Perhaps not one of the most sought after big finned models, this ’52 Cadillac Coupe De Ville is an affordable survivor. Not perfect but nice enough, this Cady is drivable but needs some overall tlc to be truly roadworthy. For $6,500, we are willing to do some cleaning, and other odds and ends to make this Cady reliable and road ready. Find it here on craigslist out of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The Interior of this Coupe De Ville may not be the most inspiring, but there are still some positives about the interior of this Cadillac. Granted the front bench seat needs to be reupholstered badly, but the rest of the interior isn’t completely ruined. If you reupholstered the front seat you may as well do the back. The Door panels look to need some love as well. Although the dashboard, and the steering wheel look great. The carpet is likely toast as well, but I guess some could get by with a blanket on the seat. The body looks acceptable, with little to rust. The driver side rocker and lower door appear a little wavy. There also appears to be a dent on the left hand side of the trunk. Some trim is missing from the car in the photos, though the seller claims to have all of the trim. There is little mention of the drivetrain other than the engine runs, and that the car is drivable. Since this Cady has been sitting a long time, it likely needs to be looked over and checked for safety. Fuel system, brake system and components, suspension, and perhaps tires. But overall this looks to be a fairly simple project for someone who has always wanted to have a 1950’s Cadillac.
We are a fan of the dark green, light green combination, and we really like the car overall. The chrome doesn’t look terrible, but the paint on the other had is difficult to make out. The car is all one color, so we are okay with that. So who wants this Coupe De Ville? We think this would make a good cruise and preserve project, or most certainly an excellent restoration project. What would you do with this Coupe De Ville?
I love this. A supercharger probably fits under the hood with no mods.
That’s Caddy, not Cady. And that car is full of lower rust. sheet steel doesn’t just bulge like that. It blisters, has surface rust, the rusts through, then someone smears bondo over it all even after possibly screwing or riveting newer sheet metal over natures openings, grinds and sands away the trowel grooves and repaints it.
Unfortunately it looks as if someone used a roller and latex paint on this one.
In my humble opinion the asking price is way off the mark!
“Caddy”
Sorry, that was bugging me….
Needs…TLC = Truck Load of Cash.
I like it. 2 door hardtop with all the options (PW, PS, Auto). There may be hidden rust but it looks really solid (would like to see some undercarriage pix) and the expensive trim is mostly there. It would be a cool ride for sure….with the fire hose running to the carb…8-12 mpg I’d guess. This was pretty much the height of luxury in 1952. I don’t know what I’d do to it without beginning the process, but I’m pretty sure I’d try to keep it original as much as possible (perhaps upgrading the brakes…at least to high end shoes). In NC, I’d want to add an after-market A/C unit.
Clean it up, fire up the JC Whitney catalog for a set of seat covers and drive it back east directly on route 66!
LD71 :D
Love the car but would want to inspect thoroughly. I’m concerned that bondo over rust is lurking under that paint in spots, as well as the frame. I know because I bought a 46 Plymouth Special Deluxe Club Coupe years ago that I shouldn’t have… it was completely rotted out underneath the paint… But, if it was in NM its entire life, it might be free of those problems.
Yeah, just about everything below the headlights looks suspect. Still, if you could get it running within a few hours you’d have an evening summer cruiser that would turn a lot of heads.
$6500? Only a buck a pound!
This would be a fun project but wondering if it fits into a newer garage? A friend was telling me his new truck is too long for his garage and if memory serves me right the old caddy’s were about that long