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11-13-2010, 09:58 PM
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#16 | | Pit Crew
Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Southern CA
Posts: 3,210
My XLR/V(s):
2004 Black Raven |
Thanks for the stroll down Memory Lane ...  | |
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11-14-2010, 07:07 AM
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#17 | | Pit Crew
Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Coldspring, Tx
Posts: 241
My XLR/V(s):
2006 Infared XLR-V, 2005 Infared STS, 1990 Red Allante |
Bruce, thanks for the photos and relating your experience during the introduction of the XLR. For those of us that purchased our XLR's pre owned we missed out on that experience. In fact, I still thought Cadillac was only making FWD cars in 2005 until I heard about the introduction of the CTS-V. Went to a dealer to look at one and there was an XLR. It's things like this that make this forum unique.
Last edited by onalaska; 11-14-2010 at 08:41 AM.
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11-14-2010, 08:30 AM
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#18 | | Super Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cicero,Indiana
Posts: 2,904
My XLR/V(s):
Not yet.1996 Corvette,1996 STS,1994 DeVille Concours | 
Quote:
Originally Posted by onalaska  Bruce, thanks for the photos and relating your experience during the introduction of the XLR. For those of us that purchased our XLR's pre owned we missed out on that experience. In fact, I still though Cadillac was only making FWD cars in 2005 until I heard about the introduction of the CTS-V. Went to a dealer to look at one and there was an XLR. It's things like this that make this forum unique. | Steven, I'm glad you have enjoyed the photos & the reminiscing. Kathy & I both had a feeling that the car was going to be special after Dave Hill told us about his latest project with Cadillac in the summer of '02. A little more boring background history; Dave had worked for Cadillac for 26 yrs. before taking the Chief engineer position on the Corvette team in '92 (he held that position until he retired in January'06). He had just been named VLE of the rear drive performance cars and was really excited to be working on the XLR project. Dave felt the XLR would be (and is) a perfect blend of Corvette handling & performance, Cadillac ride & comfort, in a beautiful open air package. I think Dave & his team did a great job! Whenever we would see Dave he would give us updates on how the XLR project was progressing. They really put a lot of time & energy into getting the ride characteristics where they wanted them. So, when we got the chance to see & drive an XLR in Detroit, we jumped @ it. That was when we started working on our plan to make the car special @ the dealership & to it's new owners. I would always try & meet the new owners, help them when they came in to order one & walk them through the car @ delivery. Document the cars arrival with pictures, wash them & I kept them covered until delivery day. I always enjoyed prepping the cars for delivery & was honored to be part of such a great car. There were many times when Kathy would drive down to see (photograph) a new XLR that had been delivered to us that day or meet the new owners that were taking delivery of their car. We got to meet a lot of nice people through the XLR. As far as I know, there wasn't another dealership that did what we did...it was fun!
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Bruce  Life's too short to drive a boring car
Last edited by Cadillac Tech; 11-15-2010 at 07:51 PM.
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11-14-2010, 09:03 AM
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#19 | | Super Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cicero,Indiana
Posts: 2,904
My XLR/V(s):
Not yet.1996 Corvette,1996 STS,1994 DeVille Concours | More pictures of the N M XLR on delivery day
I found a few more pictures this morning. These pictures were taken later in the day when Kathy came down to see the XLR for the first time. The protective wrap has been removed from the outside of the car & is now ready for it's first drive.
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Bruce Life's too short to drive a boring car | |
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11-14-2010, 10:15 AM
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#20 | | Super Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cicero,Indiana
Posts: 2,904
My XLR/V(s):
Not yet.1996 Corvette,1996 STS,1994 DeVille Concours | New car showing Oct. '03
Here are some pictures from Lockhart Cadillac's new car show in Oct. '03. Kathy & I were asked to do the presentation on the XLR that night. We had 2 XLRs on hand; a sold Black Raven (it was the 2nd XLR we had received) & a Xenon Blue that was sent down by Cadillac for the show. I think everyone that night thought Kathy was a sales person @ Lockhart.
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Bruce Life's too short to drive a boring car
Last edited by Cadillac Tech; 12-29-2010 at 11:28 AM.
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11-14-2010, 11:32 AM
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#21 | | Pit Crew
Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Southern CA
Posts: 3,210
My XLR/V(s):
2004 Black Raven |
Who knew??? Wow .... you guys clean up niiiiiiice! Great pictures .... I don't know that I would think Kathy was in sales, but more of the model to showcase the XLR ....
It's good that you guys have the pictures .... you're probably the only ones who have pictures of the entire introduction of the XLR ....  | |
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11-14-2010, 11:56 AM
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#22 | | Super Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cicero,Indiana
Posts: 2,904
My XLR/V(s):
Not yet.1996 Corvette,1996 STS,1994 DeVille Concours |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lola's Mom Who knew??? Wow .... you guys clean up niiiiiiice! Great pictures .... I don't know that I would think Kathy was in sales, but more of the model to showcase the XLR ....
It's good that you guys have the pictures .... you're probably the only ones who have pictures of the entire introduction of the XLR .... | Kathy did look great that night. It was a fun night. It's hard to believe it was 7 yrs. ago. We talked with Carolyn about having her NM XLR on display during the show, but she was concerned about the car's safety and with all 99 NM XLRs already spoken for, it might have caused more confusion. It all worked out when we received the Xenon Blue XLR from Cadillac.
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Bruce Life's too short to drive a boring car
Last edited by Cadillac Tech; 11-15-2010 at 06:35 AM.
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11-14-2010, 11:36 PM
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#23 | | Pit Crew
Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 296
My XLR/V(s):
2007 XLR-V |
WOW!!! Look at that tux!!! And that evening dress,,,,,,, WOW!
What a couple!!!!!
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11-15-2010, 12:04 PM
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#24 | | Pit Crew
Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Bourbonnais, IL
Posts: 2,581
My XLR/V(s):
Cubby's, RIII Attendee, Midwest Marauder Alcohol Czar |
WOW!!! You two look fantastic!!! Loved the pictures.
__________________ Beer makes everything better. 
Marion  Teen 
AKA
Lil' Woman, She Devil, Supa Freak, Banned Devil, Chop Stick Girl, Midwest Marauder Alchol Czar  .
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11-15-2010, 05:24 PM
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#25 | | Pit Crew
Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 254
My XLR/V(s):
2006 Lt Plat XLR-V, Midwest Marauder CFO |
What FUN! I feel like I was there! Thank you soooo much for sharing those photos. I remember my "orientation" session with Bruce and how he took my picture when my car was delivered. There's only one day when you drive your car home for the first time.  | |
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11-15-2010, 06:40 PM
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#26 | | Pit Crew
Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Indiana
Posts: 527
My XLR/V(s):
Not Yet. Official Photographer and Activities Director of the MMs |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lola's Mom Who knew??? Wow .... you guys clean up niiiiiiice! Great pictures .... I don't know that I would think Kathy was in sales, but more of the model to showcase the XLR ....
It's good that you guys have the pictures .... you're probably the only ones who have pictures of the entire introduction of the XLR .... | You're probably right. We may have more pictures then even General Motors has of the XLR. We felt that the XLR was speical & wanted to be there from the start.
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Kathy | |
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11-15-2010, 06:43 PM
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#27 | | Super Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cicero,Indiana
Posts: 2,904
My XLR/V(s):
Not yet.1996 Corvette,1996 STS,1994 DeVille Concours |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Popbigguy WOW!!! Look at that tux!!! And that evening dress,,,,,,, WOW!
What a couple!!!!! | Thank you Chad.They wouldn't let me keep the tux. I thought it would make a nice work uniform.
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Bruce Life's too short to drive a boring car
Last edited by Cadillac Tech; 11-15-2010 at 07:57 PM.
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11-15-2010, 08:57 PM
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#28 | | Pit Crew
Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Northridge, CA
Posts: 442
My XLR/V(s):
2005 XLR |
Great pictures and story. You were fortunate to have been there all along, we are fortunate to have access to you. Thanks for sharing.
Bruce
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11-16-2010, 06:17 AM
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#29 | | Member
Join Date: May 2009 Location: Indiana
Posts: 93
My XLR/V(s):
Not yet, 98 Corvette & 08 Z06 | Memory Lane
I remember the pictures well....the XLR becoming was a big deal, and I remember how beautiful of a couple Kathy and Bruce made that night. Bruce and Kathy have tons of pictures, organized also to go through. That was before they broke down and went digital...what an invention, digital ! I loved looking through them again, and remembering the excitement. It was so fun for them and for me to watch them. Dave Hill gave them an opportunity of a life time, to be the first to drive an XLR...wow.....GM really made a mistake, in marketing, and advertising....they should have hired Bruce....and just possibly that line at Bowling Green would still be running today. What a shame...well, I hope I can always drive what I want, and that my grandchildren and beyond can drive what they want....That's the American Way  as I remember it....
Thanks for putting that together Bruce, it made my day, I know it is going to be a good one.
Love to all of you
Photo Mom
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