1949 Cadillac Coupe De Ville Prototype

When Mr. Charles E. Wilson accepted President Dwight D. Eisenhower's appointment to become Secretary of Defense, he was forced to retire as General Motors chief executive in 1953. Upon his retirement, Cadillac presented Mr. Wilson with this de Ville Prototype. Mr. Wilson was later misquoted as saying, 'What's good for General Motors is good for the country' during his confirmation hearing.

Mr. Wilson was given the nickname, Engine Charlie to help distinguish him from Charles E. Wilson, the chief executive of General Electric, who served in the Truman administration.

General Motors had built the Fleetwood-bodied Coupe de Ville Prototype for the Transportation Unlimited auto show in 1949. The exhibition would later become known as the Motorama. GM's exhibition of sensational and futuristic vehicles toured the auto show circuit to great acclaim.

Powering the Coupe de Ville was the company's first overhead-valve V8 engine. The revolutionary designed prototype had a curved, one-piece windshield glass plus many fancy features. There was a two-way radio/telephone, power windows that included even the vent windows, power seats, chrome wheel arches, a three-piece rear window, a lipstick holder, a perfume atomizer, a rear-seat secretarial kit, and leather seats and trim.

After Mr. Wilson's death in 1961, the car disappeared. It was found in a Connecticut barn in 1978. The current owner, a collector of rare and historically significant Cadillacs, treated the car to a complete and correct restoration.

In 2013, the car was put on display at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, which marked its first public appearance in 64 years.

The prototype given to Mr. Wilson was one of four built and the only one known to survive. It is also the oldest known Motorama vehicle still extant.


by Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2013

1949 Cadillac Coupe De Ville Prototype Vehicle Profiles

1949 Cadillac Coupe De Ville Prototype vehicle information
Coupe

Coachwork: Fleetwood

Recent Vehicle Additions

Related Automotive News

'Rarest Of The Rare' 1957 Corvette  Super Sport 'Debuts'  At The Amelia Island Concours

'Rarest Of The Rare' 1957 Corvette Super Sport 'Debuts' At The Amelia Island Concours

It is the rarest Corvette ever built. The 1957 Corvette Super Sport prototype built for GMs famous Motorama shows of the 1950s will, after six decades hidden from view, break cover in a special exhibit at the 22nd annual Amelia Island Concours dElegance...
Cadillac's 'Sixteen' Headlines The Amelia Concours d'Elegance Cadillac Concept Car Class

Cadillac's 'Sixteen' Headlines The Amelia Concours d'Elegance Cadillac Concept Car Class

Cadillacs 2003 Sixteen will headline the 18th annual Amelia Concours dElegances Cadillac Concept Car Class. A decade ago, the elegant excess of Cadillacs Sixteen Concept Car set off alarms throughout the global auto industry as it rolled into...
Prototype Cadillac Not Seen In Decades Coming To Amelia

Prototype Cadillac Not Seen In Decades Coming To Amelia

For the first time in 64 years the first Cadillac to wear the name Coupe de Ville will make a public appearance. The site for this historic re-debut is the 18th annual Amelia Island Concours dElegance on March 10, 2013. Charlie Wilson was the...
CADILLAC CONCEPT CARS STAR at AMELIA CONCOURS d'ELEGANCE

CADILLAC CONCEPT CARS STAR at AMELIA CONCOURS d'ELEGANCE

There are limited production cars, there are rare cars and there are concept cars that never find their way to the showroom. A fleet of Cadillacs rare and mythic Motorama and Detroit Auto Show Concept Cars will take to the field at the 18th Annual...
1955 MOTORAMA LaSALLES TO DEBUT AT AMELIA

1955 MOTORAMA LaSALLES TO DEBUT AT AMELIA

The LaSalle show cars built for the 1955 General Motors Motorama will be featured at the 18th Annual Amelia Island Concours dElegance, March 10, 2013. Presented by Chubb Personal Insurance in partnership with the Bortz Auto Collection, Highland, Park,...

Vehicle information, history, and specifications from concept to production.