CatBird

Thanks, I need V12 help. This is different from a Lincoln Zephyr V12. I have a 1947 Lincoln Continental and that engine is quite different than the Willoughby. The 1947 Lincoln is similar to a 32 Ford V8 with extra cylinders. I am not knocking the Lincoln Continental. The V12 in the Willoughby looks like it was made by some Packard derivative. Massive, solid and well-made. Much different engine than our 1947 Lincoln Continental. How can I reach some of the V12 people here?

Limos are usually short on legroom. I think Jockeys must be the often chauffers. It is tight and seats are not adjustable, but I can negotiate it. Don't know if the body is of wood. Can't tell. The flooring is wood, I am surprised these are underappreciated. Seems an awesome car. The interior wood and appointments are exquisite! Similar in quality to my Auburn and Packard. Though not have been run in about three years, fresh gas, clean carburetor, charged the battery and started and settled down with an even idle. However, I am not driving it until I get it on my lift and check things out very carefully.

Just brought home a 1937 Lincoln V12 Willoughby Limousine. Am charging the battery and checking fluids before starting it. Seems that all is well. Appears to be a survivor in great condition. It was used by the American Ambassador in Sydney Austraila in WWII. General Douglass MacArthur used it. Looking under the seat cushions for his corn-cob pipe. I very much like the coach-built cars. One of 60 made. A massive car at three tons weight, with a 145-inch wheelbase and is about 6 foot 2" tall, like me, <grin> The engine is a work of art. Regarding the weight, I pulled it home on a triple axle trailer with my diesel dually pickup and could feel the weight! Picture of my good friend, Jeff Knowles. He was Truett Cathy's car manager and this was one of his absolute favorites. My dog. Xander wants a ride in the back. I love BIG. Will get more pictures later, but here is a start! BTW Can't find the AACA Willoughby Thread!! <grin>

I recently involved in the sale of a large collection of cars. I saw classic outstanding vintage cars nestled in with simple inexpensive cars in all shapes and condition. A massive collection of over 300 cars. There seemed to be no order, no theme. I talked with the manager, Jeff who had maintained these cars for about 24 years. This was the Collection of S. Truett Cathy, Founder of Chick-fil-a. Jeff asked Truett why he was buying so many different cars, and Truett responded, "For Investments." That made sense to Jeff. Investments in classic cars can often bring great rewards. But Jeff noticed that Truett had bought a car and paid much too much. Very much more than the possible value. Jeff thought he should mention this "mistake" to Truett? Maybe Truett didn't know he paid too much? But Truett had brought a small restaurant into a multi-billion dollar business and Truett had told Jeff that he was buying cars as investments and this made no sense to Jeff. Fortunately, Jeff needed to get some paperwork from the seller and the seller mentioned that Truett had really "blessed him." He went on to say that he had cancer. He was broke and could not continue treatments until Truett bought his car giving him enough money to pay his bills and get additional treatment and he was now cancer-free. Jeff realized that when Truett Cathy spoke about investments, he meant investments in people. The money flowed as well, but Truett Cathy's business was based on investments in people. Think about this if you happen to be in a Chick-fil-a restaurant. It is an enjoyable place for happy employees serving an experience. People connecting with people. It pays great dividends. Investments.

Thank you, especially, Rusty. Fascinating! Another aspect of the history involved in our antique cars. Understanding gives me an even deeper appreciation of our "Time Machines." Often I sit in one of our antique cars. Looking through a windshield where people have sat for tens, scores and even a hundred years, smelling the "old car smell" of leather, faint tobacco; better knowing the Past custodians who lived in a different world. I feel the honor of being a present custodian of these vehicles that were such important to people who rode in them. A brochure about our 1920 Cadillac remarking the "side flaps inside the doors where ladies could store their hats, veils and party attire..." Sometimes I sit in our 1914 Model T. THE car that put the average American on motorized wheels. The roads were non-existent in many areas. People were able to speed along up to 30mph in a good flat road, but usually much slower. My wife and I take back roads in our antique cars like our cars have done by their previous owners. We can smell the scents. See every blade of grass. Wave to all the people sharing the rich history of the past, and each other. Stop and talk with people when we stop for gas, for food, just to stop and just enjoy each other. Wave and share thumbs ups.

I like the color. Have also seen on old glass insulators.

ALSANCLE who is a member of this forum and posted this ad. Networking is great!!!

Fran Roxas did the restoration. Maybe I can find him to research his records.

Someone said it was due to chemical changes in the glass. Maybe about manganese(?)

I have heard that our 1920 Cadillac Touring car lenses are changing lavender/purple after having been exposed to sunlight for the last 97 years. What a sweet gentle old age. Why, if so?

alsancle Sent me an ad in 1977 advertising my 1934 Brewster. It appears that the color in 1977 was black with a polished aluminum hood. I wonder what color it was when it was made? This is one of the great things about collecting and learning and how we support each other.

So let's get back to beautiful cars and friends who love them and enjoy each other.

I appreciate your post. I had "ignored" Saddle-rider since his remarks early on and therefore was not able to see any more regarding his posts. However, he has been banned.

I love quality open cars, especially Cadillacs, hope you enjoy some of our collection

I am curious also. But cannot find any solid reasons. Might Ford have been a silent partner? Inskip, head of Brewster built a car for Al Jolson, who was an avid car buff and one of the most important figures in entertainment, Brewster got a huge amount of free publicity.

I have great admiration for Henry Ford. He put America on wheels. The Marvelous invention the Model T and succeeding generations.". My Model Ts sit cheek by jowl with my Senior Classics. I love them ALL. Each car has its own personality. I love them ALL!

when I said, "low tech" I meant not having OBD, Computers, mobile phones, GPS. Our 25 cars are driven often from 1914 Ford Model T to our (newest car) 1960 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz. Each car is different. The 1920 Cadillac is different than the 1933 Packard. The 1935 Auburn Phaeton drives superbly. I have been maintaining them and have over 60 years working on cars. I suspect from your remarks that you have not driven a 1920 Cadillac or 1933 Packard? Or 1935 Auburn Phaeton? Or 1937 Lincoln Limo? Or a 1934 Brewster? 1947 Lincoln Continental V12 . 1956 Cadillac CPD? 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biattitz? I am getting bored. <grin> but let us know your knowledge about the differences in them, inquiring minds want to know.

Chuckle. Ford and Brewster were totally different animals. From Brewster, and i quote: "Brewster kept a record of each family’s family crest and colors, which would be applied to subsequent bodies ordered through the firm. J. P. Morgan's was dark bottle green, the Vanderbilt's, a special maroon, and the Astor's and Stevens' two different shades of blue. Some families had two sets of colors, a darker one for the closed winter car and a lighter color for their fair-weather touring car. Brewster reserved certain colors for the exclusive use of each respective family, and new customers often had a hard time selecting an “available” color.' "In the December, 1921 issue of Autobody, the magazine described the scene in Brewster’s paint department: "The extent to which the demands for exclusive family colors is carried can befit be appreciated by a visit to their [Brewster's] grinding room where there are on exhibition several thousand small panels, each bearing the color of some customer, different at least in shade from that of any of its neighbors. Many Brewster automobile bodies today carry the same colors as the ante-bel­lum carriages of the owners' ancestors." "As the interior appointments of the vehicle were very important to each and every customer, Brewster provided room on each order form for the size and weight of each customer, and just as importantly, their chauffeur. The seats could be ordered in a virtually endless combination of styles, colors and materials. Even the density and size of a cushion’s internal springs was optional. Cabinets and interior accessories were available in an equally endless variety of materials, styles and color combinations. Each vehicle was truly custom made to suit the par­ticular requirements of each customer." Ah, so what, it is more likely Brewster would more likely had specific paint colors available than Ford, Cadillac, So I will keep looking. But I don't be worried about having my hopes dashed. Life is the fun of the Journey... And I am having a blast!!! BTW My Ford parts are all black.

They also did make a few Buick Brewsters. Another reason was that Ford has always been hugely popular. Brewster owners could let the Depression Broke, most everybody, I imagine the rich people should hide their Packards and Rolls-Royce. Brewster owners could say they had a Ford in a new dress.

Will check with some of my early Ford V8 friends. Thanks for the heads up. Hopefully, the other Brewster was an exception.

Maybe she liked blue. She was French American, French have a long time affaire with blue Bleu de France (Blue of France) is a colour traditionally used to represent France. Blue has been used in the heraldry of the French monarchy since at least the 12th century, with the golden fleurs-de-lis of the kings always set on a blue (heraldic "azure") background. A brighter version, based on the blue of the French Tricolour, is used in modern times, particularly in a sporting context. French national teams in all sports will normally use blue as their main colour. Blue is France's national racing colour, therefore several French motorsport teams have used it, including Alpine, Amilcar, Ballot, Bugatti, Delage, Delahaye, Gordini, Ligier, Mathis, Matra, Panhard, Pescarolo Sport, Prost Grand Prix, Rondeau, Salmson, Talbot-Lago, Voisin.

An answer was that Brewster made bodies.1934 was still suffering the aftermath of the Depression. No money! I think that Brewster decided to make a very cheap car and chose a reliable, easy to fix, anywhere Fords were available. Once the owners got back on their feet, they could have bodied with a high-end chassis. Or not. Back in the oughts and 'teens, people often did re-body cars. I guess that Brewster would carry forward the tradition. The bodies were originally specifically made for the owners down to minute detail. .Brewster had a measurement of each person - and their chauffeurs - so they tailored the seats to customer's weight, height, arms, and legs. It was like buying a suit from a high-end tailor. So carrying the body forward in time as technology improved the chassis, was a very good idea! The car/body fit you like a glove. There are no adjustments on our car for seat adjustments. The cars were painted as to Family Lineage. Rockefeller cars, like their carriages before, were a particular shade of maroon. Our car is blue from the John Jacob Astor Family. The 'average' person could NOT buy a car in any of those colors. Brewster Quotes: “You're the top! You're a Ritz hot toddy. You're the top! You're a Brewster body.” (You’re the Top - copyright 1934 Cole Porter) With those two phrases, songwriter - and Brewster owner - Cole Porter immortalized the New York City coachbuilder in his hit musical “Anything Goes”. The song was introduced by Ethel Merman and William Glaxton in the 1934 Broadway production, Edward King, the well-known manager of New York City’s National Horse Show, was once asked whether he considered Brewster to be the Tiffany of carriage manufacturers. He replied: "My opinion is that Tiffany was the Brewster of Jewelers!" GOD, what a car!!! Did I mention that we also acquired an 1848 Brewster Carriage in Maroon with red pinstriping? Rockefeller colors? Who knows.

Cane was redone. See the picture explaining the complete restoration. The cane was originally applied with thick paint. Two people held a straightedge and a master pinstriped applied the paint with something like a pastry bag with a 1/16th nozzle. The work on my car is hand done over the laquer body paint. It is beyond amazing!

Quote from Coachbuilt Cars Brewster kept a record of each family’s family crest and colors, which would be applied to subsequent bodies ordered through the firm. J. P. Morgan's was dark bottle green, the Vanderbilt's, a special maroon, and the Astor's and Stevens' two different shades of blue. Some families had two sets of colors, a darker one for the closed winter car and a lighter color for their fair-weather touring car. Brewster reserved certain colors for the exclusive use of each respective family, and new customers often had a hard time selecting an “available” color. Master painter Theodore (Ted) Proudfoot, handled the majority of Brewster’s pin striping as well as their crests and hand lettering. In the December, 1921 issue of Autobody, the magazine described the scene in Brewster’s paint department: "The extent to which the demands for exclusive family colors is carried can befit be appreciated by a visit to their [Brewster's] grinding room where there are on exhibition several thousand small panels, each bearing the color of some customer, different at least in shade from that of any of its neighbors. Many Brewster automobile bodies today carry the same colors as the ante-bel­lum carriages of the owners' ancestors." We have a Brewster that is light blue paint. What family could have this color in their Family Lineage?