Roger Zimmermann Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 (edited) As you probably remember, last November I sold my '56 Sedan de Ville, after owning it for 34 years, because I wanted something less old. I was happy to have a car less and lot of space in the garage! And, to tell the truth, I did not search for a replacement car. Some time ago, Brian Faull (a parts supplier from the Cadillac LaSalle forum) asked me what kind of car I would like to have. My response was that a '69 to '72 de Ville would be fine, either as a 4-door or Coupe, not white or black. I forgot about this until recently as Brian sent to me a link to a Craiglist: there was a 1972 Coupe, with less than 20'000 miles for a decent price. The car was green, with a green vinyl top and green trim. I'm not especially a fan of green (politically and with the color), but this green was after all good looking. Usually I don't do phone calls because my English over the phone is not the best but sometimes...I had to do it. I phone to the seller, had a good impression and finally, I spent also a phone call to Brian. After a while, when the dust was down, I decided to buy the car and let ship it to Brian for an inspection as well as repairs if needed. Sure, the transport from Florida to Pennsylvania was not cheap, but doing repairs in Switzerland costs twice what I will have to spent at Brian's place. Yesterday, I got document from the seller like copies from titles, the window's invoice and the car broadcast showing the options. The only option I'm missing is the trunk lid pull-down. I can live without it... Yesterday, Brian sent me a list of issues he found. Well, a car with a low mileage does not automatically means a perfect vehicle! And this car has some issues like brakes (I'm not surprised), dried bushings and less pleasant, perforating rust at some places. Well, after all that car is 45 years old! When Brian will be ready with the numerous repairs, the car will be ready to make a long journey to Switzerland. I will report here how things are going. Oh, by the way: with all that green, the car has a new name: Popeye. Edited May 2, 2017 by Roger Zimmermann (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r1lark Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 Really nice car Roger! I like the color -- too many white, black, and red ones out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unimogjohn Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 (edited) Roger, what a great looking car. Congratulations. And a great name by the way. Edited May 2, 2017 by unimogjohn (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C Carl Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 Hi Roger ! Where is the "perforating rust" ? I hope it is not at the back window , leaking into the trunk. Looks REALLY good ! These are very good cars. My '73 never needed anything other than consumables , brakes , ignition , belts , etc. Nylon camshaft gear should be replaced when you next do the water pump and radiator. My advice is , if you do any one of these things , do all three. Best news from here is : Winter is FINALLY ending ! No response from Laurent yet. - Carl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laughing Coyote Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 Nice find Roger. I bet you cant wait to get it home and take it out for a long ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C Carl Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 Roger , as long as you have a "new" Cadillac being prepared for you by Brian , come see some of the U.S.A. What a wonderful way to do the shakedown cruise ! And with a huge Cad/LaSalle domestic network at your service ! Not to mention , the HUGE fan club you have here in AACA. Honor us with your presence ! - Carl 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted May 3, 2017 Author Share Posted May 3, 2017 Thanks for the responses! The rust is at the front fenders which is a common place at many car models; it seems that the back window has no problem. Brian saw no bubbles under the vinyl, I hope that it will stay that way for a long time. The radiator was replaced at one time with an aluminum one; I'm not a fan of aluminum radiators but I leave it that way. I asked Brian to replace the nylon covered gear and he certainly will have a look at the water pump. there are many other issues like oil drops; Brian will take care of that. Carl, I will not come in the US for various reasons which I prefer not to explain here. One thing is for sure: you don't have to spend time searching the perfect car for me like you did for a French guy! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buicknutty Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 Lovely car, Roger. I'm sure you cannot wait till you get in home so that you can drive it! Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted May 3, 2017 Author Share Posted May 3, 2017 Well, I have to be patient. Brian must fix it, then the long journey to Switzerland and licensing. I hope I will be that far at the end of sommer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted May 4, 2017 Share Posted May 4, 2017 Brian and Popeye must be in my neck of the woods. Nice car!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted May 4, 2017 Author Share Posted May 4, 2017 54 minutes ago, dalef62 said: Brian and Popeye must be in my neck of the woods. Nice car!!!! Thanks! Could you please translate what you are writing? My school English does not help a lot with that phrase... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted May 4, 2017 Share Posted May 4, 2017 If Popeye and Brain are in Carnegie PA, that is not to far from where I am located. About 30 miles from me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted May 5, 2017 Author Share Posted May 5, 2017 Ha! Now I understand! You are right, Brian and Popeye are in Carnegie PA. If you go there, you will notice that the car is a little bit longer than your Crosleys, but not as long as your '58 Lincoln! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnSafari Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 Hi Roger, did the 72 make it to Switzerland? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted January 17, 2019 Author Share Posted January 17, 2019 Well...Not yet. I'm not especially happy with that situation, as you may imagine. I'm probably responsible to some extend to this delay: when Brian did the car's inspection, he noted all the items which were questionable. To most of them, I wrote "do it"! Plus the fact that I told to Brian that I was not in a hurry, that car was not a priority to him. Recently, he confessed that he had personal problem which delayed the work on the car. For about 2 or 3 weeks, he promised that I would drive the car this year. The fact is that he did a lot of work on the frame/underbody/suspension/engine, maybe more than I expected; according to the latest pictures he sent, the car is not yet ready, but I would say the I see the end of the tunnel. I just hope that he will hold his promise and the car will be soon ready . Thanks for asking! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 On 5/4/2017 at 3:59 PM, dalef62 said: Brian and Popeye must be in my neck of the woods. Nice car!!!! Roger, you wanted a translation. "Neck of the woods" is a slang phrase. It is not to be translated literally. One meaning of "neck" is "narrow part." "Neck of the woods" could mean "part of the woods." Generally, it means "area." In regular English, he meant "Brian and Popeye must be in my area," or "Brian and Popeye must be near me." By the way, I like the green color of your car. We don't see many green cars, and it is nice to see something different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted January 18, 2019 Author Share Posted January 18, 2019 Thanks for the explanation, John! Yes I know that it was some slang; the answer I got from dalef62 gave me an idea of the sense. I'm not especially found of green cars, but this hue is nice and, as you said, green cars are not common. I just would like to have it soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted January 20, 2019 Share Posted January 20, 2019 Some green shades I don't like, but I have a green 1979 Buick Electra, and I bought it just for its green color. It is the color of grass. The vinyl top is a light green with a hint of yellow. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted January 20, 2019 Author Share Posted January 20, 2019 Be careful when parked on grass, you may not find it! Nice car, it's also a green color I could go along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted May 7, 2019 Author Share Posted May 7, 2019 It seems that my waiting is coming to an end: Brian has more or less finished the car; a shipper is already involved. I hope that the shipper will come this week to Brian's place to take the car. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted May 12, 2019 Author Share Posted May 12, 2019 (edited) Now the car is finished. I will be informed when the shipper with take the car away; obviously it was not this week; I hope the next one! I'm adding some pictures which were taken a few days ago. The wheelcovers are in the trunk for the shipping. The hood ornament will be removed too. Edited May 12, 2019 by Roger Zimmermann (see edit history) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted May 21, 2019 Author Share Posted May 21, 2019 Brian (the man who did some work on the car) wrote today May 21 that the transporter picked-up the car for its long journey. Wish me (or the car) well! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted May 21, 2019 Share Posted May 21, 2019 Sweet. Hope it makes the journey safely! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted May 21, 2019 Author Share Posted May 21, 2019 I hope too! When I think I bought it from more than 2 years ago; who said I have no patience? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Macartney Posted May 21, 2019 Share Posted May 21, 2019 I am sure you must have a lot of patience, especially with the work you do on your scale models. Do you have an approximate date that the car will be with you? Here's hoping it is a good as it looks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted May 21, 2019 Author Share Posted May 21, 2019 It may take 5 to 8 weeks. About the look: Brian did a lot of work, not only cosmetic. I can tell about it when I will drive it ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted July 13, 2019 Author Share Posted July 13, 2019 The ship arrived in Bremerhaven (Germany) on July 4th. The car will then be transported by truck (when?) to Zurich (Switzerland). 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted July 19, 2019 Author Share Posted July 19, 2019 On July 18, the car arrived at the Swiss customs in Zürich. At about 2 PM, the man who arranged the shipping and me went with a trailer to load the car. If the drive to Zürich went well (less than 2 hours drive), the drive back to Bienne was another matter: when we drove over 60 km/h, (about 38MPH), the trailer began to swing! Due to the shape of the front bumper, the car was not forward enough, plus the trunk was full of material! After a while, we left the freeway to take "normal" roads. We were lucky: a few miles after the freeway exit we used, a small truck went in fire. The delay to cross this incident was 1 1/2 hour! Even with our rather slow pace, we arrived safely in Bienne at the man's shop. Anyway, it was a long day as I got home at 8 PM. And the car? Well, I can say it's in a good shape. Sure, there are here or there some imperfections, but this is an original car not repainted, except for the hood (and it shows it: the color is a tad different…). In other words, I'm happy! Now, the man you see in one of the pictures will let install the new tires which were in the trunk, check for the front end alignement and do what's needed to get the car licensed. Maybe I can drive it at the end of next week! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted July 19, 2019 Author Share Posted July 19, 2019 (edited) The last picture exceeded the allowable "quantity"! Another picture at the arrival in Bienne. Edited July 19, 2019 by Roger Zimmermann Picture added (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 Looks like the front fenders AND the hood were repainted. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted July 19, 2019 Author Share Posted July 19, 2019 It could be: depending how one is looking at the car, the LH front fender is not quite a match to the door. The seller told me that the hood was repainted once, but he did not say or he was not aware about other repaint. However, you probably know how the cars were constructed: the body alone was painted and the hood and front fenders were separately painted either in the same plant or in another one. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted August 1, 2019 Author Share Posted August 1, 2019 The car still must go to the government agency to get licensed. As today is a national holiday, I hope this will happens next week. Anyway, it takes longer than expected! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John S. Posted August 4, 2019 Share Posted August 4, 2019 Roger, hopefully you will be driving your Cadillac soon. Nice looking car. Enjoy it. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted August 5, 2019 Author Share Posted August 5, 2019 Since today, the car is totally mine. The guy who prepared it went to the government agency early afternoon; I have the "title" and the car is into my garage! Sorry, I did no picture I was catch by surprise! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laughing Coyote Posted August 5, 2019 Share Posted August 5, 2019 1 hour ago, Roger Zimmermann said: I have the "title" and the car is into my garage! Great! Now get it out of the garage and drive the wheels of it!! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted August 6, 2019 Author Share Posted August 6, 2019 (edited) By the way: the max speed from this car is 207 km/h or 129.4 MPH. Would you drive this small elephant at this speed? Edited August 6, 2019 by Roger Zimmermann (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buicknutty Posted August 6, 2019 Share Posted August 6, 2019 Congrats, Roger! Is that the max speed limit there? Keith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted August 6, 2019 Author Share Posted August 6, 2019 Thanks Keith! The speed limit is 120 km/h (75 MPH) on freeways; usually 80 km/h (50 MPH) on "normal" roads and 50 in town (31MPH); there are of course sometimes lower speed limits. I was lucky: by law, the tires speed rating should be equal or higher than the vehicle max. speed; the tires I have are rated for 180 km/h (112.5). I corrected my previous post to be clearer! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgwarhawk Posted August 7, 2019 Share Posted August 7, 2019 Nice Caddy. Enjoy that green beastie. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Zimmermann Posted August 14, 2019 Author Share Posted August 14, 2019 Thanks Chris! Today, I drove Popeye for the fist time. During that 3/4 of an hour, I was really happy: the suspension is acting the way I like, soft, almost like a ship on calm water! There will be somme little things to improve (the car is 47 years old, I always have to remember that it's not a new car), like a better cleaning of the inside trim/chromed parts. Overall, I'm really satisfied! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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