WHILE ON THE SALES STAFF OF SIGNOR BUICK CADILLAC NEWARK CALIFORNIA, A GENTLEMAN APPROACHED ME WITH A 1983 COUPE DEVILLE COLOR #21 STEEL BLUE THAT HE PURCHASED NEW. HE WAS HOPING I WOULD PURCHASE IT BECAUSE HE KNEW OF NO ONE ELSE WHO WOULD APPRECIATE HIS PASSION FOR THIS CAR THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY REFLECTED IN ITS INCREDIBLY UNBLEMISHED CONDITION. IT WAS NEVER SMOKED IN, ALWAYS GARAGE KEPT, THE INTERIOR LOOKED UNUSED AND THE ORIGINAL PAINT COLOR #21 STEEL BLUE WAS EXCELLENT.
PROBLEM: IT HAD THE ORIGINAL HT-4100 V-8 THAT WAS COMMON KNOWLEDGE IT DRANK OIL, ATE CAM SHAFTS AND THREW RODS WITHOUT NOTICE. HE HAD DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PROLONG THAT EVENTUAL CONDITION. THE PRICE ALSO REFLECTED THE OBVIOUS ENGINE REPLACEMENT IN THE FUTURE. I GOT IT.
AS A MEMBER OF THE CADILLAC LASALLE CLUB NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, I WAS APPROACHED BY MR. SIEGAL AND OTHERS WHO ENCOURAGED ME TO ENTER MY 1983 CADILLAC COUPE DEVILLE IN THE UPCOMING GRAND NATIONAL COMPETITION TO BE HELD IN SANTA CLARA CALIFORNIA 1999. I THOUGHT SIEGAL WAS JUST BEING KIND TO ME BECAUSE OF MY AFFECTION FOR CADILLACS ESPECIALLY FOR THIS COUPE DEVILLE.
I IMMEDIATELY GAVE IT THE BELOFF TOUCH FOR THE NATIONAL SHOW. THAT MEANS PROFESSIONAL STEAM CLEANING UNDERNEATH, ALSO ON TOP WITH WHEELS AND TIRES REMOVED COVERING PLACES DIFFICULT TO SEE. I HAD A SUSPICION OF WHAT WOULD IMPRESS JUDGES. I ORDERED A BRAND NEW HOOD PAD AND TOOK INTERIOR PIECES APART, POWER WINDOW SWITCHES ETC. FOR CLEANING. I HAD A PROFESSIONAL AIR BRUSH ARTIST FOR CARS RETOUCH ANY CHIPS IN THE PAINT FROM THE HOOD TO THE REAR BUMPERS.
THE CAR WAS ALMOST PERFECT TO BEGIN WITH. WHEN I COMPLETED THE BELOFF TOUCH IN MY DRIVEWAY IN BENICIA, I THOUGHT IT HAD A CHANCE TO AT LEAST PLACE. I NOTICED A CHIP IN THE WINDSHIELD AND HAD IT REPLACED BY A MOBILE UNIT. I HAD A THREE RING BINDER WITH A COMPLETE PEDIGREE OF THE CAR THAT INCLUDED ALL MAINTENANCE RECORDS.
YOU SEE, I AM A JUDGE TOO, SO I KNOW JUDGES ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN REACH INTO THE CAR, TURN THE KEY AND IT WILL START (FUEL INJECTION) TO CHECK ALL THE INSTRUMENTATION. ALL LIGHTS AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS MUST WORK INCLUDING RADIO, AM AND FM, SPEAKERS AND POWER ANTENNAE. YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR FIRE EXTINGUISHER BY THE FRONT WHEEL TOO. IT WAS A HUGE THRILL JUST TO HAVE MY CAR AMONG THE FINEST CADILLACS IN THE PLANET.
AT THE AWARDS CEREMONY, THEY FLASH ON A BIG SCREEN A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE FIRST PLACE AND SO ON WINNERS OF YOUR CLASS. I WAS BUSY ENJOYING THE FELLOWSHIP OF SOME OF THE GREATEST CADILLAC OWNERS ANYWHERE. THEY SAID, HEY ALEX, ISN’T THAT YOUR CADILLAC UP ON THE SCREEN FOR FIRST PLACE? I COULDN’T BELIEVE IT. SHE WON FIRST PLACE HANDS DOWN AND I BECAME A SENIOR WINNER #333 IN THE CADILLAC BOOK PUBLISHED ANNUALLY.
MY WIFE WAS SUFFERING FROM CANCER FOR SEVEN YEARS. SHE WANTED TO RETIRE BACK IN MEMPHIS WHERE SHE GREW UP AND WENT TO SCHOOL. WE MOVED TO MEMPHIS. THE COUPE WITH FOUR OTHER OF MY VEHICLES WERE SHIPPED ON THE SAME CARRIER TO MEMPHIS. MY COUPE DEVILLE TO THIS DAY REMAINS DOMICILED FOR SAFE KEEPING IN ABSOLUTE SECRECY.
