A Caddy in Crisis

Words: Kyle Hyatt

Any fan of cool cars is well aware of Mike and Jim Ring — the Ringbrothers. Builder of Mustangs, Camaros, and hot rods of all types, their latest creation is one of the best, and their most unusual. A blend of old and new, this time they have taken a pair of brand new ATS-V Cadillacs and transformed them into a classic shape requiring perhaps a higher skill level than some of their complete builds.

Wes Rydell, the owner of the famous Rydell car dealerships located across the U.S., came to the Rings with a creative and challenging project: blending a 1948 Cadillac with a 2016 Cadillac ATS-V. The project would become known as “Madam V.” In total, the Ringbrothers sourced four cars to create one complete car, including two 1948 Cadillac Sedanette fastbacks, a 2015 Cadillac ATS-V, and a 2016 Cadillac ATS-V.

The first challenge was how to fit the old body to the new car’s unibody chassis without compromising structural rigidity. The mandate of keeping all the modern high-tech gadgetry functioning ruled out cutting any of the wiring harness or disturbing any of the sensors. The new Cadillac systems run on a modern CAN bus system, which reacts poorly when tampered with, so rather than cut it, the Rings lengthened it using GM-approved connectors.

The drivetrain for Madam V is the 2016 ATS-V’s excellent 465-hp, turbocharged fuel-injected V6 and paddle-shift eight-speed automatic transmission. Factory safety features, such as anti-lock brakes, traction control, and OnStar, all function just as they do in a brand new Cadillac. This engine features high-pressure direct fuel injection systems, which help the engine achieve its outstanding power figures. Royal Purple and Prestone fluids keep the motor lubricated and cooled.

The task of fitting the much longer 1948 body to the 2016 unibody was to be an amazing engineering adventure. The Ringbrothers began by cutting the body off of the 2016 ATS-V and leaving just the unibody structure, floor pans, subframe, and other key components. By doing so, they were able to make ATS-V’s front wheels line up with the wheel wells of the 1948 Cadillac body. Next, they used the subframe from the 2015 ATS-V donor car, lengthened by 14 inches to stretch the chassis.

Through this careful surgery, the Rings were able to retain the positions of the engine systems, along with the factory front-end geometry. Rather than putting the wheels exactly as they would have been on the 1948 car, the Rings opted to slightly adjust the wheel placement in order to give the car a slightly more aggressive and dramatic appearance. The result is subtle, but effective.

The level of fit and finish on the highly customized body is second to none, the hood alone requiring more than 600 man hours to construct. Even unassuming parts like the plastic trim hood liner were a special effort remade in aluminum, but then disguised to look like plastic to retain the impression. Madam V is the kind of car you can look at with fresh eyes over and over and see interesting design elements you missed in previous reviews. That experience is a regular Ringbrothers vehicle experience.

The rear window is design case in point. Finding an appropriate piece of glass for such a unique vehicle took considerable amounts of time poring through glass catalogs. Mike and Jim eventually had a “eureka” moment when they discovered Dodge Viper glass would be a very close fit and deliver modern styling.

Throughout the build, the target was to retain many of the design cues from the ’48 Sedanette with more modern architecture. Case in point is the Sedanette’s signature side creases above the front wheels that emanate from the base of the headlight chrome trim rings. On Madam V, the trim ring was deleted and the fender extended over the headlight, giving it a more aggressive look. In order to keep the crease, they sharpened the seam and extended it, creating a classic look.

What not visible but really kicking Madame V into the modern era are the extensive amounts of carbon fiber used in the build. The hood, decklid, and bumpers are all made of this magical lightweight material. The 1948 grille has been replaced with the ATS-V’s signature mesh, and the whole body has been sprayed in the custom BASF Glasurit hue “Vivi White,” named for Rydell’s wife, Vivian. The car rides on custom 19×8-inch and 20×11.5-inch HRE Performance wheels and Michelin Pilot tires, 245/45/19 in the front and 325/30/20 in the rear.

Absolute precision in locating the airbag crash sensors was a huge challenge, but after many sleepless nights staring at factory wiring diagrams, the Ringbrothers were successful. Verification of that execution came quite randomly.

“When we were moving the car into the SEMA show, [the owner of the car] Wes Rydell got a call from OnStar telling him that his car had a brake light out,” says Mike Ring. “In reality, we just didn’t install a third brake light, and it triggered the warning system. We thought that was pretty good proof that we did a good job.”

Underneath the Cadillac, the factory downpipes and mid-pipes are unchanged, but the ATS-V needed a more distinctive style, so the Rings added a set of Flowmaster mufflers and polished stainless steel exhaust tips. The ATS-V’s suspension features GM’s excellent magnetorheological damper system, which constantly monitors road conditions and adjusts for optimum handling.

The Rings have re-engineered a 2016 ATS-V that carries all the styling cues of a ’48 Cadillac, while still maintaining all of its modern drivability and conveniences. It is awe-inspiring technological achievement. Jim and Mike’s creativity and willingness to push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of custom cars is the “stuff” that fuels the dreams of every true car lover.