One of the greatest challenges when writing for Barn Finds is resisting the urge to park many of the featured vehicles in our garages. Regular readers know my preference for originality, but there is something about this 1975 Cadillac Calais that I find intriguing and attractive. However, it isn’t its excellent presentation, but the Pickup conversion that draws me like a moth to a flame. It would undoubtedly attract attention, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder BCB42 for spotting a custom classic needing little beyond a new home.
The history of this Cadillac is unclear, but the seller confirms it is a professional Pickup conversion. This was a common path chosen by Funeral Directors as they sought clean and classy flower cars to transport large numbers of floral tributes from funeral services to the cemetery. Since many turned to Cadillac for hearses, a Caddy flower car made perfect sense. I suspect that might be the case here, although it is also possible that someone craved a cool and distinctive custom that turned heads. There are no signs of the types of rough edges that can be hallmarks of an amateur approach, supporting the seller’s claim that the conversion was professional. The lines are crisp and clean, with the fit and finish impressive. The Blue Metallic paint gracing its panels isn’t from the 1975 Cadillac color palette, but on a vehicle of this type, that is not unexpected. It shines nicely, with no significant flaws or imperfections. It seems the Caddy has spent its life in Texas, making its rust-free status and the horns on the front unsurprising. The trim and glass are excellent, and the narrow whitewalls add the perfect finishing touch to the exterior.
This Pickup’s coachwork might be full custom, but everything below the surface is traditional 1975 Cadillac Calais fare. The buyer receives a 500ci V8, a three-speed automatic transmission, and power-assisted steering and brakes. The V8 should generate 190hp and 360 ft/lbs of torque, and since the conversion may have reduced the vehicle’s weight from the original 5,148 lbs, its performance could be surprisingly energetic. The seller recently added a new Edelbrock carburetor, while the tires have only clocked around 500 miles under their treads. The transmission received a recent service, making the Pickup a turnkey proposition. It seems to be in excellent mechanical health, with the seller stating that this Cadillac is ideal for cruise nights, advertising, or parades.
If this Pickup has a genuine weakness, its interior scores that dubious honor. The seller acknowledges that it shows wear and tear, with visible faults on the seatcovers easy to spot. There is door trim deterioration and evidence that the carpet has seen better days. These parts are all standard Cadillac items, so locating replacements shouldn’t be challenging. Alternatively, the buyer might choose a custom trim approach to complement to Pickup conversion. Being based on a luxury car, the presence of air conditioning, power windows, power locks, a power seat, and a tilt wheel will help to make life on the road pretty pleasant.
Some classics are shrinking violets, barely raising a ripple wherever they go. That criticism can’t be leveled at this 1975 Cadillac Pickup, because it can’t help but stand out in a crowd. The seller has listed it here on Facebook Marketplace in Arlington, Texas. Their asking price of $7,500 is undeniably affordable, raising the question of whether it is justified. If it were an original and unmolested classic in excellent condition, the price would be at the top end of the market. However, custom builds write their own rules, and are typically worth what someone is willing to pay. This Caddy has been on the market for a week, suggesting the seller hasn’t been inundated with serious inquiries. If a custom classic has been on your radar, is this quirky Pickup one that you might consider?
The area where the back of the cab meets the truck bed always seems to be a trouble spot for design. Some conversions pull it off while others don’t. This one is a little too abrupt.
Looks to me more like a back-yard special than a “professional” conversion.
Thank you, Jeff
Maybe so Jeff, but still nice looking and if I was in the market for another pickup, this is priced right for what it is. IMHO
Missed opportunity to call it “El Cadmino”
Low tailgate and what is up with the crooked passenger headrest? A dare to be different ride at best and at any car show or cars and coffee event you will have the only one!
If one searched the Cadillac pickups they have tailgates with back of cab more distinctive .
The home custom conversion is very good and price (a lil high) makes a very comfortable cruiser.
Good luck with sale.
Fyi: This would a comfortable small camper weekend cruiser 😎
Not nearly as sleek as to coach built flower cars but seems purposefull. Would have fit right in with the Herse Fest last weekend.
IMO not a floral coach but whomever converted it did a decent job. The roof line is a bit abrupt but over all an actual bed that is usable, I’d put air shocks on it and it would be perfectly capable of carrying 1500 lbs. I’d do a little work to that 500 to make it come alive and drive it daily!
I like the lines of this, but the back window is too big and the installation seems a little sloppy. Like others have mentioned, the spot where a tailgate should go was not engineered very well. And finally, how much bondo is used on a conversion like this? It’s not a bad alternative to a Raunchmino and could come in handy for household errands while being a pretty darned comfortable cruiser.
Flower cars? Wouldn’t flowers get blown off the car when on the highway?
I can see pulling a tricked out Airstream with this but would rebuild the drivetrain for towing first.
Since Caddy didn’t make station wagons in 75, and given the length of this rig, my guess is this is a hearse that got modified somewhere along the way into a pick up. I had a Superior 55 caddy flower car once upon a time, and it was as slick and well done as a factory vehivv CVG le.
I have to disagree. If it was a hearse in a former life it would have been built on a Series 75 chassis. This looks more like it was made from a coupe. There was a company that made pickups from ’75 and ’76 Coupe de Villes but they kept the rear passenger windows in place and were very pleasing to the eye.
@geezerglide 85
Like this. This is a professional conversion, not a backyard exercise. It remains the original taillights and bumper but has a tailgate.
Color is close enough that this could be a Cadillac Miss Agnes.
It drives me absolutely INSANE that almost everyone assumes because it’s a Cadillac pickup truck conversion it’s automatically a flower car or converted hearse.
This one is NOT a professional job, but a backyard hack job. It originally was a coupe cut up and made into a Cadillac pickup. It was never a flower car or a converted hearse.
Professional hearse and flower cars have rear doors and tailgates. The center of the rear bumper is replaced with a lower bumper, with the taillights IN the bumper and the license plate BELOW the bumper to make room for the door and tailgate. This vehicle has the original rear bumper. They only removed the trunk lid. Didnt even make a tailgate for it. Some non backyard conversions will make a small narrow tailgate, leaving the original bumper and taillights, but professional companies that do make hearse and flower cars replace the rear bumper as in the picture.
Appears those rectangle low beams are getting hard to find,,the Texas location( and bulls horns) are typical.
“The stars at night are big and bright,,clap, clap, clap, clap,,,,deep in the heart of Texas”( firing pistols in the air)
@HowardA
Why do you say that, Howard? You can go into any Auto Zone or Pep Boys and get them off the shelf. The big problem with ’75 & ’76 Cadillacs is there are little pink plastic pieces that the adjusting screws go into and those always break over time. Whenever you see a headlight that’s pointing down or to the left or right, it’s because the pink piece is broken. Had to replace every one on all of my rectangle headlight Cadillacs.
I think he’s referring to the lamp being dark like it’s weak or burned out. Pretty common for cars on this site.
Also, is this a ’75 or a ’76? It has a ’76 grille, but ’75 parking/cornering/side marker lights & taillights.