Luxury Cadillac collection or stolen car dumping ground: you decide! In all seriousness, this is an interesting listing for a few reasons, with the backdrop being the most curious of all of them. The abandoned warehouse / post-Apocalyptic setting is an interesting way to showcase four very derelict Cadillacs, but the seller is offering all four cars for just $8,000. We rarely see the batch approach to selling work out, but maybe there’s enough value here for a restoration shop to justify having some good sheetmetal on hand. Find the listing here on craigslist and located somewhere near Indianapolis.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Zappenduster for the find. The listing shows one hardtop DeVille coupe, a hardtop Eldorado coupe with a sunroof, and two Eldorado convertibles. They all fall in the 1075-1977 age range, approximately, and all of them have had their radiators removed. I’m guessing that has to do with the street value of an old brass radiator these days, and it begs the question as to whether the cars have been substantially parted out in any other way. Like all Cadillacs of a certain age, the filler panels between the body and taillights are gone, but that can happen to cars that aren’t actively being parted.
I tend to think these weren’t parts cars but rather vehicles belonging to an enthusiast that were forgotten about and essentially abandoned. It’s not hard to see how this facility could be broken into and valuable parts removed without anyone noticing. How many times have we heard stories of entire collections left standing in nondescript warehouses, or even parking garages, where the owner never returned? The photos of the interiors show cars that were more or less complete when parked, and it’s honestly amazing more vandalism didn’t occur if they were left unattended for that many years.
My pick of the litter is the pretty teal DeVille coupe, which looks to the most preserved of the lot. The seller doesn’t provide much in the way of details which makes it even more likely this is the result of an estate settlement or the building being razed and no owners coming forward. As a friendly reminder, we have a batch of running and driving Cadillacs for sale in northern Georgia and listed here on Barn Finds as an Exclusive! With all these Cadillacs coming up for grabs, which model and year do you think makes the most sense to grab while the getting is good?
Fun write-up Jeff. I tend to agree that these might be abandoned or forgotten Cadillacs, with some event now coming into play forcing something to happen. I bet they could be had for a song.
If this indeed is the case, it reminds me of a recurring dream (you know the type) (though I haven’t had the dream in years). The dream is that people know I’m a “car guy,” so when they have a very old car, instead of sending it to the crusher they give it to me. Always non-valuable cars, like worn-out four-door sedans. I stash them in garages and barns to be dealt with later. And then I forget where I put them. Then I wake up.
I remember those plastic spacer pieces by the bumpers always went missing. Fantastic cars, but in this condition not sure of the appeal, if any. When this “collection” began, I bet these were gotten for nothing, stashed away with high hopes, never to be touched again. Most possible scenario, sadly, nobody will step up, the property will be or already is sold, the wrecking ball cometh, and away they go for scrap.
@Howard
The “spacers” as you call them never went “missing,” they were made of a plyable plastic that hardened over time and would crack and fall apart. On the Eldorados there were 2 pieces on each side of the bumper. You can now buy aftermarket ones in a hard fiberglass. The rear had 5 pieces. Two on the ends, two surrounding the horizontal taillights and one under the license plate. Since the white hardtop is a ’77, with vertical taillights, the two inner pieces would be solid, but same theory.
The CdV had 5 pieces in the rear just like the Eldorados, all can be replaced with aftermarket fiberglass. Finding OEM soft flexible plastic will be extremely hard to find if at all and incredibly expensive. Back in 2003 when I was looking for my ’75 Eldorado it was difficult & very expensive back then.
I like the teal Coupe Deville myself. Its such a shame that these sat for so long. The drop top Eldorados are always collectable, if bought cheaply enough, maybe you’d have something here. Although it looks like theres some rust in the rear quarters of the white one, you’d really have to look at these thoroughly. I’m thinking eight grands a lot of money. I’d hate to see these get scrapped. Even if they were parts cars for a project.
I don’t think that 8 grand for 4 caddies is too steep especially if you re handy with your hands and some tools.fix them up and resell.they don’t look to be in too bad a shape. too bad I am too old and live far away from them.I am sure that you can probably get them for less
That green Coupe Deville has the rare d’Elegance pillow-top interior. As a fan of these cars, and the owner of a 77 Coupe Deville for 18 years, I hope they all go to good homes, but it may be too much to hope for.
Do check ALL the trunks.
Judge Crater and Jimmy Hoffa might finally be found!
Nah, it’s been determined Hoffa( remains) is in a 55 gal. drum buried in a salvage yard below the Jersey Pike.
A concrete pillar in the Ren Cen.
I wonder if his friends called him Cadillac Jack, I had a 79 Coupe Deville back in the day.
Cheap enough, but restoring any car today is insane money. Non convertible Eldos are worthless. Why are all the radiators missing? They were copper brass back them, a very hard item to find today. Today, all plastic and aluminum.
You can still buy the on the internet–just type in what you want and state–BRASS. Anything now is over priced.
I wonder if the seller added to many zeros on the asking price? At least offer $200 each then you can get them going and ready for the 24hours at lemons
wow I would buy all of them if I could get them home and then, guess what? I would do all the work myself! I have several good radiators too.
That ’78 convertible claimed to be in this collection would be one of a kind and well worth the purchase price and hauling expense.
@PRA4SNW
Thete was no ’78 Cadillac drop top. The last was in 1976.
The red foreground is a ’75 Eldorado, the white hardtop is a ’77 Eldorado, the second red drop top is a ’75 or ’76 Eldorado, most likely a ’75 and the CdV is a ’76
Lady, you know your cars. I like them all and if I had the money and place–I would check on these cars.
@Angel
I know there were no ’78 convertibles. That’s why I said it would be one of a kind.
You have to love it when people don’t know what they are selling. Granted, in this case it is probably someone selling them to clean up after someone else’s “collection”. Probably no titles to help them figure out what they have.
2k each. could be a good deal
No mention of Titles ?
Titles, Titles!
Who needs schinkon titles? LOL
I agree I must prefer the 1976 teal coupe Deville I’ve had several. The only thing I never liked about them was a little square speedometer and it only went up to 100. Otherwise I liked him especially the big 500 in.³ engine.
@TCK
Yeah but that 500 cu.in. was down to 190 hp by 1976. Pretty sad when it started at 400 hp in 1967
And right about the little square speedo display. I love the ’74 thru ’76 but always hated the dashboard and steering wheel of them. ’69 & ’70 had a nice dashboard and ’71 thru ’73 was a great dashboard & steering wheel IMO
The horsepower did NOT go from 400 to 190, you are being fooled like many people. The rating system was changed. The engine was larger, the cylinder bore was larger and the compression was very close. The torque was amazingly high and at low RPMs.
And by the way, a 67 Caddy had a 429 with 340 HP.
1075- that is an antique!
The white Eldorado is a Barritz. It would have that comfy pillow top leather interior as well if it isn’t shot
I can smell the mold mildew and rodent odor from here. Such a shame.
Sit a few large but shallow pans of Clorox for a few days. The odors will be gone. My large bench seat in my 65 Cadillac was ablaze when I was in class at my Electronics school. I unbolted it(still burning) and a few guys helped me slide it out. The Clorox took care of the odor.
Boxes of baking soda, the ones you buy for your refrigerator, does wonders for odors, too.
Arresting or reducing the odor is a temporary panacea to a larger problem. Cosmetically and esthetically a proper total refresh and restoration is required if the means justify the ends.
Unfortunately time has taken its toll on a very interested collection. All in good colors, these do represent the more unique examples of mid 1970s Cadillac offerings. Coupe D’Elegance, triple white Biarritz and 2 converts…Nice!!!
@PRA4SNW
Sorry I miss understood what you were saying.
@ Angel
No problem. I was trying to have fun with that obvious mistake.
And I was too dumb to realize that. 😁
I like the Coupe DeVille as it would be the easiest of the lot to repair. And while the Eldorado might be more stylish, that front wheel drive system will be a real pain in the ass to repair and maintain. The first Eldorado used the same setup as the Olds Toranado. I had a ’66 Toronado and what a POS it was!if I wasn’t
replacing the front tires every 2 to 3 weeks, the engine would constantly overheat no matter what it did to stop it. That car soured me on FWD and still does to this day. iMO, the feds should’ve banned FWD years ago in favor of rear drive. At least with those you can get to the plugs WITHOUT having to tear down the entire engine! And the Toro? It went bye bye when I traded it for a ’62 Buick LsSabre ragtop. Just my 2 cents… And no Angel, you’re not dumb.
@ACQD:
No dear, you are not dumb by any means. Like me, your head is crammed full of knowledge that needs to be shared with everyone. Tonight, I’ll check with my kids as to how they’re doing living their lives without so much screen time. And maybe, time permitting, I’ll share another story with them. Thanks for being such a great friend! Still wanna hold your hand someday. Well folks, I’m off to work. Nice collection of Caddy’s too. See you all later!