It's a shocker on gas, but wow, what a car

Cadillac La Salle Club delegate Steve Gill behind the wheel of his 1960 Series 2 convertible which he named 'White Ice'. Photo / Andrew Warner

Chrome-plated grills, shiny buffed tail fins and sweet sounding V8s whet the appetites for Cadillac owners and admirers alike at the Village Green.

"Every member has a reason for owning a Cadillac," said Coupe de Ville owner Steve Gill.

"They are a beautiful looking car and once you get behind the wheel and put your arm out the window you become part of the 60s beat."

Twenty-eight gleaming, polished up Cadillac models from 1950s El Dorados to 1990s Allicantes made the pilgrimage to Rotorua at the weekend for the 40th anniversary of the Cadillac La Salle Club.

Around 90 owners, wives and friends, including 30 from Australia and four American visitors, spent four days cruising the blacktop to Mt Maunganui and Taupo, and reliving the American Dream behind the wheel of the two-tonne General Motors manufactured Detroit legend.

Cadillacs led the automotive world in their heyday of the 50s and 60s, Mr Gill said.

The models all had cruise control, automatic headlight dipping, aircon and power steering well before other brands.

"They were the Rolls-Royce of the USA."

But it was very nearly a Ford which took Mr Gill's fancy.

"I was going to buy a '66 Ford Galaxy when a friend pointed out a '65 Cadillac Coup de Ville two-door coupe," he said.

"As soon as I saw it I knew I had to have it."

He paid $35,000 for the car and "the rest was history", he said.

A year ago he bought another Cadillac - a 1960 Series 2 convertible.

"They're bloody shocking on gas but you got to remember they were made when gas was 20 cents a litre," he said.

"On the open road they are brilliant - it's like art, the driving is poetry in motion."

And as one famous Cadillac owner would have said after the weekend anniversary wrapped up - "Thank you, and God Bless America."