"Rolling Charisma"
A wonderful 1970's American cultural icon is reborn...
This week's installment begins as it occasionally does, with a bit of inspiration aimed & launched into my email account. Letters from others that quickly and forcefully grabs my attention, such as, well, please allow me to return to the beginning...
...when a few years earlier, I had spotted this decrepit old-school pimp ride for sale on Ebay--
I looked, was absolutely smitten with the pimped Eldorado, utterly amazed that a complete Superfly Cadillac could still exist over 30 years later. I mean, after the late 1970's, this urban fad was finished, these sorts of cars literally disappeared from the streets overnight.
And I had harvested those Ebay photos, stored ‘em on my hard drive. Until 2004, when I had posted these pics on this very website, accompanied by my own fond 1970’s NW Indiana & Chicago reminisces of pimpmobiles.
***
Now scooting forward to the present tense, earlier this week I received an email from a Mr. Tom Tindera. Who said he had seen & enjoyed my pimp ride page, noted the photos of the black Cadillac I had posted.
Tom then informed me that he was the current owner of this Eldorado, which is now located in Cincinnati, Ohio. That he had done a restoration and asked if I would be interested in seeing photos of how the car appears today.
He then asked if I would like to see how this Superfly ride now looked? Hell yes, I would!
I returned Tom's response with an affirmative, along with asking for any particulars, the history of the Caddy, how the was restoration done--
"I’m THRILLED to hear news the black Superfly Eldorado that I saw for sale on Ebay was rescued, restored and is now comfortably in your hands! I couldn’t help but to wonder what ever became of it, rare indeed is to discover the rest of the story from a personal perspective.
Your car was also one of the most complete early 70’s Superfly-style cars I had ever seen, as if after the original pimp era was finished, the ex-owner had parked the Eldo in a backyard and never driven again.
Surprisingly, internet information about these uniquely entertaining neoclassic vehicles is sparse, I haven’t found much. Such as, who were the companies that made the dress up parts, were there shops dedicated to converting Cadillacs and Lincolns to pimpmobiles? Did car dealerships purchase these conversions for sale to the public and if so, was the factory warranty voided still offered or the same coverage as an uncustomized vehicle.
Perhaps the last gasp of this era were the ’75-’78 Cadillac Seville sedans, converted by a specialty shop in Florida. Known as Opera Coupes, these four-door sedans were altered into two-door cars, extended front fenders & hood, loaded with most of the Superfly styling cues.
But by 1980 the era was over, the old school pimpmobiles literally disappeared overnight in my area. Where did they go? I didn’t have a clue. Recent years has seen the emergence of the new-school ‘bling-bling’ SUV based pimpmobile yet in my opinion, these modern interpretations lack the attention-grabbing visual charisma of the 70’s originals. Those Superfly Cadillacs simply oozed sex, mystery, danger, adventure, similar to the elicited public feelings when seeing a primer black ’32 Ford hot rod coupe during the 1950’s.
Why yes, I’d be absolutely delighted to see your photos, of what the Eldo looks like today! The makings of a great follow-up story, I’d be honored to post ‘em on my website while giving you the credit. Any additional information you can provide, any known history of the Eldo, how you came to purchase the car, the needed steps for restoration could go into the story as well."
Tom's further emailed remarks--
"I'm glad to see someone else has an interest in these cars. I have a few friends in this circle, but believe me, we are few and far between.
Here's the story of the car. It was on Ebay about 3 1/2 years ago. I contacted the owner and found out that it was in a salvage yard. It seems that it was in indoor storage until about 1995. Whoever the owner was quit paying and it was moved out of the storage facility to the salvage yard next door. Unfortunately, no one bothered to throw a battery in it so the windows could be rolled up, and there it sat until the auction, left to fend for itself in the Nebraska elements with the windows down.
My friends and I have discussed how this wild piece found its way to, of all places, Nebraska. Did a drug deal go bad halfway between Chicago and LA? Did a pimp stray too far onto a rival turf and get murdered while heading west out of Detroit? Your guess is as good as mine.
Back to the story. I bid on it, but not strong. I couldn't imagine how I would get it back to Cincinnati, or what I would do with it when I did. I was outbid by a guy in Jersey City, NJ. The more I thought about it, the more devastated I grew. I had wanted one of these since I was a teenager in Detroit, and as you mentioned, this rascal was about as decked out as I had ever seen, even in the Murder City.
I e-mailed the guy who won the auction. Not knowing what he planned to do with the car, I asked if he planned on not using any of the custom parts. About a month later I received an e-mail back asking me to call him regarding the Eldo. When I contacted him, he said that he had it transported from Omaha to Jersey City, but had lost his storage and wanted to know if I wanted to buy it. He described the condition as "wasted" which is exactly what I had imagined. Since 1972 Eldorados aren't worth a fortune, I decided that a restoration of this vehicle was out of the question. Although the car itself was ready for the shredder, the custom parts were irreplaceable.
I told him that I would take it, and promptly rented a van and drove to Jersey City. We pulled it out of his building with a wrecker, got out the torches and proceeded to carve it up like a Thanksgiving turkey (which was quite a scene in itself.) We removed every custom appointment and loaded them into the van. He took the carcass to the press for an unceremonious farewell and I brought the crown jewels to Cincinnati. For the next three years I spent a small fortune in chrome plating and fiberglass restoration. When all of the parts were finally finished last summer, I found a gorgeous black hardtop in Los Angeles, which I felt would make a perfect host unit. I flew out and drove it back, through the desert, at night, listening to the 8-track.
The only major difference between the one I bought and the original was the original had red guts and mine had brown. Since the interior was so cherry and original, I couldn't bring myself to re-do it. I wanted to do the vinyl top and padded doors in something that would complement the interior. Hence, the leopard skin.
As you can see, everything is in place the way it originally was. I had it in the Cavalcade of Customs here in Cincinnati two weeks ago. It was the only thing in it's class (Exotic Custom,) and everyone loved it.
I also have a customized '75 Coupe DeVille that is my everyday driver. What's the fun of having these toys if you can't play with them? The Eldo is indoors until the weather breaks and the salt is off the roads, then I'll take out for select occasions, mostly at night.
This custom package was originally installed by Dunham Coach in Boonton, NJ. I have had the pleasure of getting to know Les Dunham, who by the way is still in business, doing mostly Corvettes, but some Superfly restorations. Although, there were many companies who did these conversions i.e. Wisco, Harper and Universal in Detroit, E&G in Baltimore, etc. Dunham by far, did the highest quality and most exotic work. His cars appeared in Superfly, Live and Let Die and Fort Apache, the Bronx among others. He built or contracted out all of the parts that he used. He didn't use any aftermarket pieces and some of his work is very distinctive. By the mid 70's you could even buy this stuff, including the infamous Superfly headlights in J.C. Whitney!
Dealerships offered some of these conversions, mostly Wisco, to new car buyers. If the packages were purchased, the car was shipped to the customizer directly from the factory, then when competed, shipped to the dealer for delivery. Many cars were also taken to the customizers by the owners. If it was a local situation, some were done in stages, chrome grill one month, continental kit the next, custom top the next and so on and so forth.
As far as voiding warranties, most of the parts were bolt on or glue on, so it probably didn't affect it. Thinking back, the American car warranties used to be so shitty (about 1 year,) it wouldn't have made much of a difference anyway."
***
Now, on to the photographs. Once again, a 'before' photograph of this Superfly Eldorado as it sat forlornly in an automobile graveyard--
Photos provided courtesy of Tom Tindera, after her salvaged Superfly honor was transferred to another who would carry on her spirit?
This is how she looks today--
My own reaction? Breathless, I am seduced, in love with this car.
More--
For the sake of illustrating the lavish degree of visual impact, another 'before' and 'after' comparison--
Stunning, superb, uniquely one of a kind and uniquely American.
Invoking the fond memories I had for these pimpmobiles when I watched them prowling the urban mean streets in NW Indiana, Chicago. It’s been decades since I’ve seen a sparkly Superfly ride as pristine and as tasty as this.
Of course, recent years has seen the emergence of the new-school gangsta bling-bling SUV based pimpmobile yet, in my opinion, these modern interpretations lack the attention-grabbing visual charisma of the 70’s originals. Those old-school Superfly Cadillacs simply oozed sex, mystery, danger, adventure, gravas.
To continue, based upon my later private remarks to Tom--
The niche cars of the era, the visceral appeal of these customized Cadillacs, difficult to explain. A duality exists, one side of these automobiles seem to project the cheerful extroverted personality of the owner. The appearance of a glittery chrome pimpmobile is magnetic, drawing the viewer in.
The flip side displays the dark seamy underbelly of scofflaw criminal associations, the protective emotional self preservation instinct of repulsion kicks in, telling the viewer of the pimpmobile not to get close, doing so could be dangerous. That it’s best to admire from afar…unless you were already on friendly terms with the pimpmobile’s owner, then you could get close for a peak, maybe even a ride.
Or to put a finer point on this, these sorts of customized cars broadcast alpha waves of flamboyant, laid-back casual, even a circus style of tawdry excess that screamed: LOOK AT ME! I’M SUCCESSFUL! I’M SOMEBODY WITH STYLE, A HAPPY BIG SHOT, LIVING THE HIGH LIFE!
At the same time, especially when seen prowling the ghetto streets at dusk, these machines had a sinister, menacing look as in: “don’t even think of fucking with me or I’ll kill you. right now.” A similar sort of curious-exciting/doomsday-scary duality drama I feel when seeing the Green Hornet’s Black Beauty Imperial while slowly rolling down a city alley on TV.
***
As I’ll wager that Tom has already heard flak from a Cadillac purist, complaining that these Superfly cars were oh-so-wrong. To which I’d ignore, I heard the same sort of cranky talk back in the early 70’s when the body shop I was employed at was customizing these cars for the well-heeled inner city clientele, people who always paid in cash for a job well done.
It was a short lived era, but vividly exciting. Not only the pimpmobiles but the urban culture that surrounded these cars. Music, cinema, clothing fashion, speech and body language, 60’s and 70’s influences that were distinctly American, influences that still shape and live on to this very day.
And it all seemed to center around the pimpmobile of yesterday, along with the buzz of controversy these cars created. Today a Superfly Cadillac is an icon of historical importance, rightly commanding the same level of attention and prestige as a stock, unaltered model of the same period. In my opinion, deserving of even more attention, based on what a pimpmobile represented, the high degree of successfully sculpting & driving American culture in a new direction.
Additionally, it helps to understand of what the Cadillac brand of automobile meant, the values it represented and to whom. For decades Cadillac had provided models which were the largest, heaviest cars available. Vehicles that offered the latest convenience gadgets & appointments, surrounded in swaddling opulence. The most expensive motor cars that General Motors had to offer, marketed to a white & mostly conservative high-middle and upper class who could afford them.
To the starched & buttoned-down set, to own and drive a Cadillac was to make a statement to others, that they had achieved the white benchmarks of financial success and was living the American Dream. A social statement that was best distilled to it's core essence by singer/songwriter Roger Miller, from "Do Wacka Do"--
Well...you're going down the street in your big Cadillac
You got girls in the front
You got girls in the back
And way in back, you got money in a sack
Put your hands on the wheel, lay your shoulders right back
Black pimpsters or rather, those who had actively customized these cars were astutely aware of the Cadillac values of luxury, opulence. Had taken those values and amped them upwards tremendously into the territory of overdone swank, to visually entertain while lampooning the values of what had initially attracted rich white folks. Even the owners of such pimpmobiles may have not realized, but their delightfully customized machines also served as social funhouse mirrors of distortion, to reflect white America's ideas of conservative Cadillac snobbery right back in their faces.
But I giddily suspect that most people will spot Tom's Eldorado and say: “That is so COOL! A flashback to the heavy 70’s, you never see those outrageous Superfly Cadillacs any more! Why, when I was a kid I remember seeing a pimp with a metalflake blue Caddy with side pipes, wide white sidewalls, the diamond rear window, purple fur seat covers…”
That’s what makes preserving the history of the uniquely unusual so interesting, rewarding.
A very special SneedCo Thank You to Tom Tindera for his kind contribution, Tom can be reached at ttindera@aol.com
"New! Ed Roth! The Movie!"
Ahhh, this is eye opening news indeed, gracias to pal Charlie Barone for the link. More Tales of the Rat Fink info can be found here.
Right now, all I can say is "WOW!" And the film was made under my radar, I certainly didn't know of this. Just that after Ed's death, there was talk among the Rat Fink community of how nice it would be to see a movie about him. Then there were the rumors among the Roth faithful that scripts were being written, but no hard evidence was being circulated to substantiate a green light condition, that a film was actually in production.
John Goodman as Ed? Never thought about who could play him, but John, yeah, I can picture it. I see a few other A-list celebrities in this film as well. Smothers Brothers? Can’t imagine what the connection was to Ed and the mirth-peddling jesters of 60’s folk music (after all, 1960’s Dick was into professional drag racing), but anything with the Smothers Brothers is a-ok with me.
Jay Leno, given his interest in specialty cars, I do understand of his involvement with this project. Hell, also given his substantial wealth, Jay may have bankrolled this project...if so, a tremendous act of unselfish giving. Same goes for Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top.
Tickled to see that author Tom Wolfe (The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby) and illustrator Robert Williams have roles in the film, even The Simpsons creator Matt Groening. I’ve also read that Tales of the Rat Fink will indeed include animation but don’t know yet who’s doing it. Maybe Matt had a hand in this aspect.
Produced and directed by Ron Mann, an assuring sign that Roth fans need not worry of being disappointed. Watch Mann’s ‘Grass’, a quality presentation, he’ll give Roth the same quality Ed himself would have demanded...yeah, I can’t WAIT to see this!
Other than those who've already shaped, framed/contributed the film, who really knows what it’ll be about, how will Ed’s life be presented. We won’t find out until March, whenever the DVD release hits the public market.
The very same nature of talent and controversy that surrounded R. Crumb, this upcoming movie about Ed has all the potential makings of a cult film classic. Hell, Ed just about invented his very own custom car cult niche. Even fashion if you count his days of hand airbrushed sweat and T-shirts, later of his efficient methods of machine producing these shirts in high volumes.
And marketing, those magazine advertisements he had Robert Williams create for Roth Studios (shirt sales, hats, decals) were outrageous even by today’s accepted standards, but good cracking fun. It was a house advertising style never seen before, making a large impact, the kind of favorable impact that gets remembered.
***
To those whom haven't already fully rooted around the SneedCo website and found this, yes, I do have an immense interest in this new film. For Ed was my lifetime idol, my childhood Santa Claus who was very real. I had a chance to finally meet Ed, conduct a casual interview, an opportunity which only solidly reinforced my impression that here was a person who was gifted, accessible...and genuinely, a sincerely wonderful man to know.
Sneed