Without a doubt in my mind, the finest Cadillac replicas in 1/43 scale for the truly discerning collector are those beautiful and rare, precision models hand-built and carefully detailed and painted by my friend Claude Thibivilliers, of France.  Because of their extreme rarity and the hours of labor involved (each one is in itself a labor of love), they are relatively costly.

Outside of Claude's own, private collection, the finest that I know of in the world are in the hands of three other European collectors, all friends of mine:  Louis Henrard (Belgium), Philippe Berson (France) and last - but far from least - Christian Hardegger (Switzerland).  Christian has made an avocation of collecting Cadillac toys and scale-models; his Elegance collection is awesome. 

Up to and including the eighties, I used to boldly lay claim to having the world's largest, most varied collection of Cadillac scale-models and toys (the latter is currently in the hands of another friend, in Switzerland, who wishes to remain anonymous).  That former "record" has been broken ...twice; firstly by the very buyer of my former collection, who not only has improved on it by acquiring many upgrades but also has added quite a few new pieces; second by Christian, whom I have mentioned above and whose collection, in my opinion, already may number in excess of 1000 pieces.

With Christian's kind permission, I am showing on this page a (small) selection of the finest Elegance models in his superb collection. 

The limited-production Elegance models center on four distinct series:  the bespoke sixteen-cylinder Cadillac models of 1930-31, the stock and custom models of 1950-1952, the 1957 Eldorado and the Cadillac models 1975-1976.  On these four basic lines, Claude has re-created in miniature a number of exceptional, custom designs, many of which you will encounter in the Dream Cars section of this, the (new) Cadillac Database©, for 1950-51, 1952-53, 1957 and 1975-76, as also in the section devoted to the vee-sixteen models of 1930-31 and 1938-40

 

Elegance Models
Chemin de la Croix
F30210 Argilliers / France

 

Enjoy!

To my knowledge,  only one commercial style funeral car or other wagon is known
to have been built on the sixteen-cylinder Cadillac chassis (photo, above); it was a
conversion by un unknown coach builder; that was enough, nonetheless, 
to inspire a whole series of panel vans from Solido in France;
Claude Thibivilliers based some of his early creations on these vans

Right: #30 (1980), 1930-31 V-16 roadster, Fleetwood style #4302

Elegance, France, Ref. #30 (1980), 1932 V-16 with top up (???)

Elegance, France, Ref. #31 (1980), 1932 V-16 Town Car, with trunk, dark green/black
[ b/w photo,  Argus de la Miniature, #102,  p.3 ]

   
#32 (1981), 1930-31 V-16 convertible Victoria, Fleetwood style #4285
(available also in light green and black - this car should have a curved sill)

Elegance, France, Ref. #33 (1981), d/c phaeton, open, orange/black
[ b/w photo,  Argus de la Miniature, #102,  p.3 ]

#34 (1981), 1930-31 Cadillac V-16 town car, Fleetwood style #4264

Richly finished replica of Cadillac’s 1930 Fleetwood “Fleetbourne”Town Brougham for 7 passengers on the V-16 chassis, finished  in a deep Merlot/black combination
and red/black, from Elegance Models; handcrafted in resin, builder Claude Thibivilliers based his design on the aforementioned Solido die-cast models. Ref. No. 504.
[ Photo courtesy GM in Miniature, Veloce Publishing, author, Randall Olson ]

[ missing ]

Elegance, France, Ref. #35 (1980), 1932 V-16 d/c phaeton, closed, met. gray and dark blue
[ b/w photo,  Argus de la Miniature, #102,  p.5 ]

#36 (1981), highly unlikely 1930-31 Detroit Fire Department
Rescue #5,  fire truck on the V-16 chassis
...but what a beautiful scale-model, nonetheless!

Elegance, France, Ref. #69A (1982), 1931 V16 Fleetwood coupe, met. light gray/black
[ b/w photo,  Argus de la Miniature, #102,  p.5 ]

Elegance, France, Ref. #69B (1982), V-16 1931 coupe, excellent. for Recreation- Aix,

Elegance, France, Ref. #70 (1982), V-16 1932 civilian Ambulance Private Ambulance, white/black
[ b/w photo,  Argus de la Miniature, #102, p.4 ] [b/w/ photo]

Elegance, France, Ref. #71 (1982), V-16 Fire Rescue Ambulance, Detroit Fire Department, red/black
[ b/w photo,  Argus de la Miniature, #102,  p.3 ]

#72 (1982), unlikely Funeral Service wagon on Cadillac V-16 chassis for 1930-31;
the original Solido chassis and body have been stretched
(note that the landau bars on this one have been mounted upside down!)

Elegance, France, Ref. #73 (1982), V-16 hearse, landau bars, black

Elegance, France, Ref. #101 (1983), V-16 hearse, silver laurel deco
[ b/w photo,  Argus de la Miniature, #102,  p.3 ]

    
#503, Fleetwood town brougham, V-16 style #4264B, with coach or  boot-toe sill

Left: #1212, Fleetwood Madame X, style #4155 this replica is part of a set comprising a custom 1976 Cadillac
station wagon and the trailer (shown here). It is basically the Solido Landaulet style #4108-C) with the rear roof
closed and the usual Elegance fit and finish (only one of the full-sized versions is believed to have survived);

[unnumbered] 1938 V-16 convertible sedan - Pasadena Tournament of Roses;
conversion from Rextoys series [only three built]

[unnumbered] 1938 V-16, Fleetwood style 9019, 5-pass. touring sedan,
conversion from Rextoys series; I supplied the photos
[ only 1 built; it is in Mr. Thibivillier's private collection ]

   
[Above two rows] 1938 V-16, job #9006, one of two White House security cars; conversion from Rextoys series
convertible sedan; leather interior; details include front kick-panel pistol holsters, center carbine rack and
phone cabinet (open); I supplied the photos for this one (lower right, and others); only three scale versions were made
[ this one from Mr. Thibivillier's private collection ]

 
Stretched limousines on 1938 Cadillac chassis

Stretched limousine on 1939 Cadillac chassis

   
1939 Convertible Sedan
[ this one too is from Mr. Thibivillier's private collection ]

       
This is a very limited production replica depicting a flower car built on a 1949 Cadillac commercial chassis
[ it came out in 2010 - only 5 units were built in total ]

   
Stretched 4-door convertible by Derham for mid-Eastern potentate
conversion from Western models kit [unnumbered - only two units built]

Elegance, France, Ref. #102 (1983), 1950 commercial chassis, civilian ambulance, white, emergency lights [b/w/photo}

Elegance, France, Ref. #103 (1983), 1950 comm. chassis, New York Fire Department, emergency lights, red
[ b/w photo,  Argus de la Miniature, #102,  p.5 ]

#104, 1950 (1983)  Superior ambulance, marked U.S. Air Force Medical Service

#105 (1983), 1950 comm. chassis, hearse with landau bars

Elegance, France, Ref. #106 (1983), 1950 comm. chassis, hearse with silver laurels, black
[ b/w photo,  Argus de la Miniature, #102, p.5 ]

Elegance, France, Ref. #107 (1984), 1950 comm. chassis, flower car, white
[ b/w photo,  Argus de la Miniature, #102,  p.3 ]

   
#108A (???) (1984), 1950 Cadillac Series 75 limousine, style #7533X
[ various colors available ]

or

   
#108A (1984), 1950 comm. chassis, Derham, formal top

Miniature of a custom 1950 Series 75 limousine with "mirror" windows in the passenger
compartment to prevent onlookers from seeing the occupants (the many wives of the late King
Ibn Seoud of Saudi Arabia) - 20 such cars were commissioned from Hess & Eisenhardt, USA

#108B (1984), 1950 comm. chassis, Derham, formal top, two tone

Elegance, France, Ref. #108C (1986), 1950 comm. chassis, Derham, signed ed., white/white
[ b/w photo,  Argus de la Miniature, #102,  p.3 ]

   
#109 (1984), 1950 Series 62 coupe, various colors

   
#111 (1985), 1950 Series 60S, various colors

Elegance, France, Ref. #114 (1986), 1950 panel truck advertising Calandre toy shop, Paris, various colors
[ b/w photo,  Argus de la Miniature, #102,  p.4 ]

Elegance Custom 1950 Cadillac Service car 

# ??? 1950 wagon with closed rear quarters

Elegance, France, Ref. #115B 1987), 1950 panel truck, civilian ambulance, white [col. photo]

Elegance, France, Ref. #116 (1988), 1950 hearse with landau bars

Elegance, France, Ref. #117 (1986), 1951 Ibn Seoud stretched 6-door limousine, various colors
[ b/w photo,  Argus de la Miniature, #102, p.4 ]

Elegance, France, Ref. #118 (1987), 1951 Series 62 convertible, various colors
[ b/w photo of front grille,  Argus de la Miniature, #102,  p.4 ]

Elegance, France, Ref. #118B (1987), Series 62 convertible, Sugar Ray Robinson, pink
[ b/w photo,  Argus de la Miniature, #102,  p.2 ]

  
Elegance 1950 Series 62 convertible (above and below)

   
#120, 1950 Cadillac Series 62 convertible, style #6267
[ various colors available ]

#???, 1950 Cadillac Series 62 convertible, style #6267, with continental kit

#123 1950 flower car, complete with wreaths

   
#123 (1988), 1950 Meteor flower car on Cadillac chassis

   
Above five rows: another version of the Meteor flower car; the pink one  is rather "special"

Elegance, France, Ref. #124 (1988), 1950 funeral limousine

Elegance, France, Ref. #125 (1988), 1950 funeral service car, silver laurels on side

Elegance, France, Ref. #126 (1988), 1950 ambulance, USAF

Elegance, France, Ref. #131 (1988), 1950 Coachcraft station wagon [b/w photo Argus. 109, p.9)

#133 (1988), 1950 commercial  chassis,
Cadillac Service wagon [with spare fender inside car]

Elegance, France, Ref. #134 (1988), 1950 comm. chassis, hearse, leather roof, landau bars

   
#137, 1950 Airport limousine on Cadillac chassis
(Hess & Eisenhardt used this design in 1948)

#198, 1950 Series 61 4-door sedan

   
#131, 1951 custom station wagon on Cadillac chassis
(this is a unique Coachcraft design by Philip Wright for Minneapolis contractor, Merril M. Madsen)

Another version of the same car ?

    
#135, 1951 custom Series 75 limousine by the Derham Co., of Rosemont, PA
(a similar design was built by the same company the previous year)

#197, 1951 Detroit Fire department ambulance

   
A fine replica of a special, custom limousine of which 20 were commissioned from Hess & Eisenhardt by the
Saudi Royal family to transport the King's many wives; rear compartment was "peek proof", with one-way mirror-glass
[ the full-sized otriginal may be viewed on this page ]

Elegance Models’ Claude Thibivilliers created only 3 replicas of this model in silver, which he dubbed the “Executive Speedster”;
This is a superb replica of a special 1951-52 Cadillac roadster conversion on 1951 Series 62 (style 6237DX) coupe chassis that was custom-built
as a gift from Harley Earl to his good friend  Harold R. "Bill" Boyer who was then GM's executive VP in charge of tank production during the Korean conflict
[ Photo courtesy GM in Miniature, Veloce Publishing, author Randall Olson ]

   
Here is one more, unique replica depicting a flower car built on a 1951 Cadillac commercial chassis
[ only a single unit was built - it was completed in 2010 ]

[unnumbered] 1952 flower car; only three scale models made
[ this one from Mr. Thibivillier's private collection ]

Elegance, France, Ref. #110A (1985), Eldorado Seville, metal roof, various colors
[ b/w photo,  Argus de la Miniature, #102,  p.2 ]

Elegance, France, Ref. #110B (1985), Eldorado Seville, Vicodec roof, various colors
[ b/w photo,  Argus de la Miniature, #102,  p.2 ]

   
#111, the stock 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Seville coupe
(the model builder has mistaken the chrome ornaments below the headlights for orange side-marker or turn-signal lamps)

   
Elégance #200: Fleetwood "75" sedan and limousine

Custom super-stretched limousine on 1959 Cadillac chassis
[ Claude's personal collection ]

Another custom super-stretched limousine on 1959 Cadillac chassis
[ again, Claude's personal collection ]

Here is a second version of the same car;
Claude calls it a "personal interpretation"
[ personal collection ]   

       
This one represents the "Bubble Car": used by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip while on a
State visit to Canada in 1959; you can view the original car (photo below) on this page of the Database
[ personal collection ]

#146

#147

#148

#149

#149³ Custom 2-door T-Top coupe
[ from Mr. Thibivillier's private collection ]

#153

#154 1976 Fleetwood 6-door stretched limousine

#158

#162 Miller-Meteor Crestwood funeral coach
[ from Mr. Thibivillier's private collection ]

#163 Miller Meteor ambulance, 1976

#164 Miller Meteor Eterna funeral car
[ from Mr. Thibivillier's private collection ]

#165 Miller Meteor Citation - only one unit built
[ from Mr. Thibivillier's private collection ]

#173, Custom stretched limousine on Cadillac chassis;
[ from Mr. Thibivillier's private collection]

   
#175, 1975 Cadillac Eldorado, front-wheel drive convertible

#178 Custom funeral car by Pollman of Bremen, Germany
[ from Mr. Thibivillier's private collection ]

[ with and without continental kit ???  - see below ]

   
#(???), 1976 custom station wagon by Traditional Coach Works [Photo (right): Traditional Coach Works brochure

[ Harry Wohlgroth collection ]

#1006, 1976 custom Cadillac De Ville convertible
(with the demise of Cadillac's unique convertible model, in 1976, many
independent U.S. coach-builders quickly jumped in to fill the gap
with offerings like this one, built on the De Ville coupe chassis)

#(???), 1976 custom Cadillac El Deora

       
The replica in the preceding two rows appears to be derived from the one immediately above it;
it is un-numbered and sold under the private label "Collection C. Thibivilliers"

This one was acquired by Ueli Mueller, in Germany [1999]

[above two rows] #(???), 1976 custom stretched Cadillac limousine
[ upper replica features continental kit ]

#(???), in blue in lieu of red, Jay Ohrberg's Longest Cadillac in the World
I believe the full-sized version of this car still holds a record in the famed Guiness book

(???), 1976 custom Cadillac Physician's Ambulance

   
Left: #(???), 1976 custom funeral limousine
Right: custom funeral coach with ornate roof design, possible from Hong Kong

[unnumbered] Custom funeral car by Hess & Eisenhardt
on 1976 Cadillac chassis, for Chinatown client, LA
[ only one built - in Mr. Thibivillier's private collection ]

[unnumbered] 1978 Custom Eldorado Biarritz - only three scale versions made
[ this one from Mr. Thibivillier's private collection ]

[unnumbered] Custom stretched limousine on Cadillac chassis;
[ from Mr. Thibivillier's private collection]

[unnumbered] Custom stretched limousine on Cadillac chassis; 24 cms. long
only one scale version made; it is in Mr. Thibivillier's private collection]

Selection of stretched limousines

 
Claude is working on this (very)  stretched 2006 DTS model,
based on a car used by the Chinese premier; not an easy job, this one!

Also to come: a stretched 1939 limousine and a 1949 flower car