N.Z. Tour In Vintage Cadillac

Press, Volume C, Issue 29517, 19 May 1961, Page 9

N.Z. Tour In Vintage Cadillac

1924 vintage coupe Cadillac eoupe which began its 38 years service on New Zealand roads as official vehicle for the then Mayor of Auckland, Sir James Gunson, is still giving smooth service for Mr N. McMillan, a vintage car enthusiast who is driving it on a 3000 mile tour of New Zealand. One of the first V 8 engines to prove a commercially reliable proposition, this Cadillac has close associations with New Zealand, for there are still many who remember them as one of the most widely-used cars on service runs. Newman Bros. partly founded their business with Cadillac cars on their service runs and at one time had about 35 of them in service.

History

Although now well cared for and promising many thousands of miles of motoring, the car came upon somewhat lean days after it was relinquished as mayoral motor car in Auckland. It was a private motor car for a time but it was used later in Auckland by a motor engineering firm as a tow truck for about 22 years. It was then purchased by its present owner who restored it. Although it was subjected earlier to some brutal usage including towing grossly overweighted loads, the Cadillac, because of its magnificent workmanship and high grade materials, stood up t the ordeal remarkably well. Generations of motor mechanics learned to drive on the car. says Mr McMillan, but the gearbox is still sound end has never been taken down.

When Mr McMillan purchased the car he decided to bring it to first-class condition and thorough attention included rebore, new pistons, rings, valves and clutch. Many of the parts were acquired from a dismantled car of the same age, but Mr McMillan considers it was wonderful luck to obtain a set of new pistons from a local firm of car wreckers.

A member of the Auckland Vintage Car Club, Mr McMillan demonstrates that his vintage vehicle is not a toy but a proper motoring proposition. He did 13,000 miles in his car last year and is continuing to do big mileages in the course of his tour of New Zealand. His next big run will be with the Canterbury Vintage Car Club’s rally to Irishman Creek in June.

In a demonstration in the city he showed that the vehicle can pull away from a walking pace in top gear without a murmur of complaint and will accelerate in the 30 to 50 m.p.h. range with surprising liveliness. Although the engine has a 51-litre capacity, it is not the largest of the motor-car engines produced by Cadillac. There is still in Hamilton a 7-litre machine, said to be the only one of its kind brought to New Zealand. Mr McMillan's car does 11 miles to the gallon around town, but the high petrol consumption is matched by low maintenance costs.