My 1912 Cadillac

But he can still make a quick decision. Like when he bought his classic 1912 Cadillac.  "When I saw it, I thought isn't it gorgeous. He (the owner) said `it's for sale.' I said `I'll buy it."

The red vintage car reminded him of Genevieve, a classic that starred in a British movie of the same name many years ago.  He bought it from a vintage car collector in Wagga Wagga nine years ago. It was in a good condition then, though he says he had to make a few improvements to keep it running now.

Shields says only 10,500 of his 1912 Cadillac model were made. It was a big car well out of the price range of the man on the street. "It's designed for wearing a top hat. That's why the roof is so high," he says.

It doesn't have front doors which means that while the driver has the steering wheel to hang onto the passenger is looking for something to grip to avoid ending up on the road.

It was famous for being the first car with an electric starter and lights, known as the Delco system after the company that invented it, the Dayton Electric Company from Ohio in the US.

The previous hand-cranking system on cars discouraged women from driving and had led to accidents caused by incidents such as the handle kicking back and flying off. And previous lighting was done by gas powered lamps. It has a 30 horsepower (22kW) four cylinder engine.

Shields says some of the Cadillacs went to New Zealand, where due to their size, they became cars for touring.  With three rows of seats in them, up to 15 people could squeeze aboard. His version has seating for five.

The Cadillac has a top speed of about 50-60km/h which barely challenges speeding bicycles these days but when it was made nearly 100 years ago it was revolutionary.  "In its heyday anything faster than a horse was in. Some of the cars would just putt along."

Having said that Shields is well and truly used to the unreliability of such ancient technology now.  "When you go out in a old car sometimes you don't get home. You take the tow wagon man's phone number with you."

Putting a value on cars of this age is difficult, Shields spent a large sum buying it and hopes the value has stayed so that if he chose to sell it he'd get his money back.  "You've gotta find a person that wants it and they are not shy of money."

Shields loves tinkering and repairing old cars but says it's a dying art.  He says many cashed-up car lovers these days don't want to or don't know how to fix or restore their classics.

Shields has owned several other cars too. "I've got an Oldsmobile, an A-model Ford and I've got a LandCruiser." 

He takes the older cars to car shows and will display the Cadillac at the inaugural Concours d'Elegance Australia coming up on October 10 at St Patrick's Estate at Manly.  It will start at 10am (tying in with event date 10-10-10) and run till 5pm.

The organisers claim cars and motorycles worth a total of $100 million will be on show competing for presentation awards. The event is in the style of major overseas Concours events such as at Pebble Beach in the US.

There will be a focus on  the 75th anniversary of Jaguar and 100 years of Alfa Romeo.  Judges will include sports car racer and multiple Le Mans winner Derek Bell from England.  For more information check out the event website concoursdeleganceaustralia.com