A customized Cadillac that offered thousands of Canadians their first glimpse of the soon-to-be Queen Elizabeth II has been offered for sale by a Las Vegas auction house. The powerful limousine was commissioned in 1951 for the then-Princess Elizabeth’s 33-day tour of the country alongside her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh. Organizers expected the trip to draw large crowds, so General Motors was asked to create a car that would allow them maximum visibility, while protecting the royal couple from the wind and rain. GM turned to an aviation company which then created a unique plastic bubble-top to replace what would have been the roof. It was designed to place one of the world’s most recognizable figures in full view while maintaining the elegance, comfort and dignity expected of a royal appearance. The Cadillac was equipped with power steering, power windows and power-adjustable front seats, as well as an enlarged radiator to cope with the slow-speed parades. The car has an automatic transmission and a V8 engine, with a factory 4-barrel carburetor. Included is the car’s original factory build invoice, historical publications, and photographs showing the royal couple using the vehicle. The car is being sold without a reserve price, meaning it must be sold. Car experts estimate it will sell for more than £100,000 ($134,635).
