The Duchess Steve Plunkett is known for owning rare vehicles that would make any gearhead salivate. But one of his “one of one” Cadillacs has a royal connection like no other. It’s a 1941 Cadillac custom limousine named the Duch- ess. Style 41-62190 was built to order for Edward, the former King of England, and his wife Wallace Simpson. Royal watchers will recall that King Edward abdicated the throne in 1936 in order to marry Simpson, an Amer- ican socialite who was twice divorced. The relationship caused a constitutional crisis, and Edward chose love over the throne.
Wallace Simpson and Prince Edward
The couple commissioned the car from Cadillac while living at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. It was a major coup for General Motors. The company’s CEO, Alfred Sloan, personally oversaw the vehicle’s construction at a cost of US $14,000. (Nearly US $300,000 today.) “I bought it in 2016,” Plunkett says. “The previous owner spent $400,000 restoring it to its exact original features. No modifications.” The car was built for the couple’s personal use, and they owned it for 11 years, fondly calling it the Duchess. It has an automatic transmission and was one of the first vehicles with power windows. It was an eye-catcher, with fully chromed wheels and plush, rose broadcloth upholstery with satin privacy curtains. Plunkett describes some of the custom features. “Because it has a division window separating driver and passengers, it has dual climate control systems. She was into jewellery, so it has four jewellery boxes. He smoked pipes so it has a humidor and pipe rack. Its one-off body is different than all other ‘41 Cadillacs.”
All the body panels were handmade. The vehicle’s flowing body lines would later influence the styling of Buick and Rolls Royce. It was the ultimate in luxury for the time. In Steve Plunkett’s world, classic cars, even a one-off with a royal connection, are more than just showpieces. He exercises all his cars. “I drove it 25 miles today,” he says. For 15 years, Steve Plunkett turned his love of cars into the Fleetwood Country Cruize-In, an event that supported local charities and raised over $1.7 million. “Taking a passion that I love and creating an event that benefits so many people has been a blessing,” says Steve. The event attracted thousands of people and cars from across North America. When not at home on his estate on the outskirts of Byron, Steve tours invitational car events and shows across North America, showcasing his classic cars.
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