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50 Year Sleep: 1954 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible

How perfect is this – a Series 62 Cadillac Eldorado convertible hiding out in a Utah shed! The Cadillac has been parked there since 1965 after the then-owner decided to address some sort of mechanical ailment but never finished the project. The Cadillac has been mostly protected from the elements and remained nearly rust-free despite the long-term outdoor living situation. Fnd it here on eBay with one bid to $15K. 

It may seem strange, but there’s part of me that finds the Cadillac so beautiful just sitting there in its current faded state. The aging process has obviously stripped the Eldorado of its paint, but the convertible top mechanism supposedly is complete, and the only rust on the car is in the bottoms of the fenders. The chrome doesn’t look terrible in this picture, certainly not past the point of restoration. Original wire wheels and fender skirts are also included.

Despite the top being down for decades, the interior isn’t as bad as we’d expect. The canvas from the roof is long gone but the Cadillac’s floors remain in good shape. Photos of the interior are poor but do show a relatively complete front bench seat with leather or vinyl that will need replacing. Surprisingly, in this picture, the dash pad seems just dirty and not cracked due to age and sun exposure.

It’s clear some restoration work commenced on the motor, with the air cleaner and carb removed likely years ago. The seller mentions that all engine parts have been stored in labeled boxes since the previous owner started the tear-down; those parts are included in the sale. While this Cadillac needs nearly everything after sitting for decades, the lack of rust may make this Series 62 worth rescuing from its long-term parking space.

Comments

  1. Avatar grant

    The top isn’t “down” so much as “shredded.” Sad that this old Caddy was mistreated like this.

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    • Avatar Tom Member

      very sad. parts car, maybe. iconic ride but the extent and cost of the resto, to any level, on this one far exceeds what it could ever be worth.

      Like 0
  2. Avatar Karguy James

    It’s not an Eldorado which will lower it’s finished value substantially. I Don’t think it will go for a whole lot more than it’s opening bid.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Dale

      its, not “it’s”. it’s = “it is”

      Like 0
      • Avatar SR

        I don’t get it.

        Like 0
  3. Avatar Justin french

    Can you say “quick flip?”

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  4. Avatar James Burdzinski

    Not a Eldo. Anyway we have all the parts to make her sweet looking again. Sled ? Got a few 383 Strokers .

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  5. Avatar Mr. TKD

    I’d do a 472 or 500 cubic-inch Caddy transplant. I could envision throwing more money at this sled than reason would allow. It’d be worth it to have something this cool.

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  6. Avatar Cary A Gay

    This car’s restoration screams north star V8!

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  7. Avatar bassboy99

    how come the carbs are the first to go when you see a motor in an old car. Seems to me imho that is the norm. As for this caddy, I wish the owner would have protected it more through the years.

    Like 0
  8. Avatar KEN TILLY Member

    I think we seem to forget that cars were only built to last 4 or 5 years tops but we want them to last for 50 or 60 years or more. If they had been built to last that long the manufacturers would have saturated the market and gone out of business long ago and we wouldn’t have any new cars.

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    • Avatar Brakeservo

      That didn’t happen to Mercedes, and isn’t happening to Toyota who happen to build incredibly long-lived automobiles. My Tacoma has half a million miles on it so far, no rust, the rear brakes are still original, and even the still working AC has never required service. My ’59 Mercedes 220S has doors that shut like a bank vault and drives better than most new cars.

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      • Avatar Gary

        The transmission in my Toyota 97 RAV4 had to be replaced around 50,000 miles. That doesn’t seem very long lived to me………..

        And in the 60s & 70s, Japanese cars were know as “60 thousand mile disposable units”.

        Maybe MBs from the 50s were made to last a long time but Toyotas were not.

        Like 0
      • Avatar 427Turbojet Member

        Don’t remember seeing many 50’s (or 60’s or 70’s Toyotas) but I haven’t really been looking for them either.

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      • Avatar Dan Giove

        I would find it hard to believe that your Tacoma would be rust free, if you lived in Wisconsin.

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      • Avatar SR

        I’m guessing your 220S wasn’t a daily driver at anytime in its life, then again maybe it was. Even today Mercedes have a limited market, in 1959 it was even more so, not just because of price but also availability up until the early 60’s the only importer was Max Hoffman in New York unless a returning veteran from WW2 brought one home as a war prize. These were sold to the very privileged & where maintained & babied. It’s some what true American cars weren’t built with longevity in mind but the biggest reason was the economy everybody had money & weren’t afraid to spend it. It boiled down to supply & demand, cars weren’t a major investment until Naders Raiders sucker punched the American auto industry imports played by a totally different set of rules.

        Like 0
      • Avatar SR

        Good thing you bought a Tacoma if it was a Tundra the frame would of rusted in half by now.

        Like 0
      • Avatar Brakeservo

        Re: SR – Well yes, my ’59 220S was not only a “daily driver” I also used it to regularly zip back and forth from Portland to Santa Fe back in the mid 1980’s. Car had an interesting history, had been “Watergate” figure John Erlichmann’s daily driver when he was part of Nixon’s administration. I don’t know if he bought it new or used. But what’s the beef with Nader? How many of us have survived auto accidents that would have otherwise been fatal or worse were it not for the safety requirements manufacturers had to meet beginning in 1968? Interestingly, a late 1959 Mercedes already featured the most significant and important features everyone else had to implement by 1968 including padded dash boards and steering columns that wouldn’t impale you in a severe front end collision. I for one will acknowledge that Nader performed a great service to the motoring public and if you or your child has ever survived a bad automobile wreck you owe him your gratitude too!

        Like 0
      • Avatar SR

        Well played Sir, my beef with Nader is simple he started out with his heart in the right place but as time went on it became more about the limelight and less about public safety. His book “Unsafe At Any Speed” put him on the map in DC and when that faded his ideas became more political motivated and less about the consumer as he became a pawn the American auto industry used against each other selling his services to the highest bidder. Safety stardards were no different than performance advances 90% came from fatalities in various forms of racing. Even though he wasn’t a American racer Jackie Stewart played a huge roll in automotive safety of street cars.

        Like 0
  9. Avatar Duffy

    Imagine the price tag to restore this one. How can anyone do this to a beautiful vehicle? Put the thing into a barn, plastic on the floor, jack it up off of it’s wheels and cover it. To look at something like this makes me sick. Sorry but this is in the junk stage. Just my opinion.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Derek

    I think Jeff’s right. It looks so perfect, so beautiful, and so peaceful sitting right where it is, it’s a shame to disturb its rest and rudely jar it awake. I would just leave it be to rest, and rust, in peace.

    Like 0
  11. Avatar RoughDiamond

    I know this is a strange analogy, but do you remember when Dr. Robert Ballard brought us the first video footage of the bow of the Titanic resting quietly on the ocean floor? When I saw this that is what I immediately thought about this old Cadillac land yacht. It appears to me that through the dust the windshield is cracked, but maybe not since the seller does not mention it.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Brakeservo

      What?? I’m shocked! Shocked I say. You think it’s possible a seller left out a fact, a possibly negative issue? Why, that never happens on the internet does it?? Oh heavens . . .

      Like 0
  12. Avatar Madmatt

    Priced quite a bit higher than I would think it was worth,
    but they are valuble,and yes, it is only gonna go up in
    value over the years.If the kid in the photos started restoring it now,
    he might get it done by the time his future kids go to prom…!lol,
    These are really beautiful cars,and this does deserve
    some sort of re-freshening ?,and should be enjoyed by someone once again.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Nrg8

      Kid and dad should read up on haunta virus

      Like 0
    • Avatar waynard

      I’m thinking shill bid. 9-10 thousand max value. Needs absolutely everything. 60-75K restoration. This is close to being a parts car. Plus you gotta move it to wherever…

      Like 0
  13. Avatar RonY

    I think its absolutely beautiful in the state its in right now….. why??…..simply because its still here, once again, thanks to the previous owner(s), for not crushing and at least giving this stunning, yes stunning, auto the chance to make it back on the roads once again, I and am sure a lot of others are just happy its still here as I am…..not sad, not sick to my stomach, not mad at the owners, just glad its still here, Happy New Year to all!!!

    Like 0
  14. Avatar Maestro1

    If you love these cars enough and have the time, money and courage, restore it and be proud.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Duffy

      Maestrol, exactly correct. Some times you have to put more money into a vehicle that you like and most likely never get the money back in return. The investing companies call it, “Bad Investment”. If you like the vehicle and your going to drive it and your going to turn heads, so what.

      Like 0
    • Avatar waynard

      …and please don’t go changing the engine out.

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  15. Avatar GearHead Engineering

    Looks to me like it could be saved. Not sure if you’d make money doing it, but I’m with Maestro and Duffy. I am into this hobby for the adventure and challenge, not to turn a buck. That said, I wouldn’t pay $15k for it. There are plenty of less expensive cars that would be just as much fun to fix up and drive.

    I would be concerned about the frame and floors. Maybe it’s not an issue in Utah, but where I live parking on dirt and gravel pretty much guarantees rust. Does anyone know if windshields are available for these?

    – John

    Like 0
  16. Avatar Robert

    This car is toast … neglected for just too long.

    Like 0
  17. Avatar PAPERBKWRITER

    Sitting on dirt. It might look rust free BUT…

    Like 0
  18. Avatar Brakeservo

    Re: Dan Giove – No, not Wisconsin but Oregon, Washington, New Mexico and Arizona. Was plenty of snow and ice when I was in Oregon though.

    Like 0
  19. Avatar Ward W

    Earl’s dead Cadillac for sale, Jimmy Buffet said I’d find this on the Tamiami trail.

    Like 0
  20. Avatar Alexander Member

    Mention the Titanic or any unearthing of some conveyance that has become one with the earth (or sea floor, buried in sand, etc) and I get the feeling they look much better where they sit. And disintegrate if moved from their current location.

    And I wanted to be an archaeologist when I was in 5th grade because of all the hub-bub surrounding the King Tut treasures.

    Like 0
  21. Avatar Alexander Member

    Relisted for the pre-determined amount of $15k based on the shill! However, the new listing does show more photos–4 of the original wire wheels, skirts, and the manifold. The posting seems honest and legit, but this guy is smoking crack if he thinks there is only limited rust. This thing needs to be on a lift to determine the structural rigidity. .

    Like 0
  22. Avatar george

    this seller has terrible feedback. go back a few pages in his feedback.

    Like 0

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