For her historic tour of Canada in 1959, Cadillic built a unique custom Fleetwood 75 landau limousine for Queen Elizabeth II.
When Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom made plans for an extensive tour of the Commonwealth of Canada in 1959, the Canadian government initially considered assembling a fleet of 14 limousines for her visits. But when that plan was found to be impractical, it was decided to prepare three custom-built vehicles and transport them to her by air in advance to each of her destinations.
With a total budget of $150,000, the government commissioned one vehicle each from the Ford Motor Company, the Chrysler Corporation, and General Motors. Ford supplied a customized 1959 Lincoln Continental, Chrysler a Ghia Imperial (said to be a ’57 model updated to ’59 trim), while General Motors presented a specially modified Fleetwood 75 limousine. The Cadillac is our focus here.
Built and customized by Fleetwood in Detroit, officially, the Cadillac featured a number of modifications, including power rear seats and a more elaborate air-conditioning system. But easily the most visible change was the elimination of the C-pillars and rear section of the roof, replaced by a lift-off section of laminated Plexiglass. When weather permitted the clear plastic canopy was removed, a two-man job. Additionally, a sliding panel in the roof allowed Her Majesty and Prince Phillip to stand and wave to their subjects in the numerous parades. Note the Queen’s royal standard mounted over the windshield header.
The Royal Canadian Air Force used its Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars to transport the three royal vehicles to their appointed venues. On the twin-boom C-119, the entire rear section of the fuselage opened up to accept large items—even, say, a Cadillac Fleetwood 75 limo—149.8-in wheelbase, 20+ feet long. However, the royal couple usually traveled by rail or boat on their Canadian journey.
The Queen’s 45-day itenerary, timed to celebrate the opening of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, included visits to all 10 provinces and two territories, with a stop in Chicago. Following the royal tour, the custom Fleetwood was also used by U.S. President John F. Kennedy in his visits to Canada in 1961 and 1962. The glass-topped Cadillac was ultimately sold off to a private party, and at last report (2003) it resides in an Ohio collection.
Question is – what happened to all three of the Canadian Royalty special cars? Where is the Imperial Ghia or the Lincoln – and what condition is the Cadillac in that it hasn’t been seen since 2003? Anybody have a clue where they are? And while on the subject, what became of the 1939 Chrysler Imperial built for King George and Elizabeth the first visit to to Canada????
I recall reading somewhere that the Royal Imperial Ghia was restored by the Canadian Restoration Guild then sold to a collector in Kuwait some time ago.
According to a Facebook post, the Royal Lincoln Convertible is rumored to be undergoing an extensive restoration with an unknown collector in Ohio…
I grew up in the RCAF and for awhile we were stationed in Trenton, Ontario, the RCAF’s big transport base. WE lived across the two lane highway from the hanger areas and these Flying Boxcars seemed to spend all day on the runway running their engines and never going anywhere.
Oh, and that’s a nice Caddie!