Sticking it to the Upper Crust

In a street challenge I found it quite amusing to blow away a Cadillac.  And many drivers of late forties and early fifties Caddys were surprised to see the rear end of the nondescript little jackrabbit I drove.

Shiny New Gold Emblems and All

1952 was the fiftieth anniversary year for Cadillac and in recognition of that the manufacturer used gold plating on the emblems, particularly the big old "V" that distinguished the marque.  A few other minor changes allowed one to quickly identify the '52 model.  There were a few unseen changes, too.
1n 1952 Cadillac had somehow tweaked the 331 c.i. OHV V-8 to generate 190 h.p.  Even at a curb weight of two and one-half tons, it was now a formidable challenger at a stoplight.  I did not know this until

Uphill, around the curve and away!

The new Caddy was stopped at the 8th Street light on Colorado Avenue.  I pulled beside it in the left lane.  The courtesies were observed and the light changed to green.

Now there was a slight incline and a bit of curve to the right at 8th Street which gave the Cadillac the "inside" lane on the turn.  But that would not have accounted for the difference in the outcome, for I saw the rear end of that beautiful cream-over blue two door hardtop half-block ahead before he reached tenth street.

Lesson learned:  Beware of  GM's finest in its latest mutation.

Word of the day:  marque