what is every one talking about? The button is right there on the left! Personally, I also prefer reaching to the left rather than having to reach up and over my head. A quick glance to the left is safer to me while driving than a look up to see where you fingers are.

Come on back to the Big D please! Looks like its downsized from the last series of events. Before they had the competitors along with their own vehicles, and about 4 courses if I remember right. Plus the long-term 15 min drive too on select vehicles(I drove the G6).

It looks ok, gonna have to see it without tape and in a different color than white to say I like it. I still think the 01-02 coupes are the best looking so far.

:AH-HA_wink:

I just thought of this, but another point of the Park Ave is this shows China CAN develop well thought out cars. So while we can all dismiss Chery as a threat to any manufacturer over here for now, it's only a matter of time until those people in China with talent start designing cars. Then we might have something to worry about...

That's just...so wrong. lol.

Interior is fabulous. Exterior, hm the rear end needs to be more different compared to the Impala. Surely something more original and upscale can be thought of. Still, it's very gorgeous on the inside.

So basically, if the Commodore was made by a different company other than Holden, they would be good cars to you?

Quoted for truth. The last "real" Pontiac to me was the F-bodies and since their disappearance there hasn't be a true Pontiac until the Solstice. The GTO was an excellent car, the styling was derivative as heck but the car could definitely out perform anything Pontiac has shoved out within the last 20 years. Like it or not, even if it was from Holden, the car was a better performing Pontiac than Pontiac's own cars. Now the G8 is arriving and it can't come soon enough. I'm one of those types who like subtle sportiness in my sedan. I'm not out there trying to find the next Enzo of 4 doors so the G8 suits me fine. The Grand Prix just isn't my cup of tea and the interior is pretty much hard plastic and cheapness everywhere. Plus the styling doesn't help either, I actually think the previous gen GP had better styling than the current one. The new one is just weird and awkward looking. I will say the GXP version does look ok. I really hope the G8 gives Pontiac a nice spark, and then starts lighting up the sales charts...that'd be nice.

Well when I see a wrangler I think of Jeep obviously. But when I think of Jeep I think of Cherokee, because my uncle had one so those are my most prominent memories of a Jeep. Hence why I like the Patriot and also GC. Actually scratch what I said earlier, I do like both exterior designs...maybe even the GC more. I think what I meant when I was typing earlier was the Patriot is the one I would buy from Jeep since it's not too big, decent on gas and still can carry stuff. Plus the Cherokee resemblance helps. That was my main problem with the previous Liberty design, didn't like the rounded elements of the car and the new one like I said is ok. Too bad it reminds me of the Nitro and Commander. Maybe I don't like that squished above the bumper grille/headlights look they have.Also when I think of Wrangler, I also think of MacGyver, he sure could've used that 4 door Wrangler back then. :AH-HA_wink:

The new Liberty is looking decent. It's taking me some time to get that new front end down as I didn't like the commander all that much. Right now I think the Patriot is the best Jeep looker out there right now. Interior wise, if they would stop using the down market looking grey, it'd look a lot more inviting. Curiously I'm having flash backs to the original Cherokee when I see the new liberty interior, even though they don't share anything alike...must be the angular lines mentioned earlier. Not bad...but it's not good either. It's just kinda there.

Finally people are noticing Toyota's hypocrisy. Look every company technically is hypocritical of itself concerning this matter including GM, Honda etc.,but Toyota always got a free pass on this issue until now. I hope more people will recognize this and see that Toyota isn't perfect and its just a car manufacturer out to make money like the rest of them. Not out there trying to save the world or anything. Honda actually has a really good reputation for environmental awareness, but I'm not sure their new V10 will be causing similar reactions since the next gen NSX is a low volume car vs the Tundra's high volume. As for GM, they will hopefully capitalize on the Volt some day and show that Toyota isn't the only hybrid maker around, they just got their Prius out at the right time vs. everyone else. They might be green in the face right now after seeing this happening.

Just in case any of you were wondering how it looked, here it is. Pics from seller Damn it I need a 100k right now, anyone got some on them? I'll pay ya back..promise

That's exactly what I thought of it when I saw the Trax. Maybe that's why they chose the name? Trax ~ Tracker. Out of all of them, the Beat seems to have the best cohesive design, followed very closely by the Trax. The only thing about the Beat is that it does resemble a Scion, but it looks good so I guess I can't argue with that. The Trax featuring AWD is great, and I like how its the off roader of the trio. I'm actually pretty torn between those two on which to vote for. About the Chevy Groove, I hope it doesn't come to fruition, I really hate those vertical tails. Reminds me of the CR-V. However seeing the three all together on the main page, they're just so cute and I never use the word cute. I don't what GM did with those photos/cars but its working. EDIT: Ended up voting for the Trax. Beat is cool, but its so similarly styled to a Scion that people might just buy the Scion and think the Beat as a ripoff. Might as well get something different onto the market. Or Just produce 'em both! ...and why is the Groove winning? The front end is pretty nice but that back just needs to be redone.

My favorite car ever. Heck its in my avatar.

lol, nicely done. Although you lost me at the point where you made the 1.49 pickles comment, along with the required UAW membership thing

This is blasphemy but I've never been a big fan of the GNX. Every time I see a Regal of that era I think Cutlass Supreme, yes I know different cars etc. but whatever. Although I will say I definitely like the Toronado of the same year because of its unique interior, sleeker look and the return of the hidden headlamps.

I don't mind the 08 model too much, except for the tails. I think the 07s look more unique and classier. 08's lights are rather bland.

Oh my. I'm actually considering buying a Legacy right now, maybe I should snatch one up before the next-gen Legacy arrives since the new Impreza is based off a new smaller Legacy platform.