We were in Franklin, Tennessee recently, enjoying a visit with our son and grandkids who are at that super-cute stage (ages 2-1/2 and 4-1/2). Son suggested breakfast at “Biscuit Love,” which is right off the town square (the food was excellent). A walk about town seemed in order afterwards, and that’s when a flash of color caught my attention across the roundabout.
Heeling sharply to starboard was this stately Series 62 convertible elegantly gliding through the circle.
As it neared, it became apparent it was manned by a group of stylish youths.
They were dressed more suitably for a ride in a hot rod Lincoln, though…
It turned out the car was being used in a photo/video shoot. As we walked further, we passed another clump of young models awaiting their turn before the camera.
I suppose it would have been asking too much to have one of them wear a tie?
The sales brochure for the 1964 Cadillac has numerous photos of stylish people being stylish in their stylish Cadillacs… how appropriate to see this glamorous old girl still fulfilling the role for which it was made!
Nice catch, Ed!
I’d love to know the reason behind the photo shoot — whether it was for an ad, or for a photo class, etc. Regardless, there’s no more perfect car, and a small town square is the ideal setting for such a thing.
And as far as I know, Franklin, Tenn. owes much of its current livelihood to the auto industry, being the headquarters of Nissan North America, the (former) Saturn plant is nearby in Spring Hill, and the whole I-65 corridor is homes to countless parts suppliers. Back when this Cadillac was produced, the idea of mid-Tennessee being such a high-profile auto manufacturing area would have seemed unbelievable.
Curious why it would have a Cadillac front plate? Perhaps those slouching, dissolute, tieless – tieless, I tell you! – yoofs aboard wouldn’t know otherwise what it was…
Unless you also saw 37 enormous trucks of equipment nearby, it seems likely to be a student film or about that level. For a while, Melbourne was a popular film making place (tax incentives, an unused white-elephant studio, I think) and I waited outside the office one evening waiting for Nicolas Cage to jump off a building. But being a film, it got very delayed and we could afford no more drinks, so I went on home (and noticed the next morning that all the set up for the jump was STILL cocked and loaded). Even half-merry, it was hard to fathom the amount of paraphenalia spread around many city blocks to support production.
It was the owner of the car whom put that Cadillac front plate on it. Tennessee only requires one license plate, on the rear; except on large commercial vehicles where it is to be installed on the front.
(THIRD attempt…Akismet though this post was SPAM. Again.)
Tennessee is one of the 20 US states that require only a rear license plate — so owners are free to put anything the desire in the front plate bracket. Many folks choose a decorative or “booster” plate like what is on this Cadillac.
On the rear, it looks like our featured Cadillac has a Tennessee Antique Auto plate.
That is a gorgeous Cadillac and a great set of photos! It just wouldn’t be right with an empty front license plate bracket.
I noticed a few years back that Chrysler was charging extra for front license plate brackets. I don’t remember if it was a mandatory option in states requiring a front plate, or if you could get two screws from Lowe’s and mount it bare.
You need a plate declaring “Cadillac” because that looks nothing like today’s so-called Cadillacs. Today’s Cadillacs are pretending to be BMWs.
It’s a good place to put anything, almost. It’s a hot spot for political slogans too,
I think in this case, the plate is merely a place holder
We don’t get too many circles in the center of town around these parts, so your photos reminded me of the Dukes of Hazzard. Should have been a white 1970 wheeling around there. 🙂
A well shot series of photos.
Didn’t Boss Hogg drive an old white Caddy?
Like a dream of the past come to life.
Agree. And quite a starboard list at a presumably slow speed.
Great post and pics Ed. This would make an interesting skid pad test. Or maybe not. 🙂
I like to view background locales of many CC pics, and I notice town squares and diagonal parking are throwbacks still seen in many smaller US towns and cities. Even in the Northeast. As Doug D. said above, not too common in Eastern Canada. Only a few communities come to mind that still have diagonal parking. As it’s not especially bike lane friendly. I find it quite appealing for the nostalgia aspect.
Always thought these to look beefy and graceful at the same time. But oh that exhaust pipe only one and it looks like an afterthought
Franklin “Gold Hat” reply to Ed:
“Ties? We ain’t got no ties. We don’t need no ties. I don’t have to show you any stinkin’ ties”.
It’s red in a world of greyscale, low in a world of high, square and angular in a world of blobs, chrome-trimmed in a world of black. Be a nonconformist: drive a Cadillac!
Love it! I would take a 63-64 Cadillac all day every day. With the 429 and the Turbo HydraMatic I would classify this as the first of the modern Cadillacs. I guess modern is getting to be longer ago than it used to be.
I wonder if this town’s proximity to Nashville means that someone is working on a music video. Doesn’t everyone in music videos drive cool 60s cars?
A metallic gold ’64 Cadillac convertible was my second car. I bought a ’66 Mustang first, as My Dad thought it was more appropriate for an 18 year old. After a year I couldn’t stand it! I always wanted to drive an old, (ten years at this time!) Cadillac. It was a good driving, fast car and a lot of fun. Many more Cadillacs followed over the years.
Man oh man would I love to have the Caddy in the ad from ’64- it appears to have every option on it, including buckets and console as well as power vent windows.