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Local
member Paul J. Cox originates from England home of the notorious Lucas
electrical system and much smaller cars than those that grace these
pages. Here is a Crest & Wings interview to find out how one of the
youngest Southern California CLC members decided Harley Earl was the
designer of choice………….
Paul’s beautifully restored
56 Eldorardo Biarritz
C&W: How did you hear about the club & how long have you been
a member of the CLC ?
PJC: I joined in 1992 after I moved to Los Angeles. I was in my
kitchen one Sunday morning and heard the burble of a V8 go by, followed
by another. Intrigued, I went outside and saw what I later found out to
be a local CLC garage tour. I stopped one of the cars, got Roy Schnieder’s
phone number and called that night.
C&W: Did you have a Cadillac at that point?
PJC: Yes, I had a 1957 Coupe de Ville in England, I bought it in
rough shape in 1986 from northern California, and shipped it to the UK.
I got it running, a fresh coat of paint and drove it around until I
moved here.
It was the second car I’ve
ever owned – and don’t even ask about the first one. The ‘57 sat
in storage in England, until the Monday morning after the Sunday garage
tour drive-by, when I arranged to have it shipped back to the US. The
DMV were very confused about that for a while.
C &W: More importantly, what Cadillacs would we find currently
parked in your garage ?
PJC: The ’57 Coupe de Ville I mentioned, metallic blue, white top,
not the original color but a car I drive very often and don’t have to
be too precious with – you will see this parked at the supermarket ! A
’56 Eldorado Seville in Bahama blue and a ’56 Eldorado Biarritz that
I have recently completed after a 5 year restoration. There’s also a
’56 Sedan de Ville in storage nearby.
C&W: Congratulations on your recent show wins, it’s nice to
have a local member turn some national heads – what exactly did you
bring home ?
PJC: Thank you, at Meadow Brook Hall Concours d’Elegance, the ’56
Biarritz won Best of Class and Best Late Open Cadillac, I was very
pleased with that and then I took it to the CLC Detroit Cadillac
Centennial National event, where it won 1st place in it’s
class and is now a senior car.
Paul being interviewed at
Meadow Brook Hall Concours d’Elegance where he won Best of Class and
Best Late Open Cadillac
C&W: Your ’56 Biarritz apparently started out as a basket case,
what made you buy a car that needed so much work ?
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PJC: Yes, it wasn’t
pretty. I found the car nearly 14 years ago rusting in a field in
Arkansas. I was still living in England, didn’t have the money to buy
it and definitely no where to put it. So I scraped a meager deposit
together and fortunately the owner kept it for another year before I
moved it to a friends storage location in Oklahoma City.
It was the car I had been looking for, Emerald green, green
convertible top, including factory air. I know it needed everything and
I was prepared to give it everything…..but couldn’t, not right away
that’s for sure. I saw it and knew it deserved to look just as it does
today.
It amazes me that these cars were once brand new and were some of the
most wonderfully impressive mobile pieces of art that America could
build, and this is how they were treated and ended up. It’s the old
one-eyed puppy syndrome - it was coming home with me !
The car remained in
storage for nearly 10 years before I started the restoration. But that’s
one of the best things about the car hobby – just to know that you
have your dream car sitting in the garage in any condition, original,
barely operational, basket case or just plan trash, anything is possible
it just takes some patience and time.
C&W: Some owners get completely overwhelmed with the prospect of
long term restoration projects, what single piece of advice would you
give to see it through ?
PJC: Simple, do one thing for your car everyday. Even as small as one
phone call, locate a part you know you’ll need. Research - look at
other cars and photos for an original detail you may not know about. A
restoration demands a lot of work aside from lifting wrenches so keep it
moving along. Go to the CLC shows, meet fellow owners and restorers,
keep the information alive.
C&W: With restoration costs escalating, isn’t it worth waiting
to find the favored dream car in better condition to start with ?
Paul’s interior of his 56
Eldorado Biarritz is perfect in every detail.
PJC: Maybe, with some cars you can definitely buy one already
restored probably for less than the cost of a good restoration, but
would you be happy ? I know I’d have to tear it to bits !
It becomes very personal
– do you want a car, or that car. If you
love the car, don’t let the money equation out way sentimental
attachment. How many times have we heard, “I wish I still had that
car.” Time and money complete a project, if it takes less money over a
greater period of time, that’s fine.
C&W: Will we see the ’56 Biarritz at some local shows?
PJC: It was finished just in time for Meadow Brook and Detroit so it
missed many of the local shows. I’m looking forward to taking the ’56
Biarritz out during next year’s show season and I intend to drive it
often. These are cars and need to be driven. If they run, drive them.
C&W: Thanks Paul and congratulations on all of your
accomplishments.
If you would like to see
more of Paul’s ’56 Biarritz it is featured as Ms February in the
2003 CLC Calendar ! |
