Cadillacs Draw 1,000 to Benefit United Way
October 2, 2018
A portion of the proceeds from this year’s Cadillac Fall Festival are going to support the impact work of United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region.
The Cadillac Fall Festival & Concours d’Elegance featured 110 examples of a classic American car during a three-day celebration in September at the Gilmore Car Museum.
More than 1,000 people attended the event during Sept. 20-23, according to Bill Anderson, president and chairman of the Cadillac & LaSalle Museum & Research Center Board of Directors.
“Cadillac has long been the symbol of success,” Anderson said. “This festival celebrated the innovation and technical excellence that remains the common element of Cadillac throughout its history.”
Cadillac models featured ranged from pre-war classic V-12s and V-16s to the flashy flamboyant designs of the 1950s and 1960s to those of the modern Art & Science design philosophy. There were also well-preserved originals from the decades of models and modified Cadillacs representing the owners’ unique vision of Cadillac style. Among the most popular vehicles were a 1953 LeMans, a 2007 CTS Coupe, and a 2011 Ciel four-door convertible, all concept cars. Other special cars included a 1959 Broadmoor Skyview, one of only six produced; a 1907 Cadillac Truck; and the 1940 GM Futurliner.
Award winners included:
• Best in Show—1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham, owned by Donald Ghareeb of Vestavia Hills, Ala.
• Best in Class of the Featured Model—1987 Cadillac Allante, owned by John Leese of Grand Rapids.
You can learn more about the Cadillac & LaSalle Museum & Research Center, located at the Gilmore Car Museum, online at www.cadillaclasallemuseum.org.
Photos by John Lacko Photography.
Owners prepare their Cadillac Allantes for the Cadillac Fall Festival at the Gilmore Car Museum. Allante was the feature model at the annual event.
A 1953 Cadillac LeMans was one of three GM Heritage cars on display at the Cadillac Fall Festival at the Gilmore Car Museum. The car was named in honor of the Cadillacs that had competed at the famous French 24 hour Le Mans race.
The unusual color combination of Gil and Molly Oppermans’ 1926 Cadillac Model 1155 four-passenger Phaeton was featured in a 1927 Cadillac magazine ad.
A wide variety of Cadillacs were on display at the Cadillac Fall Festival at the Gilmore Car Museum.
Donald Ghareeb’s show winning 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham was equipped with all the luxury options available in 1957.
Donald Ghareeb in his 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham is presented the “Best of Show” award by Rick Chambers, who represented United Way at the Cadillac Fall Festival.
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