I can’t tell you when I first met Frank Nicodemus because I feel like I have known him all my life. I do know that I met him through my Dad, Jack McFadden who played a big part in the story that I am going to relate to you. Here it goes…..
Way back when, my dad decided he had found the perfect car and he just had to have it. Of course that had happened about 20 times before and yes we did have at least that many cars by the time I was in my 20’s. But now he had a 4 year old grandson named Blaine and he had to make sure that he had a car when he grew up. My mother just rolled her eyes and went with the flow! This was how the 70 Caddy convertible came into our lives. It was treated like a member of the family and only taken out in the best of weather or to a sunny day car show. It was at one of these car shows that I think I met Frank. My dad had a deal of some kind with Frank that when the day came that the caddy needed some TLC that Frank would be the guy to do it.
The years rolled on and in order to make sure he didn’t sell the caddy he made a pact with Blaine. “If you stay on the straight and narrow and don’t get into any serious trouble ( drugs, alcohol, women etc.) when you turn 21 years old I will give you the caddy. Well, if this wasn’t an incentive I don’t know what was! And it worked! It kept my dad from selling it and it kept Blaine on his toes. Success! So on his 21st Blaine became the official owner of the most beautiful car in the world. The deal was to keep it at Grampie’s so it could be protected from the elements.
The years rolled on some more and in 2001 our beloved dad and grampie passed away. His house was sold and the caddy went toBlaine’s house to live… while the other cars came to my house. Well Blaine had a tendency to be a tad hard on anything with a motor in it so needless to say because it didn’t stay in the garage much it became in dire need of Frank’s expertise!
Long story short, Blaine had a serious car accident (not in the caddy) and was unable for many years to do anything with the caddy. So I decided to repossess it and fulfill my dad’s dream of having Frank redo the car.
Frank had a special interest in doing this car. He had promised my dad that he would do it and I think that his love for my dad shines through every detail on the car. Frank is a genius when it comes to Cadillac’s. He knows them inside and out. He knows how to find the parts, even the most difficult ones to locate. He takes pictures of his progress so you have a collection when he has completed his work. The difference between Frank and someone else in the business is that he is proud of what he does. He takes his time and he does it right! It goes without saying that I would recommend him to anyone who wants their car done the right way.
The 70 Caddy convertible is now a showpiece. It has been brought back to its original beauty. It is Corinthian Blue and sparkles in the sunlight. Frank told me it was the most original car he had ever restored. That’s thanks to my dad for keeping it pristine for so long. I know he is smiling somewhere and saying “thanks Frank you did a hell of a job!”