Cadillac style dazzles doc

By Doug Hill

Edmond pediatric pulmonologist Santiago Reyes, M.D.. developed his taste for Cadillac motor cars at an early age.

"I like their shape very much," he said. "They are beautiful."

Born in 1947 Dominican Republic, as a youth he often saw the impressive American cars driven by the island's important men.

"I remember the dictator Rafael Trujillo had a Cadillac," Reyes said. Known as El Jefe (the Chief) or El Benefactor, Trujillo although widely feared was also often referred to mischievously as Chapitas (bottlecaps) for the many medals he wore.

Another of the big automobiles played an even more important role in the inquisitive youth's motoring history, however. "I learned to drive in a 1954 Cadillac," he said. "It belonged to my Great Uncle Ramon Baez, who was also a physician."

It was Baez's chauffer Fernando Correa who had the task of teaching young Reyes the art and science of driving. "He was very patient with me. Especially considering I smashed one of the fenders," the jovial doctor said.

"There was a narrow two-way road and I had to stop behind a parked car to let another car proceed," he said. "Mr. Correa told me I didn't have enough space without backing up, I said to him, 'No, no, I have enough space,' but he was right."

The chauffer took the fender bender in stride, using it as a lesson for his pupil that he should pay attention. "My Uncle Ramon, however, was pretty upset," Reyes said.

Dr. Reyes didn't have his first car until he was in medical school. It was a 1962 Renault Caravelle. The sporty ride had a 956 cc rear mounted engine and typically unusual French design which people tend to either adore or despise.

"My youngest son William once asked me what kind of car I had in high school," Reyes said. "I told him I was very lucky. I had two cars in high school. William asked, 'Oh yeah, what kind were they?'" Dr. Reyes slapped each of his thighs in turn, "The right and the left."

Since those early days, Dr Reyes has owned many cars, including several VW bugs that he was very fond of. But his affection for the gold standard of rides remained undiminished by time.

In 1989, Dr. Reyes began looking for a 1940s era Cadillac. He found a distinct possibility listed in the newspaper classified ads. It was a 1942 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75, which was one of the most luxurious and expensive vehicles of its day. Ignobly, it was parked outside in a pasture near Lindsay and had not been driven for over 28 years. The Caddy had last seen regular service at a local funeral home.

"It had been exposed to the elements for all that time and there was a lot of rust," Reyes said. Fortunately, the car appeared to never have been wrecked and fundamentally the body was sound.

Reyes contracted with Gary Bramman of Norman to revitalize the old beauty.

"The restoration took well over a year," he said. "Gary took the car apart bolt by bolt. I will show you." Dr. Reyes brought out a large 3-ring binder full of photos of the renovation as a work in progress. Indeed, the car had been totally disassembled at the start of the project. It is a very large car and would have been a formidable challenge even for an experienced team of craftspeople.

"Gary put it in an acid bath to remove all the corrosion," he said.

The physician's older son, Ray Reyes, now 31, was an adolescent at the time the Cadillac was being rebuilt and remembers it well.

"We went to the shop every week to check on how it was coming along," he said.

Ray, a private airline pilot, is an OU alumnus. He is also well known in Norman as the owner of the Pita Pit, 311 W. Boyd, on Campus Corner. Now Ray often accompanies his dad when they take the car to shows.

"Parts had to be located and they came from all over the country," Dr. Reyes said.

Some of the pieces were delivered to his home from GM's Service and Parts Organization still wrapped in WWII-era military emblem grease paper. By 1942 the entire U.S. auto industry had been nationalized for the war effort. Before the Cadillac plant was converted to producing M4 Sherman tanks, only 225 of the '42 Fleetwood cars were assembled and most of those for government and military use. Flint, Michigan's Sloan Museum devotes much of its space to this period in U.S. history, of which the local residents are justifiably proud.

"It would be fascinating to know how this very rare automobile ended up in an Oklahoma field, but unfortunately we don't know its entire story," Reyes said. Rebuilding the 346 cubic inch V-8 engine and Hydramatic transmission was consigned to shops in OKC and Norman. The car was painted its soft ambassadorial gray color here as well.

By government decree, chrome was eliminated in the second half of 1942. Reyes' sedan is an early one with shiny trim. Up front is a twin point Dagmar bumper. That style was named after the starlet Dagmar, aka Virginia Ruth Egnor, who wore her considerable charms in the conical brassieres popular back then.

The Caddy's interior was completely restored to its original elegance. It's spacious and luxurious. Standard features include clocks front and rear, dual cigar lighters and special twin compartments in back for passengers to store small traveling bags. Courtesy lights allow for easy adjustment of footrests. The pushbutton AM radio has a vacuum powered mast antenna that retracts into the left front fender when not in use. Its Hydramatic transmission, introduced in 1939, was the first fully automatic. The original 6-volt electrical system was converted to 12-volt. Options ranged from what we take for granted today, such as factory installed "refrigerated" air conditioning to throwbacks from another era. My favorites being the available lap robes and luggage fitted to the trunk.

"We get thumbs-up signs wherever we go," Dr. Reyes said. "People ask to look inside and want to know what kind of car it is and the year."

His Cadillac took first place in a recent Nicholls Hills car show. "We would probably attend more shows, but you have to spend the whole day there," he said.

Reyes seldom drives it more than 50 miles from the garage and he could be accused of pampering her.

"Since I've had it, this car has never felt a single drop of rain," he said. "There can't be a cloud in the sky when we take her out."

Dr. Reyes' fondest wish is that the '42 Cadillac will stay with the family for a long time. "It's a very beautiful car and I want it to be Ray's someday," he said.