INTERVIEW WITH CADILLAC KEN

First Published in early 2004

Mike Kelly of the CRUISE NEWS interviewed Cadillac Ken for and issue printed in early 2004.  Below is the article in it’s entirety.

This month instead of a TOP TEN list we decided to do something a little different.   We wanted to put together a Ten Question list.  Most of our readers know Ken Caskey alias Cadillac Ken as the owner of Kidd Darrins Restorations and Custom Cars in Melbourne, Florida. And of course, the writer of the column in this magazine titled From Our Vintage Point. He has been building cars since his first 1936 Ford 2 door sedan at age 16. As the owner of Kidd Darrins Custom Cars he has produced some beautiful cars, many of which have been featured on our covers through the years (most recently the gorgeous 1939 Chevy of the January 2004 cover). Ken is a working owner and on any given day you can find him in the shop performing his metal magic, sanding bodywork, or fabricating some intricate molding or trim piece. He has a far reaching customer base that seeks his shop out in order to tap into his wide array of skills. We thought it would be interesting to sit down and pose some questions to Ken regarding his work, designs, inspirations, and more.

Q1:   There seem to be more and more shows on the cable channels that feature Hot Rod Shops.  What do you make of that?  Do you          think that’s good for the business?  What about a show about Kidd Darrins Custom Cars?

“For whose business?  I don’t know, I think it’s good TV maybe. Some of those shops are very entertaining but I don’t know how they get any work done. I saw a show where they welded the entire floor into the car and forgot an important brace that should have gone in first.  Six, eight, hours of work and now the floor has to be cut back out!  Not in my shop.  I suppose as the old saying goes any PR is good PR.  At the very least they (the shows) bring attention to the hobby and I suppose that’s a good thing – it does educate people as to what it takes    money wise to build a top notch car. As for a show on Kidd Darrins, I don’t know it’d probably be pretty boring. You know, no flying tools, no yelling, just hard work.  What I will say is that some of those timeframes they throw around – under six weeks, less than that to build and entire car?  I don’t know I’ve got my doubts.  Besides, I don’t know many craftsmen that can do their best work with a gun to their head”. 

Q2:   It seems like most of the featured shops in those shows including Motorcycle Chopper shops are building some very expensive           bikes and cars.  It it possible to have that much money into a project such as one of those?

“Oh most definitely.  You figure these guys are getting over a hundred grand to build a custom bike. And a car, well do you think a car is at least 3 or 4 times as complicated?  Sure it’s a lot of cash but first off the talent pool is getting low.  The talented guys don’t work cheap. The cost of running a business is getting worse and worse. Everything keeps going up – licenses, overhead, and insurance, don’t get me started on insurance. But I guess what it really comes down to is time.  Great creations take time.  Design time, prototype time, and the cost of hand building each piece to make it truly a one of a kind vehicle or bike is staggering.  But then again so are the results.  These customs today are extremely sophisticated pieces of art and machinery. Most customers’ expectations are way up there (raising his hand above his head). They want the ride of a Mercedes, the power of a Ferrari, the reliability of a Honda and the fit and finish of a hand built car. It’s the fit and finish part that is the most time consuming.  You have to essentially turn a 30’s, 40’s or 50’s car with 50 to 70 year old technology into that 21’st century caliber ride. And when I say 70 year old technology I talking about out dated sloppy hinges and latches, ill fitting doors and panels, terrible gaps, and more. But that was the best it got 70 years ago – hell some of the sixties muscle cars aren’t much better. You find yourself redesigning almost everything on these old cars. Remember when these cars were new they were transportation first, pretty to look at second.  Even the paint quality on today’s Rods has to be better than any 2004 factory job out there – and they (major automotive manufactures) have millions invested into their spray booths, and paint application systems!”

Q3:   Most people don’t know that you have a degree from the University of Florida in Art/Design. What are your ideas on good               design and how do you go about coming up with ideas for rods?

“I guess the degree thing helps some. My professors tried to teach you to think more. Like how can I do this better or different or what’s the best way, or I should say, more efficient way to get the look I want. Maybe a different material like aluminum instead of steel will work quicker. But application is in the doing. You learn by trying things. You find out pretty quick what’s going to work and what’s not by just getting into it. Of course there’s no substitute for experience. Just doing and doing and doing. But as far as an eye for design and proportion, colors, and just plain coming up with an idea, I think that’s something you either have or you don’t. I don’t think you can teach that.”

Q4:   On the subject of design, what inspires you – where do your ideas come from?

“Everywhere.  I subscribe to a ton of magazines and I look through them all. Now I didn’t say I read them all. But I find little design elements or cues in all sorts of places. I see something I like and I think to myself wow that’s cool but what if you changed it like this (hand gestures) or made it longer and used it on a console or as a fender trim. It could be some industrial product, household appliance design, or something I saw in a photo of a car at the Detroit Auto Show. I use things like that as a springboard to a whole new application or direction in a hot rod. Next thing I know I’m sketching on whatever paper is handy and then I put it in my IDEAS folder.  People say their work is their life but probably for me it’s really true in that I’m always on – always thinking, planning designing in my head. I know there are things more important than work and I keep that perspective, everything in its place. I wouldn’t say I’m obsessed but even when I’m not working I’m there in my head.”

Q5:    Do you think the cars you build take on your personality to a degree?  One well known builder once said he makes his               statement in the engine compartment. Do you have a place you like to make your statement on the cars you build?

“Without a doubt, a car should take on your personality or at least show your touch. If not than you’re just going through the motions and collecting a check.  I like to build cars I would be proud to drive.  I mean of course the customer brings you his ideas and that’s your blueprint for the car but the execution of those ideas should have your personal influence as a shop.  Most customers expect that.  That’s one of the major reasons why they came to you in the first place and not the other guys shop. I guess my ‘statement’ is an overall top quality vehicle in every respect. No shortcuts – build it as if I own it.  Specifically, I like to think Kidd Darrin’s makes their statement in our interior designs.  I enjoy designing interiors.  I think it’s the last unexplored frontier in hot rods. Most guys don’t really think anymore when it comes to the inside of the car. Sculpted foam door panels in tweed, 1-800- A/C vents, door panel lights, and a decent set of buckets – end of story. I like to create a look, negative spaces, unique materials, unique lighting, textural variety, unusual unexpected colors.  Color is all about slight variations. If it’s blue and gray the gray needs to go to the blue side of the spectrum. I hate the status quo. You know red car, grey interior. Black car, tan interior. I mean it’s nice but I’m so tired of it. Get creative man! When I’m asked to judge a car show I think the most difficult thing to pick is a ‘Best Interior’ winner. I seldom see an interior that really stands out to me as unique.”

Q6:   We all know you like your Cadillacs, but what else gets you revved up when it comes to hot rods?

"I'm pretty much open to anything.  I usually tell people that hot rods or cars in general are like women to me - I like them all.  I may have a preference for brunettes or redheads but I still like them all.  Well you know what I drive every day (Ken has a 1933 Essex "rat rod" - his words not mine!) and I live that car!  But I also love the big fins. I’ll drive anything that I think is cool. Big, small, foreign or American it’s all good!  Each car I own talks to me in a different language. You just learn to appreciate them all for different reasons.  I’ve had cars that were fast but were too uncomfortable to drive for more than 20 miles!  Soooo, I just didn’t take it far. I’ve had cars that were performance duds but looked way too cool to hold it against them.  The key is to build and drive what you like. To hell with what anyone else thinks. I find I’ve been pretty happy not worrying about what other people think when it comes to my car. After all it is your car- you’ll never please everybody- so concentrate on the only guy that counts - you.”

Q7:   Are there any new cars out that you admire or find interesting?

"No not really.  I like some of the new ideas on styling but I don't know of any new cars I would like to own,  Cars are kind of like music to me.  They've already made all the coolest cars and the best music.  I haven't had a chance to even sample a tenth of what's out there already.  Today's cars are too concerned with mass appeal.  Things like cup holders, nav systems, and needless even ridiculous bells and whistles have all taken cars to a surreal level.  Don't get me wrong not all technology is bad, but it seems to me today's manufacturers have forgotten how to build a car you feel connected to, one you really drive one that will not drive itself.  Do I need traction control on dry pavement?  Gees, learn how to drive the damn car!  I can tell you I hate the hard edge design phase Detroit and the rest of the car design world seem to be in now.  Round and sensuous beats hard and creased in my book every time.  Why do you think a '32 is so timeless?  It's just plain good design and a pleasure to look at."

Q8:   You have a reputation of being all business.  Is that true?

“What personally? Or just as Kidd Darrin’s ?  Personally I hope I still know how to have a good time!  But in my shop that’s true it is all business. We don’t play the radio. We’re at work and we concentrate on our work. We keep the time we spend on customers cars by stopwatch.  If you stop working for any reason you stop the watch. At the end of each day we fill out our respective Labor Logs describing the work we did on the car and the time it took. Those hand written Labor Logs then get input into the computer and each week the customer receives a copy. Once a month they (the customers) receive a Parts and Materials Log.  It takes time but it is necessary. We’re not a huge shop. I know each customer’s car, there expectations, the details they’re looking for and what it is they expect to drive home with in the end. My personal involvement in every project is essential to me feeling like it got done to the customers expectations. I don’t want a big shop.  It’s too easy to loose touch with your roots and what it was you started building cars for. Personal reward in achieving the goal, knowing every aspect of the car, knowing I could completely disassemble and reassemble any vehicle built in my shop. Building a really great looking, driving car is only part of it.  Making it easy and enjoyable to live with is the just as important.  I always said nothing takes the joy out of ownership of a cool car, whatever it is, like niggling problems, little annoyances – I know it does for me.  Things have to be built to last.  If I design something mechanical it has to perform again and again and I test it to prove to myself it will. Detroit may make a lot of mistakes but you also have to realize they have millions of dollars invested in testing and research in everything they do.  Sometimes you have to look at the way they have done something and realize they probably had a pretty damn good reason for doing it that way and learn from it. Sure sometimes there’s a better execution of an idea, but don’t kid yourself, these guys get paid big bucks and they’re not all overpaid mistake makers.”

Q9:   When you get involved in a big project car that will take years to complete how do you keep your motivation?  Does it get               difficult to focus on the complete picture?  What does the plan from day one to completion day involve?

"You do it enough and you get a method.  As I said before, there are no short cuts. You have to plan and build the car complete.  Right down to pre-fitting all the sheet metal, installing the driveline, running the hoses and lines.  Every detail needs to be addressed.  That way there’s no surprises once the car is painted and done and final assembly starts. So rather than repainting, touching up, drilling new holes or making a bracket you forgot, the final assembly goes quick and smooth. The most important thing in any project is to be thinking four or five steps ahead of yourself.  Trying to head off trouble before it gets to you. Like trying to figure if there’s going to be a problem with a design four steps into it before you actually start fabricating or ordering the necessary parts before you know you’ll need them. It’s tough and it’s a full on commitment even after you close the doors.  I’m always thinking on the ride home or over my morning coffee what I need to do when I get in or who I need to call. You have to have your head totally clear and concentrated on your customers’ cars. I know it sounds like a cliché but that’s what it takes to make it all go smoothly so it’s a pleasurable experience for the customer. It’s supposed to be fun for the customer not one headache after another or one “bad news” phone call after another. It’s a lot of pressure. As for how do I keep my motivation?  I truly enjoy it.  Getting back to your question you asked if it was “difficult to focus on the complete picture” And ironically that’s kind of the opposite of what I do. Once we’ve established the plan I look at each phase of the project as a single challenging task.  Say I begin working a door. I clear my mind and block out everything else.  This is my job right here, right now.  I don’t think about the rest of the project or how long it is away from completion or all the other things I have to do on the car. I focus in on that door and I concentrate on it as if it was the only piece I have to complete.  And when it’s perfect and I’m happy with it I feel a sense pride and completion of a task that was done the best it can be done. Then it’s on to the next task. How does that go? A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step?"

"Oh yeah that’s and easy one!  I couldn’t begin to even … I don’t know… I guess I would build a scratch custom bodied something with a really ‘out there’ interior design and of course it would run on Cadillac power – Northstar maybe – no a 500 CI caddy. I always wanted to build a killer 500 cad. Hell, that one’s too tough because I like too much stuff.  I only wish I could build more cars in general. Ideas I got. Time is what I’m looking for!"