By Grant Cox – Photography By The Author
Back in 2002, 22-year-old Jake McKiddie was working on custom projects in his parents’ garage. Among those early builds was a 1961 Cadillac Coupe De Ville, a symbol of American luxury and style. It wasn’t Jake’s car at the time, but he spent so many hours working on it that he fell completely for it. Before the car left his life, Jake told the owner, “If you ever sell it, I want first shot.” For a young builder, it was more of a dream than a plan. But the seed was planted.
Fast-forward over 20 years and out of nowhere Jake receives a message from the same owner. He was moving to San Antonio and was finally ready to sell the Cadillac. Without hesitation, Jake hooked his body-dropped 2021 Silverado dually, fresh off the SEMA floor and sitting on 30-inch Forgiatos, to a trailer and made the 20-mile trip to seal the deal. After 22 years, the Caddy was finally his.
The Cadillac sat quietly in his Phat Phabz shop for a couple of years before the build came together. Jake had a clear vision: sleek, sinister, and unmistakably custom. To make it happen, he teamed up with Mike Johnson at Downtown Auto. The crew stripped the car down to bare metal, worked on every inch until it was perfectly straight, and applied a flawless coat of rich, deep black. Every piece of chrome was redone and reinstalled, giving the De Ville a commanding, modernized presence.
Inside, Shawn Dunn of Sound Depth reimagined the Cadillac with striking red leather, providing a bold contrast to the glossy black exterior. Dakota Digital gauges updated the dash along with a Restomod A/C system, while a custom billet steering wheel proudly displayed Jake’s car club Severed Ties in the center.
The Severed Ties appeared at local shows, but the celebration was short-lived. The original motor gave out. Disappointing? Sure. But it also opened the door for an upgrade Jake had been considering all along.
Brandon Springer assembled a sturdy 5.3L LS engine, topped with a CVF Racing pulley kit, and paired it with a built 4L60E transmission from DannahShay Transmissions. Randall Clark smoothed and reshaped the firewall, concealing the Wilwood master cylinder, the A/C unit, and the steering column for a clean, show-quality engine bay. Custom panels hid wiring and plumbing, while Gary Gilliland of Altered Specialty completed a full rewire and LS tune. The Cadillac was now as dependable as it was beautiful.
Of course, “stock” has never been in Jake’s vocabulary. The Coupe De Ville’s body was removed from the frame and placed on the Phat Phabz jig table. Jake and longtime collaborator Andrew “Frank” Mitchell cut out the center section, grafted in a custom 1967-72 C10 front suspension with rack-and-pinion steering and tubular A-arms, and reworked the rear with a C-notch and reinforced wishbone setup. An AccuAir E-Level system let the Cadillac settle until its frame kissed the pavement. Wilwood 12-inch six-piston brakes balanced the weight of the big cruiser, while American Racing VF489 billet wheels (22×9) wrapped in Ironman 265/35R22 rubber gave it a bold, modern footprint.
What started as a long-shot dream in Jake’s twenties finally became a reality in his forties. The Cadillac was sleek, low, powerful, and clearly custom-made. But just before the 2024 SEMA Show, tragedy struck. A tornado tore through Jake’s hometown of Choctaw, Oklahoma. His family was safe, but his garage and many of his personal cars were destroyed. The Coupe De Ville took a direct hit.
Heartbreaking as it was, the setback didn’t stop Jake. With the help of his longtime friend Ike Ray, the Cadillac was reborn once again with new glass, refreshed interior details, and another flawless coat of paint.
Today, the ’61 Cadillac Coupe De Ville stands as a testament to patience, persistence, and vision. Jake is quick to credit his crew, Frank Mitchell, Randall Clark, Shawn Dunn, Ike Ray, Gary Gilliland, and everyone at Downtown Auto Body for making it possible.
Two decades after he first fell in love with the car, Jake McKiddie finally owns the Cadillac of his dreams. And with its mix of classic lines, modern performance, and a show-stopping finish, his Coupe De Ville proves that sometimes the best things really are worth waiting for.
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