Cadillac museum comes to Henderson

Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006 | 8:30 a.m.

When they were new, the two Cadillacs owned by Colin Christie were worth about $3,500 each. Today they are valued at $50,000 apiece - and they aren't even equipped with power windows, Bose stereo systems or in-dash navigation systems.

Christie's distinctive vehicles are a 1938 Cadillac Series 75 Sedan and a 1939 Series 75 Imperial Sedan. The beautiful machines, constructed with the same care, durability and attention to detail as small homes, will be on display Sunday at the Cadillac Through the Years show at The District at Green Valley Ranch.

The cars will be part of a field of 32 Cadillacs dating from 1903 to the present (and beyond, with the addition of the '07 Cadillac Escalade). The show runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free to the public.

Christie bought the cars about four years ago, just after he relocated from Minneapolis to Las Vegas. Retired from a career as a plant manager and engineer with General Mills, he quickly joined the Cadillac-LaSalle Club of Las Vegas, which is affiliated with the national nonprofit organization based in Detroit and founded in 1958.

"We have 35 or so members in Las Vegas, and about 100 classic cars," Christie said Monday afternoon. "It's a good way to stay connected. If you have a problem or if you need a part, there's always someone to talk to."

Both cars feature three-speed manual transmissions (mounted "on the tree," meaning on the dash) and powered by 346-cubic-inch V8 engines that consume about one gallon of gas per 10 miles in the city.

Christie's '39 Series 75 Imperial Sedan is a genuine limousine, which is believed to have been used in diplomatic service before becoming a collectors' item. Flags can be mounted next to both headlights, a glass window divides the chauffeur and dignitary (or, if you will, journalist) and the car seats seven comfortably.

The '38, designed as a family car, comes equipped with a stocked bar in the back (with bottles of sherry and brandy and an ice bucket for the nipper who is always on the go) and enough leg room to accommodate Yao Ming.

"I drive them weekly," Christie said just before we took a leisurely spin around the block. "If you leave them unattended, they let you know about it. They don't want to start."

Super prediction: I had a chance encounter with Bernie Yuman, manager of Siegfried & Roy, on Monday morning. "Got any scoops?" I asked. He responded, "The Miami Dolphins are going to win the Super Bowl, at home, in Miami next year." That would mark the first celebrity prediction for the 2007 Super Bowl. This year's closest celebrity picks in the annual Scripps Howard News Service celebrity poll were from former Boston Celtic great Bob Cousy and legendary aviator Chuck Yeager, who both had Pittsburgh beating Seattle 17-10 ...

Raw-raw!: Sushi Roku has become one of the favorite restaurants of the Killers, who dine regularly at the restaurant at the Forum Shops. That prompts two thoughts: The Killers have a refined taste in food, and we should be about due for the band's follow-up to "Hot Fuss" ...

Hold on, let me move my drink: The women of the MGM Grand production "La Femme" are making a rare out-of-theater appearance on Saturday at Tabu, also at MGM. The club will be celebrating Valentine's Day a few days early as the women will be dancing atop tables ...

Succumbing to vanity: The driver of a convertible Mazda Miata is waiting for summer (apparently) with the plate W8N4SMR. And Christie's Caddies had the plates 39CADDY and 9TEEN38.

NoteMart