The real-life "One Piece at a Time Cadillac" - Craig County Genealogical Society - Posts

Johnny Cash, Welch, Oklahoma, and the real-life "One Piece at a Time Cadillac" - Craig County Genealogical Society

In 1976, Welch, Oklahoma, businessman Bill Patch decided to build a car like the one described in Johnny Cash's hit song, "One Piece at a Time." Here's the story of how he got it built, how he gave it to Johnny Cash, and how it started a long-term relationship between the country music legend and the northern Craig County town.

"A 1965 Cadillac Sedan DeVille body was used as the base to start on. The chrome said 'Coupe DeVille Sedan' down the left side and 'Sedan DeVille Coupe' down the right side. It had two headlights on one side and one on the other and when you pulled the light switch on the console all the lights came on.... The car was built with only one tail fin. As the song said it was a three door model, with two doors on one side and one door on the other. The guys just for kicks rigged the top of the car with a flashing 'ONE PIECE AT A TIME' sign....

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