Featuring all the luxury, style, and space that you could desire, this low mileage Deville survivor would be a great Christmas gift to someone that has a family to tote around. With a documented 48,000 miles, this Caddy was driven early this past summer, but seems to have slept the rest of that time parked. Repainted once about 15 years ago, the overall appearance of this car is nice, but with a few minor needs to be found. With a few days remaining, this sharp big in Caddy is bid up to $12,200. Take a look at it here on eBay out of Clearwater, Florida.
The air conditioning system puts a grin on my face as this Cadillac can be enjoyed even on the warmest of days. The 390 V8 was running in the early part of the summer, but there is no word as to how well it ran, or if it still runs. Although with its low mileage, it would make sense that this gentle giant would have plenty of life left for cruising. There is some dirt and grime under the hood, but the engine bay looks as if it would clean up nicely. The only clues given about the engine by the seller is the suggestion for an “overall service”.
Inside there are clear seat covers to protect the factory upholstery, and as a whole the interior looks quite nice from what can be seen. There are several interior photos, but somehow the seller missed taking a photo of the dash, steering wheel, and the driver seat area. There appears to be little to no interior damage with the door panels and seats presenting very nicely.
Although this Cadillac may have a few too many doors or too much roof for some, I would gladly take on this finned mother ship if only I had somewhere to dock such a beast. Rot looks to have missed this beauty and the only real visible concern with this car is the paint. According to the seller the clear coat is chipping on the lower edge of the trunk, and there is apparently some rust on the lower portion of the left door. I am unsure as to which door the seller means, as both the front and rear appear rust free. I am guessing there are a few rust blisters in one of the doors, but the rest of this Deville appears rust free. Hopefully with a little patience, and a few greasy hours, this Cadillac would be ready to drive once again. Would you give this large finned 4 door a new home?
It’s absolutely gorgeous and it’s a FOUR DOOR!
Not only a four door, but a four door HARDTOP!!!
Wow//
It would be fun to be able to use it as a daily driver. I love it.
What a beautiful Sedan de Ville! Love the color combination.
I saw one of these at a show at the Quaker Steak last summer. Absolutely awesome machines, as much sculpture as they are transportation. But the scale and proportions of these cars is what’s so mind-boggling…the front fenders and the hood are probably 6 feet long! Sweet excess.
I once had a ‘65 coupe in the same color w/ the 429. You gotta love an old road barge. I always feel incredibly safe in such a vehicle.
The safety is an illusion. This will plow through anything on the road, but it will be like sitting in a food processor for the passengers.
Retractable 3 point shoulder belts can be installed on anything- I put them in a ’51 Kaiser and a ’66 Thunderbird. Once the occupants are securely belted in place, they will barely feel it when a modern car folds like an accordian once greeted with 5000 pounds of Detroit steel. No airbags needed.
Fred, you’re in for a very painful shock if you’re ever involved in a serious collision.
Where did you see one wrecked and do you have pics..?
The seatbelts will hold you nicely in place whilst the steering column is propelled through your torso…
They test-crashed a 1959 Chevy Bel Air against a modern Chevy Malibu a few years back…let’s just say it didn’t end well for the ’59. Weight aside, those old cars weren’t designed with passenger safety in mind and a seatbelt will only do so much when the entire passenger cell is deforming.
https://www.wired.com/2010/12/crash-test-2009-malibu-vs-1959-bel-air/
They chose a car with GM’s X-Frame for that test, no wonder it folded up like a cheap suit. Something with frame side rails might have fared a bit better, though as you say none of those cars were designed with crash safety in mind.
There are quite a few vintage crash tests on youtube for those who want to see more. Here’s one from ’71 that is satisfyingly horrifying:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xauHCEVsEJU
They also removed the running gear of that Chevy. These pieces are integral to the strength of those chassis. It was a rigged failure.
Clinical denial. Not just for addicts.
Keep in mind that the 1959 Chevy that was crashed had an inline 6 in it, which leaves a whole lot of empty engine space to fold on itself.
I wonder how much better the car would have done with a V8 in it.
Hmmmm… Plastic seat covers: Like sex with a condom.
More fun without…
Giggity !!
People did the same with their furniture in their houses. It was an age that people liked to keep their possessions looking like new. And they worked well. I remember in 1971 a friend of mine bought a 1956 2 dr hardtop two tone Bel Air that had plastic over the seats and 30,000 miles for $300.00 that was almost like showroom new. Flip out rainguards and wonderbar radio. I would hate to think what the the car would be worth today.
$12.2k sounds reasonable. Those seat covers must be relatively current. I didn’t know you could still get them. Hated them when I was a kid but they did the job.
Took my drivers test in one back in 1969.
If you can parallel park that thing, it’s an instant pass.
My grandpa had a white one with the curved top. The pointy one is definitely cooler. Clear seat covers – what could be more appropriate? 4 doors are more desirable for this car IMO.
Great find.
I had a 61 Sedan deVille and a 64 Fleetwood Brougham, with all options except a chauffeur. I loved the way the doors shut. When you exited the car, you pushed the door slightly, and watched it pick up speed until it closed with the most satisfying CHUNK. You knew that several hundred pounds of serious metal had rejoined its family. My ’08 Highlander? I know it has enough safety items to keep you in a marshmallow if there’s an accident, but the sound the doors make when they close sounds as though it’s a Toys-R-Us offering. I’d better shut up–3 more payments…..
Love the plastic seat covers. Remember when Fingerhut sent you a catalog every month?
My dad had those uglier than sin Fingerhut seat covers on a couple cars. Hotter than hell and stuck to your butt. Plus they off-gassed for months.
All 1959 Cadillacs are beautiful
The main attraction at any car show!
I like the color but will take the style of my ’59 Imperial Custom Coupe.
That is a fine machine!
yesssss!!!!!
That’s a damn fine car you got there :)
Wow!! From the one pic, I gotta say that is one fine looking piece of Detroit Steel!!!! I know you love cruising around in that thing!!
Between the 1959 Cadillac and the 1960 Cadillac, I prefer the 59 Cadillac.
You can make 10 modern cars from the steel on this monster
One of the UGLIEST cars ever produced.
What do you MEAN ugly!!?? It is a magnificent work-of-art created by one of the most brilliant designers (Harley Earl) in the history of the automobile industry! You have no taste!!
I second your emotion! Beautiful car.
I wonder why the wheel chock? Did the 59’s–or this car in particular–have a problem slipping out of park?
Not really but they do weigh a lot and if the emergency brake is not working too well, that is a lot to ask of the park pin on the flywheel.
I can’t blame the owner for wanting a little extra security.
Rarely do you see the hardtop with panaramic rear glass- back then, there was actually an options for roof designs! This wasn’t just limited to Cadillac either. Oh those were the days! Love it!
👍 👍
High point of 1950’s car design. Unrestrained luxury and class. Would love to have one of these.
I agree. 1959 was the high point for General Motors. Cadillac in particular.
It was cool that how vertical the fins were denoted the range of the car.
Cadillac had vertical fins.
Buick had diagonal fins, not vertical not horizontal.
Chevrolet had horizontal fins.
From high to less high to low.
My favourite fins were the horizontal fins of the 1959-60 Chevy.
May I ask a question? What are these constant negative comments about 4- door cars? Why do you guys seem to think that there is something wrong with them? By the way, the ’59 Caddy is a magnificent work- of- art.
Dave. First let me say there are plenty of four door cars I like, and a few I even prefer, style wise over the two door versions. For example; Corvairs, Hudson Hornets and one or two others which don’t immediately come to mind. That said, generally speaking, a 4 door costs more to build and therefore buy, they are heavier, and true sports cars never have 4 doors. Therefore, two door cars are more associated with youth and speed than 4 doors. It’s safe to say, no aspiring NASCAR competitor ever used a four door car as the basis for building a racer, and stylewise two doors are usually cleaner than four doors. Four doors have their place, but in the collector car world, most people associate them with their parents or grandparents, not the cars of their youth.
Z1rider. I appreciate your point. My Eldorado convertible is, of course, a 2-door, my Fleetwood is a 4-door. They both have their place and purpose. Even Lincoln built 4-door convertibles …so they were sporty and elegant at the same time. I’m not yet a grandparent…but I do like the 4-doors. It’s sort of the same concept that I see many people associating Oldsmobiles with “old people”, which I find strange. I always detested that ad they had ..”It’s not your father’s Oldsmobile”, as if there should be something shameful or “unyouthful” about our Dads. Frankly, I’d give anything to find a ’60’s era Olds 98 LS 4-door. Perhaps if 4-doors are less desirable to collectors, it will mean than I can buy another vintage 4-door for less money than would cost a 2-door…so in every cloud there’s a silver lining. As a side anecdote, I was at the gas station with my ’76 Fleetwood…and a guy pulled up at the next pump with his new Cadillac ..something..whatever it was..CTS ..STS…I have no idea…these stupid initials are useless. He looked at mine and asked what year it was. Then he looked back at his and said “I just paid over $ 50,000 for this thing..and your car makes mine look sick.” True story.
Was the Taurus race car a 2 door version of the street car?
There was never a 2 door version of the Taurus on the street.
Miguel. Thanks for catching that, though my NASCAR reference was about the early days of NASCAR when the cars were production based. By the time Ford made the switch to using the “Taurus” name, none of the cars from ANY manufacturer used a single production part. The cars are tube framed, and even the sheet metal is virtually identical, with only the painted on headlights attempting to distinguish the different makes of cars. NASCAR participation has become a purely marketing ploy.
I like *all* classic cars, 4 doors, 2 doors, convertibles, SUVs, station wagons. Anything built between 1949 and 1989.
That sounds a lot like a dare…
Power vent windows too, never seen those before. Anyway I find this flat top design a bit unpleasant.
You can’t please everyone, can you? I actually love the look.
I gave away a 6 window version of this car back in the ’80s.
You live and learn.
I have only been following BF for a couple of months, which means I have checked out about 900 vehicles and tons of comments, however, the 1959 Cadillac 4 door has, to my mind, received many more favourable comments than any of the other cars listed so far. Seems as though there is a much greater following for 4 door classics than most people think. Great stuff. BF. Keep up the good work.
Oooh. . . Flattop! Simply gorgeous.
Ended: Dec 27, 2017 , 4:05PM
Winning bid:US $21,100.00
[ 66 bids ]
Hopefully there are more pictures online cause these pics are terrible…a corner picture of the front seat???
When I was a young lad, my father took me to the Freeport NY race track in the early 1970’s. The 1959 Caddy’s were alway’s used in the smash a roo contest. Guess what car always won. The Caddy was only car that could move at the end of the contest.