I’ve always loved the early 50s Cadillacs. They really were like a living room on wheels and didn’t handle much better. These Cadillacs were really quiet with silent engines. I remember when the 1955 Chevrolets came out thinking “Wow, the new Chevy has Cadillac headlights and taillights!” I was thrilled when my dad traded in our stodgy old Plymouth for a new 1955 Chevy with those Cadillac lights. This car could be a really elegant sled but it would be a project that could keep you busy for a long time. It is running and the seller says there is no rust. It is a California car and a long way from the ocean, so it could very well be rust free.The seller says it is complete, so perhaps the missing bits are all in the car. How much do you think this old DeVille is worth as it is? They are asking $6,500 here on craigslist out of Livermore, CA, just east of the San Francisco Bay area.
Not sure if it is worth 6500. It is going to cost at least 4 x that to get into good looking condition. What is the resale worth? I had a 57 4 door hardtop. big, cool with leaky windows, traded it for a first generation Corvair 2 door with a 4 speed. Never regretted that move.
Could be an interesting project; depends on how complete and how rust-free it really is. The seller doesn’t make a claim about it being a California car, David. You’re making an assumption based on a license plate that was issued in 1973-1975 and offers no proof of where it spent its first two or so decades.. If that old Caddy was a California car from new it should have black plates with yellow letters and numbers had would’ve originally had yellow [plates with black letters. The yellow plates and the black plates had three characters followed by three numbers; the blue with six yellow characters plates, like on this ’55 Cad, were issued between mid to late 1969 and sometime in 1980.
I’m usually not a big fan of the “patina” look, but if this one is truly surface rust only, I would service the drivetrain, sand it and clearcoat it and install a nice interior instead of the 30K restoration. Would make a nice cruise night car.
Nice project but one that will keep you busy for a couple of years. Myself I’m more partial to that ’59 Chev pickup in the background. But then, I’m a truck guy.
I don’t see early Caddies back here in the rust belt east and this is one of the more attractive body styles. To see one of these back on the road would be wonderful. I like the body style, color and the trim. The Dagmars on the front bumper were iconic for the Caddies that had them. I’d rather see this as a driver than a full restoration project, assuming the rust issues are minimal as just restoring the chrome would cost a fortune.
If anyone is interested, I live and work in Livermore and can take a look at the car for you if youre out of the area.
I do like these big land yachts, this also being a 2dr hrdtp is desirable but for the asking price and if you want to bring this back as original you better have some very deep pockets with a lot of cash. I also question why the later blue plates which were issued first year 1970 in CA. It’s quite possible it was not an original CA vehicle and was first registered from out of state in the early 70’s? This may have had some paperwork (title) issue with DMV post 1970?, or lost or stolen (black) plate’s?
one of my favorite years, and a coupe to boot,not so sure about the asking price might be a little on the high , does nt like many options.