This month we feature a really sweet mild custom 1961 Cadillac. The boys at Skuza Motorsports – yep, of NHRA fame – sent us this, their latest from the shop in Broadview Heights, Ohio.
Story: T-Bone, Photos: Skuza Motorsports and Kirsten Baker-Volatile Images
I can smell the Chanel #5 as my mom is getting ready for a night on the town with pop. He is on his way home from the office for with a quick drink and a shave. The plan is to roll up to Los Robles Lodge for dinner and a bit of dancing. Some of the boys from the Knights of Columbus will be there with their ladies too. Pop likes to make an entrance and he certainly will tonight with his new Caddy.
The car started out as an original Northern California car. Bought from the second owner the ride was pretty straight. The car was stripped down to bare metal. Not a frame-off due to the cleanliness of the car, removed all the side chrome, door handles, and cleaned up the exterior. They found a book of matches from The Los Robles Lodge, in the door panel. A hint of it’s past. A past that is ripe with imagery of ladies with long silk gloves and Brylcreem stains on the drivers headrest.
With the door handles shaved, my fathers’ grandkids can open the door for their wives with a touch of a remote button to enter the vehicle, all windows, A/C, heat, radio were repaired to original.
The neon lights of the long gone Los Robles reflect in the rechromed bumpers and smoothed panels painted Glazirit 2009 Lexus Candy Pearl Burgundy. The corners are lowered with a 2” suspension drop and supported by chrome stealies with baby moons and white whites.
The running gear is stock and running great. The engine and trans were removed to reseal, clean and detail. Every bolt on the engine was polished and cleared. A new stereo system rolls jazz standards from the likes of the Rat Pack and entourage mounted in the trunk and a remote system that powers it through the factory radio speakers. The dash was removed and repainted and the dash pad recovered in black. Seats were recovered with the factory color atop new black carpet.
The bottom of the car was detailed and kept black. New exhaust, shocks, springs, and tie-rods accent the dark of night. The fuel tank was removed, cleaned, sealed and repainted.
We give special credit to the crew at Skuza Motorsports for bringing back the early ‘60s vibe; Jimmy Vance, Mark Woods, Rick Grenda, Don Skuza, Dean Skuza, Carol Dziak and to Kirsten Baker for the photos at Volatile Images!