“Is there anything else?” asks Lyle Reiswig, who, along with his wife Ev, was enjoying the camaraderie in Carefree with about 50 other Cadillac/LaSalle owners who gathered at the Sundial to show off their cars on March 25.

The occasion was a car show sponsored by the Sonoran Region of the National Cadillac/LaSalle Club.

The Reiswigs are the proud  owners of 1942 Cadillac convertible, meticulously restored to original condition.

Talk about a love affair, the couple also owns a 1931 V‑12 Cadillac.

“We just love Cadillacs,” Lyle explains, as if it’s an obvious question. “The first car I ever wanted was a ‘56. I had a friend, who I went to school with, whose  mom was the local hooker. She drove a beautiful black ‘56 convertible.

“I finally got a ‘54 convertible,” he says, “but not for hooking purposes.”

Fred Lee, director of the regional club, says the group is 70 strong, with several members owning  multiple models.

“It’s the epitome of the automobile,” Lee boasts. “To Cadillac owners, it’s the standard of the world. It’s simply the finest car ever built.”

Some folks are confused by the Cadillac/LaSalle name of the club, says Dave Ritchie, Southwestern Region vice president.

“There is a Cadillac LaSalle and a LaSalle car,” he explains. “The LaSalle was the less expensive version of the Cadillac. Kind of in between the Buick and the Cadillac.

“It’s the companion car to the Cadillac.”

Mel Martin, from Phoenix, has owned his ‘31 LaSalle convertible for 12 years.

“I’ve driven it twice in the Great American Race,” he says. “We’re constantly updating it. I drive itin parades and loan it to friends  and relatives for weddings and     special occasions.”

The maroon beauty is equipped with plenty of amenities, including a windshield dividing the driver’s seat from the two rear seats.

“It’s supposed to be chauffeur driven,” Martin says. “That’s to keep the bugs off the rich people in the back.”

One of the highlights in the show was a 1917 Cadillac, Type 55, four‑door passenger phaeton, brought by owner Colin Christie from Las Vegas.

Sticker price $2,240. A pretty hefty sun for 1917.

Christie has a ‘38 and a ‘39 Cadillac and decided he wanted an old one.

“I like them for their uniqueness,” Christie says. “You can read about them, but it’s different when you have one. Cadillac technology was amazing 90 years ago.

“Cadillacs are by far the best American‑made car,” he says. “It’s always been that way since the beginning. There’ve been some challengers along the way, but Cadillac has always been able to maintain its standards.”

A ride in this beast is a thrill.

It’s equipped with a 77‑horsepower, V‑8 engine and three speed unsynchronized transmission.

“I don’t shift gears until I absolutely have to,” Christie says,  tooling effortlessly around the Sundial.

“It’s even got an eight‑day windup clock. You’re supposed to wind it when you go to church on Sunday and it’s good for the week.”

Jim Phillips couldn’t be prouder of his unrestored ‘57 Caddy four‑door hardtop.

“I found it online in Las Vegas,” he says. “Getting it here was another story. It’s 19 ½ feet long and weighs nearly 5,000 pounds. U‑haul just laughed at me when I asked for a trailer.”

The old Caddy is in remarkably good shape for its age.

“It’s 50 years old and everything works,” Phillips says. “It’s got every bell and whistle Cadillac could put on it in ‘57. Unfortunately, it is a New York car and didn’t need air‑conditioning. I can tell you the heater works great though.

“There’s just something about the old Cadillacs,” he says. “You just can’t compare them to any     other old car.”

Phillips says the old Caddy is his foray into the classic car hobby.

“I’m new to the restoration business,” he says. “I want to be able to say I worked on my own car instead of writing a check to have someone else do the work. I’ve gotten dirty, barked my knuckles, and cussed it already. When all is said and done. I want to say I worked on it myself.”