MY FAMILY’S 1967 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD BROUGHAM WITH THE FOLD DOWN WRITING DESKS IN THE BACKSEAT WAS SUCCUMBING TO AGE AND I SOLD THE CAR. I TOLD CLIFF WAGNER, I NEEDED A FAMILY CAR THAT I COULD AFFORD. HE SAID, I’VE GOT THE PERFECT CAR FOR YOU. IT WILL BE COMING ON TRADE VERY SOON. IT IS A WHITE 1973 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD BROUGHAM D’ELEGANCE WITH A CUSTOM FACTORY PADDED DARK BLUE TOP AND DARK BLUE LUXURY CRUSHED VELOUR INTERIOR WITH 60/40 DIVIDED SEATS. BECAUSE IT IS A D’ELEGANCE, THE CARPETS AND CARPETED MATCHING MATS LOOK LIKE A BEAR RUG. BEAUTIFUL. HE SAID, WHO WOULD KNOW BETTER THAN YOU AS YOU SOLD THEM NEW AT YOUR DEALERSHIP. THE FAMILY WHO HAD OWNED IT WANTED A SMALLER VEHICLE AS HIS WIFE WAS PRIMARILY DOING THE DRIVING.
WE HAD JUST BECOME THE HONDA DEALER IN RICHMOND. EVERY DEALER IN RICHMOND WAS FIGHTING OVER THE HONDA FRANCHISE WITH GUNS AND SATCHELS OF MONEY. HONDA PURPOSELY CAME TO US AND SAID, CHECKING WITH CADILLAC CINCINNATI ZONE OFFICE OF WHICH YOUR DEALERSHIP IS UNDER THEIR AUTHORITY, RECORDS REVEAL AND CADILLACS OWN TESTIMONY THAT YOUR ALEX BELOFF III, USED CAR MANAGER IS THE BEST IN THE ZONE. HE HAS NEVER HAD A CAR IN INVENTORY OVER 30 DAYS FOR THREE YEARS. HE HAS THE HIGHEST RECONDITIONING EXPENSE IN THE ZONE, THE HIGHEST PROFIT PER CAR IN THE ZONE, AND ZERO CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS. IF WE WOULD HAVE HAD CSI BACK THEN, HE WOULD HAVE HAD 100% FOR THREE YEARS. HONDA SAID, THE REASON THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO US IS THE BIGGEST WEAKEST OF ALL HONDA DEALERS IS THEY DON’T KNOW HOW TO DISPOSE OF THE INCREASE IN TRADE INS BECAUSE HONDA IS SUCH A HOT PRODUCT, THAT IT STIFLES THE SALE OF NEW HONDAS AS THEY HAVE NO WHERE TO PUT THE TRADES. ADMITTEDLY PERHAPS THEY ARE OVER APPRAISED, NOT PREPPED FOR RESALE PROPERLY, DOESN’T MATTER. WE NEED YOUR DEALERSHIP TO BE A HONDA DEALERSHIP. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THERE IS ONE CAR THAT HAS BEEN IN THE TOP TEN OF THE BEST NEW CARS FOR SALE FOR 46 CONSECUTIVE YEARS – HONDA ACCORD.
THE FAMILY THAT TRADED IN THE WHITE FLEETWOOD WERE ON A WAITING LIST FOR THE NEW HONDA ACCORD. YES, THERE WAS A WAITING LIST TO BUY ONE. GREAT CAR. FIRST STRATIFIED ENGINE THAT WOULD RUN ON ANYTHING GASOLINE, COGNAC, DIDN’T MATTER. WHAT THAT MEANS IS, REGARDLESS OF THE OCTANE OF THE FUEL IN YOUR AREA, YOU HONDA ACCORD WILL RUN PERFECTLY.
NOTE THE WHITE FLEETWOOD IN FRONT OF MY NEW 1977 RED COUPE DEVILLE IN FRONT OF TONY KOPROWSKI’S DRIVEWAY IN ROSSFORD OHIO. ONE PROBLEM, I PUT A SET OF CUSTOM CHROME REVERSED WHEELS ON NEW RADIAL TIRES. A CHROME CAGED THAT ADHERED TO THE WHEEL WAS LOCKED IN BY A ROUND CHROME KNOB THAT HAD TO BE TIGHTENED. IF YOU ARE NOT CAREFUL, THE CHROME TIGHTENING KNOB WILL WORK LOOSE, AND YOU WILL LOSE THE CHROME CAGE. I THINK I REPLACED TWO. EVEN THERESA AND NANCY SITTING IN THE BACK SEAT WERE RESPECTFUL OF THEIR DADDY’S WISHES TO BE NEAT AND PLACED THEIR GUM OR CANDY WRAPPERS IN THE APPROPRIATE ASH TRAYS.
ON ONE OF THE RARE MOMENTS WHEN I WAS DRIVING THIS FINE CAR WITH MY FAMILY, I AM ENJOYING THE EXCELLENT SOUND SYSTEM AND I HEAR FROM THE BACK SEAT A FIGHT BETWEEN THOSE TWO LITTLE GIRLS. WHAT’S GOING ON BACK THERE? WELL DADDY SHE PULLED MY HAIR. SHE PULLED MINE FIRST. I PUT THE TURN SIGNAL ON AND STARTED TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN TO PULL OVER TO THE BERM OF THE ROAD. BEFORE I COULD EVEN GET OFF THE ROAD, I HEARD EVERYTHING IS GREAT DADDY. EVERYTHING IS FINE.
WHEN I ACCEPTED AN ASSIGNMENT FROM ED SCHMIDT PERSONALLY AS THE ASSISTANT NEW CAR SALES MANAGER AT ED SCHMIDT PONTIAC, PERRYSBURG, I SOLD THE FLEETWOOD AS I WOULD BE PROVIDED WITH A NEW PONTIAC DEMONSTRATOR.