When your transportation needs call for some nostalgic wheels with a world of style and class, pair up with the elite services of Bend’s Classic Limousine Service. Serving all of Central Oregon, their gleaming black antique 1939 Cadillac Limo is just the vehicle to deliver you with panache and prestige, for weddings, proms, birthdays, special occasions, anniversaries or any time a chauffeur is called for.
A professional contractor by trade, owner Steve Cornelius lovingly refers to his historic vehicle as “three tons of fun.”
“She’s a bit on the heavy side at about 6,000 pounds,” he said. “They really built them to last back then. Technically it’s a seven-passenger formal sedan limousine. And that’s exactly how it came from the factory. One thing that car can do is pass anything on the road except a gas station!”
Cornelius had the idea to start an antique car limo business about 14 years ago because of his interest in collector cars.
“It took me about six years to find the right car at the right price. I wanted the gangster look, from the Depression era of the ‘30s. We do a lot of photo shoots that use the car and we have a Thompson machine gun we put in the trunk. It’s not loaded of course. It’s optional. It’s never been restored and it’s only been repainted once, in the ‘70s. I don’t care if the bride and groom want to lean on the fender or kiss across the hood.”
This eye-catching Caddy was originally owned by a doctor in San Diego who had a chauffer and mostly cruised it weekends.
“When he passed on it went into consignment where it sat for three years,” he recalled. “I bought it from a man in Colorado who’d obtained the car in California. I’ve owned it since 2008. It has some modern accessories like electronic ignition and fuel pump and kind of updated the engine but there’s still no air conditioning. That’s not really a problem in the High Desert.”
With spotless whitewall tires and sparkling chrome, the 1939 Cadillac limo seats two to three people comfortably and comes equipped with a wet bar and DVD player, or accommodates seven to eight with those accessories removed. The Caddy’s gas-gulping powerplant is a balanced and blueprinted, flathead V-8 and Cornelius says it runs perfectly
“This is our sixth year and the best part about it is how everyone wants to know about the car’s history. It’s got nice teak, oak and mahogany wood inlays around the windows and doors. Most of our work is weddings in the summer. We often hear that the car was the most memorable part of their wedding. Photographers just have a ball with it.”
Cornelius’s services are available for nights on the town or extended travel to other Oregon destinations with minimum reservations. Weekend specials for local and regional events are also available upon request.
“Our rates are $120 per hour with a two-hour minimum,” he added. “And when someone wants to go out for dinner we offer specials that are a lot less than the regular rate. It’s a lot of fun and we get some great repeat customers who love the history and experience of being in a classic Cadillac.”
Classic Limousine Service
541-410-8916
