As of May 19, 2025, this is the information we have about this car:
[Feb.01.2017] Car #344 was owned many years ago by collector-enthusiasts John and Irene Linhardt of New York [now (2005)residing in Florida but preparing to move to Georgia]. This one was sold as lot#700, for $155,820 at a BJ auction in 2000; VIN - #5362-75988); total frame-off restoration; the car took 1st place in the Cadillac LaSalle Club, Inc.Nationals in the summer of 1999. This car is said to be a knock out and the epitome of early fifties automobiles. Later (Dec.,2010): I have been in touch with Todd Todd, another former owner of this car. He says: Thought I would fill you in on a couple of 53 Eldos. I owned #344 between 1988-2000 (I bought it out of Texas in 1988; I believe the guy I bought it from came from back east somewhere - NH?), restoring it with the hope of winning the Grand Nationals in San Jose in 1999 ... which I was lucky enough to do (it carried 'Senior' badge#314). Steve Henson had a beautiful Ochre/red car that was just as nice as mine except for a few things that did not work and were not sorted out.Everything worked on my car. All of the Eldos in the picture that year belonged to myself,Ken Gimelli (2), Jim Zinardi, Bob Hoffman, Steve Hensen, and I can't remember the others. I consigned my car to Wally Herman for the BJ Auction in 2000 and it was sold to Troby's, who sold it for 250k. Anyway, Ken still has 3 Eldos left, with no plans to sell. Jimmy Z still has his, and Hoffman his. I will get VIN#s for you. By the way, I'm the guy who purchased #314 from John McGraw with the intention of driving it to Chicago, barely making100 miles before the tranny completely gave out. McGraw was a good guy, but his assurances that the car was completely road worthy was a bit overstated. Being young and far away from home, I called John And he offered to take the car back. In hindsight, I should have kept it. Ran across the car at DiPerriso's [Gerald?] and tried to buy it back, but he had already sold it to someone in England. My '53 Yellow Coupe belonged to Wally Herman for years and I always tried to pry it away from him and it was only this year that I had a chance to purchase it. [NEW, 10/2008] owner-enthusiast Marc Tuwiner has information to the effect that this was a gift from baseball giant Joe DiMaggio to one Norma Jean Baker (aka Marilyn Monroe).
[Feb.01.2017] Car #344 was owned many years ago by collector-enthusiasts John and Irene Linhardt of New York [now (2005)residing in Florida but preparing to move to Georgia]. This one was sold as lot#700, for $155,820 at a BJ auction in 2000; VIN - #5362-75988); total frame-off restoration; the car took 1st place in the Cadillac LaSalle Club, Inc.Nationals in the summer of 1999. This car is said to be a knock out and the epitome of early fifties automobiles. Later (Dec.,2010): I have been in touch with Todd Todd, another former owner of this car. He says: Thought I would fill you in on a couple of 53 Eldos. I owned #344 between 1988-2000 (I bought it out of Texas in 1988; I believe the guy I bought it from came from back east somewhere - NH?), restoring it with the hope of winning the Grand Nationals in San Jose in 1999 ... which I was lucky enough to do (it carried 'Senior' badge#314). Steve Henson had a beautiful Ochre/red car that was just as nice as mine except for a few things that did not work and were not sorted out.Everything worked on my car. All of the Eldos in the picture that year belonged to myself,Ken Gimelli (2), Jim Zinardi, Bob Hoffman, Steve Hensen, and I can't remember the others. I consigned my car to Wally Herman for the BJ Auction in 2000 and it was sold to Troby's, who sold it for 250k. Anyway, Ken still has 3 Eldos left, with no plans to sell. Jimmy Z still has his, and Hoffman his. I will get VIN#s for you. By the way, I'm the guy who purchased #314 from John McGraw with the intention of driving it to Chicago, barely making100 miles before the tranny completely gave out. McGraw was a good guy, but his assurances that the car was completely road worthy was a bit overstated. Being young and far away from home, I called John And he offered to take the car back. In hindsight, I should have kept it. Ran across the car at DiPerriso's [Gerald?] and tried to buy it back, but he had already sold it to someone in England. My '53 Yellow Coupe belonged to Wally Herman for years and I always tried to pry it away from him and it was only this year that I had a chance to purchase it. [NEW, 10/2008] owner-enthusiast Marc Tuwiner has information to the effect that this was a gift from baseball giant Joe DiMaggio to one Norma Jean Baker (aka Marilyn Monroe).