The Liberty Car, 1918 Cadillac Officers Car US1257X, was in France for the entire U.S. involvement in the great war, 1917-1919, then made it home and survived 100 years without being touched.
Four Questions for Marc Lassen
Liberty Car "paying tribute to those that served and sacrificed in the Great War"
By Caitlin Hamon
Staff Writer, United States World War One Centennial Commission
From the beginning of the U.S. entry into the war in 1917, approximately 2,000 Cadillacs were sent to France along with the U.S. military forces of the A.E.F. Cadillacs were known at the time as the most durable, fastest, (and finest) cars in the U.S., thus, the Seven-Passenger Touring Cars were a natural choice as the official vehicle for military officers. Marc Lassen is the owner of US1257X, the only surviving intact Officer's Cadillac from WWI. It's a vehicle which has been on a remarkable journey, surviving service with the American Expeditionary Forces in France when many others were lost to time, or disposed of after the War. In addition to its War Record, US1257X also had the prestige of driving the young Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt, daughter-in-law to the former President. Mr. Lassen generously agreed to collaborate with the World War 1 Centennial Commission in several events, including the Under Glass display currently available to view on the National Mall. He spoke with us a little about his famous car.
Can you tell us a little about the history of the car? How did you become the owner?
Marc LassenUS1257X is the only known vehicle with a verified war record in the A.E.F., and is one of the first vehicles to land in France, the 257th passenger car registered, to be exact.
I stumbled upon it completely be accident, quite literally. I had a little mishap in a 1929 Cadillac that resulted in my needing a taillight. This is back in 2005. So I’m doing random internet searches for antique Cadillac parts and I saw a very strange ad. 1918 Cadillac.. OD Green.. May have belonged to some General. Well... There’s one you don’t see every day. So I did some quick research and sure enough, the Cadillac was the official car for officers in WWI, and it was only a couple hundred miles away in Spokane.
So I spoke with the old fella that had it, rented a trailer, and headed out to see if this could possibly be legit. The history on the car was long gone by some 70 years, but you never know! So we meet and he opens the shed, and there sat what appeared to be a completely intact, darn original, army green Caddy. I figured even if I couldn’t prove it was an authentic Great War Cadillac it was still a cool old car and worth what he was asking for. We shook hands and trailed it home.
That is when the great odyssey of reconnecting US1257X with it’s incredible historical provenance began. This took thousands of hours and countless dead ends, but eventually I cracked the code, and it was better than anyone could have hoped for; Not only was the car authentic, it was in France for the entire U.S. involvement in the great war, 1917-1919, and it miraculously made it home and survived nearly 100 years without being touched. A perfect survivor.
Fast forward 10 years, and US1257X is being celebrated on the National Mall!! Who knew?? Well I did. I knew it the minute I laid eyes on her. Doing the sleuthing and research that reunited US1257X with its proud military history, in the Great War for Liberty, has been an honor.
What have you done (in terms of upkeep) since it has been in your possession?
We just got the Caddy running for the first time in approximately 80 years! And it runs like a top. We put fresh gas, oil, water, a battery, and she fired right up. We rebuilt the dual water pumps and gave everything a good look and, for a 101 year old vehicle, it drives out beautifully!
The leather was quite delicate and was impossible to sit on without doing harm, so I spent a couple years finding original WW1 tents, of the same material used at motor pool in 1918, and made seat covers and a top boot. And they are still waterproof after all this time. Long term conservation is our goal.
Tell us about the Under Glass display. What are some other opportunities for the public to see the car this year?
US1257X was just honored by being presented on the National Mall by the Historic Vehicle Association. After 100 years this unique vehicle is finally being celebrated for it’s fantastic Great War Provenance.
The Centennial Commission & the Historic Vehicle Association will be presenting US1257X at the D.C. Memorial Parade on May 28th.
We are also planning on participating in the Armistice Celebration in D.C. on November 11, 2018.
What made you decide to get involved/get the car involved with the WW1 Centennial Commission?
The Centennial Commission and the US1257X Collection have the same goal, to share our proud heritage with as many people as possible, while paying tribute to those that served and sacrificed defending Democracy in the Great War. WW1 is corner stone of the 20th century, and the moment the United States defined itself as the leading military and economic force in the world.
On a personal note, my Great-Grandpa Herb was in the American Expeditionary Force in France; I still have his Colt Pistol that he carried!
It is the first military automobile & first manufactured in Detroit to be documented & recognized as National Automotive heritage by the US Department of interior & permanently archived in the Library of Congress. You can visit the display, or learn more about the car at http://www.libertycadillac.com/.
The Liberty Car displayed on the National Mall in Washington, DC (above and below).
Caitlin Hamon is a volunteer with the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission.