SINCE I WAS CONVINCED THAT MY LIGHT PASTEL METALLIC GREEN COUPE DEVILLE THAT I PERSONALLY OWNED AS TO NOT BURDEN MY DEALERSHIP WOULD SELL QUICKLY, I HAD ORDERED A BACKUP CADILLAC FOR REPLACEMENT.
I ORDER A CAR LIKE AN ARTIST CREATES A PAINTING WITH GREAT CARE FOR THE COLOR AND TRIM SELECTION THAT WILL BE FLATTERING TO THE BODY SCULPTURE AND OVERALL APPEARANCE. THIS CREATES A UNIQUE IMPULSIVE LUXURY VEHICLE THAT STANDS OUT IN A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE FIELD. I ORDERED AN ELDORADO IN COLOR #90 ICE BLUE FIRE MIST SPECIAL PAINT. IT LOOKED LIKE DIAMOND DUST SCATTERED ALL OVER THE SCULPTURED BODY IN THE SUNLIGHT. THE WHITE LEATHER, BLUE CARPETS AND DASH WITH WHITE PADDED TOP GAVE A YOUTHFUL ALMOST CONVERTIBLE TOP LOOK.
I DROVE THE CAR ONE TIME TO SHOW IT OFF PERSONALLY TO FORMER BOSS DON HAUSER, SALES MANAGER AT OAKLANDON SALES. HE SAID, AL, YOU KNOW I LOOK AT A LOT OF CARS. THIS IS REALLY IMPRESSIVE. YEARS AGO I SAW A NEW 1969 SILVER CADILLAC CONVERTIBLE WITH WHITE LEATHER AND WHITE TOP. IMPRESSIVE!
BY THE TIME I GOT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IN PERU, I HAD A MAN WHO SAW ME DRIVING THE ELDORADO THAT MORNING. HE WAS IN MY OFFICE WITH HIS CHECKBOOK OPEN HANDING ME THE PEN TO FILL IN THE AMOUNT. TO THIS VERY DAY, I NEVER BETRAY A CONFIDENCE AND I JEALOUSLY PROTECT THE PRIVACY OF MY OWNERS AND FRIENDS IF SO STIPULATED. WELL, FORTUNATELY FOR ME, IT WAS A SHORT WALK TO OUR HOUSE IN PERU!
FUN OF HAVING A DEALERSHIP:
EARLY IN MY CAREER I SAW THE VALUE OF ORDERING BRAND NEW CHEVROLETS AND PONTIACS. IT TAKES THE OWNER OUT OF THE MARKET FOR AT LEAST 30 DAYS. THE CAR REFLECTS THE TASTE OF THE NEW OWNER, COLOR TRIM ETC. MOST OF ALL ORDERING FEATURES THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR THEIR MOTORING JOY AND BUDGET. DOUBTFUL THEY WILL FIND THIS CAR ON ANY COMPETITOR’S LOT. THEY ARE EXCITED AS I KEEP THEM UPDATED ON ITS PROGRESS. THE PROFITS ARE RESPECTABLE, I HAVE 30 DAYS TO SELL THEIR TRADE, AND WHEN THE CAR ARRIVES, THEY MAKE FLATTERING REMARKS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE ABOUT ME AND THE DEALERSHIP LONG BEFORE THERE WAS CSI. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU ORDER A CADILLAC, IN MY VIEW, ITS LIKE STUDYING A PAINTING. I AM ABLE TO CREATE A CADILLAC WITH THE FEATURES THAT WILL MAKE IT A GREAT RESALE TRADE IN SOMEDAY. EXAMPLE: CADILLAC HAS ON FILE A LETTER UNDER MY SIGNATURE TO BUILD ONLY CADILLACS THAT ARE SOLD OR FOR INVENTORY THAT HAVE FACTORY AIR, TILT AND TELESCOPING STEERING WHEEL, LEATHER TRIM, AND COLORS THAT CREATE EMOTION AND LASTING MOTORING PRIDE.
I GOT AN EMERGENCY CALL FROM CADILLAC MOTOR CAR DIVISION TELLING ME THAT 12 OF MY SOLD CADILLACS IN ROUTE TO ME BY RAIL FROM CLARK AVENUE DETROIT ARE ALL TOTALLED. THERE WAS TROUBLE ON THE MAIN TRACKS IN TOLEDO. THE TRAIN WAS DIVERTED TO GO UNDER THE FAWCETT STREET BRIDGE (THE MAUMEE RIVER ON THE RIGHT). THE BRIDGE WAS FAR TOO LOW FOR THE OPEN RAIL CARS OF THIS ERA. BEFORE THE ENGINEER COULD STOP, THE BRIDGE MADE CONVERTIBLES OUT OF THE SEVEN HARDTOPS ON TOP AND THE REMAINING SOLD CADILLACS WERE KNOCKED COMPLETELY OFF THE TRAIN AND SCATTERED ALONG THE RAILWAY. THESE CADILLACS FOR A SMALL DEALER LIKE ME ARE THE LIFE BLOOD OF OUR EXISTENCE INCLUDING THE SUBSEQUENT TRADES THAT I HAD PRE-SOLD. THIS IS HOW GREAT CADILLAC MOTOR CAR DIVISION WAS BACK THEN. THEY ALERTED ME THAT CLARK AVENUE DETROIT WAS BUILDING ALL 12 CADILLACS ON THE NEXT MODEL RUN WITHIN 24 HOURS AS VIP HOT CARS. THEY WILL BE SHIPPED IMMEDIATELY BY TRUCK DIRECTLY TO YOUR DEALERSHIP WITH NO STOPS IN BETWEEN. NOW PONTIAC WAS BUSINESS MANAGEMENT CONTROL BUT I ASSURE YOU CADILLAC BACK THEN RUNS THE SHOW. THE CADILLACS ARRIVED AND I HAD VERY HAPPY NEW OWNERS!
IT IS MY JUDGMENT THAT HAVING A DEEP PASSION ALMOST A LOVE AFFAIR WITH CARS IS VITAL FOR SUCCESS BECAUSE IT HELPS YOU ENDURE THE SETBACKS THAT OCCUR. RESPECT FOR VEHICLES AND THE SUBSEQUENT OWNERS HELP YOU AVOID THE DRUDGERY OF THE BURRS THAT ARE IN YOUR SADDLE AND GO ONTO POSITIVE HEALTHY CONCLUSIONS. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU HAVE TO LOVE WHAT YOU DO SO YOU DON’T FEEL SCREWED.