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Cadillac & LaSalle Club Forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: 79 Eldorado on April 05, 2020, 03:17:14 PM

Title: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: 79 Eldorado on April 05, 2020, 03:17:14 PM
This is unfortunately in the past now...looks like it was January 29th of 2020..at least Wed lines up with 2020. What was the history of this place? Did any of the membership have close contact with them? When I look at the amount of dust on some of the cars, especially ones with open hoods, it looks like something suddenly happened; they went home one day and never came back... sad to see something like this and just wondered what happened.

Here's the link:
https://www.clofa.net/pdf/auction-012914-complete.pdf

I will capture a couple of their photos so you can see what I mean... Wow our site allows attaching a pdf if anyone wants to see everything.

Scott
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: Big Apple Caddy on April 05, 2020, 04:03:17 PM
I don't know much about the dealerships but apparently it closed in September 2012, about two years after losing its Cadillac franchise during the GM bankruptcy/reorganization. After losing its franchise, the dealership was renamed Tutwiler Automotive and sold/serviced used cars for a couple of years before going out of business.

Based on the PDF name, I'm assuming the auction was January 29, 2014.
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: 79 Eldorado on April 05, 2020, 04:17:50 PM
Good catch on the PDF name/date! When I saved it I didn't catch the date code. Thanks for pointing that out.

I did search this site a just after I posted for Tutwiler and I think I recall someone said it opened in 1950. There were quite a few references to them.

There was a small place in the city I work, not a dealer, which closed last year after the owner died. He was really well respected for being able to diagnose issues without parts guessing.

Scott
PS: I typo'd "24th" originally above but I was checking the 29th for day of the week so I corrected the typo.
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: 76eldo on April 05, 2020, 06:06:15 PM
That dealer prepped half of the 1973 Eldorado Pace Cars.
The cars were sent there and to another area dealer to be used at the track and other festivities. 
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: Rich S on April 05, 2020, 06:54:49 PM
I wonder how a Cadillac dealer franchise is "lost during the GM bankruptcy/reorganization?"
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: BlackCads on April 05, 2020, 07:05:46 PM
Quote from: Rich S on April 05, 2020, 06:54:49 PM
I wonder how a Cadillac dealer franchise is "lost during the GM bankruptcy/reorganization?"
After the 2008 financial crisis GM pledged to make its operations more efficient. This was part of the bail out agreement.
This included closing marginal dealerships and consolidating territories. It was survival of the fittest.
The idea was to create a leaner and more profitable group of dealerships.
Here in New England we lost a number of Cadillac dealerships after the reorganization.
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: 76eldo on April 05, 2020, 08:19:36 PM
East. They called in the floor plans so the dealers either had to pay for their inventory or close up.
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: Big Apple Caddy on April 05, 2020, 09:24:34 PM
Quote from: BlackCads on April 05, 2020, 07:05:46 PM
Here in New England we lost a number of Cadillac dealerships after the reorganization.

A number of markets lost dealerships during that time; about 1/3 of the 1,400+ U.S. dealerships ended up being eliminated.  Most dealers fought to keep their franchises but many lost in arbitration.

A few years ago, then Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen wanted to cut even more franchises (up to 400 of the smallest dealerships) but very few dealers accepted the buyout offers.
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: 79 Eldorado on April 05, 2020, 10:52:24 PM
It seems like March 8th 2010 to August 5 2010 was really rough too... Here's an Edmunds listing of everything which closed alphabetical and by state:
https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/gm-dealerships-closing.html

The Cadillac dealer closet to me closed sometime after 2003 but I think it was before 2008. I couldn't find it online but there were remnants of their facebook page; basically a title is the only thing which loaded. They were David Cadillac, Oldsmobile, GMC. Across the street was Mike Smith Pontiac (also sold Buick). When David Cadillac closed the GMC went across the street. Oldsmobiles ended production in 2004 and I think they may have survived that. The building is still vacant.

Scott
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: BlackCads on April 06, 2020, 10:46:32 AM
The largest metro Boston area Cadillac dealer used to be called Cadillac Village (in Norwood, MA). They sold Cadillacs, Hummers and Saabs.
They lost Hummer in 2009 and Saab in 2011.
Thankfully they were able to survive under new ownership and are now called Norwood Cadillac. They completely re-built their facility and so far have been able to survive with just Cadillacs.
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: Barry M Wheeler #2189 on April 06, 2020, 10:48:02 AM
There were two Cadillac Dealerships in Indy. Freida Lockhart was the first female Cadillac dealer (I believe) in the USA. That dealership was evidently doing better than Tutwiler. The Indiana Region had several shows at the dealership. The cars were (as usual) priced the way most dealerships priced the older stuff that came in. (An exception was the nice 1976 SDV I bought for $1500 that never made it to the lot when I was selling cars in Lafayette. One of our members still has it.) I think one time we had a meeting there and the manager let our folks go out and check out the cars out back.

Previous to Tutwiler taking the franchise, the place was known as Hoosier Cadillac. They had the main showroom on Meridian Street at Fall Creek Blvd, and the Service building on Illinois St. one block to the west. When Tutwiler took over, they moved the showroom to that area. Back in the day when they did such things , they had a black gentleman raise and lower the service door for you.

I had just purchased the my 1953 Series 62 sedan from my boss's dad and had driven to the dealership to have it checked out. As I pulled up to the door, he came up to my window and asked, "Why are you driving Mr. Seiter's car?" Evidently, he knew who drove what. I remember, there was a black 1957 CDV that if it were in for service and it rained, it sat in a bay till it stopped raining. We had at least one of those cars when I was at the dealer in Lafayette, IN. also.

The spot where Tutwiler's dealership was is now part of the Meridian Street/I-465 interchange and no trace of it remains.

(Oh, I bought a pair of NOS 1941 Cadillac Series 61 Stone Guards at Hoosier in 1958 for $6.50 each.)
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: cadillacmike68 on April 07, 2020, 02:39:06 AM
Look at all those manuals. I would have been a bidding war on some of those!
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: Barry M Wheeler #2189 on April 07, 2020, 07:41:01 AM
Mike, When the Lafayette dealership moved "out in the country," from downtown, they had all the manuals in a pile and the service manager told me "take all you want, they're trash to us." And again in the 90s when they went computer, I had more mint 1988 Cimmaron shop manuals than were needed for the entire country. I think I sold a lot of them to a Lincoln guy who filled his trunk and as I recall, I got $110 for the trunk load. (There wasn't much "good stuff" in that lot.)
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: Big Apple Caddy on April 07, 2020, 08:56:15 AM
Quote from: 79 Eldorado on April 05, 2020, 10:52:24 PM
It seems like March 8th 2010 to August 5 2010 was really rough too
Quote from: BlackCads on April 06, 2020, 10:46:32 AM
They lost Hummer in 2009 and Saab in 2011.

The late 2000s to early 2010s were a bad period for domestic car brands and dealerships in the U.S.  In addition to GM eliminating dealerships, Chrysler cut about 25% of its dealerships plus the Pontiac, Saturn, Hummer and Mercury brands were all discontinued.
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: Cadman-iac on April 07, 2020, 10:40:17 AM
Quote from: Barry M Wheeler #2189 on April 07, 2020, 07:41:01 AM
Mike, When the Lafayette dealership moved "out in the country," from downtown, they had all the manuals in a pile and the service manager told me "take all you want, they're trash to us." And again in the 90s when they went computer, I had more mint 1988 Cimmaron shop manuals than were needed for the entire country. I think I sold a lot of them to a Lincoln guy who filled his trunk and as I recall, I got $110 for the trunk load. (There wasn't much "good stuff" in that lot.)

I have to laugh at this, I had the same thing happen in our dealership. I've still got 3 or 4 of those Cimarron manuals in a box full of others, mostly Olds and some Fisher body manuals.
When we went to computers, the manuals were basically just tossed out,  except for the really old ones.  Then when we moved locations, the owner told me to take what was left. He said he didn't want anything in the new building that wasn't going to make him money.
He spent millions on a new building and location,  and he lost the franchise 5 years later. We had Cadillac, Oldsmobile, and GMC.

Rick
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: D.Yaros on April 08, 2020, 05:37:50 PM
Tutwiler Cadillac, Indianapolis:  TRUE STORY

When in college, in the mid-to-late 60s I had an Oldsmobile that was crunched a bit in a mishap.  I needed an estimate and wanted the highest dollar amount  possible.  So, I figure take it to a Caddy dealer.  That dealer was Tutwiler.  The estimate was considerably higher than an earlier one I obtained elsewhere.

I told the body shop guy I needed a second estimate to submit to the insurance co.  His response, "No problem."  He opened a desk drawer and pulled out a pad that bore the name of an Indy Pontiac dealership and wrote up the needed second estimate for me!
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: chrisntam on April 08, 2020, 06:55:59 PM
Quote from: D.Yaros on April 08, 2020, 05:37:50 PM
Tutwiler Cadillac, Indianapolis:  TRUE STORY

When in college, in the mid-to-late 60s I had an Oldsmobile that was crunched a bit in a mishap.  I needed an estimate and wanted the highest dollar amount  possible.  So, I figure take it to a Caddy dealer.  That dealer was Tutwiler.  The estimate was considerably higher than an earlier one I obtained elsewhere.

I told the body shop guy I needed a second estimate to submit to the insurance co.  His response, "No problem."  He opened a desk drawer and pulled out a pad that bore the name of an Indy Pontiac dealership and wrote up the needed second estimate for me!

Helpin' a brutha out!

8)
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: TonyZappone #2624 on April 09, 2020, 02:28:36 AM
Scott Kent:  Where were the dealerships that you referred to?  Was it Lockport, N.Y.?  The names seemed familiar to me
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: 79 Eldorado on April 09, 2020, 07:54:07 AM
Quote from: TonyZappone #2624 on April 09, 2020, 02:28:36 AM
....Where were the dealerships that you referred to?  Was it Lockport, N.Y.?  The names seemed familiar to me

Tony,
Exactly! They were on the Southeast and Southwest corners of Rt 78 (Transit Rd) and of Rt 93. I attached a Google map image. Mike Smith is still shown as Mike Smith Buick and David Cadillac was on the East of Rt78 just across the street.

Scott
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: TonyZappone #2624 on April 09, 2020, 10:23:27 AM
I grew up in Orleans County and traveled that route to the University of Buffalo, when I came home to visit.  I remembered those names
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: 79 Eldorado on April 09, 2020, 12:43:18 PM
Very nice! I'm from Orleans County as well. UB played their hearts out in the March Madness tournament last year. It was a good basketball year for the local schools. When was the last time you made it up this way? Was the dealership you worked for up here?

I depended on David Cadillac for hard to find Olds parts at the time. I have a 1979 Toronado and one of my friends had a 1979 Eldorado. His Eldorado is what inspired me to look for mine.

Scott
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: TonyZappone #2624 on April 09, 2020, 05:48:38 PM
I grew up in Hulberton, a little quarry town between Albion and Holley.  I moved to Brockport in 1971, and lived there until 2002 when I retired (from Mulkin Chevy Olds) as COO and junior partner.  I now live in Saratoga Springs, and winter in Jupiter , Fl. 
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: 79 Eldorado on April 09, 2020, 06:12:18 PM
Quote from: TonyZappone #2624 on April 09, 2020, 05:48:38 PM
I grew up in Hulberton, a little quarry town between Albion and Holley.  I moved to Brockport in 1971, and lived there until 2002 when I retired (from Mulkin Chevy Olds) as COO and junior partner.  I now live in Saratoga Springs, and winter in Jupiter , Fl.

Wow! I loved the "House Quarries" in Hulberton when I was growing up. There are stories regarding a few of the quarries around Orleans County. As I recall there is a no parking sign in one of the House Quarries. There's another one in Albion which filled with water so fast that apparently they couldn't get the heavy equipment out.

Now I'm wondering if everyone refers to the Quarries around Hulberton by that name or if it was just a name my family used.

Scott
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: TonyZappone #2624 on April 10, 2020, 05:34:00 AM
I had never heard the term house quarries, and lived their from birth into my twenties.  The quarry with the equipment submerged was on the west end of the canal road.  The equipment was just abandoned.  The derrick stood, broken, the steam boiler also stuck up in the air.  I manage to drive through there at least once a year.  The quarries were all closed by the early thirties, the stone block and curbing replaced by concrete block and products, I guess
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: Bob Hoffmann CLC#96 on April 10, 2020, 05:22:02 PM
OK guys... getting back to the subject...
Look at the 67 Eldo. Why does it have 68 Eldo pattern  seats?? Oh wait... It was a real late car & they ran out  of 67 seats. LOL!!!
Does someone have a good answer??
Bob
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: 79 Eldorado on April 10, 2020, 06:11:29 PM
Bob,
What are the major differences between the 67 and 68 seats? I know typically they change the pattern of sewn lines. I like the look of those years of the Eldorado but I've been an observer from a distance. I looked at a couple of 67 cars online just to see what the front seat bottoms looked like and one I found looked like it was probably original and it seemed similar to the one in the picture from Tutwiler. I captured it with the URL showing trying to give credit to where it was posted "carsforsale.com"

I noticed you have a 68 white with red listed in your vehicle list... this one is also that color combination

https://www.carsforsale.com/vehicle/details/36262423
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: Cadman-iac on April 10, 2020, 06:22:07 PM
Hey guys,
Did Cadillac make an Eldorado convertible in the 67 to 70 years? I don't ever recall seeing one. Just curious. Thanks,
Rick
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: Bob Hoffmann CLC#96 on April 10, 2020, 07:15:59 PM
Reply to Mr. Kent,
I may be wrong on my comment. I thought they had an insert type pattern. I'm sure a 67 owner will chime in.
Bob
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: Bob Hoffmann CLC#96 on April 10, 2020, 07:19:08 PM
Reply to Rick,
They never made a conv. Anyone seen a factory drawing of one?
Bob
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: 79 Eldorado on April 10, 2020, 08:01:02 PM
Bob/Rick,
No question this could be a custom but check out the silver one with red interior in this Google search. I wish I could see more photos of it. There's a light blue one back view if you roll down farther too but that one does look like a custom. If the link doesn't work just type these 3 words in the Google image search: 67 eldorado convertible

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1GCEU_enPL875PL875&q=67+eldorado+convertible&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiizJPMhd_
oAhVDK80KHePrCTAQsAR6BAgIEAE&biw=1474&bih=714#imgrc=mAOMOGZNoG_TGM (https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1GCEU_enPL875PL875&q=67+eldorado+convertible&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiizJPMhd_%3Cbr%20/%3EoAhVDK80KHePrCTAQsAR6BAgIEAE&biw=1474&bih=714#imgrc=mAOMOGZNoG_TGM)

I clicked on the silver with red interior and it goes to pinterest. In the description it says DeVille but this is obviously a FWD Eldorado.

Scott
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: bcroe on April 11, 2020, 01:17:56 PM
Quote from: 79 Eldorado
I depended on David Cadillac for hard to find Olds parts at the time. I have a 1979 Toronado and one of my friends had a 1979 Eldorado. His Eldorado is what inspired me to look for mine.  Scott 

2.5 decades ago my second 79 Toro had accidents front and
back (I was not the driver).  It ran perfectly, I had parts and
knew how to maintain it, so I went looking for another.  All I
could find was a like showroom 79 Eldo.  It had the same drive
train except for this fuel injection??  If I had found what I was
looking for, you would never have heard from me.  Bruce Roe
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: 79 Eldorado on April 11, 2020, 02:45:17 PM
Good story Bruce :) You knew already but for everyone else I had three Toronados 2x 1979 and 1x 1984. When I bought the first '79 I was looking at both the Toronado (neighbors had a 1983) and a Cutlass which you could generally get a few years newer for the same price. I still have one of the 1979's. A good friend of mine had a 1979 Eldorado Biarritz when we were in high school which was the same color as the one I ended up buying. His was originally a diesel but was converted to the Oldsmobile 350. My Eldorado experience was only with his before I bought mine. Because his was not EFI it never occurred to me that the ones which were original gasoline versions were . My Eldorado is the only car I've ever bought sight unseen on eBay and yes there were some surprises.

I'm glad I came across you on the forum. I immediately started reading about all of the things which could go wrong before I had my first EFI related issue... the bad coolant temperature sensor and no cold start. The crazy thing is how many owners I'm sure you've helped with the 70's EFI. Let's face it they call things like the ECU a "black box" for a reason and it's not their silver color :) And if the help didn't exist where would those cars be now? Some may have been converted, some better than others, and some would have been scrapped.

One of the nicest looking Eldorado I've ever seen was in a Niagara Falls junkyard. I was looking for an overflow bottle for the Toronado. The doors were locked but it was in the yard so one of the yard mechanics was with me. It turned out he didn't have the key and so he broke the small side window without hesitation. The interior was absolutely flawless dark blue. I don't recall what the odometer read but I remember looking. So we popped the hood and the overflow was different. It turns out that car was the 8-6-4. I guess that's why it ended up there. I understand now it can be easily disabled but back then it probably wasn't common knowledge. Even had I known the guy broke the window before I could stop him. Since it was already in the yard I don't know what the title status was. I wish I knew the full story behind that car.

Scott
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: Vince Taliano #13852 on April 11, 2020, 03:52:56 PM
I found some Tutwiler Cadillac key chains in my collection, in addition to key chains from others dealers like Don Massey Cadillac in Plymouth, MI.
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: 79 Eldorado on April 13, 2020, 01:40:46 PM
Nice collection Vince. The Tutwiler chain seems like it was the one which required the most specialized tool. The others look like the design could have been used for multiple dealerships by just changing the name if it was included. I wonder where the Tutwiler key chains were made? Do you know what year yours are from? Do they say anything on the back?

Scott
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: TonyZappone #2624 on April 13, 2020, 02:35:27 PM
Did the Eldorado have a blue brocade interior?
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: 79 Eldorado on April 13, 2020, 07:33:49 PM
Quote from: TonyZappone #2624 on April 13, 2020, 02:35:27 PM
Did the Eldorado have a blue brocade interior?

Not sure what brocade is but when I got in to pop the hood I remember just sitting there taking it all in. Really a shame. That's probably the fastest I've ever gotten attached to a car.

Scott
Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: TonyZappone #2624 on April 13, 2020, 07:48:23 PM
Brocade is a deeply embossed cloth.  I junked one like that.  The junkyard I sent it to was north of Medina.  It could have ended up further west.  It had a real nice interior


Title: Re: Liquidation of Tutwiler Cadillac Dealership Facility including 6 Cadillacs....
Post by: 79 Eldorado on April 13, 2020, 08:00:51 PM
Hmm ok thanks for the description. The one in the Falls was leather.

Scott