January 2024: Once again the Potomac Region had display space at the annual Washington Auto Show held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. This year's display represented a "1953 Mini Motorama" with two 1953 Cadillac Eldorados, a 1953 Buick Skylark and a 1954 Chevrolet Corvette.  View more pictures from the event.
 

April 2021: Thanks to Daniel Strohl for featuring our 1976 Bicentennial Eldorado Registry in the Hemmings Daily. View post.


 

Main Number – 301-890-6000
Service Number – 240-802-7405
Gibbs Fogarty – General Manager – 240-560-5383 – Email  
Kyle Bacon – General Sales Manager – 240-560-5540 –  Email
Rob McBride – Service Manager – 240-560-5386 – Email

Hours of Operation:
Sales: Monday–Thursday 9-9, Friday 9-7, Saturday 9-6 and Sunday 12-5
Service: Monday–Friday 7-7, Saturday 7:30-4 and Sunday Closed
 

September 2020: The 28th Annual  Spring Car Show at Capitol Cadillac was held, after a five-month postponement due to COVID-19.  The 50-person maximum limited attendance, but not the enthusiasm of the participants, who displayed more than 30 cars.  The Cadillacs ranged from 1941 to 2006.

The list of winners is below.

On Friday, February 19, 2016, Ron Van Gelderen passed away.  Ron was a co-founder, along with the late Steven Sisson, of the Potomac Region in 1969.  Visit the club's Region History web page to read how the idea of a Region took shape in 1968-69 as recalled by the late Steven Sisson.

Although Ron eventually left the area and lived in different parts of the country, he kept in touch with the Potomac Region.  In 2007, he returned to attend the Legacy of LaSalle car show at Capitol Cadillac (pictured right) where he spoke on the history of LaSalles (along with Matt Larson, he co-authored LaSalle: Cadillac’s Companion Car, the most comprehensive book ever written on LaSalles. Order a copy at http://www.cadillaclasallemuseum.org/LaSalle-book.pdf -- proceeds benefit the Cadillac-LaSalle Club Museum and Research Center). 

We will always remember Ron for all of his contributions to the hobby, the CLC, and to our Region!
 

The full list of winners is below.

The full list of winners is below.

August 2013:  Congratulations to the Potomac Region members who won awards at the 2013 CLC Grand National in Quincy, MA. 

The full list of winners is below.

May 2013: Each year, Old Cars Weekly  selects national and regional publications for its Golden Quill Award based on various categories. We are proud to announce that the Caddie Chronicle was among the publications that won (our sixth Golden Quill Award!). Below is the list of CLC winners:

Also, CLC Potomac Region member Bill Anderson (Boomtimes, Buick Owners of America) and Bee Hamlin, Professional Pride promoter extraordinaire, (On Call, Mid-Atlantic chapter – The Professional Car Society) won Golden Quill Awards for their non-CLC publications.

Tom Alsop -- Jack Anderson -- Roland Baladi -- John Barry -- Roger Bentley -- Len Berman -- George Boxley
Rita Boxley -- Bob Brown -- Martina Butler -- David Cammack -- Jim Churchill -- CLCMRC -- Reuben Cleetus
Bernie Cooney -- Bob Crimmins -- Chris Cummings -- Randy Denchfield -- Randy Edison -- Bill Edmunds
Bob Eng -- Nick Ferrantino -- Franklin Gage -- Lynn Gardner -- Gup Gascoigne -- Tim Gregorio -- Peter B. Griffith
John Guazzo -- Hemmings Classic Car -- David Hurth -- Daniel Jobe -- Sandy Kemper -- Ray Koziol
Arnold Landvoigt -- Jack McClow -- Tom McQueen -- Robert Meekins -- Ron Melville -- Gregg D. Merksamer
Scot Minesinger -- Chris Milici -- Bart Mitchell -- Shaya Tayefe Mohajer -- Bob Norrid -- Bill O'Brien -- Vern Parker  Keith Peirce -- Chuck Piel -- Dan Reed -- Dan Ruby -- Henry Ruby -- Yann Saunders -- Harry Scott -- The Self-Starter
SEMA ACTION NETWORK (SAN) -- Richard Sills -- Jan Sisson -- Richard Sisson -- Craig Stewart -- Chris Summers  Debbie Taylor -- Steven Tuck -- Michael Veilleux -- Universal Newsreel -- www.theporscheguys.com
 

The full list of winners is below.

May 2012: Each year, Old Cars Weekly selects national and regional publications for its Golden Quill Award based on various categories.  We are proud to announce that the Caddie Chronicle was among the publications that won (our fifth Golden Quill Award!).  Below is the list of CLC winners:

National Luxury
LaCad, Terry and Robyn Griffin, editors, Cadillac & LaSalle Club of Australia
The Self-Starter, Stephen E. Stewart, editor, Cadillac & LaSalle Club

Regional Compact
- Caddie Chronicle, Vince Taliano, editor, CLC Potomac Region
- Cadillac Past, Chris Milici, editor, CLC New England Region
- The Herald, Stephen Page, editor, CLC Northstar Region

Regional Sub Compact
- Cadillac & LaSalle Club Northwest Ohio Region News, Elden Smith, editor, CLC/NWO Region
- Finz, Ron Melville, editor, Cadillac & LaSalle Club of New Zealand
- Let's Talk Cadillac, John Bauer, editor, West Michigan Cadillac & LaSalle Club
- The Standard, Kevin Luedtke, editor, Motor City Region, Cadillac & LaSalle Club

Honorable Mention
- The Dagmar, Wayne Shmitka, editor, Rocky Mountain Region Cadillac & LaSalle Club
- Fleetwood Flyer, George Bergen, editor, Cadillac & LaSalle Club – St Louis Region

Also, CLC Potomac Region member Bill Anderson (Boomtimes, Buick Owners of America) won a Golden Quill Award for his non-CLC publications.

Special thanks to Sandy Kemper, Richard Sills and Steven & Margo Sisson for reviewing and enhancing each issue prior to publication, to Shelley Chadick for distributing the U.S. mail version and to everyone listed below for submitting stories and/or photos in 2011.

David Traver Adolphus - Autoblog - Don Beaupre - J. Roger Bentley - Martina Butler - Justin Chrobak
Alan Clark - CLC Website - Clem Clement - Lou Commisso - Tim Coy - Bob Crimmins - Chris Cummings
Joe Cutler - Detroit Public Library National Automotive History Collection - Brian Earnest - Berkeley Edmunds
Bob Eng - Nick Ferrantino - Bryce Frey - Franklin Gage - General Motors - Tim Gregorio - John Guazzo
Hemmings Blog - Lee Herbermann - Bill Hilliard - David Hime - IMCDB - Brad Ipsen - Frank Jardim
Ivars Jaunrubenis - Daniel Jobe - Jim Jordan - Sandy Kemper - Charles Lemons - Mary Lightbown - Randy Manus  Jack McClow - Tom McQueen - Robert L. Meekins - Gregg D. Merksamer - R. Scot Minesinger - The Montgomery News - Tom Moynton - Old Cars Weekly - Ed Owen - Vern Parker - Sue Pashukewich - Chuck & Debbie Piel
Brenda Priddy & Company - Prince George’s Journal - Dan Reed - RM Auctions - Dan & JoJo Ruby - Henry Ruby
Harry Scott - SEMA - Richard Sills - Steven Sisson - Snohomish County Washington Police Department - Top Gear
The Winchester Star - Angelo Van Bogart - Val Van Meter - Michael Veilleux - Terry Wenger,Sr. - Robert K. Wilcox
 

Illustration by Bob Eng
 

May 2011: Each year, Old Cars Weekly selects national and regional publications for its Golden Quill Award based on various categories.  This year’s winners appeared in the May 12th issue and included numerous CLC publications.  I am proud to announce that the Caddie Chronicle was among the publications that won (This is our fourth Golden Quill Award!).  Below is the list of CLC winners:

 National Compact
- The Self-Starter, Steve Stewart, Editor

Regional Full Size
- La Cad, Terry and Robyn Griffin, Editors, CLC of Australia

Regional Compact
- Caddie Chronicle, Vince Taliano, Editor, CLC Potomac Region
- Cadillac Past, Chris Milici, Editor, CLC New England Region
- The Herald, Stephen Page, Editor, CLC Northstar Region

Regional Sub Compact
- The Standard, Kevin Luedtke, Editor, CLC Motor City Region

Honorable Mention
- The Dagmar, David Leger, Editor, CLC Rocky Mountain Region
- Tailfin, Gary Fisher, Editor, CLC Central Ohio Region
- The Voice, Karen and Jim Pittman, Editors, CLC Iowa Crossroads Region

Also, CLC Potomac Region members Grace Gluck (Metropolitan Skyline, CCCA Metro Region) and Bill Anderson (Boomtimes, Buick Owners of America) each won a Golden Quill Award for their non-CLC publications.

Special thanks to Sandy Kemper, Richard Sills and Steven & Margo Sisson for reviewing and enhancing each issue prior to publication, to Shelley Chadick for distributing the U.S. mail version and to everyone listed below for submitting stories and/or photos in 2010.

AACA Museum - Bob & Carolyn Archer - Paul Ayres - Fred Bausch - J. Roger Bentley - Jeffrey Bliemeister
Joe Bortz - George & Rita Boxley - Glenn Brown - Martina Butler - Cadillac & LaSalle Club 
www.Caddyedge.com - Pat Caruso - Lou Commisso - Bob Crimmins - Chris Cummings 
Randy & Susan Denchfield - Nick Ferrantino - April Grammont - Lee Herbermann - Andrea Jacoby
Ivars Jaunrubenis - Daniel Jobe - Mike Jones - Paul Katson Sandy Kemper - Lars Krantz - Matt Larson
Richard Lentinello - Jack McClow - Mark McCourt - Robert McLellan Tom McQueen - Gregg D. Merksamer
R. Scot Minesinger - Barton Mitchell - Roberto Morbiato - Tom Musson - Bob Norrid - Warren Oates
Chuck O’Bryan - David O’Steen - Vern Parker - Grant Patterson - Chuck & Debbie Piel - The Pinola Family 
Brenda Priddy & Company - Dan Reed - Dan Ruby - Henry & Diane Ruby - Steve Rummel
Alessandro Salami - Yann Saunders - Harry & Julia Scott - SEMA - Jeff Shively - The Smithsonian Museum
Lisa Snider - Richard Sills - Steven & Margo Sisson - Gary Sutherlin - Tom Tau - Steven Tuck
Ron VanGelderen - Michael Veilleux - Cliff Woodbury - Jack Wade - Darshan Zenith
 

Steven’s involvement with the CLC all started in the summer of 1968 when he and his brother Richard answered a classified ad in The Washington Post for Cadillac parts being disposed of by the widow of a collector who had several 1938-40 era senior Cadillacs.  After being led to the parts stash in the basement, they met Ron VanGelderen who was rummaging through the parts.  They soon learned that Ron owned a small fleet of some 4 or 5 collector Cadillacs and he recently moved to McLean, Virginia from Chicago. They invited Ron to their Dad’s nearby home to see Steven’s ‘46 convertible.  Talking there, they were amazed to learn that Ron had come from a very active CLC Region in Chicago and he had already become distressed to learn that there was no active local Region in the Washington, DC area.  A few months later, Ron called Steven and asked if he could come up with a mailing list of interested Cadillac fanciers in the area.  Ron wanted to explore the idea of forming a local region.  Steven said yes because he was a member of the local AACA Region and CHVA Region and knew a lot of people.  He came up with some 20-25 names and forwarded them on to Ron.  Then Ron and his wife Sherie did the mailings and invited the people on Steven’s list to their home for a meeting.

The first meeting took place in January 1969 with some 15-20 potential members in attendance and was featured in The Self-Starter.  Ron led the meeting and announced that he wanted to get a local Region started.  Later in 1969, the first meet was held at Turkey Run Park in McLean, Virginia with 12 classics in attendance.  About a month or so later, another get together was held at his home and after some discussion, it was decided that the Region would be called “Potomac” and Steven Sisson would be its first Director.  The first order of business was to apply to the National Club for provisional status and to get a good mailing list organized.  These things were done and the Potomac Region was off and running. 

Steven directed the infant organization from 1969–1976.  It was very loose in a number of ways in the early days, including not even requiring dues for the first couple of years. The hat was passed around at the various get-togethers and this brought in enough money to buy paper supplies and pay for postage.  Steven more or less ran the club from his office on 15th Street, while also serving as its newsletter writer/editor.  Different people came up with ideas for gatherings, meetings and so forth.  Eventually dues were put in effect when it became necessary to buy trophies to give out at the national sanctioned shows. 

From the beginning, the Potomac Region kept growing.  In the early years of the 1970s, its members included a number of members who remain active today.  Besides the DC area enthusiasts, Cadillac and LaSalle owners from Pennsylvania and New Jersey made the journey south to attend Potomac Region events during the mid ‘70s.  By then, Steven who was the CLC's Eastern Vice President of Regions, felt that there was a need for a CLC Region in Pennsylvania, because, "we have a large number of members residing there, but no Region for them to be involved with."

Steve published an open letter to CLC members residing in Pennsylvania in the February 1975 The Self-Starter, promising that if there was interest in a CLC Region in Pennsylvania, “The New York, Potomac, and New England Region people will assist you in getting started and I assure you I will give you all of the guidelines necessary.”  From this appeal came the Valley Forge Region which has not only flourished but has become one of the most active Regions in the CLC and host of the club’s 50th Anniversary Party, the 2008 CLC Grand National. 

For a time during the ‘80s and the early ‘90s when the Potomac Region became less active and questions were raised about its continued viability, it was the Valley Forge Region -- which had begun with an enthusiasm sparked by the Potomac Region – that provided welcome support to its neighbor to the south.  Several Valley Forge Region members joined the Potomac Region when it was trying to build its membership back up, and a considerable number of cars with Pennsylvania and New Jersey license plates continued to regularly attend the Potomac Region’s meets and shows. 

The Potomac Region survived until its recent resurgence in 2003, due in part to Steven’s efforts over the years, as well as the car shows sponsored since 1992 by Capitol Cadillac and Daniel Jobe.  Since 2003, Steven developed the club’s initial website; participated in the design of the Region’s logo and served as Activities Director, liaison with the Central VA Region, newsletter columnist and proof-reader and co-chair of the 2009 CLC National Driving Tour.    

In addition, he continued to attend numerous national CLC and AACA events across the country including Grand Nationals held in California, Georgia and New Jersey, respectively.  His account of the numerous events had been a featured column in the Caddie Chronicle and his story on the 2006 Charlotte Auto Fair Spring Meet was also featured in Hemmings Classic Car. 

Steven truly exemplified the best that the hobby and the CLC have to offer and has been an ambassador of the club since the late 1960s.  All of us who had the privilege of knowing him will miss him greatly.  Our sincerest condolences go out to Margo, David & Donna, Richard & Jan and the entire Sisson family. 
 

The full list of winners is below.

April 2010: Each year, Old Cars Weekly selects national and regional publications for its Golden Quill Award based on various categories.  This year’s winners appeared in the April 29th issue and included six CLC publications.  I am proud to announce that the Caddie Chronicle was among the publications that won (our third Golden Quill Award).  Below is the list of CLC-related winners:

NATIONAL AWARDS
  LACAD MAGAZINE, Terry & Robyn Griffin, Editors, CLC of Australia
  THE SELF-STARTER, Steve Stewart, Editor, CLC

REGIONS AND CHAPTERS
  CADDIE CHRONICLE, Vince Taliano, Editor, CLC Potomac Region
  METROPOLITAN SKYLINE, Grace Gluck (PR member), Editor, Metro
  Region, CCCA
  BOOMTIMES, William Anderson (PR member), Editor, Buick Owners of
  Maryland
  CADILLAC PAST, Chris Milici, Editor, CLC New England Region
  THE STANDARD, Kevin Luedtke, Editor, CLC Motor City Region
  THE DAGMAR, Dave Leger, Editor, CLC Rocky Mountain Region
  THE CRITERION, Gregg Merksamer (CLC member), Editor, PCS Northeast
  Chapter

Special thanks to Sandy Kemper, Richard Sills and Steven & Margo Sisson.  Not only did they submit stories and photos, they reviewed and enhanced each issue prior to publication.  We would also like to thank the individuals and organizations listed below for their contributions.

AACA Museum - ABC 7 - David Traver Adolphus - Jon Aerts - Juan Aranda - Luis Aranda - Ezekiel Armstrong 
Doug Bailey - Fred Bausch - J. Roger Bentley - Terry Bird - George & Rita Boxley - Mary Brill
Martina & Frank Buter - Todd Calder - The Carroll County Community Times - Cars & Parts Magazine
The Catholic Review - Shelley Chadick - Chicago FBI Press Office - CLC Modified Chapter
CLC Peach State Region - Clem Clement - Lou Commisso - Cory Correll - Tara Crosson - Chris Cummings
The Detroit News - Bill & Jay Ann Edmunds - Eline Funeral Home - Bob Eng - Derrick Fisher - Bryce Frey
Franklin Gage - Gastonia NC Police Department - Chris Goddard - Jim Govoni - The Greenbelt News Review
Jeff Gurski - Hector Gutierrez - Paul Habicht - Hemmings Auto Blogs - Doug Houston - IMDB - Daniel Jobe
Robin Kaufman - Preston Keres - Donna Lahser - Robert LaRocca - Matt Larson - Tim Lenon - Dick Marrs
Murilee Martin - Jack McClow - Leigh McManus - Tom & Sarah McQueen - Gregg D.  Merksamer
Cliff Mierczynsk - Chris Milici - Mike Miner - R. Scot Minesinger  Old Cars Weekly - Aksel Olesen
Our Trip Videos - Vern Parker - Sue Pashukewich - Chuck Piel - Brian Rachlin - Dan Reed
The Rocky Mountain News - Troy Rodgers - David & Toni Rothman - Dave Rubin - Dan Ruby
Henry & Diane Ruby - Ted Schneider - Lewis Schwartz - Harry Scott - The Self-Starter - Richard Sisson
 Dave Smith - Stonewall Veterans Association - Debbie Taylor - Christine Tierney - Stan Tucker
Marc Tuwiner - Paul Ulasien - Angelo Van Bogart - Michael Veilleux - The Washington Post
J. Francis Werneth - Walter Youshock
 

Game Show host Allen Ludden purchased the car for his actress wife Betty in May 1977. The car was ordered in the custom color, Seamist Green, from Martin Cadillac in Los Angeles, California. It was given to her as a surprise gift. The vehicle sported a mere 14.3 miles when it was driven off the dealership's lot and it currently has less than 18,000 miles on the odometer. After 25 years of ownership, Betty donated the Cadillac to a charity from which it was purchased by a private collector who owned it for several years. The car's last private owner, Mr. Nicholas Ferrantino, of Houston, Texas presented it to the AACA Museum. It is in superb condition and it looks like it did when Betty White took possession of it. For further information, please visit the AACA Museum's website.
 

October 2009: Capitol Cadillac's 75th Anniversary Car Show was featured in the October 15, 2009 issue of Old Cars Weekly.

Read about the show in the Caddie Chronicle and on the website.

Congratulations to Region member Benjamin Berman, who drove from Sarasota, FL to Las Vegas, NV and won First Place in Class P28: 1985-1999 Cadillac (without 1985 Eldorado and Seville) for his 1985 Cadillac CB69 Fleetwood Sedan.

At the Grand National, the Potomac Region also received an award, the CLC Norm Uhlir Regional Activity Award. This marks the second time that the Region has won the award. Congratulations to all the members!  See story.
 

June 2009: Vern Parker, syndicated auto columnist, launched his new web site featuring locally-owned antique cars!
 

April 2009: Each year, Old Cars Weekly selects national and regional publications for its Golden Quill Award based on various categories. This year’s winners appeared in the April 9th issue and included five Cadillac & LaSalle Club (CLC) publications.  We are proud to announce that the Potomac Region's Caddie Chronicle was among the publications that won (this is our second Golden Quill Award). Below is the list of CLC winners:

CATEGORY – REGIONAL LUXURY
     * THE SELF-STARTER, Steve Stewart, Editor, CLC
CATEGORY – NATIONAL INTERMEDIATE SIZE
     * LACAD MAGAZINE, Terry & Robyn Griffin, Editors, CLC of Australia
CATEGORY – REGIONAL COMPACTS
     * CADDIE CHRONICLE, Vince Taliano, Editor, CLC Potomac Region
     * CADILLAC PAST, Chris Milici, Editor, CLC New England Region
     * THE DAGMAR, Dave Leger, Editor, CLC Rocky Mountain Region

In addition, the CLC St. Louis Region and its Editor David Armbruster received honorable mention in the Black and White category and the Potomac Region’s Bill Anderson won as Editor of BOOM TIMES, Buick Club of America / Buick Club of Maryland, in the Regional Luxury category.

Byron Alsop - Bill Anderson - Roland Baladi - Charles D. Barnette - J. Roger Bentley - Tom Bottoni 
George & Rita Boxley - Jamie Christie - Chad Coombs - Bernie Cooney - Bob Crimmins - Chris Cummings 
Randy & Susan Denchfield - Laurie Dewitt - Sue Entwisle - Alex Figueroa - Candace Fuller - Franklin Gage 
Hillary Gavan - Jim Govoni - Greg Gross - Jeff Gurski - Rich Hartkorn - Joe Holley - Jack Hotz
Ivars Jaunrubenis - Daniel Jobe - Sandy Kemper - Chip Lamb - Charles Lemons - George Maslow
Jack McClow - Tom McQueen - Gregg D. Merksamer - R. Scot Minesinger - Kyle R. Morris - Tom Musson
Aksel Olesen - Vern Parker - Chuck Piel - Stuart Popp - Brian Rachlin - Margaret Rasor - Dan Reed
Dan Ruby - Henry & Diane Ruby - Bob Ruckman - Kim Rusinow - Yann Saunders - Harry Scott
Bill Sessler - Stephanie Siegel - Ron Siegrist - Richard Sills - Richard Sisson - Steven Sisson
Rose Mary Spicuzza - Dirk Van Dorst - Bill Van Luven - Michael Veilleux - Ken Visser - Marc Tuwiner
 

Both Remaining 1953 LeMans Scheduled to Appear
1959 Cyclone Out and 1956 Maharani In

See Show Flyer
 

The full list of winners is below.

May 2008: The CLC Potomac Region's Caddie Chronicle newsletter received Honorable Mention for the 2007 Old Cars Weekly Golden Quill Award (Black & White category), along with Sallee Speaks (the CLC LaSalle Appreciation Society Chapter newsletter – Editor Nancy Hotz) and The Standard (CLC Motor City Region newsletter – Editor Kevin Luedtke). Thanks to everyone who submitted articles and stories this past year.

Congratulations to the CLC publications and editors that won a 2007 Golden Quill Award

• Steve Stewart & Tim Coy for The Self-Starter, CLC National magazine (National Intermediate Size category)

• Chris Milici for Cadillac Past, New England Region newsletter (Regional Compacts category). 

The CLC was well-represented in this year’s selections.
 

THE SELF-STARTER, Steve Stewart, Editor,
Cadillac & LaSalle Club (CLC)

SALLEE SPEAKS, Nancy Hotz, Editor,
CLC LaSalle Appreciation Society

CADDIE CHRONICLE, Vince Taliano, Editor,
CLC Potomac Region

THE DAGMAR, Dave Leger, Editor,
CLC Rocky Mountain Region

Special thanks to Sandy Kemper, Richard Sills and Steven & Margo Sisson for reviewing and enhancing each issue prior to publication and to everyone who submitted stories, letters to the editor and/or photos in ‘06.
 

March 2007: The response to our Presidential Limos story has been overwhelming. Soon after it was published in the March 2007 Caddie Chronicle newsletter, Hemmings Auto Blogs and other blogs across the world posted the story. Read newsletter version.