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Hilcrest Motor Co

Started by Brian Casson, July 28, 2013, 04:29:46 PM

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Brian Casson

I have a 1936 Fleetwood that I was working under the dash.( fun for a 69 yr old) and a leather key pouch fell on the floor from who knows where. It looks original and in very useable condition. Hilcrest Motor Co, 225 Canon Drive Beverly Hills CX 1047. I Googled  this this but came up with  Wilshire that was open from 1927 to 1986. I suspect my car sold there New. There was a few posts by Mike Joesphic in April of 07 but unable to find any others. Anybody have any more info on Hilcrest Motor CO? I have had the Caddy for 13 yrs. It's now in CO but I purchased it from NM and was told it sold new in CA.
  Thanks Brian

jagbuxx #12944

#1
Here's a photo of Hillcrest with 1961 models in the showroom. Was at 9230 Wilshire Blvd until about 1986.
Currently the store is Peter Falk Lexus of Beverly Hills...
225 N Canon Dr in Beverly Hills is now the Montage Hotel.
225 S. Canon is residential.
The N Canon address must have been Hillcrest's home until the move to Wilshire Blvd.
Frank Burns #12944
76 Coupe d'Elegance EFI Galloway Green Firemist
70 deVille Convert San Mateo Red
61 Coupe Deville Bristol Blue
41 Series 61 Deluxe Coupe 6127D Black
08 STS 3.6 1SC  Thunder Gray
16 GTI Gray
03 T-Bird Black
16 Grand Cherokee Summit, Granite
19 Tiffin Phaeton 40AH
07 Corvette Blue
20 MB S450 White

"Whatever the occasion, there
is no better way to arrive than in a Cadillac.

Jeff Maltby 4194

Board poster Tom Hall in s.calif should be able to assist you further ?
Jeffo 49er chapter

CLC 1985
Honda Gold Wing GL1500

Steve Passmore

Brian, I have a 37 Convertible that was also sent to the Cadillac dealer Hillcrest. This was Don Lee Cadillac, he was dead but it was being run by his son, a sort of playboy by all accounts. I did some investigations a few years back to no avail. the Lexus dealer would not even answer my mails. It would be great if records still existed but sadly not.
Steve

Present
1937 60 convertible coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe
1941 62 coupe

Previous
1936 70 Sport coupe
1937 85 series V12 sedan
1938 60 coupe
1938 50 coupe
1939 60S
1940 62 coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe x2
1941 61 coupe
1941 61 sedan x2
1941 62 sedan x2
1947 62 sedan
1959 62 coupe

Mike Josephic CLC #3877

I have photos of the original Hillcrest dealership building as built in the Art Deco era of the 30's.
This was in the era of Don King's distributorship that took in the state of California.  It was on
the corner of Wilshire Blvd & Hollywood Blvd.

If I knew how to post pics, I would do so.  I believe the building was used into the 70's
then later demolished.  The cream of the Hollywood set made up most of the customer
list.

If anyone wants pics, please PM me until I figure out how to post.

Mike
1955 Cadillac Eldorado
1973 Cadillac Eldorado
1995 Cadillac Seville
2004 Escalade
1997 GMC Suburban 4X4, 454 engine, 3/4 ton
custom built by Santa Fe in Evansville, IN
2011 Buick Lucerne CX
-------------------------------------
CLCMRC Museum Benefactor #38
Past: VP International Affiliates, Museum Board Director, President / Director Pittsburgh Region

Bob Hoffmann CLC#96

#5
Brian,
Just because the key case was there, it doesn't mean for sure the car was sold at Hillcrest.
If you REALLY want to find out where it was sold, do the following.
Go to the CLC home page & click on technical services & then authenticate your car. It'll cost you $50 but you'll get an invoice showing where it went & color & equipment from the factory.
One more thing... you'd better make sure you have the correct VIN. The factory used the motor # and motors can get changed.
HTH, Bob
1968 Eldorado slick top ,white/red interior
2015 Holden Ute HSV Maloo red/black interior.
             
Too much fun is more than you can have.

Steve Passmore

#6
Quote from: Mike Josephic  CLC #3877
This was in the era of Don King's distributorship

Mike
/quote]

It was actually 'Don Lee' Mike, he had the sole concession for Cadillac in California.  I have 'Don Lee Inc' Hillcrest Motors om my build sheet.    See page below from Wikipedia.

Donald Musgrave Lee (12 August 1880, Michigan [1] â€" 30 August 1934, Los Angeles, California) was the exclusive west coast distributor of Cadillac automobiles in the early 20th century. In 1919 Lee purchased the Earl Automobile Works of Hollywood, California. Harley Earl, the son of the company's owner, was kept on as manager. Renamed Don Lee Coach and Body Works, the company produced many custom designed Cadillacs for the rich and famous. Harley Earl left the company to become the head of General Motors styling department in 1927. Don Lee died in Los Angeles in 1934 of a sudden heart attack, leaving control of his auto and broadcasting empire to his son, Thomas S. "Tommy" L
Steve

Present
1937 60 convertible coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe
1941 62 coupe

Previous
1936 70 Sport coupe
1937 85 series V12 sedan
1938 60 coupe
1938 50 coupe
1939 60S
1940 62 coupe
1941 62 convertible coupe x2
1941 61 coupe
1941 61 sedan x2
1941 62 sedan x2
1947 62 sedan
1959 62 coupe