Art and cars #31 - Ronald Reagan and the 1954 Cadillac La Espada

[Ray B.]

Who is he, and what car can he be associated with?
Art and cars. Painters, writers, musicians, actors, movie makers: in a nutshell, artists. Cars of special importance in their work, or in their life.

Rule is: you identify the artist, you have one week to find the car. After that, the hunt is opened and anyone can rob you of your point.
Thanks!

[Ray B.]

Hello, experts!

[hugo90]

Looks like old Ronald Reagan to me.  I only know he had a '78 Subaru Brat, but not what other vehicles he owned or drove.  Is it Ronnie's Brat?

[Ray B.]

You're right about the man, hugo.
Now for the car, I am going to be a little choosy this time, as the first part was easy. I's not a car he owned, (as far as I know) and not an ordinary car.
A very special and unique car. You'll know when you find it, because he is pictured at its wheel.

[Stephen M]

Reagan directed the Secret Service to purchase a 1952 Jeep Willys M-38A1 which the protection service used when he was on his ranch...the jeep is associated with him, but was never owned by him AFAIK. But I can't find a picture of him behind the wheel of it, so maybe that's not it. 

[João]

Can I say what´s the car

[Ray B.]

Hold your horses, vaqueros! All the Art and Cars puzzles are locked one week for the puzzler who IDs the face, it's written in the first post.

So I won't comment this Jeep story to give an extra advantage to hugo. But I'll add that the car may have very little significance relation with Ronnie here, except that he had his picture taken in it. But that it's a special and unique car that many an Autopuzzler probably knows, while non-Autopuzzlers may never have heard of it.

[Stephen M]

All the Art and Cars puzzles are locked one week for the puzzler who IDs the face, it's written in the first post.

Indeed it is, I can't believe I missed that. Mea Culpa. I will now follow along with silent interest for a week.

[hugo90]

Well, I've been looking, and I find him pictured at the wheel  of the 1954 Cadillac La Espada Motorama Show Car.  I suspect that is the one, as what would he be doing at Motorama.  La Espada?

[Ray B.]

La Espada it is, you're right. What was he doing at the wheel, besides some public relations? No idea.

[Otto Puzzell]

Perhaps he was steering, and/or working the pedals? 

1954 was the 50th anniversary of the Chicago Auto Show. Reagan (still an actor by trade, and soon-to-be host of GE Theater on TV) was joined by Cab Calloway and others in making promotional appearances at the show.