ONE OF MY CUSTOMERS APPROACHED ME WITH TWO UNIQUE TRADE-INS THAT NONE OF MY COMPETITORS WOULD ACCOMMODATE THESE POTENTIAL TRADE-INS. ONE WAS A COTILLION WHITE 1960 CADILLAC SIX WINDOW SEDAN DEVILLE. IT WAS ALMOST A TIME CAPSULE. THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS FLAWLESS. HE ALSO HAD A 1956 62 SERIES COUPE WHICH MEANS IT IS IDENTICAL IN OUTSIDE APPEARANCE TO A COUPE DEVILLE WITH A MARGINAL INTERIOR WHEN COMPARED TO THE COUPE DEVILLE BUT YET COMFORTABLE AND STYLISH. HE WANTED AN ENORMOUS PRICE AS A TRADE. CLIFF LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, AL, WHAT DO YOU THINK? I SAID, WRITE THE CHECK, GIVE HIM HIS MONEY.
I WILL SELL BOTH OF THEM FOR A RESPECTABLE PROFIT. I ALREADY HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE IN MIND. SOME OF THEM ARE OUT OF STATE. THEY WILL FLY IN, BUY THEM OR BUY THEM OVER THE PHONE AND HAVE THEM SHIPPED. I PRIDE MYSELF IN DESCRIBING A VEHICLE ACCURATELY. CLIFF ALERTED ME THAT THE 1960 CADILLAC HAD WEAK DIFFERENTIALS MEANING THE REAR END GEARS WHEN NEW. WE CHECKED THIS 1960 AND IT HAD BEEN UPDATED. THIS WAS THE LAST YEAR FOR DUAL EXHAUSTS. A QUICK PHONE CALL TO A COLLECTOR FRIEND IN PALM BEACH AND THIS CAR WAS SOLD.
I TOLD CLIFF THE BLACK 1956 COUPE WAS PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE LIKE IT IN THE COUNTRY. I SAID, LOOK AT THE GORGEOUS FUNCTIONAL CHROME BUMPER DUAL EXHAUST PORTS. THEY ARE NOT RUSTED. THE CAR HAS NO RUST ANYWHERE. I WILL REMOVE EVERY EMBLEM, MOLDING, SCRIPT, GRILL AND HAVE IT DETAILED TO SHOW QUALITY AND THEN REINSTALL EVERYTHING. THEN I’LL PUT IT ON THE CORNER OF THE LOT WHICH WILL DRAW TREMENDOUS ATTENTION AND I WILL SELL IT.
THE ONLY PROBLEM THAT AROSE WAS CAREFULLY REASSEMBLING THE EGG CRATE GRILL WHICH WAS IN ABOUT 56 PIECES FOR EFFECTIVE CLEANING AND POLISHING. ONCE ASSEMBLED, THOSE TINY LITTLE RECTANGULAR SLOTS IN THE GRILL WERE GLEAMING. THE ENTIRE CAR WAS OUTSTANDING.
CLIFF SAID, ARE YOU PRICING THIS CAR TOO HIGH? I SAID, CLIFF SHOW ME ANOTHER ONE ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY THAT CAN MATCH IT. I WILL SAVE YOU THE LOOKING. THERE AREN’T ANY IN THIS CONDITION. THE MAN WHO PURCHASED IT AFTER AN EXTENSIVE EXAMINATION AND TEST DRIVE WITH ME, REVEALED A FAIR OFFER. I TOLD HIM, I HATE TO SEE YOU LOSE THIS CAR OVER A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS. I CAN’T STEAL A CAR LIKE THIS. I HAVE TO PAY BLOODY MURDER FOR IT AND SPEND A FORTUNE TO GET IT TO SHOW QUALITY. HOWEVER, PERHAPS THIS CAR IS JUST NOT FOR YOU. WE WILL HAVE OTHERS THAT WILL COME ALONG FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. HE SAID, HOW DO I MAKE OUT THE CHECK.
ABOVE PHOTO SHOWS CADILLACS 20 YEARS APART: BLACK 1956 AND THE RED 1976
BOTTOM PHOTO SHOWS DAUGHTER NANCY BY THE 1956 BLACK AND A NEW 1976. ALL PHOTOS BY ALEX BELOFF III
