Here we have a very fine Cadillac Fleetwood, seen on a car parts market in Beijing. This particular car was made in 1995 and in a good but very dusty condition. The owner told me it was running fine and that it was used for weddings and other miserable days. One day rent: 1200 yuan, or 188 USD. Not cheap, but they will clean it up for you first. The massive Fleetwood was never officially sold in China but quite some were imported by diplomats and by foreign companies, who could import their own cars in the 1990’s.

The 1995 Cadillac Fleetwood was powered by a 260hp ‘LT1’ 5.7 liter V8, a good and big American engine! Giant car it is: 5720/1980/1450, wheelbase is 3086. With such a size, no wonder that is was made in Arlington, Texas. The 1990’s Fleetwoods were still a regular sight in Beijing until some five years ago. Sadly they are very rare today thanks to mad environmental regulations and even madder cash-for-clunkers initiatives. Hopefully some will stay alive, and outlive planet earth!, in a way.

Great machine, a real Cadillac, and look at where they are now, the horror…