The original owner of this car was the band leader Xavier Cugat.

Xavier Cugat purchased a 1940 Continental Cabriolet from Indianapolis, IN-based dealer Fred Williams, Jr., which he picked up in Detroit.  The car was described as “paint in lighter than royal blue” with red leather upholstery and an almost white top.  The photo shows the car equipped with a center-front bumper guard and a cowl antenna.

Six 1940 Cabriolets were sold through the Indianapolis Sales Branch and only three of them had red leather interiors. Cugat’s car couldn’t be 56-26 because that car was painted black and it couldn’t be 56-71 (a Capri Blue job) because it was sold to Nick Maglaris of Evansville, IN.  Mr. Cugat’s car had to be the remaining car, 56-255. 

A review of the Assembly Plant Record provides further confirmation of this conclusion.  The Cugats took possession of their car in Detroit which is consistent with the notation on the APR, “D/A”, indicating the car was “driven away” (i.e. picked up at the plant in Dearborn).  The exterior color is a special color written as “Special Blue #2” and the top is tan.  Accessories included a center-front bumper guard (written on the back of the card) and a cowl antenna.  The article is dated July 7, 1940, but note the heavy coat worn by Mr. Cugat, indicating the photo was taken earlier in the year during cooler weather.  The Date Shipped reported on the APR is April 14, 1940.

The back of the Assembly Plant Record showing the center-front bumper guard accessory:

Xavier Cugat leading his band playing his 1943 hit “Brazil (Aquarela do Brasil)”. Recorded on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1955.