History of my car as I know it

- 1947 Cadillac, Series 75 Imperial Sedan

What I know about my 75 is that it was originally purchased as a funeral home car by one of the local funeral homes in Winterset, Iowa. I can't remember which one. I believe it only had one other owner prior to Phil Sr. purchasing it for $100 in either 1966 or 67. That owner said he bought it to make a trip to California with his invalid son. He claims that the funeral home had a bed that went in between the front and back seats (he did not still have it when Dad bought the car). One of the door posts is removeable by inserting and turning a key, which would better facilitate getting a bed in.

This gentelman is also responsible for the only apparent damage on the car. The brakes were not functioning at the time he sold it to Dad and his method of stopping the car was to rub one of the running board edges against a tree in his yard. Other than that the body is very good. Dad painted it several years ago. He did a pretty good paint job considering a limited amount of experience; certainly better than I could have accomplished. The interior has also been mostly replaced. A hydraulic line to the power windows had burst and much of the upholstery had been soaked in fluid. All new fabric is mohair and matches up perfectly with the original.

The state of the project where I pick up is that much of the work has been done. I will have to get Dad to detail all that he remembers doing over the years, but it has been a lot all considered. Mostly what I would like to do initially is to simply put it back together in dependable running condition, enjoy it, and evaluate doing a further restoration at a later date.