Crowd pleasers

In his stable of seven collector cars, Richard Belluscio owns two Cadillacs and both were among the nearly 70 classic and vintage vehicles on display Sunday at the seventh annual Cadillac Through the Years show at Town Square Las Vegas.

Getting two cars -- a 1976 and a 1984 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible -- to the Findlay Cadillac and Las Vegas Cadillac & LaSalle Club-sponsored event is no small feat, but not beyond the ingenuity of the retired New York Police Department officer.

"I have friends who gladly volunteer to help me," said Belluscio, who undertakes as much maintenance work as possible at his home in Henderson, but who relies on a good mechanic for the heavy stuff such as suspension and engine upkeep. "You just can't let them sit around, so I alternate driving each car every couple of weeks."

Last weekend's show included a parade into Town Square Park, led by a classic Cadillac, as well as a performance by the Pahrump Valley High School marching band and Pahrump Valley Youth Choir. To officially open the event, 15-year-old LeAyer Dante sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" with local singer and songwriter Stefania Zaretti. Cast members from "The Jersey Boys" also were on hand, not performing, but to sign autographs.

In addition, Findlay Cadillac displayed its current model lineup that featured a first-look at the 2013 Cadillac XTS.

By design, according to Las Vegas Cadillac & LaSalle Club member John Bergler, the oldest Cadillacs in attendance -- a 1911 Cadillac Gentlemen's Roadster, a 1917 Cadillac Type 55 Phaeton and a 1928 Cadillac Sedan -- were displayed directly across Town Square West from the new Findlay Cadillacs. It provided a vital glimpse into Cadillac's 110 years of distinctive innovations and technical advancements.

"Cadillac was always just a little ahead of everyone else," said Las Vegas Cadillac & LaSalle Club charter member and past club president Hal Sheaks. "Just by walking across the street, you could see instant history."

Astute observers noted the right-hand drive configuration of Bill Paul's all-original 1911 Roadster with its steering-wheel-mounted throttle. Even the engine, with its individual cylinder sleeves that were separate from the block, was ultimately a predecessor to the all-one-piece internal combustion powerplant.

Moving ahead six years to Colin Christie's 1917 Type 55 Phaeton, progress is evident in the shift to left-side driving and an internal combustion engine. Even the tires were better engineered, although mechanical brakes were still evident only on the rear axle.

Christie's 1928 Sedan (some may think it's similar to the model Al Capone made famous) revealed even more of Cadillac's advancements. By now, left-side driving was standard, along with updated suspension and a more powerful engine.

Then, there are the crowd pleasers, like Bergler's pink 1959 Cadillac that sports the largest rear tail fins ever designed into a production car. Or, Belluscio's 1976 Eldorado Convertible that weighs a whopping 5,153 pounds and uses a 500-cubic-inch, V-8 engine to propel the car via front-wheel drive.

But, after all the votes were counted for the People's Choice Award, this year's honor went to the 1954 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible that owner Mike Koster drove to Las Vegas from his home in Kingman, Ariz., just for the Cadillac Through the Years show. Even at 5,300 pounds and with its 333-cubic-inch V-8, Koster claims his fuel average was between 15 and 16 miles per gallon.

"It's quite humbling so many people seem to enjoy that car," said Koster, who is a former board member for the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona. Named in memory of his father, Tony, this was the second time the car earned the prestigious award.

The show also included an art auction, featuring work created by students from the Coral Academy of Sciences with proceeds benefiting Positively Kids and the students' school. From the 80 original entries, members of the Las Vegas Cadillac & LaSalle Club selected 20 pieces; the top three were introduced on the show's main stage. The three winning paintings also were on exhibit in the Findlay Cadillac showroom this week.

To see or test drive a new Cadillac, stop by Findlay Cadillac, 993 Autoshow Drive, Henderson. For more information, call 558-2600 or visit www.findlaycadillac.com. For information about the Las Vegas Cadillac and LaSalle Club, visit www.lasvegasclc.org.