National STONEWALL Rebellion Veterans Association
S.R.V.A.
Website
1969 Cadillac DeVille
"The Stonewall Convertible"
April 2026 ~Still Temporarily~ Full Cadillac Convertible Picture File is at:
Https://www.StonewallVets.org/rec-StonewallCar.htm
#1
1969 Cadillac DeVille with
background of Long Island Sound, Stony Brook, L.I., N.Y.
Notice the original hub caps
before they were replaced with spokes!
[Picture-perfect photograph by Leighton H. Coleman, Sr., Esq.]
#2
Pictured: Sonia Jane Attkiss and Willson L. Henderson with
1969
"Stonewall Convertible"
Location: Borough Park area 55th Street in Brooklyn, New York
Wonder who owned the car? Look at the N.Y.S. license plate:
WLH-33!
[Photograph by Max Attkiss on Sunday, May 12, 1974]
#3
Picture is of the 1969 Cadillac DeVille a/k/a the "Stonewall Convertible" being serviced at
Prestige Auto Repair on Third Avenue in the Upper, Upper East Side of Manhattan, N.Y.C.
[Photo by Youth-4-SRVA's female organizer Gina D. Wright]
#4
STONEWALL
Rebellion Veterans Association * Current & Upcoming 2025 Events
#5
Classic car parade on the
famous Long Beach Boardwalk in Long Island, New York
Shown: (left) 1970 dark green Cadillac; (right) 1969 blue
Cadillac
[Photo by Donald Ray Williams of Long Beach, New York]
#6
#7
Autumn in New York -- with a touch of autumn-otive classic class
(Location: Barbara Lane, East Meadow, Long Island, New York)
[Photo by Willson Lee Henderson]
#8
The grand 1969 Convertible extra-carefully transported
Location: Lido Beach Boulevard, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY
Note: New York State license plate reads "WLH-69"
[Photo by Willson L. Henderson]
#9
1969 "Stonewall Convetible" on Greenwich Avenue in Manhattan, New
York City
[Photography by Bronwyn Ishii]
The now famous 1969 "Stonewall Convertible" was so named not by the STONEWALL Rebellion Veterans Association ("S.R.V.A."), which now owns the car, but
by many people in the streets subsequent to the 1969 Stonewall
Rebellion. We regularly drove the eye-catching, metallic blue,
show-boating, big car down the full length of Christopher Street from
Greenwich Avenue to West Street (West Side Highway) at the Hudson River
in Greenwich Village, New York -- and still do -- and many Gay and
other people yelled out -- and still do -- "The 'Stonewall Convertible'"!
#10
The true blue "Stonewall Convertible" at night and, from a downward angle,
looking very coupey!
{That crease caused by
a mayoral vehicle was removed when car was restored in
1999.}
[Photo by Terri Van Dyke]
= History
of the "Stonewall Convertible" =
Those original participants and observers readily recognized the
cool, unique, stand-out, metallic blue, big Cadillac convertible,
one-and-only car impounded ("hijacked") by the New York City Police
Department ("NYCPD") on the first night of the Stonewall Rebellion (it
was not a
'riot' -- no vandalism, no injuries, not one auto insurance claim) on
Friday night, June 27th, 1969 at
about 2 a.m. The car with the top 'down' had been parked, as
usual,
on the same block of the Stonewall Club on Christopher Street -- really
only a stone's throw from the club's entrance. The car was driven
(not towed, as many think) bytwo un-uniformed NYCPD police
officers to the old Sixth Precinct on Charles Street near the
Hudson River in Greenwich Village. Fortunately, the
event was a 'rebellion' and not a 'riot' or the car would have
been definitely damaged or possibly destroyed. There would have
also been a huge amount of other automobile insurance claims.
In reality, there were no insurance claims by anyone for anything
-- not even a scratch.
|
#11
1959 Edsel and 1969 Cadillac leading a N.Y.C. Gay Pride Parade
[Digital Photography by Hal M. Weiner]
| A quarter-of-a-century later on
January 1, 1994, the 1969 "Stonewall Convertible" officially was bestowed with
"vintage" automobile status in accordance with the New York State
Department of Motor Vehicles' requirements and guidelines. A
vehicle must be at least 25 years since production for 'historic'
designation. It is ironic that this silver milestone for the
historiccar occurred in the exact year of "Stonewall 25"!
Remember, the car and the rebellion were born in the same year!
Throughout the Spring of 1994, the "Stonewall Convertible", with actual
veterans of the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion, was on prominent display at
seemingly endless events, celebrations, commemorations and even Gay
clubs and restaurants hosting "Stonewall-25" parties and dinners and churches
memorializing this historic anniversary. On "Stonewall Sunday",
June 26, 1994, the "Stonewall Car" was in the New York Sunday News (with a circulation of nearly one million), describing the
history of
the car vis-a-vis the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion. The only Gay newspaper
in New York City at that time was the New York Native, which
assigned a reporter to the car, the Stonewall veterans, the 'alternate'
march and the S.R.V.A. at the huge rally for the entire day. The New York Times described the "Stonewall Convertible" as "... in mint condition".
That is the supreme automotive compliment! |
#12
Captivating Video of the 1969 Cadillac Convertible -- Photos Outisde and Inside!
The 1969 Cadillac DeVille convertible is shown on this brief video from
all sides and the interior! This is not --repeat 'not' --
the "Stonewall Convertible"! Howver, ironically, it is the same exterior
color of metallic blue and the exactwhite leather interior.
It fully shows the dashboard and even the rear seat two chrome
ashtrays. You will notice that the Cadillac convertible in the
video does not have the big wide whitewalls. It does
interestingly havethe custom wheel extension off of the rear
bumper. That would make the already long car about twenty-one
feet long!
Video.Search.Yahoo.com/search/video?fr=yfp-t&p=Cadillac+convertible+1969
#13
Upfront and up close: the unmistakeable front of the 1969 Cadillac
[Photo by Marlon W. Hurt]
#14
S.R.V.A. event flyer for an external
'restoration' benefit for 1969 "Stonewall Convertible"
[Design by Shari Clemons at Liz J. Abzug Consultant Services]
="Stonewall
Convertible" leads "Stonewall-25"=
| The
beautiful, blue acrylic lacquer 1969 "Stonewall Convertible" led the
historic 1994 "Spirit of Stonewall March" from the landmark STONEWALL
Club in Greenwich Village, New York, through some narrow Village
streets passing the historic Washington Square Arch, with the huge Twin
Towers of the World Trade Center in the distant background, all the way
up Fifth Avenue with cheering spectators, to Central Park! At the
Avenue of the Americas and West 59th Street entrance to the park is
where the two huge marches came face-to-face. There was a loud street
'debate' from the heads of both marches as to which march should enter first.
That, to a historically-correct, respectful, prideful person was a
no-brainer. Basically, we were just sitting a spell in the sunny light
with people gratefully taking pix of the classic convertible saying to each other that
"...ain't no one gonna be goin' into that park on this glorious dayc
before this historic, famous and beautiful 1969
Cadillac "Stonewall Convertible". It was ultimately
'decided' that the march with the legendary "Stonewall
Convertible", the STONEWALL Rebellion Veterans Association and the Imperial QUEENS of Greater New
York would rightfully go first! The decision was actually enforced
and put into action when a queen -- the Queen Allyson Allante -- issued a royal
warning: Watch out! -- or you will get run over by the
two-and-a-half ton "Stonewall Convertible". So, this famous car now lead
hundreds of thousands of G.L.B.T. people and their friends and
supporters into the park, where hundreds of thousands had already
congregated in anticipation of the biggest G.L.B.T. rally in history.
Have you ever brought your car to be part of an event with a real
million people? The "Stonewall Convertible" was the only car in the entire Central Park that glorious day -- along with (as estimated by the NYCPD) over
1.1 million people! |
#15
New York State Registration Card for the 1969 "Stonewall Convertible"
The vehicle identification number (VIN) has, of course, been deleted.
#16
After a parade, the 1969 "Stonewall Convertible" on Hudson
Street in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, NYC
| The 1969 Cadillac DeVille "Stonewall Convertible" is
proudly owned, diligently maintained, safely garaged, fully insured and
carefully cleaned by the STONEWALL Rebellion Veterans Association ("S.R.V.A.").
Years after the Stonewall Rebellion, the appropriate license
plate for the "Stonewall Convertible" was secured: "STONEWAL". In
New York State you can only have eight characters (letters and/or
numbers) on a license plate. The saved last "L" is for
"Liberators". |
#17
Accommodating note from the local Sixth Precinct of the New York City
Police Department
#18
1969 Cadillac "Stonewall Convertible" on display at the
New York City Convention Center
[Photo by Willson L. Henderson]
Non-Profit Organization Maintaining the Classic 1969 Cadillac Convertible
| The
cost of garaging this historic, valuable, classic car is about $400 per
month in a solid, secure and convenient Manhattan, New York, garage,
that is, totaling nearly $5,000 per year. And, that is just
for the garaging of the car!
There is also auto insurance,maintenance, license plates,
registration and sometimes a repair. The "Stonewall
Convertble"is one of the many worthwhile reasons why the S.R.V.A. must
upkeep its fund-raising throughout the year. Otherwise, there
would be no irreplaceable"Stonewall Convertible" for the future --
starting tomorrow! |
#19
New York Daily News does a popular
story on the 1969 Cadillac "Stonewall Convertible".
U.S. Senator Daniel Moynihan declared the
S/W-Car: "A rolling symbol of Gay Pride!".
[Article by Tara Crosson]
#20
Roadblocking -- with permission of the NYCPD
Note: In the purple shirt is
Liz J. Abzug.
[Photo by Leigh McManus of the S.R.V.A. in Manhattan]
= background 411 on1969 Cadillac DeVille Convertible =
For you car buffs, and other interested parties, here are some very
interesting factoids regarding the 1969 Cadillac DeVille convertible.
General Motors Corporation (GMC) described this Cadillac as its "crown
jewel". Right they were! Its weight is over 4,600 pounds (nearly 2 1/2
tons!); its length is 225 inches (nearly 19 feet long!); its width is
80 inches (over 6 1/2 feet wide); its height is 55 inches (with
convertible top up); its wheelbase (the distance between axles) is 130
inches; and its massive, powerful, fuel-efficient, 375 horsepower, V-8
engine is 472 cubic inches at 4,400 r.p.m. (revolutions per minute).
It is the largest V-8 engine ever produced to power a passenger
car! This Cadillac has the great standard-equipped power steering,
power brakes, six-way power bench seat, power windows, A.M./F.M. stereo
radio, power radio antenna and, most importantly, power convertible
top. The convertible top is made of white, triple-woven padded
canvas with a real glass rear window. One option the car has which we
rarely use is the "automatic climate control system". When is the top
up? Never! No, not even in winter. The car is kept with the top seating areas
are white sierra ostrich-grain leather. The flooring is midnight
black pile carpeting. The dashboard, door panels and rear seating area
side panels have inlaid, designer grain wood. The entire car interior
is original! The custom Vogue tires are extra-wide whitewalls.
The wheel covers are solid chrome spokes. The fuel tank capacity
is a whopping 26 gallons (plus one gallon reserve). The locked
gas cap is hidden behind the rear license plate ("STONEWAL"). |
#21
Cadillac has traditionally led the parade!
[Photo by a United Kingdom Promotional Agency]
===== more
411: 1969 Cadillac =====
|
Over 16,000 of these classic Cadillac convertible cars -- a
very large number for a luxury convertible -- were produced by General
Motors Corporation with "Body by Fisher". The huge chrome bumpers
and massive front with cast aluminum "egg-crate" grille was used as a
design model for Cadillac grilles for the following two-plus decades
into the 1990s. The car front debuted the innovative and
safety-conscious wrap around cornering lights (now found, though less
grandly, on almost every car). 1969 was the year that front seat
headrests (restraints) became mandatory by law. Seatbelts were
now required to have a push-button open/close mechanism.
The 1969
Cadillac marked the public-wanted return of the dual horizontal
headlights (after four years of the vertical, un-Cadillac, 'stacked'
headlamps). (See "S/W-30" on the S.R.V.A. website "Photo Album" icon
for pix of a 1966 blue Cadillac convertible, periodically with
the S.R.V.A. in the parades.) In 1959, back-tracking a decade,
Cadillac had the incredibly unique, "bullet" tail-lights. Ten
years later, it seems that they made a point to have the 1969 tail
lamps be unique. 1969 was the only year that the Cadillac had the
distinctive "lantern" tail-lights. They complimented and were
built-in to the slowly sweeping, modified tail fin. For an
excellent foto of the tail lamps, see the Greenwich Village, New York
photo on Greenwich Avenue at Jackson Triangle Park below.
In fact, virtually the only difference between the 1969 and the
1970 Cadillacs (same body, same size, same stats, etc.) were the
tail-lights.
The 1970's returned to the Cadillac it's well-known, long, vertical
tail-lights.
The 1969 and 1970 Cadillacs (98% identical twins) were widely
described as "muscle cars with tuxedos". It is most appropriate
that the 1969 is both distinctive and 'different'. The ad slogan
for the 1969 Cadillac was: "The pleasure of driving the only
luxury convertible built in America!" Over three decades later,
that horn slogan still blows true -- and with even greater
significance!
|
#22
A "Stonewall Convertible" prior New York license plate: "STONEWAL"
[Image courtesy of New York State Department of Motor Vehicles]
#23
"Happy Tails" 2 U!
[Photo by Bronwyn Ishii]
= questions and answers:
1969 "Stonewall Convertible" =
|
The most
frequently asked question about the "Stonewall
Convertible" is: "What is the mileage?" At the turn of the
millennium (2000), the S/W-Convertible had an original mileage of
94,169 on New Year's Day. It continued to stay in the heated garage
until June! The mileage was only 94,894 original miles three
years later as of January 1, 2003, actually regarded as a very low
figure considering the vehicular age. At 35 years, as of
April 1, 2004, the mileage was only 94,954. OnJune 11,
2005, the odometer read a low 95,169.
Again, three years later, at the end of June in 2008, the
mileage is merely 95,233. Since the car did not do a few parades for
various reasons -- including predicted thunderstorms,lightning and rain
downpours -- in the past four years (as of mid-May 2013), the
"Stonewall Convertible" drove less than 40 miles! In
mid-2013 after the annual New York City G.L.B.T. Pride Parade, the
original mileage is only 95,386. In the last dozen years less than
1,000 miles have been added to this restricted-mileage "historical"
vehicle.
An interesting question asked is: Was the "Stonewall Convertible" held by
the police as 'evidence'? No! Evidence of what? -- other
than the fact that Willson Lee Henderson,
the car's owner, was there. After all, there was no crime and,
thus, no 'evidence'. Another often-asked query is how long did
the NYCPD have (illegal) possession of the car? It was for two
nights (June 27 and 28, 1969) and three days (Saturday thru
Monday). The vehicle was a "P.O.W."! Thankfully, it
was rescued and there was absolutely no damage to the beauty.
And, considering that the NYCPD are known as "the boys in blue"
and the car is police blue, we were lucky that we ever got it back from
them! Is the engine the original? Yes, it sure is -- and
absolutely nothing overhauled. It even has the original glass
window cleaner bottle and mount adjacent to the engine! Needless
to say, the engine is huge!
|
#24
Classic car with classic people evoking an historic classic
car scene
[Photo by Willson Lee Henderson]
To many people who have written to the S.R.V.A., the above photograph of the
very classic convertible car evokes
a well-known, historic, presidential car scene from the early
1960s -- long before this 1969 car was even built! If you have
any ideas on this deja vu scenario, please e-mail the
S.R.V.A. with your comments to:
SRVA@STONEWALLvets.org.
#25
New York City thanks to the blue and white 1969 "Stonewall Car" honored
being featured in another New York Yankees Baseball World Series
Parade
with Derek Jeter, Paul O'Neill, David Justice, Mariano Rivera, et al.
[Letter authored by CEO Cristyne Lategano-Nicholas the president of NYC & Company]
#26
King Cadillac on location in Brooklyn, NY, in 2002 to lead a big
nighttime parade
[Photo by Willson L. Henderson]
*
| The
1969 "Stonewall Convertible" has appeared in several movies, television
commercials, print ads and photo shoots. It was used in the
promotional poster for both the premiere of "Stonewall: The Play" in
1994 and "STONEWALL" (the first movie) in 1996. Since the
"Stonewall Convertible" had a professional exterior restoration in mid-1999,
S.R.V.A. members voted unanimously to again make the car available
(after a 20-year hiatus) to be 'leased' -- with S.R.V.A. on-site
supervision -- for films, commercials, print ads, editorials and
videos. We had a pending arrangement for the front page
of a design magazine; however, they did not want to pay
anything!?
The yuppies and an ancient, eccentric and cheap G.M. (General
Motors) queen thought it would be enough for people to see the car on
the
cover! Huh? How does that pay the car maintenance, the
automobile insurance and the car garage bills? It does not.
We said: "No way"! |
#27
1969 "Stonewall Convertible" on display at New York City
Police Headquarters
Note: The building designation states "One Police Plaza"
[Photo by NYCPD Sgt.
Erin J. O'Reilly in June 1998]
#28
General Motors Catalog: 1969 Cadillac front view with
massive grille
[Photography courtesy of General Motors Corporation]
#29
General Motors Cadillac Catalog: 1969 Cadillac DeVille
Convertible
[Photo courtesy of GMC]
"100 Years of Cadillac History"
(excerpted from Popular Mechanics magazine)
| "You'd be hard-pressed to find an automaker as consistently
innovative as Cadillac. For well over 100 years now, from the
first
automobile electric starter to V-8s to 16 cylinders to automatic
transmissions to power windows and world-famous tailfins, Cadillac
traditionally led the parade!" -- Popular Mechanix |
#30
General Motors Corporation (GMC) Catalog: Rear View of 1969
Cadillac Fleetwood Sedan
[Photo courtesy of GMC]
#31
National Story: 1969 Stonewall Rebellion
Veterans Convertible
Read a 2009 interesting article on the 1969 Cadillac "Stonewall Convertible"
featuring an eye-catching collage of pictures by car columnist Murilee Martin.
Jalopnik.com/Stonewall-Veteran-1969-Cadillac-DeVille-Convertible
#32
Classic Cadillac Convertible clearly commands the community!
[Photo by AnDre M. Christie on Northern Boulevard in Queens County, NYC]
#33
New York State "Statue of Liberty" Custom License Plate: "STONEWAL"
Note:
In N.Y.S. and elsewhere a license plate allows only up to eight
characters
(letters and/or numbers). Many years ago, the NYS plate was "69 CADDY".
On this S.R.V.A. website, the 1969 Cadillac "Stonewall Convertible" is
always one of the "Top 5" weblinx out of over 100 files!
Just to see this car, there were over 57,000 visits in the month of
May 2006. There
were over 50,000 visits in April of 2007 for the classic
1969 Cadillac DeVille convertible
also known as the "Stonewall Convertible"! In September of
2007, there were over 56,000 verified visits. There were a
whopping over 70,000
visits in just one month for
the historic "Stonewall Car" in April 2008! For September 2008
and February 2009, there are over
50,000 visits each month! In
July 2009, there were over 61,000 visits just to see a certain
vintage Cadillac!
Hot
August 2009 hit over 70,000! With the new decade, the "Stonewall
Convertible" is receivting way over 50,000 verified 'visits' per month! In
August of 2010, the "S/W-Convertible" webfile had a huge over 72,000 visits!
The
1969 Cadillac convertible file at the S.R.V.A. website kicked off 2011
with over
64,000 visits in January, over
60,000 big ones in April and over 62,000 in May 2011! For
December of 2011, there were again over 60,000 visits! In
fact, verified 'visits' to the 1969 Cadillac "Stonewall Convertible" webfile
are cumulatively
stronger than ever! The S.R.V.A. always adds new pix throughout the year!
See 1969 "S/W Convertible" statistics for month of
June 2025.
Out of over 100 webfiles at the S.R.V.A., the
"S/W-Convertible" is usually in the top five!
www.STONEWALLvets.org/stats/2025_06.html
At the statistics
file, scroll to"Referrer Report".
U-turn can't miss it!
#37
Carefully-carried Cadillac convertible cargo
Location: Lido Beach Boulevard, Lido Beach, Long Island, NY
[Action photo by Willson Henderson]
#38
Internet Photos of the 1969 Cadillac featuring the "Stonewall Convertible"
Https://www.Google.com/search?q=1969+Stonewall+Cadillac+DeVille+convertible
STONEWALL Veterans' Association's
internet 'search engine' of choice:
www.AskJeeves.com
"The butler did it!"
Support the Historic "Stonewall Convertible"!
The STONEWALL Rebellion Veterans
Association conducts
a fund-raising campaign for the famous 1969 Cadillac DeVille
"Stonewall Convertible". The '69 convertible has its
original engine -- which works great! The car has been treated with
great care, like a person -- thanks to one individual: Willson Lee
Henderson! The automobile is one of the most
famous vehicles in America, if not the World! You can support
the maintenance, garaging, insuring and other expenses,
including planned restorations, both pro-active and decorative, of
the blue 1969 Cadillac "Stonewall Convertible"!
Https://www.StonewallVets.org/membership/sponsorship.htm
#39
Rear view of the grand 1969 Cadillac "Stonewall Convertible" leading a
New York City Pride parade
Note: The brown arm in the red
shirt belongs to the SRVA's office manager AnDre Christie.
[Digital Photography by Hal B. Weiner, Esq.]
You may contact the S.R.V.A. with comments,
suggestions and/or questions.
E-mail the Stonewall Veterans at:
SRVA@STONEWALLvets.org
For the temporary and complete 1969 "Stonewall Convertible" webfile, visit:
Https://www.Stonewallvets.org/rec-StonewallCar.htm
1st April
2026
*
"Motoring"
Motown song by: Martha Reeves & The Vandellas
from their record album, casette and compact disc "Dance Party"
-and-
the automotive Motown song from Detroit, Michigan is here:
Https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=fFHgRJXUgcM
*
1969 "Stonewall Convertible" theme color for April is always yellow
for Easter and Springtime!
*
NYC 1969 Stonewall Rebellion 57th
Anniversary (27th June 1969 to 2026)
and
57th year of the 1969 Cadillac ...and the 1969 "Stonewall Convertible"!!
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