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1958 Cadillac Limousine: Long Barn

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It’s a good thing this barn is so long, since it’s housing a 1958 Cadillac Fleetwood Limousine. Listed here on craigslist in Seattle, the big Caddy is said to be surprisingly rust-free and nearly complete aside from some missing trim pieces. For $5,500, this could be the ideal way to drum up business for a livery company or simply pretend like you’re diplomatic royalty – assuming you can afford a driver. 

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While certainly not the gregarious fins these Cadillacs are known for, the more subdued look works on this elongated sedan. It’s good to see the factory badging still in place, lending some credence to the seller’s claim that it’s mostly un-messed with. These Series 75 cars (and really, most every generation of Cadillac’s limousine line) represented the pinnacle of the company’s abilities to compete on a global stage of luxury vehicles, with high-end interior finishes, powerful engines and gorgeous Fleetwood styling.

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From the driver’s seat, you’d enjoy the thrust of 310 b.h.p. from the 365 cubic-inch V8, but it still had to lug 217 inches of Cadillac down the road. The driver also got to enjoy air conditioning, cruise control and a signal-seeking radio. The dashboard still appears to be in good order, with no major trim pieces missing, but it does appear the carpet has been removed. Hopefully, it doesn’t reveal any serious floor rot but the seller does allude to at least some rust – though, “not in a bad way.”

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The seats appear dusty but not tattered; the missing hubcaps appear to be stored inside as well. The door panels look rough, and the carpet should be powerwashed if not removed entirely. Unless my eyes deceive me, I don’t see the jumpsheets present that should be right in front of the bench. The seller does say the trunk is full of parts, so perhaps there’s some treasure to be found in that cavernous storage compartment. This is priced a bit high for a project, as these Series 75s aren’t worth much more in running, driving condition. How would you use it and what would you offer?

Comments

  1. Avatar Ceezy

    This would have to be a labor of love, you’d never recoup your investment, but the end result would be a magnificent example of 50s luxury. Wish I could rescue it but I know my limits.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Mark S

      Ceezy you have nails it, labour ot love indeed. The big question is what do you do with it when your done restoring. Your kids aren’t going to want it when you pass on it’s just to big, it would be like having to store a fire truck. And almost as useless. Pass at any price.

      Like 0
  2. Avatar Puhnto

    I think you pull on those handles on the left in picture four, and the jump seats unfold.

    Like 0
  3. Avatar PaulG

    Here’s a nice original: http://www.grahamsclassics.com.au/vehicles/cars/1958/cadillac/fleetwood-75-series
    BTW, from what I could find, this car has a 149.7″ wheelbase, and a 237.1″ overall length.
    That’s 3″ shy of 20′!

    Like 0
  4. Avatar redwagon

    i like much of the styling …. but the door frames …..? what, and why are they designed like that? is there extra headroom? it seems the roof is raised relative to the tops of the doors?

    Like 0
    • Avatar David G

      Raised ‘aircraft’ style doors indeed increased the ingress/egress headroom, giving The Executive a bit more of the feeling of entering a ROOM, rather than a car. This required a bit less strain on his/her (possibly age-challenged) neck while pouring themselves into the ‘lounge’ area…

      Like 0
  5. Avatar jaygryph

    Woah, I almost thought that was my old cadillac. It’s identical in year and condition to one that I had, though mine was black and this one looks blue.

    I bought that car for $300 from beside an abandoned house. The house was by a river and we surmised that at one time the river flooded and it sunk the car. EVERY SINGLE EVERYTHING was stuck on that car. Engine, door locks, latches, dash switches. Seriously everything.

    The bumpers are all missing and I bet that’s why they bought that car.

    They only paid $500 for that when they picked it up from me, with everything so rusted it was really a complete parts car.

    Always wondered what happened to it.

    Had a minor heart attack seeing this one and just KNEW it was the same car. Was sold in Oregon so Seattle wouldn’t have been much of a stretch.

    Like 0
    • Avatar jaygryph

      Nope, dug up the pictures of mine, which was actually way rustier than this one, and had factory AC in the trunk which this one does not seem to have as it hasn’t got the rear fender air scoops.

      I think they made very few of these limos so hey, there was a chance :P

      Like 0
  6. Avatar packrat

    –They had one of these limousines, a ’58 or a ’57, outside of the Hard Rock Café in Fountain Square in Nashville, on wide whites, this color shot in an imron knockoff, from 1987 onwards. It was just a mascot, it was left out on the pavement to bake. It got pretty crusty before it got moved/scrapped/whatever happened to it.

    Like 0

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