Palatine car enthusiast enjoys the 'hunt'
Several notable events happened in 1980. John Lennon was gunned down outside his New York City apartment, Mount Saint Helens erupted and the Steelers became Super Bowl XIV champions.
As time passes, many occurrences get lost and are forgotten. Yet for Palatine resident Dick Murray, the one incident from 1980 that sticks out in his mind was a phone call he made one icy January afternoon, responding to an ad he had seen in the local newspaper.
While reading about a Park Ridge estate and a pristine, up-for-sale 1949 Cadillac Model 62, he was prepared to purchase the vehicle right then and there, but was turned off by the heavy snowfall that day. Dick sadly let the vehicle go but, suffice it to say, didn't forget about it.
In fact, he still remembered the exact vehicle 14 years later when in the fall of 1994 he and his wife, Joan, happened upon it at a classic car drive in the Wisconsin countryside. At the time, he was happily piloting a 1950 Pontiac Chieftain, but he instantly recognized the “Caddy” as the one from more than a decade earlier, falling in love all over again with the bulbous fenders, perky rear fins and elegant chrome trim.
“I walked around the car several times, inspecting, just to be sure, but knew it was the same car I had called about. I began asking those mingling around, ‘Who's driving this car?' Immediately I went and found the driver, going right up to him and said, ‘George, I really want to buy that Cadillac from you.'”
Dick wasn't about to let it go for a second time and after some firm persuasion and a solid offer, he was able to wrangle a sale, becoming the proud owner of the then-18,000 original-mile antique (it now shows just over 41,000). It was then he was able to delve deeper into its history and gather more data about the car, without fear of frigid temps to dissuade him.
Soon after rolling off the Detroit assembly line, the black sedan headed to Morris, Ill., where it was sold to the Park Ridge owner who kept the vehicle up until his passing shortly before the '80 estate sale (the original bill of sale is tucked safely away in the glovebox). The car has never seen snow (other than from the safe and warm vantage offered by a garage window), and a detailed inspection of both the body and undercarriage reveal not even a hint of rust or corrosion. The original simple gray broadcloth interior and dashboard look factory fresh, right down to the ticking in-dash clock, while the 331 OHV V-8 engine purrs quietly along, just as it would have when new in 1949.
Despite its pristine condition, Murray chooses to never judge the vehicle at area shows, instead opting to put the car in the ‘display-only' category, allowing the vehicle to be enjoyed, while removing himself from the pressure and intensity of his trophy-seeking peers. The car does see frequent use by Dick and Joan as this classic is exactly what this couple looks for in a vehicle.
“I like my vehicles to be comfortable and quiet, whether its my modern driver or my vintage car. When I start the Cadillac's engine to leave from either the Rolling Meadows or Lake Zurich cruise nights, most guys are surprised it's even running!”
And Dick likes to keep his car engines running, preferring to drive rather than fly, as he and his wife are self-proclaimed “road-warriors” seeing 48 of the 50 states by automobile (a handful being behind the wheel of this Caddy), visiting the many state parks, national battlefields and other historical sites that are scattered throughout our great nation.
Despite the 14-year long separation and ensuing sweet reunion, Dick is not your typical classic car owner who is deeply attached to his ride the same way one is attached to a blood relative. Sure he likes its unsullied-by-salt body, the silky ride and striking chrome stone shields, but make a reasonable offer and the car is yours. Not because of any apparent mechanical flaw or Dick's ‘car flipping' habits, but more about what Dick sees as the most enjoyable aspect of the hobby the hunt.
“I love meeting and talking with new people who have stashed old cars away in their garage. It can take a while but every so often, you stumble into a real find. Being on that ‘hunt' is the most fascinating thing and unlike anything else you'll ever experience.”
So is Dick on the hunt for anything currently?
“Of course! For what, I don't know just yet. But if the right guy comes along, I'll sell this Cadillac and get busy looking for something that strikes my fancy. I can't say for what, but I'm a car lover and will just know it when I see it.”
So you might see Dick and Joan cruising around in this black Cadillac beauty or some other vintage Detroit iron, but if you do be sure to stop him. He loves to chat about cars and if you have something unique in your garage, tell him. You never know, you might be the keeper of that rare find that he's been looking for.