After 5 years of being in storage since Bill Williams passing in 2006, his 1977 Series 1 Clenet roadster, is back on the road, heading for the Desert Classic, Concourse d' Elegance. with the original fabricator Steve Kouracos at the wheel.
"Bill the Clenet" as you can see in the picture, represents glamour on the road and always arrives in style. Just as Maybelline represented the American ideal in eye fashion - beautiful automobiles with their flashing headlights represented a beautiful woman's face to founder Tom Lyle Williams and his love for both endured until his death in 1976.
His nephew Bill Williams, carried that image and confidence with him his entire life - with a love of flashy convertibles, beautiful women and state of the art design.
Growing up, It was hard seperating Maybelline from the Williams family because the Williams family was Maybelline and though it's no longer an American owned company it will live in our family's hearts forever. I think I can speak for the entire William's family when I say we still feel connected to our uncle, and great uncle Tom Lyle Williams and his love of beauty in any form.
Come meet author Sharrie Williams and her family and see her father's Clenet Roadster, at the Concourse d' Elegance on Feb 27th in Palm Desert, where Alain Clenet the original Clenet designer will be signing Bill's Clenet number 13 of 250 in series one, in a special ceremony that will be filmed in his honor.
Also read more about Tom Lyle Williams and the founding of Maybelline in 1915 to 1968 and the family behind it, in The Maybelline Story.
If you're curious about the cruising music, while Bill the Clenet heads down the highway, click on the video's below.
Maybelline, by Chuck Berry
Good Vibrations by the Beach Boys
My Way by Frank Sinatra
