Gas-guzzling relic of the fabulous Thirties

As you stroll around the Lakeland Motor Museum you can’t miss the fabulous Fleetwood Limousine by Cadillac. It’s the biggest car on show in our collection.

And it has a rather poetic history – once the family car of the daughter of Sir John Betjeman – the former Poet Laureate.

It was first registered in 1938 to a Mr Joseph Furlong, in Surbiton Surrey. But it was only licenced until 1941. It could be that it’s thirst for rationed petrol along with the war-time vehicle taxation became rather too much for the owner.

It was next used by the Daimler Hire company of Knightsbridge where the expense of running it wasn’t such an issue.

Daimler Hire Limited had been founded back in 1897 to provide chauffeur driven limousines to royalty and the well off and this Cadillac obviously met with their luxury requirements. It was kept there until 1966.

In the later Swinging Sixties it was bought by a Saville Row tailor – Rupert Lycett Green – who was married to Candida Betjeman – the author and daughter of Sir John Betjeman – the famous Poet Laureate who may well have travelled in the limo. Candida was also a close friend of, among others, the Prince of Wales and the Beatles. So who knows who may have enjoyed travelling in this luxurious vehicle!

Since the Lakeland Motor Museum was founded back in 1978 it has been on permanent display apart from occasionally being used for weddings.

And there’s plenty of room inside for a bride and groom and a few more people if needed. It has a 3.6 metre wheelbase and seating for eight people.

There are two folding occasional seats behind the driver’s division panel.

It has a 5.7 litre V8 engine so you can imagine how much petrol an average journey might require.

But if you could afford to purchase this in its heyday – the cost of petrol would probably be of little concern to you!