William J. Unger

William J. Unger's 1949 Cadillac Convertible of Chicago, Illinois. Built from a fusion of General Motors parts, the build was completed in 1950. It gained national recognition when it was featured in Motor Trend October 1950. In 1951, two photos of the car appeared in Trend Book 101 Custom Cars, in an article named "Customs With Character - A Lineup of Cars With Singular Personalities."

William J. Unger of Chicago, Illinois. When you think of Cadillac, you might imagine luxury, sophistication, and class. However, Mr. Unger saw a canvas, and his 1949 Cadillac Convertible wasn't merely another luxury vehicle—it was an exceptional fusion of General Motors parts, a creation that uniquely stood out from the rest. The build was completed in 1950, and it gained national recognition when it was featured in Motor Trend October 1950. In 1951, two photos of the car appeared in Trend Book 101 Custom Cars, in an article named "Customs With Character - A Lineup of Cars With Singular Personalities."

In 2022, Shirley Unger Calabrese, William's daughter, reminisced about her father's iconic creation with Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama. "William owned and operated Unger Auto Marine and Standor Motors in Chicago from 1956 until 1965. He was a pioneer in the use of fiberglass in auto repair," she told Sondre. Beyond his talent in crafting unique automobiles, Unger ended his career in the auto industry as an educator, shaping the auto industry's future by teaching auto body repair at a college in Michigan.

William J. Unger's Cars

William J. Unger's 1949 Cadillac Convertible