Mike's 1957 Sedan de Ville

Sight Unseen

I’ve just purchased my first Cadillac, a left hand drive 1957 Sedan de Ville. I’ve been looking around for sometime now. A couple of years back at Echuca, I had a ride in Ralph Plarre’s 1957 convertible, also Alf Dichiera’s 1961 and Irwin Sinclair’s 1966 convertible. I went home very impressed and with plenty of ideas. Then a few weeks ago I passed a red 1955 on the road and in an instant I made up my mind and jumped on the phone. Joe from Golden Gasolines was pleased to point me in the right direction. He tracked down a 1957 Sedan de Ville LHD, in running condition and registered in South Australia. As Joe was recommended by Club members, I paid up and hoped for the best without seeing the car! I couldn’t insure it, no-one wanted to pick it up... too wide and too long, so I headed to Melbourne to collect it not even sure of what it was going to look like.

I didn’t have to ask when I got to the depot... What a car! I jumped in unregistered, uninsured...oops! Too bad, I was a very happy Cadillac owner. On the way home, I had a half hour fuel stop as it took me 25 minutes to find the fuel cap! How the yanks decided to put it behind the tail light I don’t really want to know. I’m sure the guys at the servo though I had pinched it! Arrived home to Shepparton in one piece. No-one dared to complain about my driving... the smile on my face said it all. Hope to catch up at Echuca. Thanks again for everyone’s help.

Mike Sorraghan, Victoria, November 1999