The owner of this 1958 Cadillac Fleetwood found it hidden away in a Canadian barn. It had belonged to the same family since new, but it had spent more than 20-years in hibernation. He dragged the vehicle out into the light of day, intending to return it to its former glory. However, he has taken the tough decision to downsize his collection, so the Fleetwood needs to find a new home. It is located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has soared beyond the reserve and currently sits at $10,100. I have to say a huge thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for spotting this gentle giant for us.

As the 1958 model year unfolded, the fins trend was reaching its zenith. They would achieve massive proportions in 1959, but those that manufacturers attached to their 1958 offerings were no less subtle. They also reveal a fascinating fact about the classic car scene. When manufacturers phased out the fin, owners of cars from this era generally found them to be slightly embarrassing. They were so “yesterday” that many owners no longer wished to be seen behind the wheel of a car with a styling feature that had fallen out of favor so rapidly. That saw values of vehicles like this Fleetwood collapse, and buyers found that they could secure some extremely nice and relatively new luxury cars for a pittance. However, the classic scene has embraced vehicles like this, and today, good examples are highly sought by enthusiasts who wish to recapture the flavor of the 1950s. Our feature car is finished in the shade called Peacock, and it must have made a bold statement when it was new. With a healthy shine and those vast expanses of chrome, it would’ve turned heads wherever it went. The glory days are behind this Cadillac, but the photos tend to suggest that recapturing them might not be that difficult. After more than two decades in a barn, the paint is now looking very tired, but the general impression is that the storage environment must have been pretty reasonable. There is no visible rust, and the owner doesn’t mention any issues in the listing. Making a definitive call on this is impossible as Cadillac applied so much bright trim to this car’s lower extremities that it is impossible to guess what might be hidden behind it. This is where an in-person inspection would be a wise move, although the lack of significant surface corrosion in areas like the engine bay augers well for this classic. The panels are free from apparent dings and dents beyond a single defect in the driver’s door, while the E-Z-Eye tinted glass shows no problems. The same is true of the exterior trim, although the rear bumper is damaged. However, the owner includes a good replacement in the sale. Taken on face value, it appears that returning the panels and paint to their former glory could be a fairly straightforward proposition.

This Cadillac is a numbers-matching classic that features a 365ci V8, a 4-speed Hydramatic transmission, and power steering. In its prime, that V8 would have pumped out 310hp. The Fleetwood makes no pretense of being a high-performance vehicle, but an 18-second ¼-mile ET still looks pretty impressive for a car that tips the scales at 5,110lbs. It may seem that those days are a distant memory for this car, but the news isn’t all bad. The owner has coaxed that V8 back to life, and he says that it sounds pretty sweet. There are no knocks or other odd noises and no evidence of smoke that could indicate internal issues. The car runs and drives around the yard, although it is a long way from being roadworthy. The brakes don’t function, and the tank is still full of ancient fuel. That means that this luxury classic will require a thorough check and plenty of work before it graces our roads again. However, when you look at the car’s overall condition, getting it roadworthy and hitting the streets in this Fleetwood as an original survivor would seem to be a possibility worth considering.

If the Fleetwood’s exterior turned heads in its prime, there’s little doubt that the interior would’ve sealed the deal. This car rolled off the line with an interior trimmed in a combination of Turquoise/Black Calcutta Cloth and Turquoise Metallic Leather. Although the cloth has begun to rot, most of the leather still looks like a specialist could save it. As well as addressing this, the carpet is beyond help, and the dash pad is badly cracked. Replacing the carpet is likely to be the least expensive outlay that the buyer will face. I performed a brief search, and while I could locate the correct cloth available by the yard, I had no success finding replacement covers. That means that the buyer may need to hand the whole thing to an upholsterer if the interior is to be returned to its former glory. The car is equipped with a few power options, and after years of inactivity, it’s surprising to learn that these all function perfectly. As well as power windows and power locks, this Cadillac features a Code Y Posture Control 6-way power front seat, a heater, and a pushbutton radio.

If this 1958 Cadillac Fleetwood 60 Special is as complete and structurally sound as the photos and listing tend to suggest, it could represent an excellent restoration project for the right person. Whipping the panels and paint into shape should be no more difficult than for any other classic from this era, while the same would be true of the drivetrain. The interior has the potential to be costly, but it could still be worth the effort and expense to return that to a factory-fresh state. Values have remained pretty consistent over the past 5-years or so, with any increases being pretty minimal. However, that all changed as 2021 dawned. Values across the board have risen by nearly 30% in the year to date. It isn’t clear whether this is some form of anomaly or whether this is a sign that these will continue to appreciate in coming years. Either way, it isn’t uncommon to see spotless examples commanding prices beyond $60,00 in the current market. If that trend is set to continue, that makes this Fleetwood a restoration project worthy of a closer look.