A Cadillac limousine originally owned by one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century will head to auction next month.
The late John Entwistle, bass player for The Who, imported the huge Fleetwood Series Seventy-Five to the UK at the height of the rock band’s fame.
Despite Entwistle being unable to drive, it was the perfect vehicle for the musician and his entourage to be chauffeured around in.
Having been part of a private collection for many years, the Cadillac is set to be sold at the H&H Classics sale on 9 April 2025, at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford.
Made for a rock and roll lifestyle
Even during the ‘land yacht’ heyday of the 1970s, the Cadillac Fleetwood Series Seventy-Five was a vast vehicle to roam North American interstates with.
Measuring almost 6.3 metres (247 inches) in length, and weighing in at up to 2,800kg (6,100lb) depending on specification, the Fleetwood’s dimensions were almost unparalleled.
A 7.7-litre V8, officially rated as having 345hp and 500lb ft of torque, was responsible for hauling the big Caddy along. Such power made a three-speed Turbo-Hydramatic 400 automatic gearbox more than sufficient.
As Cadillac’s flagship model, the Seventy-Five limousine came with a commanding price tag of $12,008, leading to just 848 examples being sold for the 1971 model year.
‘Big Black Cadillac’
Such a high cost was unlikely to trouble John Entwistle, with the Who still reaping the rewards from their seminal 1969 album, Tommy.
By the time the Cadillac arrived in the UK and was registered with the DVLA in September 1971, the band had just released Who’s Next as a follow-up album.
Employing the services of Mick Bratby as a chauffeur, the Cadillac was photographed outside Entwistle’s home in Ealing, and also at bandmate Keith Moon’s Tara estate.
Such was Entwistle’s love for the car, that it even inspired the song ‘Big Black Cadillac’ on his 1973 solo album Rigor Mortis Sets In.
Almost ready to rock again
Owned by Entwistle until 1978, the Cadillac was bought by its current vendor and kept as part of a private collection.
The car is said to be in need of some recommissioning, with the black paintwork and matching black leather upholstery showing signs of a former rock and roll lifestyle.
H&H Classics also notes that before heading across the auction block, the top end of the huge V8 engine will be rebuilt.
Owning an intriguing part of British music history comes with a relatively affordable pre-auction estimate of between £15,000 and £25,000. Best check it will fit in your garage before bidding, though…
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