**Winner** Derek Drinkwater – 1950 Cadillac Flower Car

Unless you are familiar with the workings of the American funeral industry you’d be forgiven for not being aware of ‘flower cars’. Suffice to say this particular example is rare, and is guaranteed to be a talking point at any show.

It was bought back in 2015, but only because it featured parts needed for another project. “I was building a very special Cadillac from this era but needed a manual gearbox and gearshift mechanism, which is how I came to purchase this.”

A search in the US unearthed the unusual vehicle, but with its aged owner unwilling to remove the parts Derek needed there was no choice but to buy the whole car. It was somewhat unexpected but he adds that this Cadillac definitely deserves to be restored.

He admits that returning it to its original condition is going to involve a huge amount of work, and everything from the bodywork to the mechanicals need complete restoration. And, of course, he will have to source the gearbox parts removed for his other project.

The good news is that he already has some chrome trim along with suitable panels that can be used to form repair sections. Then there’s the matter of restoring the hydraulic mechanism that allowed the car to carry a coffin as well as flowers.

This big American classic is certainly one of the more unusual vehicles to appear at the show, but that alone means it is sure to receive plenty of interest from visitors. We can certainly understand why Derek is keen to see it back on the road, and can’t wait to see this fascinating Caddy when it’s finished. It is going to be quite some project…