ARLINGTON history is interesting and dynamic. And it features an era of scandal that involved a most unusual evolution of a place called TOP O’ HILL TERRACE.
This month’s featured car is a Cadillac Series 60 Coupe from 1938 … just the kind of car that the wealthy and sometimes sinister patrons would drive from Dallas or Fort Worth to Top O’ Hill Terrace in “sleepy” Arlington for gambling, alcohol, gourmet dining, and perhaps a visit to the brothel.
It is estimated that the casino “take” during its 22 years was well over $50 million … $1 billion in today’s dollars!
Only the dining was legal.
Located on the west edge of town, on the old Bankhead Highway, now Division Street, Top O’ Hill Terrace is the highest point in Tarrant County. A miniature early Las Vegas that attracted a wide array of celebrities, sports figures, some say the mafia … all sorts of rich, famous, and infamous.
Ron Potenzo is anything but infamous.
A Fort Worth native, Ron arrived in Arlington in 1969. Now, a successful contractor, Ron loves his city and its history. His hobby is collecting vintage motorcycles and cars plus he just likes to make things. He showed me an eclectic collection of lamps made from discarded car parts scavenged from his years of tinkering. Very impressive and creative. As his appreciation and immersion in the “car hobby” deepened, he realized that the 1930s were when cars became works of art … when styling was the driving force behind sales. And, by 1938, Cadillac was emerging at the TOP of America’s luxury brands. But, unlike Packard and Pierce Arrow … other grand marques of the time … Cadillac built a wide variety of models, including a sporty coupe like Ron’s. Just like what you would find being valet-parked at Top O’ Hill Terrace on a Saturday night.
Ron’s passion for collecting started 36 years ago, like most of us, with cars from his youth. He found a ’72 Chevelle SS … just like the one he had in high school. That was the beginning of multiple restorations that placed three vintage Buicks, a couple of Corvettes, a Camaro, a Mustang, plus at least a dozen motorcycles in his garage. Last year, Ron decided it was time for a car that was certified as a Full Classic by the Classic Car Club of America. His search ended last December in Rancho Mirage, California, where he found our car of the month. Ron’s eye for detail and quality was satisfied by the smooth, integrated styling that was so dramatic and revolutionary nearly 90 years ago. The negotiations were brief. Transport was arranged, and the anticipated package arrived at his driveway in southwest Arlington on Christmas Eve, 2025. Ron was obviously thrilled, his excitement shared by his wife Leslie and three lucky kids … daughter Randi and sons Brock and Jake … those two prefer their dirt bikes!
The powerful yet elegant design was one of the first from a gifted 23-year-old talent, Bill Mitchell, who would ultimately become head of all General Motors styling throughout that company’s four decades of domination in the US car market. He retired in 1977 after 42 years. There will never be another Bill Mitchell … Today it is all AI and aerodynamics.
Ron’s dark red beauty is also very rare. Just 438 left the factory, and only 3 known examples survive today! It is powered by a “bullet-proof” 346 cubic inch, 135 HP flathead V8, running through a 3-speed manual transmission, with the gear selector moved from the floor to the steering column … An industry first.
Historical note: the victorious American tanks in World War II were powered by two of these Cadillac V8 engines.
For our photo tour, we imagined being the local police, as we drove Ron’s Cadillac up to the guard house, awaiting the opening of the ornamental iron gates. Not sure our Top O’ Hill pass was valid, the guard set off an elaborate silent alarm system providing enough time for the gambling equipment to be whisked away, along with guests to the lavish garden for an innocent cup of tea, or an invisible exit through the escape tunnel … All before we could navigate the 900-foot-long drive to the top.
The illegal activities continued throughout the 20s, 30s and ended in 1947 when a Texas Rangers raid finally caught the gambling operation in full swing.
Throughout the years of prosperous operation, Dr. Frank Norris, pastor of the Fort Worth First Baptist Church and co-founder of the Fundamental Baptist Bible Institute, campaigned for gambling reform and prohibition. He vowed to one day own the entire Top O’ Hill Terrace and convert it to a Baptist College. Nine years after the successful raid, the Baptist Bible Seminary bought the property and transformed the beautiful site into a sprawling campus, fulfilling Dr. Norris’s promise. Today, it is Arlington Baptist College (ABC) still utilizing many of the original buildings on the beautiful grounds that now feature a bronze statue of Dr. Norris at the base of the modern, contrasting ABC spire.
As our imaginary tour continued, we transitioned from police to nervous patrons emerging from the escape tunnel.
Scared, anxious, and grateful that our getaway car was a brand new, fast, and beautiful 1938 Cadillac! Thanks, Ron.
