2009 marks the 60th year since ’49 Cadillacs were built and the 9th year since the founding of the Forty Niners Chapter of the CLC, so we’ll celebrate both! CLC’er Michael Kistinger of Bottrop, Germany has an article that begins below commemorating the greater event, while I’ll blow the Chapter’s horn right here.
Founded in 2001 with 80 members, the Chapter now has more than 240 members in 38 US states, 3 Canadian provinces and 6 other countries (Australia, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland and Spain). Collectively, we own 259 1949 Cadillacs, including 52 convertibles, 51 Series 62 4-doors, 50 Series 62 2-doors, 29 Series 61 2-doors, 28 Series 60 Specials, 16 Coupe de Villes, 16 Series 75 limousines, 14 Series 61 4-doors and 3 Series 86 Commercial Chassis (hearses, flower cars). In addition, Chapter members also own three 1948 Cadillacs and three 1950 Cadillacs, both of which are almost-as-good as a ’49.
Two of our British members live in Scotland: Dan Gardner of Glasgow and Marcus Dean of Edinburgh, both of whom own 2-door coupes. Dan recently wrote to say that “I met Marcus earlier this year in the first meeting of the Scottish sub-chapter of the ‘49ers”. Dan did not mention whether they also imbibed a wee dram of Scotland’s most famous product to commemorate that event as well as their cars’ 60th birthday.
We’re getting short on members’ articles again, so please write-up anything regarding your ’49 Cadillac experience, including restoration and repair tips, “my pride and joy and how I found or restored it”, ’49 trivia or anything else of interest. Don’t worry about style or grammar; we’ll fix it up.
Since the chapter was founded in 2001, 33 issues of the ’49 Times have been published every March, June, September and December. If you want one or more back issues, these are available postpaid in the USA for $2.50 each, $2.75 each in Canada and $3.00 each everywhere else.
If you have not yet paid your 2009 dues of $8, please do so now or this will absolutely, positively be the last issue of the Times you will receive. Send a check for that amount payable to me to: