Who Is The Protagonist In 'Cadillac Jack' And His Backstory?

The protagonist in 'Cadillac Jack' is Jack McGriff, a former rodeo cowboy turned high-end Cadillac dealer with a knack for finding rare cars. His backstory is pure Americana—grew up in Texas, busted broncos in his teens, then pivoted to cars after an injury. What makes Jack fascinating is his dual life: by day, he’s a smooth-talking salesman schmoozing with oil barons; by night, he’s chasing leads on vintage Cadillacs in dusty barns. The book paints him as a relic of an older West, navigating modern greed with cowboy ethics. His past as a rodeo star gives him a rugged charm, but it’s his eye for automotive treasure that drives the plot.

Jack McGriff in 'Cadillac Jack' is one of those characters who feels ripped from a roadside diner conversation. A Texan through and through, his rodeo days ended when a bull named Devil’s Fork crushed his collarbone. Instead of fading into obscurity, Jack reinvented himself as the go-to guy for classic Cadillacs. The novel digs into how his nomadic childhood—following his dad’s oil rig jobs—shaped his restlessness.

What’s compelling is his moral code. Unlike other dealers, Jack won’t gouge prices, even when he finds a ’59 Eldorado buried under chicken feed. His backstory isn’t just about careers; it’s about preserving history. The rodeo injury isn’t a sob story—it’s the pivot that made him value craftsmanship over adrenaline. The author uses Jack’s past to contrast the flashy 1980s oil boom with the quiet dignity of salvage yards and honest deals.

Jack’s relationships reveal layers too. His ex-wife calls him 'a stray dog who brings home diamonds,' which sums him up perfectly. He’s not chasing wealth; he’s chasing the thrill of the hunt, a trait that traces back to tracking down lost cars with his granddad’s stories as a map.

Meet Jack McGriff—the kind of guy who smells like leather and gasoline, the protagonist of 'Cadillac Jack'. His backstory’s got grit: raised in a trailer near Odessa, he learned engine repair before algebra. The rodeo phase was short-lived but legendary; locals still talk about how he rode a mechanical bull for 47 minutes at a county fair. After the crash, he channeled that same stubbornness into hunting rare cars.

Jack’s not your typical hero. He’s got a photographic memory for vehicle specs but forgets birthdays. The book hints at a softer side through his bond with his daughter, who tags along on salvage trips. His past isn’t glamorized—there’s debt, divorce, and a stint living in a dealership backroom—but that’s what makes him real. The author frames his Cadillac obsession as a metaphor for rebuilding broken things, including himself.

What sticks with me is how his backstory mirrors the cars he loves: rough around the edges, but with a polished soul underneath. His rodeo scars aren’t just physical; they’re reminders that surviving a fall matters more than the ride.